Inserting Code

The coding tools in HomeSite support the full range of writing styles, from typing to point-and-click, and you can set the level of support you want. For repetitive chores, you can use its productivity to quickly enter common code blocks and required text. If you're working with less familiar syntax, you can get pop-up tips and selectable lists of language elements.

Inserting tags from the QuickBar

The QuickBar is a customizable development toolbar. When you click on a QuickBar toolbutton, it either inserts the code directly into the document or opens a tag editor for that specific tag if it supports attributes or other syntax elements.

You can display toolbars for HTML, CFML, JSP, scripting, and ASP code in addition to toolbars for HomeSite tools and standard Windows commands.

Customizing toolbars

You can easily change the QuickBar display and organize toolbuttons.

To change the tab order, right-click the QuickBar, select Organize QuickBar, and use the arrow buttons to set the tab order.
To move a toolbar, click and hold on the double lines located at the left end of the toolbar and drag it to a new location.
To customize a toolbar, right-click the QuickBar, select Customize, then double-click on a toolbar name in the Visible Toolbars list to change its contents.
To add a toolbar, click Add Toolbar in the Customize dialog box, enter a name for the new toolbar and click OK to add the toolbar to the Toolbars list. Select the new toolbar from the list and add toolbuttons as needed.
To add a custom toolbutton, click Add Custom Button to open the Custom Toolbutton dialog box, click a radio button to select an action for the toolbutton, complete the entries for the selected action, and click OK to add the new toolbutton to the selected toolbar.

You can always return to the original QuickBar configuration by clicking the Reset to Defaults button in the Customize dialog box.

Selecting tags from the Tag Chooser

The Tag Chooser contains tag sets for languages that are supported by tag editors, the Tag Inspector, Tag Insight, and Tag Tips.

To use Tag Chooser:

Right-click in the editor and select Insert Tag, or press Ctrl+E to open Tag Chooser.
The left pane in Tag Chooser contains a list of supported languages, the right pane shows the individual tags for the selected language folder.
Click a folder in the left pane to display all the language elements, or expand a folder to see the language organized by functional categories. Click a category to see a list of those elements in the right pane.
Click a tag in the right pane to highlight it.
If you want to view syntax and usage information for the tag, click one of the Help icons below the right pane. The Help pane opens to display tag-specific help.
To insert a tag, press Select for the highlighted tag or double-click it.
Tags that are inserted directly into a document are listed with brackets in the right pane, such as <HTML></HTML>. All other tags have individual editors that open when the tag is selected.
If an editor opens for the selected tag, complete the entries as needed and click OK to insert the tag.
You can open the Help pane in an editor for syntax information.

You can resize the Tag Chooser and keep it open while you work.

Using HomeSite
Chapter 5 Writing Code and Web Content