~terry
Wed, Jul 24, 1996 (11:48)
seed
HoTMetaL -- HoTMetaL has always checked your coding for you
to make sure that it conformed to HTML 2.0 standards.
Unfortunately, this would create problems when trying to load a
Netscape document or an HTML 3.0 document into HoTMetaL.
The current release partly resolves this problem by finally allowing
most of Netscape's proprietary tags to load within a document
without causing errors. Unfortunately, some of the newest
Netscape 2.0 and Microsoft Internet Explorer tags are still viewed
as incorrect syntax in HoTMetaL, which can often cause problems
for the WYSIWYG viewer. Some new features in the latest version
include the ability to view the graphics of your document (inline
images) while working in HoTMetaL, an improved importing
feature designed to help open many invalid documents in
HoTMetaL, an updated style sheet, a powerful new editor for
creating tables, a preferences menu, new toolbars, a preview option
for viewing your created pages with your favorite web browser, and
a tutorial on using HoTMetaL.
The professional version takes the HTML editor to a new extreme
by packaging a spell checker, dictionary, thesaurus, MetalWorks
client (a free add-on graphics package to get your graphics
Web-ready), keyboard macros, improved support for the newest
HTML extensions, and a context-sensitive search and replace
option with the already feature-replete freeware client. All of these
features do come at a price, though; HoTMetaL Pro will set you
back nearly $200. For the extreme webmaster it will likely be worth
the cost and more, but for the more typical user there are many
comparable editors available in a slightly more moderate price
range. For example, HotDog Pro packages many of the same
features and costs under a hundred dollars, and HTML Writer is an
excellent freeware client with more features than the freeware
version of HoTMetaL and is faster and easier to use than both the
freeware and professional versions. In terms of speed, HoTMetaL
is one of the least appealing HTML Editors, and it remains one of
the hardest editors to use; for these reasons, you might want to
consider looking at other editors as well.
Pros: Many new features, checks your pages for errors, improved
importing feature
Cons: Still has a problem loading some 'non-conformist' pages,
neither the easiest nor fastest editor
New: Tables generator, improved importing, preferences menu,
additional toolbars, more
Version Reviewed: 2.0
Date of Review: 12/9/95
~terry
Tue, Jul 30, 1996 (05:33)
#1
Above review by Forrest Stroud.
~kelvinc
Thu, Aug 22, 1996 (14:59)
#2
I'd like to give a response to this paragraph:
For example, HotDog Pro packages many of the same features and costs under a hundred dollars, and HTML Writer is an excellent freeware client with more features than the freeware version of HoTMetaL and is faster and easier to use than both the freeware and professional versions. In terms of speed, HoTMetaL
is one of the least appealing HTML Editors, and it remains one of the hardest editors to use; for these reasons, you might want to consider looking at other editors as well.
1. I have tried to get along with HTML Writer for the approximately 10th time now, and every time I am defeated by the interface and is forced to delete it. I also do not find HoTMetaL slow. It is relatively the same speed as my typing.
2. I never do register my shareware and just allow it to go over the evaluation period and go unusable. This is because I live north of the border in Canada, and I do not enjoy converting to US dollars every time I buy something. Anyway who can trust credit card transaction on the 'net anyway.
Conclusion: I am utterly disappointed be Mr. Stroud's comments.
~WYSIWYG
Thu, Nov 14, 1996 (13:19)
#3
I would like to give my quick review of HotMetal Pro 3.0. First, the box featured it as being a wysiwig editor portraying a page being created in the editor as it would be seen with a browser. Unfortunately it is false advertising. It is a psuedo wysiwig/code editor that does show graphics, but shows all the tags that go along with it, and no bakground. On the positive side, it comes shipped with html ver 3.0 and can be updated free to 3.2. Also, it has a fairly easy to use frames and forms wizards. It al
o does bkground sound and marqee tags (which dont work with Netscape). Was it worth the $120?
I think not. I will probably go on with the much easier to use Netscape Gold and just use HotMetal for the things netscape can't do.
~Sayer
Sun, Jul 5, 1998 (12:33)
#4
I purchased Hot Metal Pro 4.0 for right at $100.00, not $200.00 as stated. I got it at a local Austin software outlet. I can give no comment on how it works, as I have not loaded it yet. My primary concern is that it is user friendly. I hope I havn't made a mistake. I know nothing about HTML editing, and based on the reviews, it was not my first choice; I wanted HotDog, but the software stores (all 3 of them!) did not have it, so I settled for what I got. Why is it so hard to find a decent selection on th
store shelves (or evn software stores)? Tips, hints?
schooley@texas.net
~terry
Mon, Jul 6, 1998 (08:55)
#5
Have you read Forrests reviews? Have you tried downloading some of the
html editors like Homesite that are on
http://cws.internet.com ?