Think a very important language is HTML. But MS-Word has a converter that convert a ms-word file to HTML file. If it's possible to convert a file easily without Learn HTML, then why we think that HTML is important to learn ????
Because the garbage output by Word can only in the loosest terms even be considered HTML - it sure as hell isn't VALID html, it sure as shine isn't 'efficient' or even well thought out... ALL wysiwygs - be it exports from office applications, or actual 'design' programs like frontpage and dreamweaver, output CRAP for code that no professional would even CONSIDER deploying on an actual production page. Comparing real HTML to the rubbish output by WYSIWYS is like comparing a Bugatti to a Chevy Aveo.
Actually there are so much programs to do the work of HTML that we need not to master over HTML. But for basic Web knowledge we must know HTML. For example, writing PHP or JAVAScript (server side or client side ) you can easily put the script into the script tag.That's why we need HTML.
I am fairly sure frontpage is an office program - so same thing Seriously though - never do it. Word is good for 1 use, can you guess it? It's word processing!!! The only time you should ever export as HTML/website from an office program is for Visio floorplans - it outputs a nice, usable interface - and the HTML doesn't matter, since it won't be released as web page.
Just to add that HTML can also be used on alsorts of other sites and especially in SEO when trying to increase backlinks.
Although while HTML is dying out these days, it is indeed useful as Sporsho said for the basis for other web languages. PHP and scripting languages are starting to dominate the web scene atm, but you need to know html (or xhtml) in order to create an effective PHP page as you've gotta mix the two together =)
Well you dont have learn it by hard or something i think you just need to understand it in order to be able to edit your website you create with software like dreamweaver and so on.
Why? Maybe because html is the language of the web. It has a vocabulary, parts of speech and a grammar. Did you think its output was actually html? MSWord is an unbelievably bad html generator. Whatever the hell gave you that idea? There's no good reason not to learn html by heart. It's not rocket science. As deathshadow said, those applications turn out crap for code. Learn html+css, and write lean, valid, easily understood and easily maintained web pages. cheers, gary
using a world document and then to convert it to html it not the thing to be doing it will not show probably on peoples computers. it dose not make html in the right way. if you dont know html but want to make a website in a world like view then nvu would be a good place to start as it is free but dreamwaver is much better but it is really best to learn html. code and make it your self there is a lot more to websites then html its very hard to make a good website in just html unless you are a very good coder. you need to have css and many other things to make websites as well. if you want to make a text website just code it in html the would really not be a lot to learn to do that. so no dont use word to convert a document to html because it will not work
I am a coder who uses dreamweaver but thats mostly due to my lack of time and boredom. I can and will if i have the drive code a site by hand, if you don't understand it enough to free hand it than can you say your truely a ready coder?
yes i use software like dreamweaver to help me out but i still write the code just makes things quicker as you have to type less of the word yes if you could code a website by hand then you are ready to use software like dreamweaver but if you cant then stay and learn the hard way is the only way to get better hope this some extra help to you
Using a tool like Dreamweaver is good for designing a prototype for a new template. You should then hand code a clean version using semantic markup and CSS for the production version. On a frequent bases I'm asked to upgrade a site that was designed with these WYSIWYG editors. I usually charge the client several times the price to work on them because the messy code has to be cleaned up. I personally consider those types of sites as the product of novices or amateurs. Clean code is easier to maintain and update. When done right it, will be usable far into the future no matter how many new designs and updates you make to the site. Why build something that has to be thrown away every time you want a fresh new look?
This argument misses the point of PHP - and the separation between coding and presentation. Even though many webpages today have a .php extension, they are nothing without (x)html. Why? PHP doesn't layout or design a page. PHP helps you make content dynamic. It lets you pull information out of a database, manipulate it, and display exactly what you want. PHP creates content. (x)HTML allows you to design how that content is displayed. No amount of php will make your webpage look cool. Without (x)HTML it will be boring plain text. (x)HTML displays content. If you want to be a web developer, you don't necessarily need to know (x)HTML. Someone else can design a front-end for the software you build. However, if you're a web designer - or both rolled into one - you need to know html/css. There's no if, ands, or buts about it. - Walkere
html is important if you want to make any website... if you are only using ms word for all your html needs, your sites wont be very appealing or compliant, try dreamweaver if you need an html editor!
I think you meant to say "try dreamweaver if you want to spend several hundred dollars on a bloated pile of crap that if you use the WYSIWYG makes code as broken and bloated as M$ export functions, often WORSE - and saddles you with a horde of rubbish that stops you from being able to do ANYTHING right in the first damned place." As I've said many times, the only thing you can learn from dreamweaver is how NOT to design, code or develop a website. If it's a professional grade tool, I'm the newest Mahatma.
So I guess Dreamweaver isn't considered a professional software application by your standards? And that you're saying major companies don't use WYSIWYG editors like Dreamweaver? You obviously have never delved into the inner workings of a web development company before. A majority of web design company's use Dreamweaver as their tool of choice. And as for the comment about outputting "Crap Code", have you even used Dreamweaver before? I've been using Dreamweaver for a few years now, it's not good for PHP coding but it's good for UI design and other stuff though. And I've never had an issue with it outputting crap code. All code that Dreamweaver has put out for me has been valid mark-up. Dreamweaver doesn't write your code for you, you are the one that writes the code. Dreamweaver can write the code for you, but not using the Code view is just bad practice and if you rely on Dreamweaver inserting valid mark-up for you without touching the code view obviously it's going to be crap. If Dreamweaver outputs crap code for you, perhaps you should Google how to correctly write valid mark-up then. I'm not flaming you, it's just I can't stand it when people try and act like they know what's best when it comes to web development, everyone has their own preferences though. As for Frontpage outputting crap code, I couldn't agree with you more on that one. - Dwayne
Just because companies use it doesn't make it any better. DW must produce bad code why else do you have to edit it? So basically, you are stating DW is an expensive version of notepad? Agreed.
There is nothing I can really add to the replies about not using word. Except for maybe an analogy. Using word to create html for websites is like using spray paint to paint your home. Why not do it? I mean after all the spray paint can generates "paint" which is used to cover the outside of your home.