Looking for a free Windows WYSIWYG text editor

Why don’t you jusy turn off the WYSIWYG editor in WordPress? I never use that thing – it’s horrible. Just turn it off, and you can use the quicktags instead. If there aren’t enough quicktags there for you, it’s really easy to make more.

I don’t know of any wysiwyg that creates good html. I don’t think such animal exists…

LOL…there’s a good point for ya!

… and I can understand that sometimes a person would rather write what’s on their mind than type angles.

Tinstaffl, have you had a look at the Windows Live Writer beta? https://windowslivewriter.spaces.live.com/ for more info, download link at the upper right corner.

It’s a Weblog_Client that so far has not let me down as far as validation goes. Has a little preview thing that’s handy too.

There are also a large number of “improved” WYSIWYG editors for WP implemented as plugins. Most of them are mentioned in this recent thread: https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/92670?replies=31

Ditto on the WLW client…. beat me to it, Handyman! I’d not use the wysiwyg within wp, but the similar abilities within the client are sometimes VERY nice (besides the fact that they WORK, damnit! which the wysiwyg within wp decidedly does NOT….)

Still just those couple of non-validating “attributes” within graphics and map insertions – and still not a big deal to remove them. Hopefully, once this sucker is released without being beta, that too will be fixed…. (Ah… yeah, I know, this IS a microsoft product, so that MIGHT be a forlorn hope….)

Thanks for all your input, but unfortunately it didn’t solve the problem, yet.

With high hopes I uploaded the Windows Live Writer – unfortunately, it requires WindowsXP. In my previous search I totally missed the Weblog Client option. But I see, that there is a long list of other programs on the list – I will have to take a look at them.

I don’t think, that any plugin WYSIWYG editor would help me, because I think there is no way to adjust the width of input field to much my wide post field. Anyway, it would have to use my the settings from style.css in the input field display. And I hate writing in a small window.

But it’s true, that the thread https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/92670?replies=31 gives a lot of good info about WYSIWYG plugins. I have already installed ExtendedTinyMCE (https://www.mkbergman.com/?p=275), which I find quite acceptable for writing fast just a few new lines.

However for writing long post with complicated structure (multiple blockquotes with embedded quotes from poems, f.e), when it’s important for the exact layout to be preserved – it doesn’t work.

So let me broaden the thread and restate the question posted:
What is the best way to get DTP quality long and very structured post formatted for WordPress using freeware tools?

Extensive use of h1-6 settings? Cleaning the code created by MSWord, AbiWord, Open Office (which of those creates the best HTML, btw)? Using some other Windows WYSIWYG text editor? Or maybe using full flexed HTML editor/webside builder like 1stPage2000 or Nvu (I didn’t try any of them, yet)?

“What is the best way to get DTP quality long and very structured post formatted for WordPress using freeware tools?”

Learning HTML and CSS and coding by hand – fast and complete free.

Evita,

a woman after my own heart ??

Is it not enough that we have the box to type in? People wont ever be satisified ??

I do not like WYSIWYG editors, too. But may be it would be interesting for you to extend your existing WordPress editor?

I made use of that for one of my customers last week because he wants his users to be able to include tables into their posts. I hate that but these tools are not too bad. ??

Oliverde – im my last post didn’t I write about the ExtendedTinyMCE?

Evita – of course it’s free and that’s what I’m doing right now. But it’s not “fast”. If you had a complicated bussiness letter to send out (with quotes, hyphenation, small comments, etc.) – wouldn’t you prefer to write it in MSWord and just print? Off course, it’s possible to do it in a pure HTML editor, create all tags and print out – but even if it can be pretty simple – it’s certainly NOT fast. Same goes with the complicated formatting of a post in WordPress. If there is no shortcut – it certainly can be done this way, but I’m sure we can find something better (and I promise to keep this thread open, till I’m convinced, that it ends with a good solution for others, who may share may concern)

But it’s not “fast”. If you had a complicated bussiness letter to send out (with quotes, hyphenation, small comments, etc.) – wouldn’t you prefer to write it in MSWord and just print? Off course, it’s possible to do it in a pure HTML editor, create all tags and print out – but even if it can be pretty simple – it’s certainly NOT fast.

wordpress is a blog. its not Microsoft Word, its not an OCRB application. Its a damn blog. And you are quite wrong, its nicely fast, as long as its doing what its intended to do.

I create content nearly every day. I dont format jack. Thats what CSS is for.

Why not find something that more suits your needs instead of trying to reinvent the wheel?

and I promise to keep this thread open …

and I promise to ignore the rest of it until it degrades into a flame war and a real live mod (someone that actually can promise something around here) locks it.

“Evita – of course it’s free and that’s what I’m doing right now. But it’s not “fast”. If you had a complicated bussiness letter to send out (with quotes, hyphenation, small comments, etc.) – wouldn’t you prefer to write it in MSWord and just print?”

Sure, I write all my business stuff with MS Word. But we are talking here about websites (blogging) and not business letters.
Online content I always code by hand. In advance style your quotes, comments, blockquotes, lists etc. nicely with CSS and I promise, you will be very fast.
Alternatively you can use a text editor.

Evita, it’s obviously a lost cause because this person is adamant about taking shortcuts where he/she shouldn’t be.

If you’re unwilling to learn what’s actually driving your blog and demanding that someone fix it for you, you don’t deserve the wisdom that’s already been doled out here.

To get back on topic, Nvu is a good HTML editor – give it a shot.

I personally use Windows Live Writer for the longer, more convoluted posts. There are an increasing number of plugins for it which increase one’s productivity. It’s an excellent product. Which OS are you on, if not XP?

@whooami: not everyone has the time, knowledge or inclination to hand-code their content. People want Word-type functions at the press of a button, and rightly so.

This isn’t the place for a soliloquy on the purity of WordPress blogging – if you would rather, as Handysolo put it, “type angles”, that’s up to you, but it is foolish to assume that WordPress is not a suitable product for those who would simply rather know that what they see is what they get.

People want Word-type functions at the press of a button, and rightly so.

Then use word. Isnt that the obvious answer? Plop your stuff into word, use frontpage, upload it : done.

I wont even remark on the “rightly so” .. since .. well, since I wont.

Honestly, I couldnt care less if someone wants to use a wysiwyg editor. I do think, however that _some_ people look for that to be the end all as far as styling goes, and Im sorry to say, thats not how WP works.

Thats the point of the “CSS” remarks in this thread.