Allaire HomeSite (and ColdFusion Studio)
Allaire HomeSite (along with its big brother, ColdFusion Studio) has long been regarded as the definitive professional HTML editor. But HomeSite is not limited to HTML; in fact it comes with integrated support for many other languages, including WML.
Note
HomeSite has supported WML development for some time, but the most complete and extensive support is in version 4.5 or later.
Key HomeSite features include
Professional strength editing capabilities
Extensive integrated help for HTML and other languages (including WML and HDML)
Integrated project management and source control
Code validation, link checking, and document weighing
Integrated FTP clients (and complete remote development services in ColdFusion Studio)
From HomeSite's perspective, WML files are simply text files, no different from HTML files. WML files can be opened and edited just like any other text files.
When creating new WML files, special templates can be used to ensure that the files are formed correctly. These templates can be accessed by selecting File, New, and then selecting the WML tab as seen in Figure D.2.
Figure D.2. HomeSite comes with templates for both static and dynamic WML pages.
HomeSite's Tag Chooser (an interactive drill-down tool used to locate and insert tags into your code) supports the entire WML specification. As seen in Figure D.3, you can browse all WML tags or by functionality.
When tags are inserted using the Tag Chooser, context-sensitive dialog boxes (such as the one shown in Figure D.4) are presented, prompting for tag attributes. These same dialog boxes, called Tag Editors, are also used to modify existing tags. In addition, the Tag Editors also provide tag-specific help, as seen in Figure D.5.
Figure D.3. The Tag Chooser presents a tree interface for selecting WML (and other language) tags.
Figure D.4. Tag Editors provide context-sensitive dialog boxes for tag-attribute editing.
Figure D.5. Tag Editor integrated help can be displayed beneath the dialog box (as shown) or in a separate window.
Tip
When language conflicts occur (for example, the use of the <p> tag which is different in HTML and WML), HomeSite defaults to HTML. You can change this behavior by manipulating the Tag Definitions Library Namespace Precedence in the Settings dialog box.
HomeSite features an integrated HTML browser, but not a WML emulator. WML cannot be tested directly in HomeSite, to test your WML code you must use separate emulators and devices.
Note
You can download evaluation versions of both Allaire HomeSite and Allaire ColdFusion Studio from http://www.allaire.com/products. Evaluation copies of both products are also included on the accompanying CD-ROM.