Hello DJ Smith, firstly I’d like to side track for those who come across this topic new to coding and looking for a good editor. If starting out in web design please
DO NOT use or learn with Dreamweaver, expression web, visual studio or similar, these packages place a lot of “rubbish” and disorganised code into your pages and firstly you will not understand or be able to edit your pages fully.
Please use something like notepad or more so notepad plus (freeware, highlights and organises code/tags) which will allow you to avoid this issue and also code hands on, however don’t make the mistake of using MS word or openoffice.
Now don’t get me wrong they are all good tools and personal i use Dreamweaver CS4 however at the bare minimum understand and be able to read and edit code without a visual editor before using one fully, this in the long run will allow you more knowledge and increase your productivity. That said the GUI of a visual editor as well as the shortcuts with some refinement is very beneficial after you have those skills mentioned.
Rant/warning over id recommend MS Visual studio 2008 for a free package that is fairly well rounded and expandable with plugin’s and it will feel and act similarly to front page as it is its official replacement. Though for a paid solution you do see many design firms using the Adobe CS4 range as fireworks and Dreamweaver is a very good combination for designers and coders to use as a middle ground as well as easily importing and exporting between the two including Photoshop.
There is a PHP,ASP and SQL/mySQL free editor available that includes a virtual server package for compiling and running scripts locally however the name escapes me, found it very useful when working with larger and some smaller PHP projects due to its organisation of code and inclusion of helpful menus (variables, locations, functions and values recognition as well as short keys) if the name springs to mind or iv got a link/installer somewhere I’ll get it posted
