WYSWIG blog (MT) template creator

Is there a program out there that will let me create a Moveable Type blog template visually? I’ve modified a template by hand, but I am much better at laying a page out visually than digging into the code (I usually only deal with code when there’s a gun to my head) and would like to be able to do things like draw a rectangle here, insert a picture there, draw a placeholder and assign a blog-specific tag, etc - is there such a creature out there? Preferrably freeware or low-priced (<$50) commercial software, tho I know that may be asking for a lot…

critter42

I hate to bump this, but I’m not sure if it stayed on the front page long enough for people to get a good look at the question.

Thanks!

critter42

I use MT and I have never come across anything like that. I can’t imagine such a thing being out there for use because of how complicated MT template codes are.

sigh…this has been up for a couple of days and I only now noticed I merfed the title up (WYSWIG should actually be WYSIWYG)

OK, in case there’s nothing out there that does what I want, I’m opening a new thread over in IMHO to find out what MT users DO use to create MT templates. If a mod runs across this thread, can you leave it open, at least for a couple of days longer, in case someone knows of a program that does what I want?

critter42

There is no such thing as a WYSIWYG MT editor that I know of. I don’t know why there would be, as WYSIWYG editors create really cruddy markup (it’s not code, HTML is a markup language, not a coding language!) and MT is typically used by people who are doing their damndest to get away from that.

There are lots of freeware/linkware/shareware templates out there, but I will readily admit that most are pretty feminine or clearly geared toward young female users.

If you’re willing to compensate someone to help you with your templates or to create new templates for you, you can try BlogBarter. From everything I’ve seen, the folks there know their stuff when it comes to Movable Type.

If you can design your layout in Photoshop or some painting program and link to the image, maybe some people help you along the way.