BlueGriffon Tutorial
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The Source View
For those who are proficient in HTML, the Source view is used to edit and add code. In this section, we will briefly cover how to use the Source view, as well some of its unique features.
Navigating to the Source View
Fig. 13-1
To access the Source view, click on the Source tab at the bottom of the BlueGriffon window (Fig. 13-1).
Fig. 13-2
Upon switching to Source view, you will see the HTML source code, and be able to edit it (Fig. 13-2).
As evidenced from the figure above, BlueGriffon assigns a different text color to each of the code's constitutent parts. Whenever you enter a particular variable (such as id, class, etc.), and enter the = sign, the program makes it easy for your to compose your code by automatically entering in the quotation marks. You will also notice that wherever you place the cursor in Wysiwyg mode, the line of HTML which the cursor occupies will be highlighted in the Source view.
Note. Although BlueGriffon's Source view makes it easier to compose handwritten HTML code, it is still imperative that only those proficient in HTML use this feature in the composition of their website on a regular basis. The reason for this is that if the HTML is coded incorrectly, switching back to Wysiwyg mode will finalize the corrupt code, and make it difficult if not impossible to fix your page. The result being, of course, that you will have to rewrite the page all over again.
Signs of Improper Coding
Another nice feature of BlueGriffon's Source view is that it will let you know when you have coded a particular element improperly, as well as which parts of the page will be affected upon switching back to Wysiwyg view.
Fig. 13-3
If only a part of your code changes color, then only that part of the page has been affected by improperly coded HTML. If a larger part changes color (particularily if it changes to red), then the code is not simply improperly coded, but corrupted in such a way that switching back to Wysiwyg view will corrupt your site irreperably (Fig. 13-3). If you run into this problem, and are unable to find where you coded the page improperly, do not switch back to Wysiwyg view, but close the page without saving. You can then re-open the page, and start again from where you left off.
Once you are finished editing your site, you will need to give it a trial run in a web browser, and then upload it. These topics are covered in the next section, on Testing and Uploading Your Site.