HTML Editor Reviews

Hot Dog

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HotDog --Sausage Software

Found: http://www.sausage.com

Overview:

• MS-Windows editor
• stand alone program
• Text-style
• NO HTML Checking
• Very stable
• 30 day trial (full standard): $30USD for standard edition, Professional version available.
• Score = A
• Screen Shot (~43Kbytes)
• User Comments

Nice features found in this package include:

Character and tag scrolling list windows

This package has scrolling lists which display the extended character sets and tags with descriptions. Double clicking on an entry places the text into the document. This is a very handy tool for experience authors who want to quickly add tags into their documents.

Extensive dialogs for images and links

In general the dialogs for inserting images and links are well laid out and easy to use. A "file manager" is present which allows the user to select a file and have a link inserted into the document.

Table and form "editor" dialogs

This package includes some simple dialogs for inserting forms and tables into a document. Using the table editor, you can define the size, properties, and actually fill the values into a "spreadsheet". The entire table is then inserted into the document. Sausage Software is planning to include the ability to edit tables already in a document available in the professional version (PRO version 1.0019b did not include this feature). The forms dialog simplifies inserting forms, but does not give a representation of what the form looks like.

Friendly to new authors

The package includes many dialogs which step the user through creating links (first asking what type, and then requesting the information) and lists. The program also searches for all NAME tags in the text and presents them in a scrolling list (many programs simply "remember" the names you enter when using the package), which is useful to all authors. In addition, help is available on using HTML.

Automates preparing a page for server

HotDog provides a very simple way of handling problems with renaming files (.htm to .html), text formatting (dos to UNIX) and other tasks associated with preparing a document when uploading to a server. The package has a customizable "publishing" function which will handle most of the mundane chores associated with this process. The package will also include the time/date when publishing a document.

Customizing tags (only in professional version)

New tags can be added to the menus and the tag list easily. This includes compound tags, and is very useful for when you have common pieces you use all the time.

HTML 3.0 and Netscape support

Most of the common HTML 3.0 tags are supported (including FIG). I didn't verify that all the tags where present, but enough are there to say HotDog supports HTML 3.0 and Netscape.

Missing/Poorly Implemented Features:

No user additions to button bar (standard version) or element bar

This normally would be more of an annoyance than a problem. However, since the LI, DD, and DT tags are buried in a menu (or you'll need to scroll through the tags list), user customizing is essential. Fortunately, this feature is destined for the professional version of the software. However, it would be useful to be able to edit the elements bar also (which is where LI belongs).

HTML 3.0 and Netscape tags are not identified

There is no indication whether a tag is specific to HTML 3.0, Netscape, or previous standards. Though a very minor oversight, many users prefer not to use these tags (and new authors may not know that there's not just one HTML).

Conclusion:

HotDog is a very well made and intelligently designed application. It is one of the finest "second generation" HTML editors I've seen, and is reasonably priced. HotDog has almost every feature author could desire, and I highly recommend it. Try it, you'll like it.

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