Mac

Windows

Running Windows 3.x? Some applications may require the win32s 32-bit extensions in order to run in Windows 3.x. If you haven't already got win32s installed, click here to set it up. Or wait, and if you have problems with a Win 3.x application, install win32s then.

30-day evaluation

The Internet is no longer just a network, itís a marketplace. Those who use it are open for business 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. The sales they make are easier to fulfil and cost them less.

This month Internet Magazine offers you the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits of the Internet marketplace with a 30-day live trial of Actinic Catalog, the award-winning solution from Actinic Software.

Actinic Catalog is self-installing and easy to use. It enables you to publish an illustrated, online catalogue. Updating your site and downloading orders requires a single mouse click. You get a shopping cart and secure encrypted ordering. Actinic Catalog is approved for use by major high street banks.

To use Actinic Catalog, you need a PC running Windows 95/98 or NT 4 and a dial-up connection to the Internet. A full hosting service is supplied free-of-charge during the evaluation period.

Three steps to Net profit:

Step 1 Install Actinic Catalog from your cover CD-ROM

Step 2 Register your Actinic Catalog system at www.zen.co.uk/reg – you will then receive your server login code and the URL of your commerce site

Step 3 Run Actinic Catalog. The software asks you for an authorisation key (this is supplied when you purchase the product). Click ëBypassí and the software prompts you for a server login code. Enter the code you received when registering. Actinic Catalog will self-configure to run with your evaluation site. Full on-line help is provided, together with an online manual.

This service is provided by Actinic Gold Reseller, Zen Internet. For more information about the evaluation and purchasing Actinic Catalog, email:
sales@zen.co.uk or call 01706 713714.

Web link: www.actinic.co.uk

30-day trial
– Latest version

CatKing is a very compact piece of software aimed at small business users looking for a means to create a simple Web presence that they can maintain themselves and update as often as needed without paying update fees. It is very versatile, able to be deployed on a wide range of systems and to be used by most people. It is not trying to be a full-blown e-commerce solution but can integrate with many other applications.

Copy the catking folder from the CD to your hard disk and complete the simple installation by running the file catkg242.exe from your hard disk. This will unpack various files after which you need to run the file catking.exe to complete installation. The demonstration is time-limited to 30 days, after which time the accuracy of the catalogue produced will deteriorate.

Web link: www.catking.net

WebSpeed Optimizer sets out to let you feel the same pain and view your work at the same grindingly slow speed as most of us who aren't blessed with a 2Mbit connection. It works by emulating an HTTP server on your desktop PC and lets you simulate varying Internet load conditions without having to upload your work to the Internet. The program has a simple, if slightly confusing interface, which lets you select a Web site from your hard drive and set various parameters to reproduce a real-world Net connection. You can preview your work at a variety of connection speeds.

Web link: www.xat.com

This useful multifunction tool takes some of the tedium out of coding your web pages and could get your site noticed by more people. Buster creates Metatag keyword entries for your Web pages, which can increase your hit count. It also features a colour picker which converts your choices to hexadecimal values. The third tool is a signpost editor which can also attract more hits for your site. Signposting is getting increasingly popular but bear in mind that not all search-engines are that happy with over-excessive signposting actions.

Web link: www.tashcom.com

Make clever buttons with one of Coffeecup's suite of Java applet 'factories'. No Java or HTML experience required.

Web link: www.coffeecup.com

Get some special graphic effects on your Web pages with this Coffeecup Java applet tool.

Web link: www.coffeecup.com

Get your message across with this Coffeecup Java applet tool. Lots of options for displaying your message and Headline Factory can also save space on your Web page.

Web link: www.coffeecup.com

Allow visitors to your Web site move around and find their way more easily. With Coffecup's Navigation Factory you can build sophisticated menu systems without Java or HTML experience.

Web link: www.coffeecup.com

New version

A powerful Web site builder that goes beyond HTML coding – Style Sheets and JavaScript are supported as are most other advanced features one would expect from a top notch editor. You can get your fingers dirty if you wish, but most functions are easy and painless to utilise, with various templates and wizards included plus a full range of shortcuts. The shareware version allows you to run the application 20 times.

Web link: www.visic.com

JavaScript, VBScript and DHTML editor. Offers syntax highlighting in one document, bookmarks, code navigator, code templates, form builders, HTML code assistants, etc. The program has script managing mechanisms, allowing storage of user scripts in a library, and comes with a library containing over 40 ready-to-use scripts.

Web link: www.creamsoft.com/scribbler

A powerful HTML pre-processor that will considerably ease your life creating HTML pages. preHTML's pre-processor language allows you to build your entire Web site from templates and macros you create. You can separate contents from the way your site looks, so if you change one small detail in the site design, you can update all pages on your site to reflect this change – with just one click.

Recently updated – * Uninstall old version first *

The latest release of this popular HTML editor adds a raft of improvements to a program already full of features. CoffeeCup is a text-only authoring environment so there's no onboard WYSIWYG preview. However, there's a lot to like about this program, not least its price, and the 50-odd built-in JavaScripts, 10 VB and 5 CGI scripts. You get syntax colouring, a style sheet maker, frame designer, table wizard, an image mapper, an FTP client and many more features to make you more productive.

Web link: CoffeeCup Software

Style Master gives you control over the process of creating, editing, applying, and tweaking your style sheets. It creates CSS1 and CSSP compliant code. The interface is easy to use and the online help and tutorials explain the intricacies of CSS syntax. If you've been holding back on implementing CSS on your site then this utility is the perfect introduction to them.

Web link: www.westciv.com

This nifty WYSIWYG HTML editor allows you to design pages without any coding knowledge. You can use the setup wizard to design a new project or use the comprehensive set of tools to position images and text within the design window. Splash! includes a screen-resolution preview, site mapper and drag-and-draw table creation. You also get numerous Java wizards that can enhance your pages. More of these can be downloaded from their Web site each month.

Web link: www.gosplash.com

SmartScript is a simple tool for creating JavaScript. It will make scripts for the following objects and functions: mouseover buttons, set cookie, get cookie, random MIDI play, search engines, browser check, resolution check, Shockwave, window status text effects, online form text-scroller/typewriter, auto URL jump, and text mouseover buttons (hover) to be included in style sheets.

This is a powerful tool for managing the navigation of Web-based Intranet and Internet systems. It assists you in the design, creation, and implementation of Java navigation applets. The Commander is a powerful yet easy Wysiwyg management tool that assists you in the creation of the HTML code needed to apply the Java applets to an HTML page. No knowledge of HTML is required for the process, and full explanations are included for every step. There is a choice of overall style, including a Tree, which looks and feels similar to Windows Explorer; a Tab applet, which is like a traditional card system; and a TabTree, which is a combination of the two. This is a 28-day trial.

Web link: www.auscomp.com

Limited feature trial version

Smart Site is a Web site analysis and maintenance tool that visually maps out your site. Its interface is easy to use and displays your site structure and content. You can choose between five views including hierarchical, concentric and spider. Smart Site can identify broken links and unused pages, validate HTML and correct spelling errors. This is an ideal tool for developers wanting to maintain quality control over a large site.

Web link: bigpic.com

WebScripter is an HTML/JavaScript editor. Using a multiple-document interface with wizards and HTML assistants, WebScripter makes it easy to create Web pages that can include JavaScript. It supports more than 100 HTML tags as well as forms, tables, frames, images, two browsers for previewing, and FTP and imaging software. This is a 30-day trial.

Web link: www.codegeneration.com

Browserola was designed for Web developers frustrated with the way different browsers render their carefully crafted HTML. Select the browsers and particular versions and Browserola emulates the pages as others may see them – it handles 12 different browsers: 5 versions of Netscape, 4 versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer and 3 versions of the HTML standard as defined by the W3C.

Currently Browserola does not check Javascript compatibility, nor is there support for Opera.

Web link: www.codo.com/browserola

The Magical Mouse-over Button Generator is a Web page design wizard that automatically creates BMP and JPG image files for captioned buttons along with sample HTML and optional JavaScript code to pop up different images as your mouse passes over each button. All without using a paint program.

Full-featured HTML source code styling tool. It will clean up all that messy HTML code that almost inevitably develops, making it easier to read and edit. It indents, comments, structures your HTML code according to the rules you specify, and can even compress the size of HTML files by removing extra spaces, tabs, line breaks and comments. Pretty HTML works in batch mode as well as in single file mode.

Web link: http://mpp.at

Create clickable images for people to navigate your Web site – as well as linking to other pages and images, you can execute JavaScript via the 'hotspots'.

HomeSite is an award-winning HTML design tool for professional Web developers. The highlight of this new version is increased productivity. You can now produce full-featured Web sites faster than before.

Features in HomeSite 4.0 include high-end language support (JavaScript, ASP, Perl, and DHTML); a style editor to create and edit cascading style sheets; a JavaScript wizard; a Tag Inspector to display properties in a single sheet and a Tag Tree for easy visualisation of a page's tag structure; Design View, a visual development mode (requires IE 4.01); and Site View, which gives you a hierarchical view of your entire Web site.

Web link: Allaire

This multi-faceted program is a real time saver. SiteExplorer displays the contents and structure of your Web site offline in a familiar two pane Windows Explorer-style view. Click on a graphic or video file listed in the left hand pane and it's displayed on the right. Sound files can be activated in the same way. Clicking on an HTML file displays the links within the text which can be instantly verified. Cool Bananas Software have bundled a basic HTML editor with the program.

Web link: www.coolbananas.com.au

Mac OS

NOTE: The Mac programs are mostly in archived 'HQX' (BinHex) files – they can be extracted with several applications, including Stuffit Expander (which is on the CD...). Clicking on the links below should set the process in motion. You may receive a message that the file cannot be loaded into Simple Text — if so, start Stuffit and then open the HQX file you want from within Stuffit.

Update of Myrmidon

Terry Morse has produced a major rewrite of the popular Myrmidon Web page publisher. GoClick is a very simple way to get information on the Web. It is a more professional tool than the old Myrmidon. One click of the print button converts any document into a Web page that looks virtually identical to the original – regardless of the browser or computer platform.

Web link: Terry Morse Software

Injection aims to get better search engine rankings for your Web site. Drag and drop your entire site onto Injection and it automatically extracts key words and topics from each page and then constructs META keyword tags that reflect the content. The newly created META tags are then 'injected' into each page. Your pages can now more effectively be indexed by search engines. Injection also works as a plug-in to BBEdit (see below...) where it can batch 'inject' your files.

Web link: www.glu.com

ImageMapper is designed to ease the task of producing accurate, maintainable image maps. Drop your image into Imagemapper, draw a circle, square or polygon around the hotspots, specify the URL links and you have an instant, clickable image map. All formats are supported including Client-Side, CERN and NCSA. Displays and converts between graphics files in a variety of formats, notably JPEG, GIF, PICT, BMP, PPM and TARGA. There's also a handy tutorial and a plug-in to BBEdit (see below...).

Web link: www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~snaddosg

Style Master
v1.3
(PPC)

Take control over Web style sheets – become a Style Master. Create fully CSS1- and CSSP-compliant style sheets. Open and edit style sheets no matter what application created them. Style Master warns you about any aspects of your style sheet that are not fully supported by the browsers you specify.

21-day trial version
(Recently updated)

Make your Web pages load faster by using this tool that optimises HTML documents by removing unneeded information in the HTML and JavaScript syntax. The optimisation does not change the way browsers display the document. VSE HTML Turbo optimises any HTML version, JavaScript, Tcl and VBScript. It is best suited for documents created with Wysiwyg HTML authoring tools.

(PPC)

This is a professional Web development tool from Macromedia. Dreamweaver supports pretty much everything you can do with a Web page, Dynamic HTML, absolute positioning, cascading style sheets, an extensive JavaScript behaviour library, visual table and frame design, a client-side image map editor, and a repeating-element library. Version 2 adds enhancements in page production, site management, dynamic publishing and XML support. You can test dynamic objects with live playback of Macromedia's Flash and Shockwave animation technology or any Netscape plug-in and use SiteMap to move elements around, add new pages, and reorganise the site.

You'll just have to try it if you want to find out everything else that Dreamweaver has to offer.

Web link: Macromedia

Freeway
v2.0 trial
(68k)
30-day time limited

With support for HTML 4.0 layout, Cascading Style Sheets, and over 100 new features, Freeway 2.0 is a powerful and accessible way to create stunning Web sites.

A complete solution for producing professional-looking Web sites, Freeway's integrated design environment includes the production of Web-ready graphic elements, flexible and precise HTML page layout, upload and powerful site maintenance features. With the new customisable Actions you simply select and place objects which contain pre-programmed scripts and coding. Applications include database connectivity, integration with e-commerce solutions, dynamic HTML behaviours and more.

Typograph integrates TrueDoc dynamic font technology with the latest version of Netscape Communicator so Web publishing professionals can create stylish HTML documents using different fonts and fonts styles. This demo restricts generation of some characters.

Requires BBEdit 4.x which you will find below...

BBEdit Lite
v4.1

That classic Mac HTML editor.

Try this straight forward HTML editor.

Easily create imagemaps for your Web pages – load graphics and assign 'clickable hotspots'. Adjust the shape of the hotspot area, choose a URL to associate, and test offline.