What Are Web Authoring Tools?
Web authoring tools are used to create web content, and cover a wide range of software programs. The programs include word processors, desktop publishing programs, webpage builders, website management systems and HTML editors. Any software program that can be used to create content that can be uploaded and viewed on the Internet or intranet network systems is considered a web authoring tool.
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Word Processors
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Word processors such as Microsoft Word, WordPerfect or OpenOffice Writer are some of the most basic types of web authoring tools available. Word processors contain an option that allows users to create web pages from text documents. Users type in content using a keyboard and the processors convert the documents into standard HTML markup and save the document as a .txt file. The .txt file can be uploaded directly onto a server to create a quick and easy web page.
Desktop Publishing
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Desktop publishing programs can be used to create hard copy content, such as magazines or newspapers, or used as a web authoring tool. The programs feature word processors to create instantly written web content combined with advanced web authoring options, such as page layout and style elements.
Desktop publishing programs create virtual pages of web content that can be linked together. Users can add multimedia to the pages, such as video, graphics or audio files. The programs convert the pages to HTML and CSS sheets that can be uploaded to the Internet.
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Website Management Systems and Webpage Builders
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Website management systems, or hosting sites, are systems that allow users to upload and manage their web pages. These systems usually offer their users many web-authoring tool options to create and maintain their web pages. Tools can include webpage builders, shopping systems, audio/visual editors and domain options.
Many web hosting sites offer their customers free webpage builders that help them to create web pages or entire websites. The builders incorporate many web authoring tools, including word processing, graphic editing, templates and layout schemes. Webpage builders have two main editing options: HTML or a non-HTML interface. Users who have limited HTML knowledge can use the non-HTML interface to drop and drag items to create layouts and use the text option to type in content.
HTML Editors
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HTML editing programs are some of the most powerful web authoring tools, and are mainly used by professionals to create commercial web pages. Most HTML editors are similar to web-page builders in offering users HTML or non-HTML interfaces. The non-HTML interface allows the user to see how the web page will look when it is uploaded to the Internet. HTML editors can be used to create basic HTML markup like a word processor, or can create more advanced language, such as CSS, JavaScript or XML. Most of the work is performed using a built-in text editor.
The text editors feature an array of functions besides basic content input, such as linking, spell check, accessibility features and code formatting. Text editors create the HTML markup as the user is working with the editor, which allows for faster editing of visual layout.
HTML editors feature HTML validation checkers that will run through a web page and check for markup errors and accessibility validation issues. Most of the other web authoring tools don't offer this option; web authors only become aware of a problem after the web page is on the Internet.
Web Authoring Tools Guidelines
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The World Wide Web Consortium, or W3, is a group of leaders in Internet development. The group issues guidelines for web authoring tools that create a basic industry standard for web accessibility. The guidelines encourage web-authoring tool manufacturers to include certain features in their products that will aid Internet users with disabilities. All of the major web-authoring tool manufacturers follow the W3 guidelines.
According to the guidelines, web authoring tools must support basic accessibility protocol, create contain using standard markup, create accessible materials, contain accessibility editors and incorporate accessibility features within web content. Accessibility features include content that offers adjustable font size, multimedia features such as audio and visual options, and web pages that support readers for the visually impaired.
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