HotDog Professional --
This is indeed one HOT application -- HotDog Professional combines all of the same great features
found in its former sidekick, HotDog Standard, with
many essential and necessary new features. HotDog Pro capitalizes on the standard version's few deficiencies -- a spelling checker is included (American English is pre-installed with the package but UK English, French, German, and Italian dictionaries are also available), customizable tags and shortcut keys make redundant tasks much easier, an integrated FTP client facilitates the task of uploading web documents to remote sites, and customizable templates have now been introduced as well. And new features introduced in the latest releases only add to the already stacked feature set. In addition to an integrated file manager, a new syntax checker, web projects (designed to save you time by efficiently integrating your web pages), colored tags (for determining level of compliance and for distinguishing the types of tags your pages use), wizards for advanced HTML programming, word wrap, support for long filenames, right mouse button functionality, and support for tags specific to Internet Explorer 3.0 and Netscape 3.0, two major new features headline the latest additions to the client.
The first of the two critical new features is ROVER -- short for real-time output viewer -- a tool that gives you the ability to view your HTML files as WYSIWYG presentations. The second, and perhaps its coolest innovation yet, is HotDog Pro 4's new Supertoolz client, a manager that automatically determines if you have the latest extensions, or SuperTools, for HotDog Pro and then gives you the option of downloading any extensions that you don't have or that have newer versions available. While some extensions carry a price tag of $25-100, most can be downloaded for free and upgrades to the commercial extensions are always free. Current SuperTools include java animations, a multi-file find and replace utility, a visual table editor, text effects, JavaScript tools, a button editor, and an image mapping utility. Look for more SuperTools to be made available as the beta client nears official release. HotDog Pro's multi-function interface is patterned roughly after Homesite's Launchpad but also includes several additional tasks, including the ROVER client, a file manager that lists your local files, another manager that handles your Netscape bookmarks and Internet Explorer favorites lists, quick drag 'n' drop capabilities between files/graphics and your current document, and an HTML Tags listing for all of the HTML tags currently available, sorted alphabetically as well as hierarchically. You can add your own user-defined tags to this window as well as set up your own filters in order to list only the tags that meet a specific criteria.
The native 32-bit release of HotDog Pro has witnessed massive improvements since its early days -- gone are useless tools like the dog bone toolbar and undockable floating toolbars. In their place Sausage Software has implemented a vast array of powerful and useful features, including Page Building wizards, support for style sheets and other HTML 3.2 tags, improved FTP uploading, web site retrieval capabilities (a SuperTool that allows you to download an entire site with one click), extensive customization capabilities (customize to your heart's content), project management tools, Push Channel creation capabilities, a SafeSurf PICS Wizard (helps you rate the content of your web site in less than a minute), an extremely cool Bandwidth Buster feature (another SuperTool that structures your pages and images so that they show up quicker for your users), automatic updating of the program itself via the SuperToolz client, an amazing Windows help guide that is second to none in its category, and an intuitive, user-configurable interface. The only downside is that with so many features it should come as no surprise that HotDog is quite a bit slower than conventional text editors and even many of the HTML editors currently available (including WebEdit and HomeSite). Still, the client has definitely made up ground in terms of both speed and overall power with its latest releases.
Over its lifespan, HotDog Professional has introduced a ton of extremely useful functions for webmasters who have been given the task of maintaining large web sites. Innovations like HotDog's global file find and replace capabilities, multilingual spell checker, and the new SuperToolz client are representative of Sausage Software's continual pursuit of excellence and innovation. Next to Netscape, no other app has contributed as much to its genre in terms of usability, powerful features, innovative tools, and helpful shortcuts. Despite extreme competition from the likes of HomeSite, WebEdit, and FrontPage and despite being one of the slower editors available, HotDog Pro remains one of the best, if not the best, HTML editors on the market. HotDog Pro has always been one of the most intuitive HTML editors and it continues to include more helpful features and customizable tools than any other editor. At only $99.95, it is cheaper than most of its competition as well. In short, like Netscape Navigator, Pegasus Mail, and Agent, this is one must-have app for Windows users.
Pros: Excellent interface, every HTML command imaginable, innovative tools, extremely easy to use
Cons: Relatively slow, lacks a thesaurus and shortcut commands for many options including spell checking
New: SuperToolz, full IE 4.0 support, revised interface, Push Channel creation capabilities, bug fixes, more
Allaire HomeSite --
Few HTML editors offer the breadth and depth of features found in WebEdit and HotDog, the perennial champs of the HTML editor genre. HomeSite is a new editor that not only matches the selection of features found in these two clients but also gives each a run for its money in terms of overall power, ease of use, and price. HomeSite begins by covering the standard set of must-have features necessary for any HTML editor to be competitive in this extremely crowded marketplace. Complete HTML 3.2 support, wizards for advanced HTML programming, word wrap, support for long filenames, right mouse button functionality, color coding, and support for tags specific to Internet Explorer 3.0 and Netscape 3.0 are just the beginning of what this editor-deluxe has to offer its users. Less than a year ago, enhanced features like multiple file find and replace (extended replace), project management, quick and efficient spell checking, a 'document list' view for quick access to web files and projects, full screen editing capabilities, support for both inline and external web browsing, multiple level Undo, HomeSite Tips, and extensive on-line help would have been enough to vault HomeSite to the top of its class. Today, if this were the extent of its capabilities, HomeSite would fare no better than other HTML editors that have quickly been rendered obsolete by the ever-improving trio of WebEdit Professional, HotDog Professional, and Microsoft FrontPage. HomeSite, however, escapes the fate of its brethren by offering all of the above great features and a whole lot more.
Perhaps its most impressive feature, HomeSite sports a powerful multi-level toolbar with quick access to often used HTML tags, tools, and wizards. The attractively designed central toolbar allows you to effortlessly switch between HomeSite's extensive collection of options. Font attributes; table and frames wizards; comments, lists, and line editors; a launchpad for easily running your favorite apps from within the HomeSite interface; customized tags; and buttons for making use of the latest in web technology are all just one click away thanks to the top-level toolbar. Going just one level deeper delivers the entire HomeSite feature-set to you through various tool buttons. Whether you want to quickly create a form or image map,
embed an ActiveX control or Netscape object, insert an anchor or image (with auto-detection of width and height), launch an FTP client for uploading files or a web browser for viewing new documents, HomeSite not only makes it possible but also ensures that your task can be completed in a quick and intuitive manner. The Table and Frames Wizards are particularly powerful; only WebEdit's collection of wizards is comparable to HomeSite's in terms of ease of use and advanced features offered. HomeSite's attractively designed multiple document interface (MDI), another feature patterned after WebEdit, also helps distinguish HomeSite from the rest of the competition.
Without a doubt, HomeSite has more than enough features to make it appealing to both novice and expert web designers alike. Along with WebEdit, it is one of the few editors to quickly and consistently offer advanced support for the latest in web technology, support for the likes of ActiveX Controls, Java applets, document embedding, web scripting, and whatever other new features Microsoft and Netscape can come up with in the near future. However, like most apps on the 'net, HomeSite's not quite perfect. Relative to text editors like TextPad and NotePad as well as smaller HTML editors, Homesite takes entirely too long to load initially, making it a poor choice for quick updates and routine document changes. HomeSite also could benefit from features like FrontPage's WebBots, WebEdit's pre-coded collection of Java applets, and HotDog Pro's Supertoolz. Finally, the app also currently lacks internal support for remote file uploading and editing; however, users do have the choice of running an external FTP client or Microsoft's Web Publishing Wizard. Overall, it's quite easy to overlook minor flaws like these when you consider the amazing array of advanced features and tools offered by HomeSite. And while the cost of the client has doubled since its original release (from $40 to $80), when you compare HomeSite's price and set of features to those of the competition you'll find that HomeSite still offers one of the best overall returns on your investment.
Note: The freeware version of HomeSite will continue to be available for downloading. However, it does lack several features found in the commercial release, including multiple file editing, spell checking, right-click tag editing, and project management features.
Pros: Great collection of features, all the latest tags and tools, inexpensive and easy to use
Cons: Relatively slow start-up, lacks several important features like remote file editing and saving
New: Enhanced JavaScript support, new user guide, new price tag, custom style sheets, link verification, more
TextPad for Windows --
A vast majority of webmasters today are finding that when it comes to maintaining
a web site, the HTML editor that served them so well during the initial development of their site just doesn't measure up anymore. The reality is, once you've integrated
all the graphics, sound, Java applets, and original content into your web site using a high-power HTML editor like HotDog, HomeSite, or Microsoft FrontPage, you'll likely find that the same features you found so useful in your editor before are now simply overkill. Feature-laden HTML editors tend to take longer to load when being run at first (this especially applies to HotDog), they tend to lack screen real estate due to a large number of toolbars and graphics, and they often make the process of implementing small and routine changes to pages overly laborious. In order for a web site to be successful, it needs to have a constant infusion of new information and it needs to evolve in response to the viewers' needs and wants. This is where a webmaster really earns his or her money and where the good sites distinguish themselves from the mediocre. As a result, the tools of choice for maintaining web sites should come as no surprise -- small and quick text and HTML editors that make the process of revising pages and adding new content as efficient as humanly possible.
The first app introduced to meet the maintenance needs of webmasters was surprisingly enough, Windows Notepad. This tiny app met most developers' critical needs -- it loaded quick,
it handled multiple pages simultaneously, and it made simple the process of making small changes to web pages. Unfortunately, it lacked many HTML specific features as well as the ability to handle large files (32Kb+ in the 16-bit version). Despite being small and quick, Notepad's shortcomings quickly made revising web pages a major chore. To capitalize on Notepad's deficiencies, a great little freeware HTML editor by the name of HTML Writer was developed. Introduced in 1994, HTML Writer was an instant savior to the first generation of webmasters, often cutting the time spent on web maintenance in half. While it did lack many critical features -- including a 32-bit engine, long-file name support, a spelling checker, etc. -- to many users it was nothing short of a godsend. Many CWSApps users have lamented the lack of progress made on HTML Writer -- it's been more than two years since the client was last updated. In that time, the Windows world has dramatically changed and the web has evolved into an entirely different environment. Still, there have been few high-quality yet user-friendly alternatives to HTML Writer introduced on the 'net. Fortunately, that is finally beginning to change, thanks largely in part to an app named TextPad.
The developers of TextPad, Helios Software Solutions, have put together a package that will
satisfy the most demanding editing needs of webmasters and non-webmasters alike. Available in both 16 and 32-bit versions, TextPad loads quick, performs extremely efficiently, and offers an outstanding set of features. Usability is the name of the game in this niche market; it's also the area in which TextPad really excels. Long file name support, the ability to handle large files (up to the limits of your virtual memory in the 32-bit version), huge screen real estate, Multiple Document Interface (MDI) capabilities for working on several documents at once, OLE2 Drag 'n' Drop, multilingual interface functionality (including Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian as well as standard English), an integrated spelling checker (also available in a number of languages), HTML web viewing (by automatically launching an external browser), unlimited undo/redo capabilities, a customizable toolbar, a keystroke macro recorder, and powerful search and replace abilities (including multiple file replace) are just a few of TextPad's great features. TextPad also offers a great selection of configuration options, which allow you to customize the client to your needs and, as a result, work in the most efficient manner possible.
Two of TextPad's most unique and impressive features are text bookmarks and the "Warm Start" option. Like physical bookmarks, text bookmarks allow you to save your place in a file (especially useful for long, complex files) and then quickly find it once again at a later time. The "Warm Start" feature complements text bookmarks by allowing you to save your entire work session and then return to it later exactly the way you left it. Using Warm Start, all of the files you were previously working on can be restored to their prior location and window size, thereby saving you the time and effort of having to find where you last left off, open the necessary files, and then jump to the correct locations. These two features exemplify
the attention to detail prevalent throughout TextPad and are great examples of how Helios has
developed the client from the ground up with the user in mind. While TextPad may not meet all of your needs -- especially when it comes to developing web sites from scratch (check out HomeSite, FrontPage, or HotDog for that) -- if you want a quick and powerful editor that can make your life a whole lot easier, TextPad is definitely the app for you. HTML Writer fans, rejoice -- a worthy successor to the king of efficient editors has finally arrived.
Pros: Quick, powerful, and extremely easy to use; impressive set of features (especially the 'Warm Start' option)
Cons: TextPad excels at maintaining web sites, not creating them; cost relative to HTML Writer
New: Brazilian Portuguese interface, auto save, customizable keyboard, clip library, view menu, more
Luckman's WebEdit --
The latest release of WebEdit has arrived with several much-appreciated new features and improved support for many of the old features, including additional HTML 3.2 tags (math functions, icon entities, tables, and full support for the latest tags from Netscape and Internet Explorer), a Home Page Wizard (which may well rival even WebWizard for ease of use), server side include tags, improved web browser support, additional wizards for automating tasks, and much more. Additionally, WebEdit now includes a URL Builder for easy selection of
URLs, a Table Builder for rapid creation of advanced tables, a built-in WYSIWYG previewer for viewing HTML pages from within the editor (the previewer does not yet accept HTML 3.2 tags, though), and a new WYSIWYG image mapping utility for quickly developing high-quality image maps. WebEdit also saves every URL you enter, letting you choose from a list rather than having to retype the same URLs over and over. Also included are a tool for removing HTML tags from a document and a tool for quickly producing a template of tags commonly used in HTML documents. WebEdit also features MDI -- multiple-document interface -- which allows you to work on up to ten different HTML documents simultaneously.
As in most other HTML editors, there is an option for calling your favorite web browser to view the current page. Additional features include word wrap, time/date stamping, search and replace, and almost every HTML command imaginable. WebEdit even allows you to create user-defined tags. Many of WebEdit's features are now found in less expensive HTML Editors like HTML Easy Pro and HotDog. WebEdit does have some very interesting new features, like floating customizable toolbars, projects support, an integrated HTML tag checker, colored tag highlighting, FTP uploading capabilities, a Tables of Content Wizard, WYSIWYG Frame and Form Wizards, pre-coded Java applets, support for WebEdit add-ons, a Table Builder tool, and a multilingual spelling checker (American English, British, Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Spanish). While sporting more features than most other web editors, WebEdit does have one drawback that keeps it from taking the crown -- at just under $50, WebEdit can't match the likes of TextPad's near-freeware status or HotDog's inexpensive price coupled with superior overall ease of use and extensive set of features. Still, with each new release WebEdit takes a giant leap forward in narrowing the gap and may well reach and surpass HotDog in the near future.
Pros: Great collection of features, includes proposed HTML tags and user-defined tags
Cons: Relatively expensive price tag, not as easy to use as HotDog
New: New name (and company), several new wizards, enhanced web previewer, image map editor, more
The Web Media Publisher Pro --
Like HTMLed Pro and HotDog, The Web Media Publisher offers a strong selection of advanced features in a program that is also extremely easy to use. Easy forms, tables (including previewing), frames, and even Java development tools are just the beginning of Publisher's extensive array of goodies. A file conversion utility (to and from PC, MAC, and UNIX platforms), Internet Explorer tools (for marquee, background sound, image options, and client side image mapping tags), tools for creating high-quality backgrounds and image maps, multiple file search and replace capabilities, and user definable buttons give further credence to Publisher's extensive feature-set. Publisher is a 32-bit application (Windows 95 and NT); as a result, it supports long file names and right mouse button functionality.
The latest update of The Web Media Publisher (in its new, beefed-up 'Professional' release) takes the client to a new level, vaulting it past much of its competition. An integrated spelling checker, image mapping utilities, user-definable floating toolbars, FTP uploading capabilities, full Java and Shockwave support, and a complete inline web previewing browser are several of the recently added features that put this $35 application in a class of its own. With a new and much-improved Windows 95 style interface, Publisher should merit considerable attention from users for its price, its solid collection of features, and its attractive layout. Publisher may not be the best HTML Editor currently available, but it has come a long way in a very short time and will be more than adequate for all but the most demanding users.
Pros: Easy forms, tables, and frames development tools; spelling checker; Internet Explorer tools
Cons: Needs more customization of toolbars and buttons
New: Multiple file search and replace, full Java and Shockwave support, tabbed toolbars, much more
FrontPage 98 --
Creating web pages has never been easier thanks to FrontPage, Microsoft's latest entrant into the world of HTML Editors (Internet Assistant for Word being the first). Microsoft has integrated the Office 97 look and feel into its newest editor, making the task of designing attractive and informative web sites as easy as using Microsoft Word or Excel. The same spelling checker as found in Office 97 is included, one of many features that helps to make FrontPage competitive in an extremely crowded marketplace. Cool features include a WYSIWYG web editor (no HTML coding necessary, tons of templates (including a Frames Wizard) to assist you in developing complex pages quickly, tools for implementing advanced features like tables and forms, client side image mapping, easy image insertion capabilities, support for advanced technologies like ActiveX and Java, near-seamless integration with Microsoft Office, and WebBots.
WebBots, by far the hottest feature included with FrontPage, are flexible, precoded CGI scripts that you can simply drop into your web page. Survey forms, web searches, image maps, scheduled text and image insertion, tables of content, and timestamps are examples of WebBots that can be integrated into your web page as easily as inserting a graphic. However, in order for you to be able to make use of the WebBots on your pages, your web server will need to be configured with Microsoft server extensions. FrontPage has built-in server extension support for its own personal web server as well as for O'Reilly's WebSite (Windows 95 and NT) and Netscape Communications/Commerce Servers (Windows NT only). A list of server extensions for additional servers can be found at the Microsoft FrontPage web site.
In addition to the editor itself, FrontPage includes four additional powerful tools: a web explorer, a "To Do" project manager, an image composer, and a 32-bit web server. The web explorer visually portrays your web site with hierarchical and graphical representations, helping web designers build and maintain complex web sites. In addition, the explorer shows both the internal and external links for each page which can assist you in quickly finding broken links. The "To Do" project manager helps workgroups work together in planning the development and maintenance of a web site over an extended period of time. This feature and the web explorer make FrontPage especially attractive for web sites constructed by more than one person. The Microsoft Image Composer allows web designers to quickly create web-ready images. The 32-bit web server allows you to host the web pages you create with the editor and to serve them to the world on the Internet or to your company through its own private intranet. The server is pre-configured with FrontPage server extensions, allowing you to take full advantage of the FrontPage editor, including the ultra-powerful WebBots. When all is said and done, no other app offers the powerful combination of web explorer, editor, project manager, and server like FrontPage does.
Pros: Powerful web server/editor/project manager combo, tons of cool features like WebBots
Cons: Lacks some advanced features found in apps like HotDog and HomeSite, relatively expensive
New: Support for push technology, themes and table drawing tools, navigation bars, much more
TrustedLink INP --
TrustedLink INP is the perfect solution for small and intermediate sized businesses just starting out on the web. In addition to the software itself, Harbinger Net Services integrates web site hosting, Internet access, e-mail accounts, online support, and all the software necessary to get your business up and running on the Internet (and at the same time give you a head start against your competition). With a 60 day no-risk free trial offer available, your business has nothing to lose by trying out the complete web offering (a $435 value). TrustedLink INP, the centerpiece of the total web solutions package, will take you step by step through the process of creating a professional-looking web site. Extensive templates customized according to industry type are available for professional, consulting, agricultural, construction, manufacturing, distribution, retail, and financial services. All you have to do is fill in information specific to your company. TrustedLink handles the rest and even offers a collection of attractive and helpful icons and background images in order to help improve the appearance and feel of your newly constructed web site. As with clients like FrontPage and PageMill, TrustedLink INP does all the background work for you. You don't need to know a single HTML command in order to create a great-looking web site.
When you've completed the initial page-building steps, you can use your web browser to preview the pages and then return to TrustedLink to make any changes you find necessary. Finally, you are ready to put your web site on the 'net. As long as you have an account with Harbinger, this normally time-consuming process is as simple as clicking a button. Even better, after each update that you make to your web pages, just click on the same button and only the newly revised pages will be sent to your web site. If you have an account with another provider, uploading your pages will require a separate File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client. TrustedLink also offers Web Registration Services (WRS), which update the major Internet search engines and indexes with information about your web site. The latest release, version 1.1, has added even more great features, including the extremely cool WebPO ordering system which gives you the ability to process secure orders 24 hours a day on your web site. Regardless of the size of your business, you can use the WebPO system to guide customers
through a catalog of products and then generate purchase orders in a secure environment.
With TrustedLink INP and the WebPO system, your web site will very likely become your best salesperson (and the least expensive as well). There are HTML editors better suited both for experienced individuals and for larger companies, but few editors exist that more effectively meet the needs of the majority of businesses that are just now getting on to the web. If your business fits this category, Harbinger and TrustedLink INP provide everything you need to get up and running on the Internet quickly and painlessly.
Pros: Total web solutions package, makes setting up professional-looking web sites easy
Cons: Niche market editor that is best suited only for small and mid-sized business
New: WebPO ordering system, improved one-click publishing, integration with EDI systems, more
HotDog Standard --
Now this is the kind of application I like -- almost every feature I could
ever possibly want and more! HotDog Pro and Standard are both extremely well-designed HTML editors that allow you to use every HTML command possible as well as your own user-defined commands. While no longer supported or updated, the standard version has had its mark on its big brother (the Professional version), offering many of the same features and ease of use. When available, the standard version offered a very attractive price in order to compensate for
absent features -- at just $29.95, the Standard version was a real steal (perhaps a significant reason why it is no longer available ;-). An excellent set of features was a major factor in HotDog's world-wide appeal -- files of any size could be handled (no 32 Kb limit); colored tags helped authors identify code from content; auto-upload (HotFTP) and project management features aided webmasters; advanced HTML formatting with support for Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape tags; advanced support and tools for tables, forms, background images; and more. HotDog standard also allowed you to embed images and documents into your web pages with the exclusive Embedding option. Another unique attribute of HotDog Standard was its Publishing option, which automated many of the chores involved in creating and serving a web page.
The HotDog Standard interface was also one of its best selling points. Most common tasks were listed in a toolbar with icons big enough for a user to actually understand what they're supposed to represent. While some of the items could have been arranged in a more intuitive manner, the extremely useful and efficient design was a precursor to the appealing interface found in the Professional release. Nearly every web task was made simple by HotDog, from launching an app for previewing a page to making the most of both Netscape-specific tags and Internet Explorer-specific tags. Another great aspect of HotDog Standard has made its way into the Pro version as well -- HotDog's extensive on-line help documentation, which not only covers all features of HotDog, but also offers a comprehensive reference to the HTML language,
Netscape-specific tags, Internet Explorer-specific tags, and more. Overall, while HotDog Pro is definitely the best HTML editor available at this time, its little brother has had a lot to do with that success and at one time was able to run a very close second in an extremely competitive market.
Pros: Excellent interface, every HTML command imaginable, very easy to use
Cons: Lacks some critical features of the Professional version, no longer supported by Sausage Software
New: FTP quick uploading, real-time output viewer, HTML conversion utility, colored tags, more
HTMLed Pro --
HTMLed Pro incorporates many advanced features into a program
that is extremely easy to use. Intelligent tag insertion, HTML 3.2 support, tag removal,
automatic saving with or without HTML tags, word wrap, color chooser, QuickKeys (for inserting commonly used pieces of text), an HTML automatic page designer tool, right mouse button functionality (user-configurable), an integrated spelling checker, multi-file find and replace, and custom buttons (also user-configurable) are just a few of HTMLed's advanced features. In addition, the task of creating background images and identifying colors for your web pages is made easy with HTMLed. With QuickKeys, custom buttons, and customizable right mouse button functionality all at your fingertips, HTMLed Pro offers more options than any other HTML editor for personalizing the service to your needs. QuickKeys for routine and oft-used features like spell checking and insertion of common tags, a repeat button for automatically re-entering commands, and HTML templates for creating common pages are all critical time-saving activities built-in to the HTMLed interface.
Perhaps the best features of HTMLed Pro are its Form, Table, Frame, and Image Map Designers which allow
you to easily and attractively set up your own forms, tables, frames, and image maps. These Designers
are perhaps the best available tools for creating advanced forms and tables of any HTML editors currently available. Still, the form designer could be improved by implementing scripting capabilities (Perl or CGI) for handling the back-end processing aspect of forms. Another of HTMLed Pro's better features is its remote file uploading and saving capabilities. You can even have your .HTM files automatically renamed to .HTML files after being uploaded. HTMLed Pro, like many of the newer HTML editors, contains many, many features, but if it does have one serious shortcoming, it would have to be that the interface is considered by many to be less attractive than those of its close competitors. Still, like the best HTML Editors on the 'net, HTMLed Pro is one of those that just keeps getting better and better all the time; if you haven't gotten a chance to check this one out yet, by all means do so.
HTMLed Shareware: The shareware version of HTMLed offers many of the same features as the Professional version. However, it does lack a built-in spelling checker, remote file save and open capabilities, RTF importing, and several additional features. Like the Pro release, this version is available with a thirty day free evaluation. At just $29 to register, the shareware version is an inexpensive and efficient solution for those seeking the benefits of the pro version without having to pay the extra costs ($59.95 for HTMLed Pro).
Pros: Intelligent tagging, excellent custom Designer tools and many more advanced features; easy to use
Cons: Lack of on-line help, expensive (relative to HTML Writer), interface could be more attractive
New: Revised interface, HTML 3.2 support, multi-file find and replace, image map editor, frame designer, more
HTML Assistant Pro -- HTML Assistant Pro may not be the prettiest web editor you'll ever see, but it does sport some of the most powerful features. Beginning with support for almost every HTML command imaginable (including the ability to create your own user-definable tags), HTML Assistant ensures that you'll have all the tools necessary for developing even the most complex of web sites.
Table, Form, Background, and Image Map Assistants guide you through the process of designing complex web elements. When it comes to implementing frames, there are few tools currently available that are more powerful and intuitive to use than HTML Assistant's QuickFrames. This feature takes you step-by-step through creating pages with frames and painlessly allows you to set up a web site with frames in a matter of minutes.
Additional HTML Assistant features include multiple file find and replace, an integrated spelling checker, an automatic page creator, a word processor file converter (automatically converts Rich Text Format, .RTF, files to HTML files), conversion of HTML tags to upper/lower case upon request, colored tags, multimedia tags support, video support (allows you to create web pages with embedded video clips), automatic browser recognition, support for advanced HTML (including Active X objects, Java applets, and CGI scripting), automatic file protection, and automatic calculation of picture sizes (GIF and JPEG graphics are automatically given their corresponding WIDTH and HEIGHT parameters).
Unlike previous versions of HTML Assistant, the current versions will allow you to edit files of any size (i.e. the 32 Kb file limit has been removed). The new 32-bit release for Windows 95/NT (HTML Assistant Pro 97) adds support for long file names, allowing you to save files as *.html as well as give files names that are longer than eight characters in length. HTML Assistant also gives you all the features necessary for managing a remote web site from your local computer. The Site Assistant helps you upload HTML Assistant pages to your web server without the need for using a standalone FTP client. Taking this theme one step farther, Quick Publish is a one-step tool that allows you to rapidly send the current file (as well as optionally sending all the files it references) to your remote web site. Designed as a quick alternative to the Site Assistant, Quick Publish is one of the fastest methods possible for editing and uploading web files to a remote site. Overall, on a feature-for-feature basis, HTML Assistant Pro can compete with any web editor currently available. The only thing that currently holds the client back is an interface that can be downright unattractive and often counterintuitive to use.
Pros: Solid collection of features, HTML Assistants guide you through implementing complex web elements
Cons: Unattractive, counterintuitive, non-appealing interface can make HTML Assistant a drag to use
New: Tables and Forms Assistants, multiple file replace, QuickFrames and Quick Publishing tools, much more
WebForms --
Like many HTML Editors, WebForms presents users with an intuitive and
easy to use interface for developing web forms. It then takes this
process one step further by also processing the responses from your web
forms. You can use these forms for order taking, surveys, comments, suggestions, and more. Responses are received in the form
of an e-mail message which then needs to be imported back into WebForms
for processing -- the responses will often not be readable enough for
use with just your e-mail client.
The WebForms Form Generator allows you to develop any type of form,
from a simple 'comments box' to the most complex combination of scrollable lists, radio boxes, and check boxes. In addition, you can modify the
source code after generating the form for even greater flexibility.
All of this is done without the need or use of CGI scripting -- all
you need is an e-mail account to send the form to. In addition, there is
extensive online help for introducing users to web forms development and
for explaining the multitude of features found in WebForms.
WebForms is a great client to use if you lack access to CGI scripting or lack experience
in this area. It works best for processing surveys,
orders, and similar items that usually don't require replies. However,
for developing forms that you want to be able to easily reply to, WebForms may
not be your best option, especially if you get many responses. This
is because every e-mail response must be imported into WebForms for
processing and then exported back into a text file that you can use for
replying to. A new feature that directly imports forms into your mailbox
automates the importing aspect of the time-consuming and redundant process,
but overall the process can still be quite a chore. For
this reason you might want to check out the alternatives available as well. For surveys and orders, however, WebForms will likely be your best bet for creating effective, professional-looking forms for your web site.
Pros: Simple, easy to use interface for creating web forms without advanced scripting
Cons: Forms processing can be redundant and time-consuming for many users
New: Portable database, create CGI forms and Perl scripts, submission confirmations, redirect pages, more
AOLpress / AOLserver --
AOLpress and AOLserver (formerly known as GNNPress/NaviPress and GNNServer/NaviServer) make up an extremely interesting new web authoring tool and web server combo from America Online. The WYSIWYG HTML editor and web browser are part of AOL's complete web development service, PrimeHost. Like SGI's WebFORCE, PrimeHost presents users with an editor for easily developing and maintaining web pages (AOLpress) and a server for hosting these pages (AOLserver). AOL takes the process one step farther, though; users can bypass the expense and rigorous effort of serving their own pages by instead signing up with PrimeHost. PrimeHost will set up your own account for you with moderately inexpensive monthly rates (varies whether you choose to use the service as an individual, commercial, or dedicated user). While this may not be the cheapest route for creating your own web pages, it likely will be the most efficient -- if you use AOLpress with the PrimeHost service (or any service using the AOLserver software), any time you save a page in AOLpress, it is automatically saved at the web site. This cuts out the often extremely time-consuming step of saving your files locally, FTPing them to the remote server, and then possibly having to make additional changes once there. Additionally, joining the service will allow you to receive your own domain name, a web site with 20 MBs or more of space, counter programs, SSL support, and CGI capabilities. For anyone currently without a web site and looking for an efficient way to get up and running, PrimeHost is likely to be one of your best bets.
As an HTML editor/web browser, AOLpress makes a respectable showing, but it isn't
in the same league as HotDog, WebEdit, HTML Ed, and similar editors...yet. While it
does have a WYSIWYG interface, an easy to use forms development tool, a spelling checker, HTML 3.2 compliance (including Frames), and support for concurrently showing multiple documents (via miniwebs), AOLpress does lack several critical features. First, similar to most WYSIGWYG HTML editors, AOLpress is quite slow, especially when compared to the speed of standalone clients like HotDog and Netscape. Second, the development tool for recently added tables could be improved and made easier for novice users. Additionally, the browser's support for tables is solid but not quite up to par with that of rival browsers (Netscape and Internet Explorer, for example). AOLpress also currently lacks support for plug-ins, ActiveX controls, Java (applets can be inserted but not run from AOLpress), and some additional Netscape 3.0+ and Internet Explorer 3.0+ tags. While these tags can be implemented with standard HTML, there are no tools or shortcut keys within AOLpress to simplify the process. A keymap for special and extended characters is noticeably absent as well. In order to effectively compete with other HTML editors, AOLpress will also need to add tools like a thesaurus and multiple file find and replace. Finally, on-line help documentation for AOLpress resides at the AOL web site -- while this allows the help to be continually updated, it also makes for a sluggish download. Overall, AOLpress is a promising web authoring tool, and if it adds additional features, AOLpress could soon be serious competition to the best HTML editors.
For features specific to AOLpress, check out the AOLpress page.
For features specific to AOLserver, check out the AOLserver page.
Pros: HTML editor/web browser combo, part of AOL's PrimeHost service
Cons: Lacks several critical features, including Netscape/Internet Explorer 3.0 tags
New for AOLserver: AOLserver Dynamic Pages, FTP module, database services, server-parsed HTML, more
New for AOLpress: Revised interface, support for displaying and authoring of Frames (2.0),
bug fixes, more
HTML Writer --
HTML Writer has achieved the designation of
being the best freeware editor for HTML publishing for many reasons, not least
of which are its great, if slightly outdated, features. HTML Writer has the ability to
quickly and efficiently add or remove all html coding,
as well as an option for calling Netscape, Mosaic, or Cello to view
the current page. Solid on-line help documentation, including a
quick tutorial, is another quality feature, especially for novice users.
Additional features include word wrap, template documents, time/date stamping,
search and replace, and almost every HTML command imaginable (excluding
proposed HTML tags). One of the most useful features of this editor is
the fact that it can edit files of any size, a feature all HTML editors
should have. I don't use HTML Editors often, but when I do, this is definitely
my client of choice. Its appearance, ease of use, and abundance
of features give this donation-ware application its just deserved title --
King of the freeware HTML Editors.
Pros: Great collection of features, donation-ware, quick tutorial and solid on-line help
Cons: Experienced users may not need an HTML editor at all, no spelling checker
New: This is the initial review for HTML Writer
HTML Notepad --
HTML Notepad is Windows Notepad on an HTML steroid boost. This tiny (160 Kb) package packs a
punch and does so at a semi-inexpensive price ($45). While lacking some of the
big time features like a spelling checker, wizards, inline web browsing, and
similar, HTML Notepad does make up for the missing features with a very efficient client.
One of its best features is providing quick and easy color support for backgrounds and fonts.
No longer do you need to worry about which hexadecimal number corresponds to the
color red and other typical aggravations. HTML Notepad also gives you options for setting up templates and saving files with or without the HTML tags. An external browser can be used
to view your newly created work. Tons of tags are supported including most of the Netscape 3.0 and Internet Explorer 3.0 tags, but unfortunately, only files under 32 Kb can be edited. Overall, Notepad is a solid little client that gets the job done rapidly and smoothly. Despite a few missing features, a file size ceiling, and a moderate $45 price tag, HTML Notepad will satisfy many novice and experienced web users alike.
Pros: Quick and efficient HTML editing, small package, tons of tags, cool features
Cons: Lacks some critical features, 32 Kb file limit, price relative to other
HTML editors
New: Windows 95 release, support for new Internet Explorer/Netscape tags, Javascript support, bug fixes, more
WEB Wizard --
This is the ultimate web page designing client for users
just getting started in the world of HTML. WebWizard takes you step-by-step
through the process of creating your first HTML document. WebWizard
interviews you about what you would like on your homepage. By using cool
illustrations and simple questions, WebWizard helps you create your
own simple documents and, hopefully, helps you become interested in
the HTML language itself. This is a great client for beginners, but its
use diminishes quickly as a user's level of HTML expertise increases.
Pros: Cool graphics, easy step-by-step guide for creating HTML documents
Cons: More experienced users will find little of value in WebWizard
New: This is the initial review for WebWizard
HotDog Express --
HotDog Express is an efficient tool designed to help aspiring web developers quickly create web pages. Other than its name, this client shares extremely little with its older sibling, HotDog Pro. Whereas HotDog Pro gives you everything you could ever need to design a web site and a whole lot more, HotDog Express keeps the details to a minimum. In fact, you'll find that HotDog Express presents you with only four major steps: 1) choosing a template from one of three default options (or save your own), 2) creating a web page using icons and buttons that represent simple HTML commands (image placement, link insertion, small text pieces, line separators, etc.), 3) previewing the web page, and 4) uploading the page to the web server or servers of your choice. You can move between these steps as well as skip forward or backward at your leisure. For example, when making revisions to a web page, you can easily switch between steps 2 and 3 in order to change the web page, view it, and then go back and make further changes if necessary. HotDog Express also throws in a few extra features like 15 built-in background styles, a maximize button (for rapidly switching between full web page view and the standard HotDog Express interface), and an External Preview option (for viewing your web pages in a browser like Netscape or Internet Explorer). HotDog Express is being released on the web as crippleware -- you are free to use it as long as you like, but several features will not work until you fork over the $49.95 registration fee. These include the External Preview feature, upload capabilities (you can save your web pages but not upload them to a web site), and an option that allows you to view the HTML source code of a web page. Overall, at just under $50, HotDog Express is quite the hard sell, especially when compared to similar HTML editors for beginners like Web Wizard (freeware) and even the more powerful editors that cater to the needs of inexperienced designers (HomeSite and FrontPage, for example).
Pros: Extremely easy to use, takes you step by step through the process of creating web pages
Cons: Expensive relative to the competition, lacks the power and features found in comparably priced editors
New: HotDog Pro "quickstart aware", drag 'n' drop WebBlocks, improved preview capabilities, more
HoTMetaL --
HoTMetaL has always checked your coding for you to make
sure that it conformed to HTML 2.0 standards. Unfortunately, this would create
problems when trying to load a Netscape document or an HTML 3.0 document into
HoTMetaL. The current release partly resolves this problem by finally allowing
most of Netscape's proprietary tags to load within a document without causing
errors. Unfortunately, some of the newest Netscape 2.0 and Microsoft Internet Explorer tags are still viewed as incorrect syntax in HoTMetaL, which can often cause problems for the WYSIWYG viewer. Some new features in the latest version include the ability to view the
graphics of your document (inline images) while working in HoTMetaL, an
improved importing feature designed to help open many invalid documents in HoTMetaL, an
updated style sheet, a powerful new editor for creating tables, a preferences menu, new toolbars, a preview option for viewing your created pages with your favorite web browser, and a tutorial on using HoTMetaL.
The professional version takes the HTML editor to a new extreme by packaging a spell checker, dictionary, thesaurus, MetalWorks client (a free add-on graphics package to get your graphics Web-ready), keyboard macros, improved support for the newest HTML extensions, and a context-sensitive search and replace option with the already feature-replete freeware client. All of these features do come at a price, though; HoTMetaL Pro will set you back nearly $200. For the extreme webmaster it will likely be worth the cost and more, but for the more typical user there are many comparable editors available in a slightly more moderate price range. For example, HotDog Pro packages many of the same features and costs under a hundred dollars, and HTML Writer is an excellent freeware client with more features than the freeware version of HoTMetaL and is faster and easier to use than both the freeware and professional versions.
In terms of speed, HoTMetaL is one of the least appealing HTML Editors, and it remains one of the hardest editors to use; for these reasons, you might want to consider looking at other editors as well.
Pros: Many new features, checks your pages for errors, improved importing feature
Cons: Still has a problem loading some 'non-conformist' pages, neither the easiest nor fastest editor
New: Tables generator, improved importing, preferences menu, additional toolbars, more
<Live Markup> PRO --
This is a relatively young program still under intense developed, and it shouldn't come as a surprise that many critical features are currently on the wishlist rather than in the app itself. <Live Markup> does do a great job of providing you with
a WYSIWYG interface, displaying HTML text in a manner very similar to the
way that it will appear on an actual browser. However, this program
will crawl on anything less than a Pentium. Recent releases of the program have added WYSIWYG support for forms and tables development, a rarity among the current fare of WYSIWYG editors. Additional notable new features include support
for background images and attribute/text/background colors (these images and colors can be
created with both versions but can only be viewed with the professional -- registered -- version). Also added are support for most Netscapisms (proprietary
tags for Netscape 1.x) -- including center, blink, and font size; a virtual keyboard for extended characters, and the ability to launch an external text editor or browser.
The <Live Markup> interface itself is not exactly the most intuitive for an HTML editor. The upside is that <Live Markup> continues to be subject to intense development and should conform to all HTML 3.0 standards (and Netscape 2.x's) soon. At $79.95, <Live Markup> might not be a serious contender for now but very well could be in the future. Currently, though, <Live Markup> is too slow and lacking in too many features to contend with many of the HTML editors, with the exception of the even slower WYSIWYG editors like Internet Assistant for Windows 3.x.
Pros: WYSIWYG interface, under intense development, many new features
Cons: Not the easiest editor to use, sllooowwwwww, some features still missing
New: WYSIWYG support for forms and tables development, Netscape 1.x tags, more
InContext Spider --
InContext Spider is dramatically different from other HTML Editors. This is
obvious from the very beginning -- once you get into this unique web editor,
you might just wonder if you really are using an HTML Editor. The radically different
Logical Editor is what will likely catch and divert your attention first. This is
a logical representation of a web document with icons (trees, branches,
and leaves to represent data relationships, for example) that makes sense
once you take the time to understand it; however, it can be quite
daunting for new users. The WYSIWYG editor, on the other hand, is extremely
cut and dry with simple text and image implementation. Advanced features
like tables, forms, background images, and centering are missing in both
the web editor and the web browser that comes in the commercial version.
Overall, I think InContext Spider is quite counterintuitive for developing web documents. HTML Editors should be designed to make developing web documents as easy as possible, especially for novice users. InContext Spider seems to make this task much harder than it really is. The toolbar icons lack detailed explanations -- something
I've grown accustomed to, especially in HTML Editors. The amazing absence
of critical features like these are typical of the entire program, unfortunately. While extended use of Spider does reveal some latent power buried deep within the counterintuitive interface, many users will never get this far. Still, for anyone desiring to invest the time and energy into discovering the hidden features, Spider could indeed become a viable HTML editor.
The evaluation release available on the 'net consists of everything in the
commercial package except for the spelling checker and Spider Mosaic,
a web browser based on the Spyglass Enhanced Mosaic product. I was able
to review the commercial package as well as the evaluation release; however, the commercial version didn't impress me much more than did the evaluation release. The Spider Mosaic client lacks many of the same features as the web editor, including centering, tables, and
background images. If you want a decent web browser, this most certainly
isn't it -- try Netscape or Internet Explorer instead. If you want a solid, easy to use HTML
Editor with a spelling checker, this most certainly isn't it, either -- try
HotDog or WebEdit. If you're looking for a program with a very cool icon
and logo, well, you're in luck -- this is one of the few areas of InContext
Spider that actually impressed me.
Pros: Excellent icon and logo -- very cool
Cons: Counterintuitive interface, not easy to use, lacks critical features found in other editors
New: One-button publishing, improved interface and tools menu, more
SuperPad --
SuperPad is an improved version of the familiar Windows Notepad client. SuperPad
includes many features lacking in Notepad; most importantly, it
has the ability to edit documents larger than 32 Kb. Additional features
include word wrap, overstrike/insert mode, proportional and fixed font
selection, search and replace, and command line parameters. There is no
on-line help documentation, but the interface is quite intuitive and very similar
to Notepad's. One negative aspect about SuperPad is the fact that the
current release lacks printing capabilities. While not a true HTML
editor, SuperPad allows experienced web designers to quickly and
efficiently maintain web pages. Novice users and first-time web
designers will likely need a more HTML-specific editor, like HTML Writer,
WebEdit, or WebWizard. SuperPad is free and will work with all versions
of Windows, including Windows 95. When it comes to the continual
maintenance required with web pages, this is a solid candidate for the
task.
Pros: Improves on Windows' Notepad client, allows for efficient maintenance of web pages
Cons: Lacks HTML tagging capabilities, not for novice web page designers
New: Printing capabilities, several bug fixes
Internet Assistant --
As great as the idea of a Word Processor/Web Browser/HTML Editor
combination sounds, the result, at least from Microsoft, fails to deliver. Unless
you have an ultra-fast Pentium loaded with RAM, the ever-slow WinWord will
only get slower after adding Internet Assistant. With an outdated 486 and
less than sufficient RAM (8 Megs or less), this application literally crawls.
I tried using a stop-watch to time how long it would take to access a page
in Finland, but I fell asleep twenty minutes later :-) Seriously, though, it doesn't make
a whole lot of sense to use this client unless you have a high-end system.
And in this case, you will probably be better off with Internet Explorer and a standalone HTML editor. Still, the newest release of Internet Assistant for Windows 95 has definitely made some impressive strides in becoming a competitive player. In addition to picking up a moderate performance boost, the client has added a ton of new features, including centering, tables, font size, and similar tags; support for Microsoft Internet Explorer HTML extensions
(marquee text, watermarks, inline video, super and subscript, background sounds, etc.); background color and picture support; JavaScript compatibility; view HTML source command; and more. Even with all these new features, Internet Assistant still lacks features found in many of the competitors' products, including support for transparent gifs, advanced tables support, null borders, client side image mapping, image height and width, Netscape 2.0 extensions, and global font sizing capability. If Internet Assistant would add these features and improve its speed even more, it might become a viable download for most users, but for now it is simply too slow and lacking in too many features to be considered a competitive candidate in the HTML Editor/Web Browser arena.
Pros: The original Word Processor/Web Browser/HTML Editor combo!
Cons: Still quite sslllooooowwwwwww; anything less than a Pentium will crawl
New: Bulleting functionality, JavaScript compatibility, relative paths, more
Internet Publisher --
As great as the idea of a Word Processor/Web Browser/HTML Editor
combination sounds, the result, this time from Novell, again fails to deliver .
While not quite as slow as Internet Assistant from Microsoft, Internet Publisher (IP)
is only of use for those just beginning to create only the most simple of web
documents. While Netscape is included with Internet Publisher, Netscape's best features
are left untapped by IP. You won't find help for creating forms, advanced tables, background
images, and similar features in IP; you'll have to discover how to code
these items yourself.
I generally like the idea behind both Internet Assistant and Internet Publisher; however,
the functionality and features in both of these programs leaves a lot to be desired.
These programs are both targeted towards the 'net novice that is just beginning to
discover and learn about HTML. Both are functional for this target market, but if you're
seriously looking for a way to make quick, good-looking web pages, I'd have to recommend
WEB Wizard over either of these clients. And if you already have some experience creating
HTML documents, I thoroughly recommend checking out a program like
HotDog, HTML Writer,
or WebEdit over either Internet Publisher or Internet
Assistant.
Pros: The first Word Processor/Web Browser/HTML Editor combo for WordPerfect users
Cons: Slow, only helps the most novice users create simple HTML documents
New: Simple tables can now easily be created with IP, center tag added
The Ant --
This app merits a new review as the previous one was outdated and also incorrect on
several points. I will post a new review soon...
New for v3.0: Forms toolbar, 'Do It For Me' feature for automatically creating HTML pages, more
Web Author --
Quarterdeck's Web Author for Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0/7.0 offers many of the same features
as Internet Assistant but has one critical disadvantage -- it will cost users to continue using it as opposed to Internat Assistant's freeware status. Also, this version will
only work on the English version of Word v6.0 or v7.0 and not on previous versions nor
on non-English versions. Web Author is a bit slower than Internet Assistant and lacks the
web browser add-on. Overall, I find it hard to imagine that anyone would choose to use
this client over Internet Assistant, especially when the price differential is taken into
consideration. Hopefully, future releases will make this client more attractive by adding
additional features and conforming to more versions of Word.
Pros: An add-on HTML editor for MS Word 6.0
Cons: Slow, price relative to Internet Assistant, lacks integrated web browser
New: Support for Word for Windows 95/NT v7.0, a few new features, bug fixes
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