HomeSite for Windows 95

~buzz Tue, Sep 3, 1996 (05:18) seed

Few HTML editors offer the breadth and depth of features found in WebEdit and HotDog, the perennial champs of the HTML editor genre. HomeSite is a new editor that not only matches the selection of features found in these two clients but also gives each a run for its money in terms of overall power, ease of use, and price. HomeSite begins by covering the standard set of must-have features necessary for any HTML editor to be competitive in this extremely crowded marketplace. Complete HTML 3.2 support, wizards for advanced HTML programming, word wrap, support for long filenames, right mouse button functionality, color coding, and support for tags specific to Internet Explorer 3.0 and Netscape 3.0 are just the beginning of what this editor-deluxe has to offer its users. Less than a year ago, enhanced features like multiple file find and replace (extended replace), project management, quick and efficient spell checking, a 'document list' view for quick access to web files and projects, full screen editing capabilities, support for both inline and external web browsing, multiple level Undo, HomeSite Tips, and extensive on-line help would have been enough to vault HomeSite to the top of its class. Today, if this were the extent of its capabilities, HomeSite would fare no better than other HTML editors that have quickly been rendered obsolete by the ever-improving trio of WebEdit Professional, HotDog Professional, and Microsoft FrontPage. HomeSite, however, escapes the fate of its brethren by offering all of the above great features and a whole lot more. Perhaps its most impressive feature, HomeSite sports a powerful multi-level toolbar with quick access to often used HTML tags, tools, and wizards. The attractively designed central toolbar allows you to effortlessly switch between HomeSite's extensive collection of options. Font attributes; table and frames wizards; comments, lists, and line editors; a launchpad for easily running your favorite apps from within the HomeSite interface; customized tags; and buttons for making use of the latest in web technology are all just one click away thanks to the top-level toolbar. Going just one level deeper delivers the entire HomeSite feature-set to you through various tool buttons. Whether you want to quickly create a form or image map, embed an ActiveX control or Netscape object, insert an anchor or image (with auto-detection of width and height), launch an FTP client for uploading files or a web browser for viewing new documents, HomeSite not only makes it possible but also ensures that your task can be completed in a quick and intuitive manner. The Table and Frames Wizards are particularly powerful; only WebEdit's collection of wizards is comparable to HomeSite's in terms of ease of use and advanced features offered. HomeSite's attractively designed multiple document interface (MDI), another feature patterned after WebEdit, also helps distinguish HomeSite from the rest of the competition. Without a doubt, HomeSite has more than enough features to make it appealing to both novice and expert web designers alike. Along with WebEdit, it is one of the few editors to quickly and consistently offer advanced support for the latest in web technology, support for the likes of ActiveX Controls, Java applets, document embedding, web scripting, and whatever other new features Microsoft and Netscape can come up with in the near future. However, like most apps on the 'net, HomeSite's not quite perfect. Relative to its competition, the app takes entirely too long to load initially, making it a poor choice for quick updates and routine document changes. HomeSite also could benefit from features like FrontPage's WebBots and WebEdit's pre-coded collection of Java applets. HomeSite also currently lacks internal support for remote file uploading and editing; users have the choice of running an external FTP client or Microsoft's Web Publishing Wizard. Overall, it's quite easy to overlook minor flaws like these when you consider the amazing array of advanced features and tools offered by HomeSite. And when you take a look at the price of the app, you'll really be amazed -- the initial release of HomeSite is freeware, and the newest version, 2.0, will only cost $25 when officially released. How's that for an excellent return on your investment? Pros: Great collection of features, all the latest tags and tools, inexpensive and easy to use Cons: Slow start-up, lacks several important features like remote file editing and saving Version Reviewed: 2.0 Beta 1 Date of Review: 9/2/96 For the latest on HomeSite, check out http://www.stroud.com/95html.html#homesite

~chesterb Tue, Sep 3, 1996 (15:38) #1

I just downloaded the program and began evaluating it, and find it difficult to make the transition from HTMLEd to HomeSite. The project management functions will be nice to use, but I first need to figure out simpler things, like where is the extended character map (if one is present), how to create a simple "name" target, etc. For now, HTMLEd still is powerful enough when I need it to be, and keeps all of the functions I need close at hand, in a more convenient way than HomeSite.

~PBeim Tue, Sep 3, 1996 (22:01) #2

I've used a great many Editors, but I have to agree with Strouds evaluation, for $25 you CANNOT beat this editor. 1.0 was great, but 2.0 is fantastic. One of the items that was overlooked in the write up was the ability to right click on an existing tag and edit it using the same dialog box used to create it.

~feign Wed, Sep 4, 1996 (23:24) #3

I've been a devoted Hot Dog Pro user for over a year now. Two days of trying out HomeSite 2 have made me a convert. While Hot Dog has degenerated into silliness in their 32-bit version with barking sounds and reinventing the wheel by eliminating all the familiar icons and introducing ugly, difficult to understand cartoon icons, along comes HomeSite. I think the interface is not only extremely attractive, but everything is designed with the serious web author in mind. I disagree with Stroud's assertion that start-up of the program is so slow that it's a disadvantage great enough to point out. Start-up is a few seconds slower, sure. But I find that my own work goes at least 33% faster using HomeSite rather than Hot Dog. Let me also say that though I've used Hot Dog Pro for over a year, I still find it difficult to figure out many of the features. With HomeSite I seem to have mastered it within two days. I strongly recommend HomeSite. It's fantastic!

~ComputerGenie Sat, Sep 7, 1996 (10:39) #4

I've been a Hot Dog fan for about 2 years, using the Hot Dog Standard version because the 32 bit would lock up my system.. One look at Home Site and that was it.. I used to Cut and Paste between my pages.. now with Home Site I just make a custom tag of everything I used to paste (Mail, LeBanner Code, etc).. One cllick and it's all in. I like the Drag and drop for images, links.. Needless to say, Hot Dog is a thing of the past in just a few days.. Home Site makes keeping up 15 pages a breeze.

~Cricket Sat, Oct 19, 1996 (18:43) #5

I've used Homesite since almost the beginning. Homesite 2's project feature is a blessing for me since my web site now has over 50 pages. Homesite is IT as far as I'm concerned. As far as the 'cons' in the review are concerned, it's so easy for me to upload my pages via ftp with Norton Navigator that having it done 'automatically' seems a bit of overkill. As for how long it takes to load, yes, especially if the directory Homesite is loading is a long one, it will take a while. I've found, however, that I eep Homesite 1 around for those times I've uploaded my pages, am checking them live with a browser and find a link I missed or something. Then I quickly load Homesite 1 and make a quick change. For updating my pages (I update from 6-15 pages every 3 or 4 days) I use Homesite 2 exclusively. This program is the best I've found...and I keep looking at other editors, out of curiosity more than out of need, so I've tried a lot of what else is out there.

~Cricket Sat, Oct 19, 1996 (18:43) #6

I've used Homesite since almost the beginning. Homesite 2's project feature is a blessing for me since my web site now has over 50 pages. Homesite is IT as far as I'm concerned. As far as the 'cons' in the review are concerned, it's so easy for me to upload my pages via ftp with Norton Navigator that having it done 'automatically' seems a bit of overkill. As for how long it takes to load, yes, especially if the directory Homesite is loading is a long one, it will take a while. I've found, however, that I eep Homesite 1 around for those times I've uploaded my pages, am checking them live with a browser and find a link I missed or something. Then I quickly load Homesite 1 and make a quick change. For updating my pages (I update from 6-15 pages every 3 or 4 days) I use Homesite 2 exclusively. This program is the best I've found...and I keep looking at other editors, out of curiosity more than out of need, so I've tried a lot of what else is out there.

~daveman Sun, Oct 20, 1996 (11:50) #7

I began to use HomeSite 2.0 about a month ago. It is a fantastic program. I tried Hot Dog for Windows 95, but I couldn't stand those annoying, floating tool bars that I kept having to move out of the way every time I tried to do something. Besides, the program ran so slow on my computer that I could probably type an entire paragraph before any of it appeared on the screen. Besides, it took considerably more hard disk space than HomeSite, too. I really like the file list on the side. It makes it easy to maintain several pages. I use to use Web Media Publisher. It was okay, but it wasn't necessarily good for multiple file editing. It didn't seem to be updated very often anymore, either. I would recommend HomeSite 2.0 to anyone.

~terry Mon, Oct 21, 1996 (09:00) #8

You and Laurie (see the HotDog Pro item) could start a user group. Well, I'm a HotDog Pro user but I keep finding myself going back to a simpler way of writing html, like the Windows Notepad or pico at a unix prompt. I'll have to give Homesite a look. What's the learning curve like compared to HotDog Pro? What features does in *not* have that HotDog Pro has? Does it have a good multiple file search and replace?

~Jackson1 Sun, Nov 17, 1996 (00:02) #9

As someone who works day-to-day as the producer of a number of large, commercial web sites, I have tried a number of HTML editors, from Notepad to WebEdit to HotDog to Fusion (which isn't exactly your daddy's HTML editor). It amazes me when I hear criticism of programs like HomeSite because they "take a long time to launch", or they don't have a built-in FTP program, etc., etc. Here's my take on HomeSite. It's a damn good HTML editor, especially when you consider the $25 price tag. It does not take any longer to load than any other Windows95 apps (in fact, it's quicker than many) and I've used it more than one PC. So that criticism is unsubstantiated in my book. As for the lack of a built-in FTP app, that's no biggie. Everyone I work with uses WS FTP or (are you ready?) DOS to prop files to our servers. (Truth is, the more you become conversant in HTML, the fewer features are needed in an HTML editor. That's why Notepad is so popular as an editor.) I certainly wouldn't suggest that the capability of editing HTML online is a good thing, either. The few extra moments it takes to pull the file, make your edits and re-prop it to the server is time well spent. Nick Bradbury deserves a lot of credit for developing a great HTML editor at a ridiculously low price. (No, I don't know the guy, so this isn't a commercial.) He's constantly improving the program to make it more functional, not more carnival-like. If you're shopping for the most toolbar buttons per dollar, barking dogs and other useless appendages then you might be interested in HotDog 3.0, but I'll take a lean, fast, effective HTML editor like HomeSite any day (when I'm not using Notepad or the like).

~butley Sun, Dec 1, 1996 (09:10) #10

I've been following HomeSite's development from the start, since mention of it first appeared in the comp.html newsgroup. It's a winner of an app. Though as a dedicated WebEdit user, it takes a bit of time to get used to, it's got extraordinary power. My job is the creation and maintenance of Web sites, and I have no problem recommending HomeSite to other users, including those who work for me. Since WebEdit was sold by Nesbitt to Luckman, I've lost faith that my favorite HTML editor would be around for much longer, and so have begun using HomeSite more and more. It loads _much faster_ than either WebEdit or that bowser Hot Dog Pro, which is a bloated app that I still can't take seriously.

~terry Sun, Dec 1, 1996 (10:52) #11

How does it stack up to FrontPage? I'd be real interested in hearing your comments on FrontPage.

~FloB Sun, Jan 19, 1997 (15:04) #12

I also work day to day producing web pages for one commercial web site. I am delighted to have found HomeSite. The "project management" feature is what I have needed for over a year. I attempted to get HotDog Pro 3 to work mainly because I needed that feature. Plain and simply stated...HomeSite delivers what HotDog only promises. As for comparing it to FrontPage, that is for a different audience. My experience with FrontPage has been using it to convert existing "Word" documents into HTML. It will convert, but it adds so much garbage that you then need a "real" html editor (or notepad) to rework the page before it can be published. Recently, I had to find an editor to replace HotDog, and I tried HomeSite and WebEdit. At that time I went with WebEdit, but I wish I had waited. It has been over 6 months and there have been no updates, and I agree with the message above. I don't think Luckman will keep up with either Sausage or HomeSite. I am very excited about HomeSite. This latest beta does everything I need it to do and with NO errors or crashes. And I don't find it slow to load either.

~terry Sun, Jan 19, 1997 (15:09) #13

I've been hearing lots of good things about Homesite. I'll give it a try one of these days soon.

~DavidCNelson Sat, Jan 25, 1997 (16:27) #14

I'm a newbie to Web authoring tools. The Hotdog site sent me packing in a hurry. Does anyone know how the 16-bit version (Is there one?) of Homesite works? I still use Windows 3.1, and I want to keep doing so, since I can't afford to replace my little 425-SX system yet.

~terry Sat, Jan 25, 1997 (19:33) #15

Have you visited their website. I don't know the answer offhand.

~daveman Sun, May 4, 1997 (13:05) #16

I've noticed that something was overlooked in the recent review of HomeSite. The program's speed has been increased significantly. While it's true that drag and drop is temporarily unavailable (It's supposed to be fixed in two weeks.) and that the editor only allows fixed-width fonts, it's nice to see a new version of a product actually increase it's speed. I could care less about drag and drop or proportional fonts. Furthermore, many users have noticed that the loading time has decreased with this new version. Nothing was said about it in the review. I wonder whether or not whoever wrote that review even used the new version. If you look at the comments that were made on the HomeSite Discussion Forum hosted at deerfield.net, you will find that few, if any, of them were mentioned in the review. It kind of makes you suspicious.

~maryjo Sun, Jul 27, 1997 (22:42) #17

Well, I am a die-hard Homesite user...and several other webpage folks at my workplace use it and love it too! The comment in the review about it loading slow is totally unfounded....especially after the last revision. Compared to the likes of Front Page, it loads just fine. I don't think you'll find any editor that can load a file and completely color-code the tags as fast as this one either...it's incredible! One thing to also note...the designer of Homesite continues to work on the program to improve it, even though it was sold to Alliare. There is a discussion board there where users can post comments/complaints/suggestion about the program and what they would like...and the amazing thing is Nick actually listens to and implements the suggestions! For instance, so many people were upset that Drag-and-Drop was removed from version 2.5, that Nick worked overtime putting that functionality back in without losin the speed increase that was the reason it was taken out in the first place. That kind of dedication to your users is hard to find. I do miss built-in-FTP, although the Web Publishing Wizard is reasonably easy to install and use, and integrates well into the program. I can't imagine anyone really liking HotDog better than Homesite...I found the icons in HotDog very hard to understand, and the program overall just too overdone...a lot of "Aren't we cool?!" kinds of things. Homesite is the most complete, easy-to-use and clean program for HTML I have ever seen.