40tude HTML

If the name of this program, 40tude HTML, is not proof that there are more programs than imagination on the internet, then proof shall never exist.

But despite its moniker, Version 3.2 of 40tude is a decent HTML program. It is, in many ways, not greatly unlike numerous other HTML programs, but it does offer some advantages and details that others lack.

To help speed the process of web building, there are numerous "Experts" or wizards to help the builder move quickly through such tasks as making tables and forms and inserting elements for body, fonts, links, images and more. These "experts" offer the various tag options for each element without forcing the web author to remember them all.

40tude supports tags for Netscape 2-4; Internet Explorer 2-5; Opera 2-3.5; and W3C 2-4. Further, its CodeQuick feature provides access to tags, attributes, values, and information about tag support. There is also instant tag color coding.

Perhaps the most useful feature regarding tags is that by pressing the F2 key while the cursor is placed within a tag, a page of information about that tag from the Web Design Group pops up.

Files are accessed in a familiar Internet Explorer-type panel and 40tude handles the drag-and-drop process better than most.

Users can have several documents open at once, each easily reached by clicking on the tabs just above the editing window. Users may also arrange the program's layout and then save it for later use.

While many HTML programs offer spell checkers, 40tude goes over and above the call of duty by offering said checkers in eight languages, in addition to a Thesaurus that can be downloaded from the program's home page. Spell checking, as well as character conversion, HTML validation, and link checking, can all be done on one document, all open documents, or all documents within a project.

40tude comes with nine predefined javascripts and the ability to let users add their own text or scripts through the use of snippets, which can be put into a document with just a few clicks.

40tude has a built-in viewer as well as an external viewer that lets users preview their creations in Netscape, Internet Explorer, or Opera. It is also possible to resize the width of the browsers to help in design for varying screen resolutions.

For those who know their way around the world of Perl scripting, the program offers color coding for the scripts and a feature allowing those scripts to be tested and debugged. Users can also switch between Unix and ANSI file modes.

Among other features available are:

• Integrated FTP wizard
• Editor side includes
• Macro recorder
• Project timer to assist in keeping track of work
• Integrated image viewer for thumbnails or full-size graphics
• Location of images and automatic assignment of correct size values
• Unlimited undo/redo function

In our testing, the only problem that arose was that the program would far too frequently appear to lock up, leaving the cursor at a standstill while we continued typing. Eventually, the program would break loose and catch up, with the delay ranging up to an aggravating 15 seconds. The computer used in testing was a Pentium II-500, with 128 MB of RAM that had offered no previous problems that day.

40tude HTML is a program that can appeal to users of varying expertise, although some of its included features are most likely far beyond most HTML neophytes.

I was going to suggest a "Name the Program" contest until I read that the program just recently got its new name. It used to be called 1-4-All but was redone from scratch and had a name change for legal and marketing reasons. It's enough to give lawyers and PR folks and, apparently, HTML programs a bad name.