Starting with ASP: Part 3
Tools to make you go ASP
To write ASP, just as with HTML, all you really need is a text editor,
so Notepad (or for the bearded UNIX users) vi, or even ed will do.
However, this is the painful way of doing things. What you really want is
a tool that will give you as much help as you need. What follows is a list
of tools you might like to have a look at.
tdtext editor
(Notepad) |
tdASP/VBScript is just like HTML, simply text markup stored in a plain text file.
As such you could write your ASP files using a simple text editor.
However, doing so will probably lead to charges of masochism and give
the impression that you should get out more and make some friends.
No, what you want is a more helpful tool that will give you a bit of
hand holding. |
| tdHomeSite v4 |
tdA very cool tool; HomeSite has been around for ages
now and is a mature little editor for those of you who really know how
to drive a keyboard. Does all sorts of useful things, like color coding
your markup (sounds a bit twee, but being able to see at a glance what
is VBScript and what is HTML can be invaluable). Recognises VBScript,
Cold Fusion and other languages and can do things like automatically
complete tags once you start them. Also has a very neat global search
and replace facility (this is what I use to write ASP, what
higher accolade can there be than that?). |
| tdVisual Interdev |
tdOne of Microsofts family of "Visual"
products. This will hold your hand and wipe your nose for you, it
is even rumoured that an obscure combination of key press will even
allow it to make the tea! Does most
of what HomeSite does (but not all) being, unsurprising, heavily
focused towards the Microsoft world. You will find colour coding etc,
but also integration with Front Page, the Front Page extensions and a
whole world of information on VBScript, JScript, HTML etc. in the info
view. This is a "proper" development tool, and even claims
team working functions! If you are a die hard Microsoft fan, worth a
serious look.
Personal Note: I don't like this tool, but I am not a die hard
Microsoft fan! I find it too restrictive and some of the newer aspects of the
tool only allow you to use javaScript rather than VBScript, and I like to make the
decisions about what language I use. |
| tdFrontPage |
tdFrontPage is a WYSIWYG editor for HTML, BUT you can insert
snippets of ASP here and there, but nothing too complex. So if you
already make use of FrontPage, and don't want to move towards Visual Interdev,
it could be all you need. |
| tdAracchnophillia |
tdThis has been supplied by one of the ASP guides readers. Apparantly a free editor with lots of little bells and whistles; I have never used it so can't comment, but I will check it out and include a vignette when I have done so. |
(note: inclusion in this list does not mean a
recommendation by the author (except where stated!),
nor should inclusion be taken as such, nor
should inclusion be taken to mean that the tools are available or does what
the author thinks they do; the author has no relationship with any of the
tool vendors listed, and any mistakes are the authors responsibility;
phew, who'd be a web page writer, anyway that's the caveats.)
HELP and Warning
All of the editors listed here (with the exception of Notepad) COST.
Yep, you have to stump up more hard earned cash to use them, although
you can usually find a 30 day free evaluation download, just follow the
links to see which are currently running the offers.
