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Incontext Spider

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Incontext Spider Ver 1.01 -- AccuSoft

Found at: http://www.incontext.ca/

Overview:

• MS-Windows (uses win32)
• Stand alone program
• somewhat WYSIWYG - graphics shown, text sizes relative (no centering, or bullets though)
• HTML checking -- during editing and importing
• Somewhat Stable -- Operated for sometime, then began crashing when entering links. I believe the "link" between the two was corrupted by using Netscape at the same time.
• Score = B+
• Demonstration Available, $99 USD
• Screen Shot
• User Comments

Nice Features Found in This Package:

Heirarchal View with Graphical Elements

The main window is split into a graphical representation of the HTML structure and a editing window showing the general appearance of the HTML. The dual view is convenient for quickly traversing your document and modifying tag attributes (which requires only a right click on the tag in the structure display or editing window). Also, the details and internal contents of structural tags can be "hidden" from view. This is convenient because long lists can be collapsed and left out of the way when editing other parts of a document. There are numerous options on how the display is shown (graphics, ASCII, combination, etc...).

Simplified Interface for New Authors

Only the common tags are accessible from the standard tool bar. Once you understand the structure used by the displays, creating simple documents with anchors and graphics is extremely easy. Unfortunately, some useful tags are buried under in a dialog which only accessible from the menus (such as pre-formatted).

Tightly Integrated with Web Browser

The registered package includes a Mosaic style web browser which is tightly integrated with the package. Although, not state of the art (no table support), the editor can import pages directly from the browser for editing. Also, when adding links to a document, the editor can jump between links and display a list of all links on the new page. The user can select and insert any link (including images) from documents as they browse. The demonstration version requires use of the NCSA Mosaic browser, and probably can be used instead on the commercial package.

HTML 3.0 Support of Tables

The package does support tables. My original review reported the contrary, and I apologize for the error. Thanks to BRainone for pointing out my error. The package would still be greatly enhanced by a dialog or editor for tables.

Missing/Poorly Implemented Features

No Customization of tool bar or adding tags

There is no way to add current elements to the tool bar or add new tags (and have them ignored when validating). Although the validation is great for creating correct HTML 2.0 document, authors who want to use Netscape or Table tags will need to look elsewhere.

Conclusion:

This package provides users with a creative interface for creating valid HTML documents. The structural view of a document will help new authors to understand and create documents which are correct in form and style. The unique link manager and Mosaic integration will be useful for any authors with many pages that contain duplicate links within them, and those who want to "experiment" based on the work of others. However, the package fails to provide advanced users with the tools standard on other editors--including tear off tool bars, single click access to all HTML 3.0 tags, and most importantly table support.

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