Stone's WebWriter 3.5
August 5, 2001
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Perhaps one of the most convenient HTML editors on the market
today is Stone's WebWriter 3.5, a product that pretty much
negates the need for many other auxiliary programs.
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As a way of backing that statement up, consider what is included
in the latest version of WebWriter: The usual HTML editor, an
image viewer, image map editor, JavaScript editor, FTP module,
style sheet editor, and an assortment of templates.
Add to that its file management capabilities, and its abilities
to handle tables, forms, code completion, determine FTP time, and
search and replace functions, and WebWriter is a pretty complete
package.
When you consider that its price is free (without support) and
only $29 with support, it makes one wonder why they would
consider spending any more.
WebWriter's interface is not unlike many other HTML editors, and
it maximizes screen property without overcrowding. Across the top
of the page are the usual drop-down menus, with the customary
icons below them.
Below the menus, on the left of the screen, WebWriter offers
users a wide assortment of access to files, projects, a sitemap,
various libraries, and the ability to create a new folder without
leaving the program.
The HTML library, for example, is more helpful than most, giving
the user all the options available for each item and allowing the
one chosen to be inserted by pointing and clicking the mouse. The
program, by default, colorizes HTML coding for easy viewing.
When users click on a graphic, the program's graphic viewer pops
up to display the artwork. It also shows the user the size of
the graphic.
Just above the text and code entry screen are icons for
previewing the document in Internet Explorer or Netscape.
Libraries are included for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, special
characters and codes created by the user. That last option is
great for quickly accessing features that are frequently reused.
One advantage of WebWriter is that it takes the mundane tasks
that Web builders do and provides enough help to speed the
process, but not enough to limit the builders' input.
Many of those tasks can be accessed merely by right clicking on
the mouse button. The rest are not much more difficult.
For example, the table dialog box not only asks for the colors,
size, columns, and rows desired, but it also includes the ability
to input text as you go. It is much easier to input the text in
the dialog box included than it is to find the right place within
the page coding to insert it.
The frames dialog box operates much the same way, while list and
form helpers are pretty much the standard one finds in most of
the better HTML editors.
The image map editor only allows users to map circles and
squares, but for most instances that is all that is needed. What
is exceptional is the convenience of the Meta tag dialog box,
which lists the various options. All the user needs to do is
check the ones to be used and type in the desired content.
WebWriter is an excellent program, a quick download, and it
offers many options that other programs do not. Those factors
combined, it's a great bargain.
What is it called again? Stone's
WebWriter 3.5
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Where can I get it?
http://www.webwriter.dk/english/index.htm
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How much does it cost?
Free without support; $29 with support.
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How big is the download? 970 KB
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Do I recommend it?
Most assuredly.
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