Plans for this site

On this page:

Todo list Updated
Done Updated
Ideas?

I have more ideas for this site. Some are things that I'm already working on. Other things I've already worked out completely in my mind but I still need to find the time to actually turn them into pages. Below you'll find a short list of what's coming. Not necessarily in that order.

Version Control

The basic integration for CS-RCS version control in HomeSite is done: there are toolbars for file-level integration and the directory tree in the local tab displays the entries in the popup menu for directory-level commands. What is still missing is an interface to project-level commands. While I can't provide this for HomeSite 3.01, I'm looking into the possibility of providing this for HomeSite 4. If it proves possible to update a toolbar button with the new ActiveScripting interface, this should be an option. If I find out how to do it, I'll post an update, of course!

VTML Validation

For HomeSite version 4, there now is a new version of the VTML language (VTML 2) which will be (somewhat) XML-compliant. While old VTML tag editors will continue to work with HomeSite 4, and HomeSite 3.01 does at least not complain about the new syntax, this syntax does create a problem for VTML validation. HomeSite 4 will no longer have CSE HTML Validator bundled though there will be an interface to it. And HomeSite's own built-in validator is not capable of doing VTML validation. The version of CSE HTML Validator that comes bundled with HomeSite 3.01 cannot handle the new XML-compliant syntax.
Is there a solution? Yes there is! First, be sure to get a separate licence for the latest version of CSE HTML Validator. To quote from the HTML Validator site:

"HomeSite 3 came with a version of CSE HTML Validator basically equivalent to 2.53. HomeSite 4 does not come with CSE HTML Validator at all. Instead, HomeSite 4 comes with a validator that may appear to imitate CSE HTML Validator. (...) you'll probably want to upgrade HomeSite 4's validator to CSE HTML Validator, which works great with HomeSite 3 and 4, so we are giving registered HomeSite 3 or 4 users a 40% off discount for a business use license of CSE HTML Validator! For more information, please visit the CSE HTML Validator HomeSite Discount Page."

The latest version (3.03) contains an option that will make validation of VTML 2's XML-compliant syntax possible!
I'll have to update update the VTML validation configuration file for VTML 2 (well, maybe); and I'll create a brand new one for VTML 2 that is optimized for version 3.0x of CSE HTML Validator.

Style guide

While working on my set of visual tag editors, I gradually developed a set of rules for how to design them: keep things clear, consistent, and easy to work with. I'll edit and publish these rules, my Visual Tag Editor Style Guide, as an example how even for a relatively simple user interface a style guide can help to keep things consistent. I'm hoping it will also help others writing new tag editors: you won't have to start from scratch with the design, and can fit in (if you wish) with a set of editors that's already there: and consistency not only helps the developer, it also helps the user.

Validation (again)

An explanation of why CSE HTML Validator cannot see all possible HTML errors. I'll use a piece of sample code to illustrate this.

The Template Tool

CSE HTML Validator can do a lot more than just validate your HTML (or VTML!) code. When you use CSE only from within HomeSite, you'll never see these tools. I'll explain the use of the powerful Template Tool by means of an example: how to put and update a date stamp on all your pages.

Done as promised (well, ...) in the Todo section:

Tag definitions for HTML

I'm working on my own set, originally based on the ones that come with HomeSite but with many extras. For instance, no superfluous quotes in attribute values (reducing the size of your web pages), consistent support for extra attributes needed for StyleSheets and accessibility options, and clear indications with appropriate icons of what is browser-specific. The set for versions 3.x of HomeSite and ColdFusion Studio is currently in a pre-release stage and will be published soon. Updates for HomeSite 4.0 and ColdFusion Studio 4.0 will follow soon; these will add support for Tag Insight and Tag Inspector.
All done! There are now HTML Tag Editors for HomeSite 3.01 and ColdFusion Studio 3.11 as well as HTML Tag Definitions for HomeSite 4.0 and ColdFusion Studio 4.0. And you can't really say any more they are based on the ones released by Allaire: they have been carefully designed as a set from the ground up! Yes, indeed with support for Tag Insight and Tag Inspector for versions 4.0.

Version Control

No, you don't need an expensive package to be able to do version control even from within HomeSite. You even need HomeSite 4 or ColdFusion Studio for it. There is a Windows package called CS-RCS, made by Component Software and based on GNU RCS. It's free for personal use, and cheap for work groups. Because it not only has a fully graphical user interface but also a simple command-line interface it's fairly easy to create toolbar buttons for it. I've created toolbars for both HomeSite 3.01 and 4.0.
Done! Start here to read all about integrated version control - even in HomeSite 3.01! And of course these toolbars work just as well in ColdFusion Studio. Toolbars, installation instructions and tips on the integration page.

Documentation for VTML

The current documentation for VTML that comes with HomeSite is incomplete, and contains some errors as well. That's quite understandable since VTML is such a new language that is actually still under development. While working with VTML I've figured out a few things that I've used to update the documentation files or write my own. When this is reasonably stable, I'll put up those pages for download here.
Done! See here. Now completely updated for VTML 2.

Do you have ideas for other topics on this site? Then please let me know. Comments are also welcome.

While I can't promise that I'll put every suggestion you may come up with into practice I'll certainly consider your ideas. Please remember that I'm doing this in my free time, and there's not really very much of that. And I already sleep faster. ;-)