
How do I save HTML files from TextEdit?I am new to the Mac world and I have started with Tiger. When I use the textedit program to type HTML code and save it as an HTML document all I see is the code when I open the file in any of the browsers that I use. Unlike Notepad in Window, why can't I see the results of my code in a web page? I am completely lost and have combed the Internet. The simple Text Editor program in the older versions of the Mac OSs' seemed to work just like Notepad in Windows. Please let me know what I am doing wrong. Just as with NotePpad on the PC, there's a bit of a trick to getting TextEdit to save HTML files properly, and it's all to do with the filename extension. Yes, we're now deep into the 21st Century, but computer operating systems still basically work like early DOS machines: If you have the wrong filename extension, either your OS itself won't understand it or your Web browser will be convinced that even though it looks like HTML inside it's really just plain text to show as-is. Sheesh. In TextEdit, you'll type in some HTML and have a window that looks like this: ![]() This is not good because the program wants to work with Rich Text Format, not plain text (the ruler is the giveaway). To fix that, go to Format --> Make Plain Text and, voila! It'll look like this: ![]() Much better! Now, almost done (and you only have to go through this once: once the file is properly named, TextEdit will remember for future edit sessions). Choose File --> Save As... and type in a filename that includes a ".html" filename extension: ![]() Looks good. Click on "OK", though, and now you get this: ![]() Click on "Use .html" and, finally, you're done! Yes, it's a bit of a pain, but, as I said, you only have to do this once, when you first save the file, and from then on, it'll work transparently.
Help others find this article at Del.icio.us, Digg, Netscape, Reddit, and Simpy.
Categorized:
Mac OS X Help
(Article 4097)
Tagged: Previous: Sarbanes-Oxley affects small businesses too? Next: How do I set my default email program on Mac OS X? Subscribe!
Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader. A more permanent fix would be to enter TextEdit's Preferences. Inside the "Saving" area (near the bottom-right) there's an option that's checked by default, which you'd probably want to toggle: • Append ''.txt'' extension to plain text files Uncheck that, and you shouldn't have this problem anymore. Posted by: Travis Seitler at August 2, 2005 3:00 PMThis method only works the first time you save the file. After that, it will be .html/.htm but when you reopen it TextEdit will kindly help you hide all your source code as rich text formatting and display only the outcome. To prevent this, open Preferences, go to the Open and Save tab, and check "Ignore rich text commands in HTML files". (This is on OS X Tiger) Posted by: Michael Billips at February 19, 2007 2:50 PMhi........ THANKS A LOT NOW I CAN SAVE IT !!!!!!!!!! Posted by: Shaun at February 17, 2008 9:24 AMhi thank you so much you helped me with making html with textedit ;) thanks a lot Posted by: josh casbolt at June 4, 2008 10:11 AMoh my god, thank you so much. i can finally turn in my homework. Posted by: b at June 13, 2008 7:33 AMI have a lot to say, but ...
I do have a comment, now that you mention it!
|
![]()
Search
Find just the answers you seek from among our 1700+ free tech support articles by using our Lijit search engine.
Help!
Subscribe to
Ask Dave Taylor!
Free Updates!
Sign up and get free weekly updates and special offers on books, seminars, workshops and more.
Articles and Reviews
Auctions and Online Shopping Blogs and RSS Feeds Building Web site traffic Business and Management Cell Phones and Mobile Phones CGI Scripts and Web Site Programming Computer and Internet Basics d) None of the Above HTML and CSS Mac OS X Help MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and Social Network Help Pay Per Click (PPC) Search Engine Optimization Shell Script Programming Sony PSP, MP3 Players, Etc. The Writing Business Unix and Linux Help Video Game Tips and Help Windows Help
Recent Entries
Join the List!
Book Links
|