I love...or...ok, I admit...I am obsessed with searching the Web for great software. Software that works. While I do purchase a lot of useful tools, it’s really the hunt I enjoy.
I have a special affinity for programs that allow me to add, delete and edit web content directly through the browser. Since I am not the greatest at the “design” aspect of Web site creation I mainly concentrate on content. As a result, I don’t use any of the flashy Web content creators, rather, the more simple browser based applications that allow me quick access to update Web pages.
In the last few years I have been furiously researching and evaluating this category of software, and, I’ve even started a little collection. My fixation began while looking for a way to spend minimal time on updating my family’s Web site. I finally found what I consider to be the best browser based Web page editing tool of them all, its called WebEdit Professional (WEP).
What is so great about it?
There are a number of features that place WEP ahead of the pack.
- The BEST WYSIWYG editor I have ever used. Hands down!
- A complete document management system for listing, creating, deleting, and editing documents.
- A safe and reliable way to edit and save documents. WEP saves each document as a single file. Files and images are not stored in a database. Nothing is stored in a database.
- Password protected.
- Smart! You can place a partial table into the editor and upon saving the file the editor will fill in the missing tags.
Not only does WEP provide all the pieces and structure one would expect from a product in this category but even most of its individual modules are superior than any others I have seen and tried. For example, WEP sports the BEST WYSIWYG editor I have ever used. Everything from its look, feel and operation, to its speed, usability and features are top notch.
Fast Track Installation…
Installing WEP is as simple as downloading a zip file, unzipping the download, and FTPing one directory to your Web space. Point your browser to the setup program, answer a few configuration options, and you are set. With WEP you can start with a completely empty Web root directory and build your site from scratch. Or, you can use WEP to update, modify and maintain an already existing and running Web site. WEP comes with some pre-defined templates you can use as is, modify, or, you can define your own templates and start from there.
From the Web designer who is charged with maintaining a site and needs to provide a section of the site that a novice client wishes to keep updated to the Web site administrator that wishes to add content fast and not fret about loading a bloated Web-design-full-featured-do-it-all-suite of software WebEdit Professional is the perfect tool.
OK, let’s be fair…
To be fair to other content editors I will say this, some of them do not profess to be an all-in-one solution. For example, Ektron’s eWebedit PRO is a very powerful editor, but there is work involved in placing it in position on the Web site and configured to allow content editing in a specific area on the page. The average user will not be able to do this with Ektron’s eWebedit PRO . Then again, maybe Ektron’s product is not geared to the average user. WEP, on the other hand, is geared to the average user. This is what I liked most about it. It has all the pieces built in and allows you to instantly create and edit a page in the directory of your choice, or, edit an already existing page.
How about page integrity?
So, you are concerned about the integrity of a page or even your entire site? There are two things that WEP does to maximize page and site integrity: 1) WEP can be configured to only allow a particular portion of a page to be edited. It can restrict editing to an area in the page, say, inside a table structure or a paragraph area, and 2) WEP, upon hitting the save button, saves the file as an html/htm/asp or whatever extension you define. Meaning, WEP does not store the pages, and thus the site configuration, in a database. Databases crash and load slow.
How about dynamic content?
WEP allows include files to be maintained. For example, you can define an include file for the header and footer of your page and the look and feel of the site will be maintained throughout the site. Whenever you change the header or footer of the include file the changes will propagate to every page that uses the file. This is a great time saving feature you will enjoy, and, it can all be maintained right within WEP!
Does it handle links and images?
Yes! Another nice feature is how WEP maintains links within pages, simply highlight a piece of text, a word or a phrase, click the "links" icon and WEP displays a tree metaphor of already existing pages in the Web site's structure. Simply click on the “use this link” button and WEP will automatically create a link to that page. The link may be in the same directory as the calling page or in a sub directory, your choice...I like that.
What other stuff does it do?
- Tables
- Three flavors to choose from ASP, PHP or PERL
- No slow Java or ActiveX components for the client to download
- Upload images directly into your content using the powerful WebEdit Professional image manager. Modify Image properties and more.
Interspire, the company that created this terrific product, has just released version 4.0 of WEP. Version 4.0 is packed with lots of new features and old features have been improved!
Other great products from Interspire...
- SiteworksPRO - Create your own dot com. Everything you need is included in this application. And, it’s all Web based.
- Active KB - I like this. Everything you need to create an on-line FAQ.
John’s last stand...
As a reviewer I decided that my job is to let the reader know: 1) What it is I am reviewing 2) A little bit about what the product does 3) Why it may fit into the reader’s tool chest, but more importantly...does it work! In the case of WebEdit Professional, yes, it works and it works well! Tech-support is top notch as is evident in the on-line discussion forum. (I like when the company that writes and sells the product actually manages to find the time to "man" the discussion forum instead of letting the customers who have already purchased the product all fend for themselves. That’t not fair.) WEP tech-support it always willing and ready to assist even to the point of coding a special customer requested feature.
I copied this right out of the discussion forum:
“If it is really causing a problem for you, please pop support@webedpro.com an email with your invoice number, and version you are using, and we'll see if we can actually make those modifications for you.”
You don’t see that too often from a software company. The folks at WEP can do this because they really know their product!
I hope you give this editor a try, I know you will find it as powerful and as useful as I have.
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John Cesta is a contract programmer. John's current project is designer and lead developer of the automated hosting software at bestcfhosting.com, a ColdFusion MX hosting company.
John is currently working on commercializing his programs and offering them to the IIS community at serverautomationtools.com
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