Alternative to KompoZer (Mac) needed

[derekcohen]

I've been running my website on prehistoric software - well, I've been doing is so long that I am not sure that I can learn anything new .... but open to suggestions as long as they are geared to a beginner.

For the past 15 years I have written an article in Word, inserted photos, and then converted it to a HTML document using Open Office. This is probably a long way around for others, but it gets me there.

The application I am missing is an alternative to KompoZer. This situation has come about as KompoZer is no longer supported by my new laptop, the latest MacBook Pro (M1, running Monterey). I would use KompoZer to write the Index page, and embed a link to the HTML file. Then the whole lot would be uploaded to my website using FileZilla. 

I've looked at one app, BlueGriffon, but it is not running properly - it will write and save text, but greys out with links.

Any help here?

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Mark Katz]

I've looked at one app, BlueGriffon, but it is not running properly - it will write and save text, but greys out with links.

I can't really help with a recommendation here, but for the problem quoted above - is it possible you're running a free, demo version of the software and you need the paid version to fix the link problem?

 

[derekcohen]

Mark, you may be correct. I have emailed the developer.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[fritter63]

My background: Recently retired (last week!) software engineer/architect with 40 years industry experience.

But before I give you advice, need a little more background on what you're doing.

When you say "website", is it more of a blog where you just log what you're doing? Is it to promote your biz? Do you need to list items for sale (inventory, etc?).

 

[derekcohen]

My background: Recently retired (last week!) software engineer/architect with 40 years industry experience.

But before I give you advice, need a little more background on what you're doing.

When you say "website", is it more of a blog where you just log what you're doing? Is it to promote your biz? Do you need to list items for sale (inventory, etc?).

Thanks.

The link to my website was below my name, but here it is again:http://www.inthewoodshop.com/index.html

I've been running this website for about 17 years. It contains a huge collection of articles by now, on furniture builds, tools, you name it. And it is free to access. I do not sell anything. I do not promote myself or anyone. I bear all the costs involved, consequently I am trying to keep costs down. Also, by profession I am a clinical psychologist, and woodworking has been a hobby/passion for me for over 30 years. It is my therapy. I am just passing on what I hope others will enjoy and appreciate.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[twistsol1]

Derek,

You may want to look at a content management system like WordPress or Joomla. They are free to use and while they take a little effort to set up, once up and running it is far easier to create new content and keep it up to date and indexed.

Many hosting providers will install and maintain the software for you so all you need to do is worry about the content.

 

[derekcohen]

I am not interested in moving to a new site, such as WordPress. There are too many articles to transfer. Too much work.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[derekcohen]

My background: Recently retired (last week!) software engineer/architect with 40 years industry experience.

But before I give you advice, need a little more background on what you're doing.

When you say "website", is it more of a blog where you just log what you're doing? Is it to promote your biz? Do you need to list items for sale (inventory, etc?).

Do you plan to respond?

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[derekcohen]

I've looked at one app, BlueGriffon, but it is not running properly - it will write and save text, but greys out with links.

I can't really help with a recommendation here, but for the problem quoted above - is it possible you're running a free, demo version of the software and you need the paid version to fix the link problem?

It turns out that BG will not run under a Mac running M1 or M2. The issue I found is a common one.

M1 is turning into a block.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi Derek,

I guess the reason for the slow feedback here is probably owed to the "old school" approach of using text documents, converting them to html and uploading them by means of an ftp client.

Basically everything, except/before the upload, can be done manually with the most standard text editor. You can simply use copies of the existing pages as templates. With a little effort, try & error, you will understand what you see, do and what changes result in within an hour, maybe two.

But you won't get a folder including the pictures et.al. to simply upload like you did when you used KompoZer.

You need to upload the pictures separately, and make sure your links to them target the right folder & file. Again, if you take the time to look at one of your existing pages in a text editor, all of this is pretty much self explanatory.

You can always try to find someone local to show this to you, it's much easier than it might sound right now - and also much easier conveyed face to face - than me, not writing in my native language, trying to explain this in written.

If BlueGriffon doesn't work right now because of incompatibilities, you can try SeaMonkey, it has a composer, too - albeit much more. So it might be overloaded and confusing for what you want to do. Or you simply wait it out until BlueGriffon is updated - if it is still supported.

You can also do a search on the App Store for "html editor" or "html wysiwyg editor" and try the freebies one by one.

I fully understand that migrating the content of your current website into a website with underlying content management system seems like a lot of work and waste of time/energy - but considering the future, it's pretty much the only way to go.

You could even run both sites parallel, uploading new articles directly via CMS to the new site, keep the old site as archive and migrate its content article by article when you have some time to spare.

If the site, through its sole existence, generates a form of income for you, it might even make sense to get a quote from a professional. Set up new site, migrate content, explain the use of CMS and maybe have some form of maintenance agreement.

Maybe its even possible to find a student looking for a small web project to make some $$$. I mean the time consuming parts are the migration of content and when/where possible additionally exchanging the current pictures for the original/pictures files with higher resolution.

Again, I fully understand your intent to keep it like it is - I just thought I'd offer my thoughts on the whole situation.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Vtshopdog]

I dealt with issues of my small business website and commerce software needing to be updated many times before I retired.  Always painful and often expensive to resolve.  Usual genesis was some sort of hardware upgrade that set off a domino of incompatibilities - I feel your pain.

You appear to have a ton of content on your existing site with the underlying fundamental that it does not generate sufficient joy (or income) in your life to justify a migration to newer hosting.  (FWW - there are a ton of affordable, easy to use, website-in-a-box solutions out there, but you likely already know this)

My two cents of input parallels Six Point's advice (welcome back SPS, by the way) and likely your best route is to find a way to manually add content as he suggested and keep the site limping along. 

Do realize this is the digital equivalent of continuing to use a dull saw blade - it will still cut, but slower than you like and the larger internet world will slowly leave you with fewer and fewer pathways as time goes by.

 

[derekcohen]

I'm afraid that the more I explore this topic and the 'Net, the more resigned I become that there is no solution to the situation. The simple fact is that the existing Editors cannot cope with Mac M1 and M2 processors. Perhaps there will be a solution in the future when developers catch up here, as the software is still used.

Oliver, just to clarify a point: I make no income from this website, and do not plan to do so in the future. It is simply a library of my articles on woodworking over the years. I believe that these are viewed positively, and I offer them freely to my fellow woodworkers. However, I lack the time and finances to set up a new website and migrate the articles. It is just too much work. My day job as a shrink is too demanding.

What I am doing at this time is working from an older laptop, a MacBook Air. It is a little inconvenient, but ... it works.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Michael Kellough]

I currently have four Apple laptops spanning the last 22 years to very occasionally run software that stopped being developed. Finally got rid of the computers that ran 20th Century apps.

 

[six-point socket II]

I think you found the most feasible solution for the time being, Derek!

By the way, the comment about generating income from the website was not meant to be disrespectful or insulting, I'm actually really sorry you felt the need to clarify the point that it didn't generate income. I just meant that if it did, it would be easier to justify the cost of hiring a professional.

I'm glad you're keeping the site alive by the way, there's a ton of great & educational information on it!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[jeh]

There is no reasonable solution to this problem that will not incur huge time and/or costs. KompoZer is not compatible with OS X versions from Catalina forward. The OP’s prior Mac was never updated to OS X Catalina either by choice or because it was not supported by Catalina. Had the OP moved to Catalina in 2019 (when it was released) the app would not have worked and therefore it would never have worked on any Mac sold after October 2019. The only solution is to find an older Mac that has not been updated to Catalina to keep your publishing system alive.

 

[derekcohen]

Jim, you are quite correct. For myself, it has always been "Horses for Courses". In other words, unless there is a good reason (significantly improved software), and as long as either reliability or condition are not factors, then why the need to upgrade?

I have two 2011 MacBook Pros. One is in its original state, running original software, and used by my wife as a stationary computer for accounts, emails and letters. The other streams music into my waiting room. I have a 2017 iMac, which I purchased used and then upgraded to a 1Tb SSD and 16 Gb as it is used for Zoom consultations. Prior to this I had a 2009 iMac, which was proving to be rather slow, and not worth upgrading.

But I also have a 2014 MacBook Air running High Sierra, and I will not upgrade the operating system as it will not run some of my software. This is the one I will be using for my website.

The 2018 MacBook Pro which has just been replaced (replaced because the display is failing and the cost of replacement is too great to justify) runs Mojave for the same reason as the Air. I cannot say that I saw the need for faster processing or faster software. But avoid the 2018/19 generation of MacBook Pros. They are lemons. The "Butterfly" keyboard caused endless problems (I went through 3).

One needs to ask oneself whether all these "improvements" are really that. Yes, software gets faster, but that is a relative experience.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[peacefulandpatriotically]

Hi Derek,

Thank you for writing and maintaining your website; I have found it to be a fantastic collection of information.  I agree with you 100% about "improvements" in software, especially with regard to apple.

Not to repeat what has already been said, the most simple solution is for you to continue using KompZer on an older machine. 

If you do decide to migrate your articles into a more modern web site, there are nearly fully automated ways to convert your existing content to a new platform, however, even being automated, it still requires a chunk of your time and perhaps someone else to help.  I am experienced with this and would be happy to donate my time to assist if you choose to do so.

Peter

 

[derekcohen]

Hi Peter

Many thanks for your kind words.

I shall contact you via a PM to discuss this.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[derekcohen]

Thanks for the suggestions, Sophia. BlueGriffin is no longer operative and is filled with bugs. None of the others offer a WYSIWYG editor, which is what I need (Kompozer and BlueGriffin are WYSIWYG editors). They are all website builders.

Regards from Perth

Derek