PC Review: HandyHTML
March 28, 2001
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An application does not have to be huge and bloated to provide
users with the options needed to do a thorough job. A perfect
example is HandyHTML, a relatively small editor that makes
building Web sites a breeze.
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HandyHTML is a program that offers something for people of all
experience levels, and it does so in a unique manner.
For example, building a table can be done in several ways:
- Select the table icon at the top of the screen and drag the
cursor to the desired number of rows and columns, and the coding
is inserted into the HTML file.
- Type in the basic commands and choose to insert various
elements from the program's tag explorer.
- Select "table" in the tag explorer, then hit the insert
button to get the following code placed on the page. Then, the
user can edit the coding down to the desired result:
TABLE ALIGN=LEFT|CENTER|RIGHT|BLEEDLEFT|BLEEDRIGHT|JUSTIFY
BACKGROUND=url BGCOLOR="#" BORDER=n BORDERCOLOR="#"
BORDERCOLORDARK="#" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#" CELLPADDING=n
CELLSPACING=n CLASS=type CLEAR=LEFT|RIGHT|ALL|NO COLS=n
FRAME=BORDER|VOID|ABOVE|BELOW|HSIDES|LHS|RHS|VSIDES|BOX ID=value
NOWRAP RULES=NONE|GROUPS|ROWS|COLS|ALL STYLE=defined_style
VALIGN=TOP|MIDDLE|BOTTOM|BASELINE WIDTH=n>
When ready to insert data into the table, the user is given
similar options:
Table Rows:
TR ALIGN=CENTER|LEFT|RIGHT|JUSTIFY BGCOLOR="#"
BORDERCOLOR="#" BORDERCOLORDARK="#" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#"
CLASS=type ID=val NOWRAP STYLE=defined_style
VALIGN=MIDDLE|TOP|BOTTOM|BASELINE>
Table Data:
TD ALIGN=CENTER|LEFT|RIGHT|JUSTIFY BACKGROUND=url
BGCOLOR="#" BORDERCOLOR="#" BORDERCOLORDARK="#"
BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#" CLASS=type COLSPAN=n HEIGHT=n ID=value
NOWRAP ROWSPAN=n STYLE=defined_style
VALIGN=MIDDLE|TOP|BOTTOM|BASELINE WIDTH=n>
Help is readily available, too. In addition to an extensive help
file, placing a cursor over a tag and hovering there will result
in pop-up directions on the various options available.
There are other ways HandyHTML goes about simplifying the task of
building a Web site.
The creation of lists is as simple as clicking on an icon, and
the basic commands are inserted into the file. Links are created
in dialog boxes and, like those used for the insertion of
graphics, permit relative paths.
Even simpler is typing the items you wish to have in a list, a
table, or as links or comments, then select the appropriate icons
at the top of the page, and the formatting is automatically
inserted.
HandyHTML allows for customizable HTML templates and the ability
to create reusable code snippets, and its enhanced color picker
provides a great number of choices, plus the ability to create
custom colors.
Entities are inserted into documents with a simple pull-down menu
that shows the entity in one column and the coding for it in the
second. Select the entity desired, and the program places it at
the cursor's location.
To build forms, there is a button in the menu bar that, when
selected, activates more buttons for form elements just below the
editing screen. Those elements can then be inserted at the click
of a mouse. Forms can also be built from the menu drop-down list
at the top of the program.
The program allows users to have several documents open at once,
with switching from one to the other as simple as clicking on the
tabs at the bottom of the screen.
To view a document in progress, the program has icons built in to
activate Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, and Opera
browsers.
Despite its comparatively small size (1.56 MB), HandyHTML also
has its own built-in FTP program that activates from the File
menu, and allows the user to have multiple accounts. Users can
also e-mail the file by choosing that option under the File menu.
Those needing image maps will take great delight in the built-in
module that is accessed in the top menu bar under HTML and
WIZARDS. Maps are defined using the usual rectangle, ellipses,
circle, and polygon drawing tools. When completed, the map can
either be inserted into the open document or copied to the
clipboard.
The bottom line is that for $25, HandyHTML is a good buy. Its
interface is clean and simple, and the program's depth is far
greater than what it appears when it is first started.
What is it called again?
HandyHTML (Version 1.0)
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Where can I get it?
http://www.silveragesoftware.com
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How much does it cost? $25
(there is a 44-day free trial)
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How big is the download? 1.56 MB.
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Do I recommend it? Much to my
surprise after my first impression, I do. It grows on
you.
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