Web Hosting Software

Installing WebWorks was surprisingly quick and easy. It took only about 10 minutes to load up the three major components of the application, Web Site Traffic Builder, Web Site Traffic Analyzer, and Web Site Medic. The application also comes with a 45-day free trial for Microsoft FrontPage 2000, so that you actually can build your Web site, then use WebWorks to track its progress.

Web Site Traffic Builder, the first component of the application, is designed to help businesses promote their Web sites through various Internet search engines and databases. Traffic Builder can either import META tags (if they already exist in the user's code) or create META tags by using the Site Details form. Once the tags are complete, the Categories pages will help you decide where and how you wish to promote your Web site. WebWorks gives you access to most of the major search engines, including Yahoo!, AOL, Lycos, and Ask Jeeves. You also have the option to submit your site to lesser-known engines and foreign-language sites, too. However, as with all processes, it can take anywhere from hours to days to months for your site to begin surfacing on any given search engine.

Once you've got your site listed on a bunch of different search engines, you're ready to see whether your efforts actually are working. That's where the Web Site Traffic Analyzer comes in--use this function to find out how many visitors your site is getting, and see which images/pages/files are the most popular and even which days of the week are your busiest. You can analyze local reports, or ones that are stored on an FTP site or a Web server. The user manual even will give you tips on how to read the reports and analyze your data. (A few marketing courses, however, might be a good idea, too.)

Finally, the Web Site Medic will help you fix what might or might not look broken to the naked eye. Check for broken links, oversize pages, missing page descriptions, multiple URLs, and other common site issues. The interface is fairly easy to use, and issues are laid out in an impressively straightforward manner.

While it won't take the place of a knowledgeable business development or marketing associate, WebWorks is a cost-efficient and timesaving way to give your business a strong and reliable Internet presence. --Gisele Toueg

Dreamweaver MX is a visual Web editor that generates highly compatible code while also including useful site-management features. Flash MX is the de facto standard for Web animation, containing rich multimedia content in remarkably compact files. Fireworks is a great tool for putting the finishing touches on existing graphics, adding text effects or other elements, and optimizing the results for Web display. These three are the core Studio MX products, and the suite offers excellent value for these alone.

Integration between the individual products is generally very good. It begins with the interface, which uses common elements such as dockable, collapsible panels and a dynamic property inspector, so that you can switch comfortably between products. On a technical level, the key feature is roundtrip support. You can embed Fireworks graphics and Flash movies in Dreamweaver pages without losing any information, letting you later reopen an element in its original application with all its features intact.

Application development is not just a matter of server-side scripting. Flash MX also has potential as a rich client, with an interface driven by embedded JavaScript. Through a technology called Flash Remoting, Flash MX offers support for Web services. While it may seem strange to think of Flash as a rich client moving beyond the Web page, it does make some sense when you consider that it is cross-platform and very widely deployed.

Taking everything together, Studio MX is an essential development tool, as well as a great bundle for any Web designer. --Tim Anderson

AlertSite is a Web-based service, so there's no software to install or configure, no technical knowledge is required, it's not necessary to upgrade or buy any hardware, you don't need to download anything, and you're not held to any long-term commitment. With the AlertSite e-Service Starter Kit, you'll receive initial setup and two months of service. After the initial offer, you can choose to continue this service for $24.95 per month.

Intra.Net Information Management System is a Web-based application, so there's no software to install or configure, no technical knowledge is required, it's not necessary to upgrade or buy hardware, you don't need to download anything, and you're not held to any long-term commitment. With the Intra.Net Information Management System e-Service Starter Kit, you'll receive three months of service for up to 20 employees. After the initial offer, you can choose to continue this service for $250 per month for up to 20 users.

Dreamweaver MX is a visual Web editor that generates highly compatible code while also including useful site-management features. Flash MX is the de facto standard for Web animation, containing rich multimedia content in remarkably compact files. Fireworks is a great tool for putting the finishing touches on existing graphics, adding text effects or other elements, and optimizing the results for Web display. These three are the core Studio MX products, and the suite offers excellent value for these alone.

Integration between the individual products is generally very good. It begins with the interface, which uses common elements such as dockable, collapsible panels and a dynamic property inspector, so that you can switch comfortably between products. On a technical level, the key feature is roundtrip support. You can embed Fireworks graphics and Flash movies in Dreamweaver pages without losing any information, letting you later reopen an element in its original application with all its features intact.

Application development is not just a matter of server-side scripting. Flash MX also has potential as a rich client, with an interface driven by embedded JavaScript. Through a technology called Flash Remoting, Flash MX offers support for Web services. While it may seem strange to think of Flash as a rich client moving beyond the Web page, it does make some sense when you consider that it is cross-platform and very widely deployed.

Taking everything together, Studio MX is an essential development tool, as well as a great bundle for any Web designer. --Tim Anderson

Work in a familiar, customizable environment with consistent user interface elements, including color management, drawing tools, code editing, a common Property Inspector, and panel management, all making it easy to move between the applications. Create each element of the Web production process, including developing graphics, laying out HTML pages, coding application logic, building rich user interfaces, and assembling complete solutions--all in one suite.

Take advantage of drag-and-drop visual tools and components, code libraries, and extensive code editing support for developing applications using HTML, XHTML, XML, ColdFusion, ASP, ASP.NET, JSP, or PHP. Use precoded HTML objects, Flash components, and complete templates to create or customize the Web solution that best suits your needs. Download additional templates, components, and extensions, or write your own to increase functionality. You can even install third-party add-ons and a full documented set of APIs, letting you customize and enhance all the products in Macromedia Studio MX.

Metamend is a Web-based service, so there's no software to install or configure, no technical knowledge is required, it's not necessary to upgrade or buy hardware, you don't need to download anything, and you're not held to any long-term commitment. With the Metamend e-Service Starter Kit, you'll receive three months of search engine optimization service. After the initial offer, you can choose to continue this service for $16.99 per month.