HTML Editor Reviews

Hot Dog Pro

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HotDog Pro 3.0.21 --Sausage Software

Found:http://www.sausage.com.au

Overview:

• MS-Windows editor (Win 3.1/NT/95). 32bit reviewed.
• stand alone program
• Text-style
• On demand HTML Checking
• Very stable
• 15 day trial: $??
• Screen Shot

Special Note: I still receive complaints about Sausage's poor customer support, including long delays experienced waiting for registration keys. Also, I receive mail from readers complaining that it is too slow on their systems or seems not to operate at all. I've haven't had similar problems, but do not use the package on a regular basis and have a difficult time discounting all of these complaints. For this reason, I can not give HotDog Pro my "pick" status

Nice features found in this package include:

HTML 3.2 support and style sheets and frames

Very good support for the latest HTML and extensions from Netscape and Microsoft. These include frames, marque, multicolumns, etc.. You can also define basic style sheets for the HTML elements.

Provides access to ActiveX, JavaScript, and Java routines

The package provide access to a few canned Javascript (clock, splash screen animation, and background fader) and Java applets (Text affects, and an animator). The package also knows about a large number of ActiveX controls and provides dialogs to modify the parameters and insert the necessary references (you'll need to get the controls from Microsoft's site). HotDog also provides a method for creating GIF89 animations, in addition to Java based animations.

Tabbed resource manager and tool bars

HotDog uses tabs to separate the different categories of buttons on the tool bar. More importantly, on the left hand side of the editing area is a tabbed resource manager. You can view open documents and associated links and files, a file dialog, "Faves" (for favorite text, tags, and links to insert)., and finally view the contents of WWW sites and the files available.

Tabbed editor window with previewer and document information

Each document's editing window includes a tab for viewing a preview using ROVER, Sausage's built in previewer. Also, there is a document information tab which shows META information and the current size of the document.

Integrated Preview Viewer (Rover)

As mentioned before, the integrated previewer is integrated into a page's editing window or can stand-alone in a window. If Internet Explorer is on your system, it's viewer engine is used instead of the default one (I believe this is I-View's product). This gives ROVER access to the same capabilities as Internet Explorer (new tags, java, etc.).

Character and tag scrolling list windows

This package has scrolling lists which display the extended character sets and tags with descriptions. Double clicking on a tag places the text into the document (can also drag and drop into document). This is a very handy tool for experience authors who want to quickly add tags into their documents. Multiple tool boxes are available grouped based on function (document, table, heading, etc..). As most of the elements found in this application, the contents of the floating tag dialogs may be modified to an author's preferences.

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, form, and frame "editor" dialogs

This package includes some simple dialogs for inserting forms, tables, and frames into a document. Using the table editor, you can define the size, properties, and actually fill the values into a "spreadsheet". The editor also allows the user to edit previously entered information.

Project manager

Multiple HTML files can be related to each other through use of projects. HotDog includes one of the most complete project managers I've found. Although it does not include diagrams found in FrontPage or AOLpress, the manager allows you to control directory locations and publishing of the final site. I like this manager since it makes the distinction between development pages and the final product. Also, you can control which site the information is published to.

Server management and simplified page uploading and downloading

HotDog makes working with a remote web site (FTP access) extremely easy. As mentioned above, it includes a manager to keep track of the the different servers you work with. Also, when publishing you great control over where the documents are sent.

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 and tool bars

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. HotDog also allows users to create customized tool bars and to customize a right button pop-up menu.

Other feathures

HotDog includes many other features including a spelling checker. Also, users can create their own templates, which can automatically insert information (such as date) or prompt the user for a value to insert. Also, HotDog has a link checker, Multi-file find and replace, and a tag checker (although it does tell you where it finds problems, just the problems). There are many other interesting tools which I haven't gone into (for instance the "bandwidth buster" to help authors make their web pages faster loading over slower links), you really should visit Sausage software's site.

Missing/Poorly Implemented Features:

Too much to look at for only a 15 day trial!

There are so many elements that make up this application that it seems almost unfair to allow users to try the application for only 15 days!

Interface is complicated and "busy"

The interface is somewhat complicated. This is expected considering the number of tools and features, but it could be improved. For example, its not clear how the WWW manager tab on the main screen can relate to a project. Also, the help file does not go into as much detail as I would like on some of the advanced features. If you plan on using this editor, be prepared for a learning curve on par with a high-end office product (like Word).

Performance??

Some operations seem slow (for example, you can actually watch the files load when traversing directories using the "files" resource manager tab, or when using "bandwidth buster" it pauses and doesn't refresh the screen for several seconds). Although, I did not encounter too many stalls, I'm using a 200 MHz Pentium and would be curious how this application performs on a 486 systems.

Conclusion:

When I first reviewed HotDog, I said "try it, you'll like it.", and it is true today. The package is much more complicated and feature rich than before, and compares favorably with other text-based editors I've looked at recently. HotDog Pro should be very useful to professional web page designers who demand access to the latest features, need to interact with various access providers, and need to keep a library of often user graphics or templates. However, new authors, looking for a simple editor, should look to other products. Although I only used it for a short time, I was impressed with the magnitude of changes since the 2.0 version (Depending how you feel about feature bloat, this could be a bad thing!). If your looking for a powerful tool, you should definitely evaluate HotDog. One final comment: If you like the idea of the "helper" characters in MS-Office '97, you'll like HotDog's canine themes and the ability to modify any of the 83 sound affects used by the product!

Note: I havn't had many people write to complain about Sausage's customer service lately, so I'm assuming the company is much better at providing registration keys in a timely manner.

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