HTML Editor Reviews

Webmaster Pro 1.0

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Webmaster Pro 1.0 -- V-Tech Software

Found: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~vtech/webmaster/webmastr.html?

Overview:

• Windows 3.x/NT/95
• Stand alone program
• Text Style editor
• No HTML checking or validation
• Very Stable
• Commercial: Standard is $39.95 USD (version 1.2), Pro is $59.95 (Version 1.0)
• Screen Shot
• User Comments

Nice features found in this package include:

Support for Netscape 2.0 and Internet Explorer 2.0

Webmaster supports the latest tags from Netscape and Microsoft. Unfortunately, a frame editor is not included. However, the well done help and templates should make up for this oversight.

Table Editor and form dialog

The table editor does a good job of simplifing the tasks required to setup a table. A nice addition is the "quick table", which will insert a 5x5 or 10x10 table with a few mouse clicks. As in other editors, I would like to see the tool allow you to edit existing tables with the "spreadsheet" like editor. An added bonus is the ability to add images quickly to table cells within the table editor. Many authors use tables for formatting and placing text in relation to an image, so this is a welcome feature.
The package also includes a nice dialog for creating forms. Although not graphical, it provides tabbed sections for defining the desired elements.

Quick tag insertion with "Click 'n Drop" feature.

Webmaster includes most of the commonly used tags on the standard toolbars. However, a set of drop down selection boxes (separated into banks to keep the lists generally short) allows the user to select a "click 'n drop" tag. The user can click on the tag and insert it at the cursor in an open document with a single click. A double click will place the tag where the mouse is positioned. A keyboard short cut would be helpful in future revisions.
I found this feature most useful when using it to do "post-production" on a file. I first created the document content and used the drop feature to quickly place the formatting tags as needed.

"Mini-tools" toolbar

Although, I'm not sure why it is called a mini-tool bar, this tool bar provides quick access to search and replace function, inserting the user's address, and spell checker. However, the most important buttons include access to recently used images and links. The program keeps track of these elements, and you can insert them again simply by selecting the desired image or link from the mini-tools toolbar. I wish the program would track all the information originally entered into the image and link dialogs (such as alternate text), so an exact duplicate could be entered. However, this feature is very useful as it stands today.

Great helpfile

V-Tech has gone an extra mile (kilometer) for users with a great help file. It contains basic information on the package with good step-by-step instructions. Webmaster also includes a comprehensive HTML reference with ample examples. Another bonus is a simple "Unix" tutorial with comparisons to DOS commands. This will be of great use to users who have pages hosted on Unix systems, but are not intimate with the operating system. You can also get HTML help for a selected tag in the editor by pressing "F1". I did find some mistakes in the help file (like refering to Javascript as "Java", which is incorrect), but they were minor in scope.

Impressive font and color support

Webmaster places heavy emphasis on the font tags and color attributes. The entire status bar quick pick icons (similar to Windows 95's task bar icons) are dedicated to font and colors. An easy to use color picker pops-up by clicking a single icon, and another click will insert the color="#xxyyzz" attribute. The same ease is available for inserting FONT tags with size or color attributes.

Built in previewer which supports tables

The previewer built into the package handles most of the advanced HTML constructs, including tables, fonts, and background images.

User tags with "click 'n drop"

You can create a set of user defined tags (including compound sets with beginning and ending tags) which will appear in a floating dialog as a scrolling list. The dialog includes a "click 'n drop" button as discussed above. This is a good way of handling user tags if you have the screen realestate to leave the dialog open.

Other features

The package includes a number of other useful features. First, an image previewer is included. This is very useful for browsing the large collection of images shipped with the package (300 icons and graphics). Also, a spelling checker (a must!) is available. It was smart about ignoring tags and attributes, but still asked about HREF and SRC contents. Lists selected from the button bar will automatically format simple lists of text (with carraige returns between). Very useful when cutting and pasting from other applications, and will save alot of work. Finally, some of the templates include Javascript code for you use immediatly.

Missing/Poorly Implemented Features:

A plain HR, please

I would like a variation of the HR button for inserting vanilla HR elements without using the dialog. Yes it's minor, but I need to find something!

Image dialog missing width and height attributes

These are very important tags for authors who want pages to appear quickly while images are loading. Support for these tags should be included in the dialog. The ability to calculate the values would also be a great addition.

Attribute editing is needed

I personally believe this to be very important in future editors. Elements are much more complicated than in HTML 2.0 and support many attributes (ALIGN, WIDTH, etc..). Inexperienced users are easily confused by the number and meaning of the different attributes. Just as table editors are standard today, attribute editors need to be also. Future versions of Webmaster must include this feature to keep up with other packages on the market.

Conclusion:

V-Tech's Webmaster product is solid and incorporates some unique features. Overall, I can find little fault with the product. A generous help file and the ability to have any tag a single click away are thoughtful features which users will appreciate. I hope the authors continue to improve the product with attribute editing and seamless frame support.

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