HotDog Standard

HotDog Standard -- Now this is the kind of application I like -- almost every feature I could ever possibly want and more! HotDog is an extremely well-designed HTML editor that allows you to use every HTML command possible as well as your own user-defined commands. HotDog Standard has fewer features than its big brother (the Professional version), but it does offer a very attractive price to compensate for the absent features -- at just $29.95, the Standard version is a real steal. Recently added features have made this client even more appealing -- files of any size can now be handled (the 32Kb limit has been removed), colored tags and the font color tag have been implemented, auto-upload (HotFTP) and project manager features are now included, and Microsoft Internet Explorer tags are now supported. HotDog's exisiting features, like advanced HTML formatting, are made simple, including support and tools for tables, forms, background images, custom text colors, and more. You can embed images and documents into your web pages with the exclusive Embedding option. Another unique attribute of HotDog is its Publishing option, which automates many of the chores involved in creating and serving a web page. The most common tasks are listed in a toolbar with icons big enough for a user to actually understand what they're supposed to represent. While I think some of these items could be arranged in a more intuitive manner, they are extremely useful and efficient for quickly designing and modifying web pages -- very important for experienced webmasters. In fact, everything is made simple in HotDog, from launching an app for previewing a page to making the most of both Netscape-specific tags and proposed HTML 3.0 tags. One of the best aspects of HotDog is its extensive on-line help documentation, which not only covers all features of HotDog, but also offers a comprehensive reference to the HTML language, Netscape-specific tags, and the proposed HTML 3.0 language. Overall, while HotDog Pro is definitely the best HTML editor available at this time, its little brother is no slacker and runs a very close second in an extremely competitive market. Pros: Excellent interface, every HTML command imaginable, very easy to use Cons: Lacks some of the critical features found in the Professional version. New: FTP quick uploading, real-time output viewer, HTML conversion utility, colored tags, more Version Reviewed: 2.52 Date of Review: 4/17/96 Reviewer: Forrest Stroud apps conference Main Menu