TaFWeb Utilities
May 29, 2001
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While reviewing a product called Page Builder 3.0c on the TaFWeb
Software Web site recently, I found a software junkie's
equivalent of buried treasure — six free utility programs,
all of which are well worth walking the cyber plank to rescue.
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These programs have three things in common:
- Each has a single function to perform
- Each does it well
- Each is free
Here is a look at each.
Form Decoder
Anyone who uses forms on a Web site knows that the responses look
like gibberish until decoded. There are several programs around
that do that function, but few give as clean a result as
Decoder v1.3.
Another benefit the program offers is the ability to save the
copy as a plain text file, copy it as is, or print it as is. It
also does not seem to matter what size the form is, the program
can handle it. Users can use the Windows® option to associate
.att files to Form Decoder.
How big is the download? 447.2 KB
Where can I get it?
http://www.tafweb.com/decoder.html
WebSpeed
This is the most depressing program for people who live in the
boondocks — it allows them to see just how much slower
their Internet service is compared to those folks who have T-1
lines.
Not only does the program tell you how large your HTML page and
files on it are, but it also tells you how long it takes to load
the page at various connection speeds. It will even show you a
simulated loading bar to really give you a feel.
Users can also add a variable percentage to create the effect of
Web congestion. This is a great tool for Web builders to give
them a better idea just how quickly — or not — their
pages will load for various users.
How big is the download? 632 KB
Where can I get it?
http://www.tafweb.com/webspeed.html
MetaWizard
Meta tags are such a necessary part of getting a Web site
discovered by search engines and potential readers, and any help
most people can get is more than welcome. Those in that category
will love this program.
It has the usual name, keywords, and description areas, but it
also asks for rating, revisit intervals, instructions for robots,
resource type, distribution area, and more. Some of those
categories are under the "Advanced" tab.
Users can also redirect visitors from one page to another with this
program by using a third tab.
When completed, users can view the meta information, copy it to
the clipboard, and paste it into the <head> section of
their document.
How big is the download? 602 KB
Where can I get it?
http://www.tafweb.com/metawizard.html
TagCheck
While it unlikely that anyone writing or reading this would make
a mistake in their HTML coding, I guess it could happen under
extreme circumstances: like watching the NBA playoffs as you
build a Web page. Oops. Oh, well, I'll get it later.
This is a nice little program that does a better job than many
such programs for which you have to pay. It didn't even get
fooled by style sheets, which many do. It gives users a nice
report of problems, and right-clicking on an error provides a
list of legal attributes for that respective tag. Definitely a
keeper.
How big is the download? 720KB.
Where do I get it?
http://www.tafweb.com/tagcheck.html
LinkProver
Are all of your links active? This is a great way to find out,
whether the document you check is offline or online. Users have a
choice of checking all links, or either just the internal or
external links.
It does the checks right before your eyes, but it also gives you
a report that you can get in text form or in HTML form. We also
like that there is no need to select a file on a site to check to
get the program going.
How big is the download? 997 KB.
Where can I get it?
http://www.tafweb.com/linkprover.html
Whois
Probably the least used of these programs, this is nonetheless a
good program for finding out who is using — or squatting
— on a domain name that would fit your company.
It tells you who the contact people are so that you can call and
offer millions for the name, and it is more comprehensive than
most such programs because it uses both whois services from
country code registrars, and it uses Web-based services that do
the same thing. It can work with domain names or IP addresses.
How big is the download? 752KB
Where can I get it?
http://www.tafweb.com/whois.html
All in all, there is not much chance of going wrong with any of
these programs — particularly when they are free. The
company does ask that you register the software, but there is no
charge and no hassle with that, either. Mates would be well
advised to lay down the grog, pick up a shovel, and dig out these
treasures the next time they set sail on the Web.
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