A method and apparatus for a structure editor implementing a "top-down" approach to designing a Web page. The user uses a "drag and drop" interface to add, delete, and move display elements to define the hierarchy of the site and to define the layout of each page in the site. The present invention automatically generates a layout for each page. This layout contains display elements that represent the links between pages of the site. The present invention automatically adds, removes, and deletes the appropriate links between the pages of the site as the user moves display elements. After the user has defined the hierarchy of the site and the layout of each page in the site, the user "publishes" the site. The publish function automatically generates HTML for each page of the site in accordance with the display elements of each page, yielding true WYSIWYG pages for the site.