The Right Tools

THE RIGHT TOOLS

Other essays cover choices and alternatives for "do it yourself" web design. This essay covers my personal preferences and what I consider to be the "right" or the best tools for the job. BTW, to see what professionals were using and doing as of October, 1997, see http://www.webweek.com/current/undercon/19971020-survey.html.

Page Authoring Tools

I have three recommendations.

1. AOLPress.

AOLPress always comes in second place in every survey that includes it. To quote one review "this full-featured HTML editor and Web site puglisher matches the power, if not the convenience, of most of this round-up's full priced packages." While the tool may seem more oriented towards experts than beginners, it includes a tutorial that covers every step and "if you don't mind a slightly steep learning curve, you may find that this powerful package is the only HTML editor that you'll ever need." Available free, http://www.aolpress.com. Version 2.0 supports frames and a number of extremely sophisticated techniques. (quotes from PC Magazine, March 4, 1997 edition).

2. Corel WebMaster Suite.

Corel's WebMaster Suite has everything you could need -- including an HTML transit tool. (HTML transit is the process of taking a long word processing document and converting it into several appropriately sized and indexed web pages. No other authoring program or suite contains even a decent HTML transit tool and WebMaster Suite has an excellent one). Complex Java (including an applet collection), 8000 images, ActiveX, 3D VMRL (don't use it), database publishing, all for $199.97 list.

3. FrontPage97.

For beginners, FrontPage 97 consistently has been rated number one in every survey and review it has been in. Attorneys who have used it like it and respect it. If you just want a simple, basic "display card" type site and do not want to learn any more than the minimum you need to do it yourself, FrontPage97 is a stable and reliable tool from Microsoft. $149.00 list. Includes an image editor and templates appropriate for use on your personal page.

4. Web Factory Professional -- worth a look, if not a recommendation.

A very flexible product. http://www.tlco.com

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FTP

WS_FTP. Log on to the Tucows site and you can copy and try every major FTP software package available.

[http://www.uoknor.edu/mirros/twocows] -- all the software you may need and more. WS_FTP is free. All three recommended web authoring software packages also include flexible and powerful FTP tools.

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Graphics

To edit image maps, consider 1Automata's Web Hotspots 2.01 or Sausage Software's CrossEye.

To animate GIFs (never, ever include animations on a professional's site) Group 42's WebImage 2.1 or Ulead System's PhotoImpact's GIF Animator.

To adjust photographs for use on a web page, Equalibrium's $595.00 DeBabelizer Pro is the leading tool. Quarterdeck's HiJack Pro is powerful and useful tool as is Uled system's $29.95 PhotoImpact GIF/JPEG SmartSaver.

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Books

http://members.aol.com/wprg1 is an excellent collection of book reviews. Unlike the general public, attorneys are able to cope with long books.

If you are using a wordprocessor to compose your web pages, or generally, HTML Publishing Bible is a solid book. Alan Simpson is the author and the publisher is IDG.

If you use Hot Dog, then Publishing Your Web Page with AOL is the best book available. It has very little to do with AOL and everything to do with good web page design and clear thinking. It focuses on Hot Dog as a tool and includes, on the CD ROM, a complete copy of Using HTML Second Edition, a 921 page book from Que books by three authors.

FrontPage 97 Step by Step by Microsoft /Catapult Press is ok, but FrontPage97 in Seven Days by Sams.net is better.

I am still looking for a good book on AOLPress.

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