I downloaded several web site templates. I need to know what would be the most appropriate software package to open these zip files and modify them. What software would you use to modify the text and pictures. Thank you for your input and insight.

To unzip downloaded files, you’ll need software that can unzip those files. If you’re using a Mac, its probably already built-in. If you’re using Windows, then you should download WinZip.

To edit text and pictures of web content, there are many things you can use but it sounds like you’re a newbie at this. I strongly suggest that if you want to do-it-yourself, that you should use a Website builder program that will protect you from making mistakes. What website hosting company are you using? They probably include some kind of web builder for the monthly/annual fee that you pay.

I agree with @robmitchell.  Have you checked out platforms like Flavors.me, Squarespace, etc.?

Uh oh… Are you buying WP or HTML templates? If it is HTML, I am fearing you may have been oversold on how easy it is to modify these templates. Unzipping the files may be  the least of your challenges. Do you have any coding / html experience?  I am a web developer and my starting point ofr a lot of clients is to buy a template on templatemonster etc and then modify it to incorporate their logo, change the menu, modify the content, fiddle the colors slightly. I do all of this by opening up the HTML files and editing them. Unless you are using a hosted solution (where the ‘template’ is purchased from the hosting company and lives on their servers at all time, and they give you an admin panel, no downloading involved…) Assuming you are not using a hosted solution but a template that you bought and downloaded and which you need to modify and find hosting for… well I do not know how you can do that without touchng some HTML. You may read / hear that you can use Dreamweaver or Contribute or Expression Web to modify HTML without touching the code, but I think that is a bit of an exageration (Big fat oversell). Yes – you could edit a paragraph or to, but to edit a whole site? I think not!

If it is a WordPress theme template the outlook is brighter – get WP onto the host platform (usually do-able through the control panel) then use FTP to upload your theme… not as simple as people tell you but not impossible.

I knew one day my relative web illeteracy would catch up to me. This is the note I received from Host Gator support:

“The templates normally should be downloaded to your local computer so that you can modify and then upload via either file manager or FTP.”

In looking at the template specifications, software such as Macromedia, Adobe Photoship, HTML files amd Front Page were needed software. Oh, well, I got myself. I need to investigate better next time.

Thank you for your input in this matter.

Thank you Scott. They have a few that can be used and customized. That will become a weekend project.