Tools for building Web site w/Video at DVinfo.net

Tripp Woelfel · September 19th, 2008, 06:43 PM

I've been scratching my head for nearly a year now looking for a basic tool that will help me build a Web site. Years ago I used Front Page and hated it so much that I learned some HTML and wrote most everything else in notepad, but I don't have time of brain cells enough to re-learn this.

I've used Dreamweaver, which is great but not worth the money for what little I need. I don't want templates or some generic site generator. I'd like a WYSIWYG layout program that generates HTML that I can massage as desired.

Any suggestions?

Todd Moore · September 19th, 2008, 07:42 PM

I use Joomla for my site that has video. Works great for me.

Tripp Woelfel · September 19th, 2008, 09:37 PM

Thanks for the info. I just spent the last half hour reviewing the installation procedures and prerequisites. It's making my brain hurt. Clearly this is not for the feint of heart.

I'm going to review the documentation again tomorrow when I'm fresh but I feel this may be more complex than I'm looking for. I just want to ride the train. Not build the railroad.

I'm gonna dig thru this until my head explodes. In the event that pyrotechnics ensue, does anyone have any other ideas?

Meryem Ersoz · September 20th, 2008, 12:31 AM

PC or Mac?

Gabe Strong · September 20th, 2008, 12:48 AM

I use a Mac, so my opinion may not be much help, but on a Mac, I think Rapidweaver
is a really good option. Get the third party Flash plug in to create Flash movies so you
can have either quicktime or flash on your site. I totally created my own site with
Rapidweaver and I'm NOT a web programmer (disclaimer....my site is still being updated so
it's not totally done but you can get a good idea of what you can do by looking at my
site). Anyways, Rapidweaver is simple to use......BlocksBox plug in pretty much lets
you drag and drop stuff on a page wherever you want it....good simple stuff.

www.gforcevideo.com

Tripp Woelfel · September 20th, 2008, 09:51 AM

I'm on a PC.

Noa Put · September 20th, 2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tripp Woelfel

I've been scratching my head for nearly a year now looking for a basic tool that will help me build a Web site. Years ago I used Front Page and hated it so much that I learned some HTML and wrote most everything else in notepad, but I don't have time of brain cells enough to re-learn this.

I've used Dreamweaver, which is great but not worth the money for what little I need. I don't want templates or some generic site generator. I'd like a WYSIWYG layout program that generates HTML that I can massage as desired.

Any suggestions?

Well, I have been using "webpagemaker" in the past which was a great tool for building static websites with drag and drop, really easy to use though not so video friendly, think you could embed flash movies but that was about it, maybe they changed now.

After that jumped to wordpress, wordpress displays just about every type of video and even if your not a big template fan, there are many to choose from and they are all adaptable if you have soms php and css knowledge.

I did quite some tweaking on my site and because I'm actually a website novice I"m quite proud I did it all by myself and with the help of the good support you get on several wordpress forums.

Tripp Woelfel · September 20th, 2008, 01:42 PM

Noa... Thanks. That looks a bit more like what I'm looking for. I've downloaded both products and will check them out on my other machine.

Ben Ruffell · September 20th, 2008, 01:53 PM

After tearing my hair out with Apple's iWeb I now use Rapidweaver. This is what I came up with:

Ben Ruffell

Josh Mellicker · September 22nd, 2008, 07:02 PM

I would highly recommend Wordpress. We have built about 7 or 8 sites with it, including DVcreators.net. Click around and check out the speed and functionality, even with a thousand other viewers clicking around at the same time.

It will do anything any other web framework does, and much better, much faster, and much easier. Plugins and themes number in the hundreds and are mostly free.

It is a one-click install option at most web hosts (like DreamHost or HostGator, etc.)

I have tried many other CMSes... and my opinion is none of them even come close.

You can also get a free site at wordpress.com, but you don't have all the power over the site (ability to add any plugin, theme, etc.) you would have if you had your own hosting account.

Tripp Woelfel · September 23rd, 2008, 05:57 PM

Josh... Your recommendation of WordPress caused me to go back and look at it again. I found myself staring into the abyss with my mouth open, catching flies. A CMS may be just what I need or more than I can use. Not sure at this point. All I know is that I can't get there from here.

All I need at the moment is something to lay out Web pages. A short-bus version of Dreamweaver. I mean a really simple version. I don't need databases. I don't need e-commerce. I don't need blogs.

I just need a way to lay out and manage a half-dozen pages that I won't change very often. Just a really big Yellow Pages advert with better color.

Help me... please! (Beg, grovel, beg, grovel)

Josh Mellicker · September 23rd, 2008, 07:11 PM

Weeelll... I still stand by my recommendation.

Here is a very simple site:

Overview at Leaping Brain Labs, Inc.

with 7 or 8 pages... no blogs, nothing fancy. This site took about 15 minutes to set up.

It is a default theme. (I am going to tweak it a bit later...)

If I need to edit a page, let's say to correct a mispelling, I can complete this in about 10 - 15 seconds. With Dreamweaver it would take several minutes or longer.

There are many tutorials on the web on setting it up, it is easy... who do you host with?

Another question- would a free account at wordpress.com (or blogger, etc.) be all you need?

Brian Luce · September 23rd, 2008, 10:02 PM

I'm a real numb skull with software and this is the only sitebuilder I've ever been able to use.

WYSIWYG Web Builder

It's a html generator. Easy.

Tripp Woelfel · September 24th, 2008, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Mellicker

Weeelll... I still stand by my recommendation.

A man of conviction. I like that.

Speed of update is enticing and may alone be worth putting on my wellies and wading deep into the technical morass that I will only half understand.

I'll have to wait until I get through a couple more cups of coffee though. It's still way to early to really start thinking yet.

Here's my site. Covered Bridge Productions-Home Mind numbingly simple. I'd like to add to it a little, but not much.

Bill Mecca · September 24th, 2008, 08:49 AM

I'll back up Josh, and suggest Wordpress. I use it for two sites, both under the same hosting account. I found a theme I liked (Cutline) got it set up added some plug-ins some very , very minor tweaking, and mine run as a blog (not updated often enough) but the beauty is once you set it up all the layout is done, you only need to worry about content and that is a snap.

September 19th, 2008, 06:43 PM	#1
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Tools for building Web site w/Video I've been scratching my head for nearly a year now looking for a basic tool that will help me build a Web site. Years ago I used Front Page and hated it so much that I learned some HTML and wrote most everything else in notepad, but I don't have time of brain cells enough to re-learn this. I've used Dreamweaver, which is great but not worth the money for what little I need. I don't want templates or some generic site generator. I'd like a WYSIWYG layout program that generates HTML that I can massage as desired. Any suggestions?

September 24th, 2008, 08:49 AM	#15
Bill Mecca Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 475	I'll back up Josh, and suggest Wordpress. I use it for two sites, both under the same hosting account. I found a theme I liked (Cutline) got it set up added some plug-ins some very , very minor tweaking, and mine run as a blog (not updated often enough) but the beauty is once you set it up all the layout is done, you only need to worry about content and that is a snap. __________________ Award-winning Pine Barrens Documentary! Video, Audio, Music & More

September 19th, 2008, 07:42 PM	#2
Todd Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alstonville Australia Posts: 42	I use Joomla for my site that has video. Works great for me.

September 19th, 2008, 09:37 PM	#3
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Thanks for the info. I just spent the last half hour reviewing the installation procedures and prerequisites. It's making my brain hurt. Clearly this is not for the feint of heart. I'm going to review the documentation again tomorrow when I'm fresh but I feel this may be more complex than I'm looking for. I just want to ride the train. Not build the railroad. I'm gonna dig thru this until my head explodes. In the event that pyrotechnics ensue, does anyone have any other ideas?

September 20th, 2008, 12:31 AM	#4
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	PC or Mac?

September 20th, 2008, 12:48 AM	#5
Gabe Strong Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Juneau, AK Posts: 814	I use a Mac, so my opinion may not be much help, but on a Mac, I think Rapidweaver is a really good option. Get the third party Flash plug in to create Flash movies so you can have either quicktime or flash on your site. I totally created my own site with Rapidweaver and I'm NOT a web programmer (disclaimer....my site is still being updated so it's not totally done but you can get a good idea of what you can do by looking at my site). Anyways, Rapidweaver is simple to use......BlocksBox plug in pretty much lets you drag and drop stuff on a page wherever you want it....good simple stuff. www.gforcevideo.com

September 20th, 2008, 09:51 AM	#6
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	I'm on a PC.

September 20th, 2008, 01:42 PM	#8
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Noa... Thanks. That looks a bit more like what I'm looking for. I've downloaded both products and will check them out on my other machine.

September 20th, 2008, 01:53 PM	#9
Ben Ruffell Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Queenstown, New Zealand Posts: 117	After tearing my hair out with Apple's iWeb I now use Rapidweaver. This is what I came up with: Ben Ruffell

September 22nd, 2008, 07:02 PM	#10
Josh Mellicker DV Creators Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hollywood Posts: 91	I would highly recommend Wordpress. We have built about 7 or 8 sites with it, including DVcreators.net. Click around and check out the speed and functionality, even with a thousand other viewers clicking around at the same time. It will do anything any other web framework does, and much better, much faster, and much easier. Plugins and themes number in the hundreds and are mostly free. It is a one-click install option at most web hosts (like DreamHost or HostGator, etc.) I have tried many other CMSes... and my opinion is none of them even come close. You can also get a free site at wordpress.com, but you don't have all the power over the site (ability to add any plugin, theme, etc.) you would have if you had your own hosting account.

September 23rd, 2008, 05:57 PM	#11
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Josh... Your recommendation of WordPress caused me to go back and look at it again. I found myself staring into the abyss with my mouth open, catching flies. A CMS may be just what I need or more than I can use. Not sure at this point. All I know is that I can't get there from here. All I need at the moment is something to lay out Web pages. A short-bus version of Dreamweaver. I mean a really simple version. I don't need databases. I don't need e-commerce. I don't need blogs. I just need a way to lay out and manage a half-dozen pages that I won't change very often. Just a really big Yellow Pages advert with better color. Help me... please! (Beg, grovel, beg, grovel)

September 23rd, 2008, 07:11 PM	#12
Josh Mellicker DV Creators Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hollywood Posts: 91	Weeelll... I still stand by my recommendation. Here is a very simple site: Overview at Leaping Brain Labs, Inc. with 7 or 8 pages... no blogs, nothing fancy. This site took about 15 minutes to set up. It is a default theme. (I am going to tweak it a bit later...) If I need to edit a page, let's say to correct a mispelling, I can complete this in about 10 - 15 seconds. With Dreamweaver it would take several minutes or longer. There are many tutorials on the web on setting it up, it is easy... who do you host with? Another question- would a free account at wordpress.com (or blogger, etc.) be all you need?

September 23rd, 2008, 10:02 PM	#13
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	I'm a real numb skull with software and this is the only sitebuilder I've ever been able to use. WYSIWYG Web Builder It's a html generator. Easy.