Fox 2.0a HTML Text Editor

This Fox isn't crazy at all. In fact, it makes more sense than do many HTML editors. That sanity is brought to the fore by the program's basic, functional operation.

While Fox appears to be a small program, it does offer a lot of options because of the way it uses system resources. Rather than creating all dialog windows at startup, it creates dialog windows on demand and destroys them when the user is done with them. That is important because it leaves a lot of resources available for other programs, such as browsers.

Speaking of browsers, the program is designed for use with as many as six browser applications for easy previewing of HTML pages. That is a nice feature for web builders who wish to make sure they are getting the results they truly want across the board.

Fox's interface is straightforward. Tabs across the top menu for each area of HTML provide the available options, enabling users to point-and-click to access the appropriate tags. Further, users can create their own tags and custom strings for easy access. Those tags are inserted through dialog boxes, which enable users to select attributes before entry. Further, online help for those tags and attributes is a mouse click away. Additionally, all tags are accessible through drop-down menus.

For those working on large files or several files, Fox is a great answer. It features a multi-document interface, and it can handle files of unlimited size.

One of the most impressive features of Fox is the way it handles tables and frames, using templates that enable users to include in-depth information about their tables before it inserts the tags. The table editor at left shows the various features and options users can select before placing the table HTML on the page.

Another feature involving tables is the fact that users can import or export tab-delimited table data, making the entire chore of building tables an easier one.

The frame builder is equally impressive, enabling users to easily select and preview margins, borders, content, and alignment before the HTML hits the page.

Fox provides users with several history lists, a spell checker, and advanced print options, as well as print previewing. The history lists - tags, anchors, image URLs, mailtos, and URLs - are particularly useful for those who work on sites that may use many of the same features, or for one large site that requires similar material throughout.

While Fox has a lot of competition, it is a good program for web builders of varying degrees of skills. It isn't too difficult for beginners, nor is too "boring" for the old pros. Further, because it gives users so many options throughout, it is a text editor that should be given serious consideration the next time you start building a web site.