Web Publishing Tools

Although you can conceivably do web publishing with as little as a browser, Windows Notepad, and an FTP program, or even less, to get at all sophisticated you need a bit more. The following are links to a wide range of software available on the Web that can assist you in your web publishing endeavors. They are all available for download either as freeware, shareware, or demoware.

Currently, I've only listed Windows 3.1/95 software programs and utilities. In future, I'm hoping to add further pointers to software tools for other platforms.

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• Web Browsers
  • General Information on Web Browsers
  • Windows Web Browsers
• HTML Editors, Convertors, Templates, and Page Creators
  • HTML Editors
  • Word Processor Add-Ons
  • HTML Convertors and Templates
  • Automated Page Creators, Site Managers, and Web Authoring Suites
• Graphics Software
  • Graphics Editors, Viewers, and Convertors
  • 3D Modelers and Ray Tracers
• HTML Utilities
  • Image Map Utilities
  • Forms Utilities
  • Tables Utilities
  • Frames Utilities
  • Color Utilites
• Miscellaneous Software
  • Software Collections
  • FTP and Telnet Software
  • Net and Web Automation Tools
  • Multimedia
  • Anti-Virus Scanners
  • File Viewers and Managers
  • File Compression/Decompression and Decoders

Web Browsers

General Information on Web Browsers

• Picking the Perfect Web Browser by C/NET. Reviews of 28 browsers for Windows, Macintosh, and OS/2.
• BrowserCaps: A catalog of the HTML support provided by different Web browsers by David Ornstein. Survey results on how different browsers handle HTML. Add your browser to the results.
• BrowserWatch. Breaking news on the browser front.
• Web Browser Test Page. Tests your browser's multimedia capability, including GIF/JPEG, MPEG, QuickTime, WAV/AU, etc.

Windows Web Browsers

• Netscape Navigator. Still top dog in the browser battle. Since well over 80% of web surfers are still using Navigator, previewing your pages in Navigator is at least prudent.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer. Making a major effort to embrace and extend Netscape. Definitely should be #2 on your browser list.
• NCSA Mosaic. Largely an HTML 2.0 compliant web browser, but with some HTML 3.0 tags thrown in. A good test platform, however, to check how your pages might be displayed in an HTML 2.0 browser. Requires Win32s (available at site).
• Emissary by Attachmate. Supports frames, tables, Shockwave, Netscape plug-ins, HTML 3.0. Includes news reader, multimedia e-mail, FTP, and WYSIWYG HTML editor. Beta version was available for download.
• HotJava by Sun Microsystems. A "preBeta" version for Windows 95 is available for download. This is more an indication of what is to come, rather than a full-fledged product. Following the beat of a different drummer.
• Cello by the Legal Information Institute at Cornel Law School. For Windows 3.1. Only of interest for antiquarian purposes. You can still get it though.
• Spyglass Mosaic. 30-day evaluation copy available for download. The assumption here is that it stops working once the evaluation period is over.
• NetShark. Netshark Lite, a free version, available for download.
• PowerBrowser by Oracle. Oracle is another major player, so worth paying attention to. This one is not only a web browser, but a web server and integrated BASIC scripting environment. Includes Database Wizard for creating database-enabled applications. Supports Java, plus frames, tables, GIF animations, etc. Available for Windows 95/NT and Windows 3.1.
• SPRYNET Mosaic. Available for Windows 3.1.
• Cyberjack for Windows 95 by the Delrina Corporation. An "Online Trial" version was available for download.
• WebSurfer by NetManage. Available free, with no time-out feature or expiration date. Available for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95/NT. Supports inline video, RealAudio, TrueSpeech, plus just about everything else.
• SlipKnot by MicroMind, Inc. A graphical browser for those lacking a SLIP/PPP account. A bit quirky in how it handles HTML though (the Title is displayed as part of the page, for instance), and at best only supports parts of HTML 2.0.
• Quarterdeck Mosaic. Trialware version was available.
• The Other Internet Package by Pixelogic. Supports forms, tables, frames, and most Netscape 2.0 extensions, and includes e-mail and news reader. Free beta version (0.903) was available for download for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95/NT. French version promised soon.
• GNNpress by GNN Hosting Service. This is a browser, as well as an excellent HTML editor. Free.

Multi-Lingual Web Browsers

• Video On Line Internet Browser. Can be duplicated and distributed without any restriction. Offers versions which allow you to surf in Czech, Egyptian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, English, Italian, Maltese, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish. Earlier versions available in Arabic, Danish, Hungarian, Dutch, Portuguese, and Russian.
• Accent Multilingual Mosaic. Allows you to browse in 30 different languages, including Russian, Arabic, Greek, or Japanese, even while using the US version of Windows. Evaluation copies are available for download.
• Opera by Opera Software. English, Norwegian, and Swedish evaluation versions are available for download. Optimized for keyboard browsing. Supports frames, tables, text wrap around images, etc.

Off-Line Web Browsers

• I-View Off-line HTML Browser by Talent Communications. This is a dedicated off-line web browser. Best used for creating HTML 2.0 web pages.
• Webview Offline Web Browser by South Pacific Information Services, Ltd. An off-line web browser from New Zealand that supports most of HTML 2.0, plus some additional HTML 3.0 features, such as tables and font size changes.
• GNNpress by GNN Hosting Service. Works out of the box as an off-line browser, as well as being a regular browser and an excellent HTML editor. Free.

HTML Editors, Convertors, and Templates

HTML Editors

• HoTMetaL by SoftQuad. Free version available for download.
• HotDog by Sausage Software. 14-day and 30-day evaluation versions available. You can, however, extend the trial period one time via e-mail. Standard and Pro versions available for both Windows 3.1 and Window 95.
• HTMLed by Internet Software Technologies. 16-bit and 32-bit versions available for download.
• HTML Assistant Pro 2 for Windows by Brooklyn North Software Works. Freeware version available for download.
• by My Software Company. 14-day evaluation version available (it does stop working, however, rather than just bug you with nag screens). A full-feature WYSIWYG HTML editor.
• Web Weaver by McWeb Software.
• Web Wizard: The Duke of URL by ARTA Software Group.
• Webber by Cerebral Systems Development Corp.
• HTML NotePad by Cranial Software. A cross between Windows Notepad and a full-feature HTML editor. This one comes from the U.K.
• Aardvark Pro by Functional Business Systems of Australia. A free version is available.
• Arachnid by Tim Long.
• EdWin by Michael Sutton. A 16-bit version is available free for non-commercial use.
• GNNpress by GNN Hosting Service. Besides being an HTML editor, this is also a browser, and it's free.
• Gomer HTML Editor by Stoopid Software. 30-day evaluation version available.
• HTML Handler by Jonathan Reinberg. Freeware. Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 versions.
• HTML Easy! Pro by Joe Lin (Basic Concept Studio). Both English and Chinese language versions are available for download.
• Kenn Nesbitt's WebEdit. 30-day trial versions (16-bit and 32-bit) available.
• WebPen by Informatik Inc. Windows 3.1 Standard and Pro versions available. Standard version includes off-line browser and OLE-link to MS-Word spellchecker.
• TC-Director by Tashcom Software. 16-bit and 32-bit versions available.
• WebMania by Q&D Software Development. Supports frames, forms, and client-side image maps.
• DerekWare HTML Author. Free. Windows 95 HTML editor that supports HTML 2.0 and Internet Explorer extensions.
• HTML Builder by FLFSoft. A 32-bit HTML Editor (Windows 3.1 requires Win32s).
• WinHTML by Gulf Coast Software. 16-bit and 32-bit versions available.
• InContext Spider. 30-day evaluation version is available (expires after 30 days).
• Web Ed for Windows. Free.
• The Web Media Publisher. $30. A 32-bit HTML editor that includes FTP upload and internal web browser. Evaluation version available for download.
• Microsoft FrontPage. Currently no demo or beta version available for download.
• CMed. A 32-bit HTML editor that supports HTML 2.0 and 3.0, Netscape and Microsoft extensions. 30-day evaluation version available for download. This is shareware, so should just bug you with nag screens, rather then expire.
• WebThing by Paul Lutus. Windows 95 HTML editor that supports drag and drop conversion of word processing files, tables, outlines, etc. to HTML. Supports frames and JavaScript. Described as "Careware." The author doesn't want money, but a demonstration of "care," such as stopping whining for a week, adopting a homeless dog, etc. Otherwise, WebThing can be freely copied and distributed.

Word Processor Add-Ons

• Internet Assistant for Microsoft Word for Windows. Free from Microsoft. Available for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95/NT.
• HTML Author for Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0. Current version only works with Word for Windows 6.0 (Win 3.1) and not Word for Windows 7.0 (Win 95), but upgraded version is projected. This is from the U.K.
• Internet Publisher for WordPerfect 6.1 for Windows. Since WP was sold to Corel, Novell has dropped support for this product, and Corel apparently isn't interested in supporting it either. It can still be downloaded from a number of locations, including from WordPerfect Magazine at http://www.wpmag.com/Windows/1996/apr/WPIPZIP.EXE.

HTML Converters and Templates

• ANT_HTML.DOT. Document template for Word for Windows 6.0. Supports HTML 2.0, plus Netscape extensions. Demo version available for download.
• CU_HTML.DOT by Anton Lam. Document template for Word for Windows 6.0 and 2.0. Free.
• GT_HTML.DOT by the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Document template. Versions available for Word for Windows 6.0 and 2.0. Freeware.
• Wp2Html Ver. 2.4d. Conversion/template package for WordPerfect. Converts WordPerfect files to HTML. Runs stand-alone and is designed for the batch conversion of multiple existing WP documents. Can convert tables, text, styles, and most formatting codes. Can handle equations and figures, subject to the limitations of HTML (Netscape). Evaluation kit, which is an earlier version of the software and works with WordPerfect 5.1 or 5.2 files, is available for download.
• WPTOHTML 2.0 by Hunter Monroe. Conversion/template package for WordPerfect for DOS. Versions available for 5.1 and 6.0, but can also be used with WordPerfect 5.2/6.0/6.0a for Windows, as well as any other version of WordPerfect that can use the same printer drivers and style files. Supports conversion of special characters and equations to transparent inline images (.XBM format). Freeware.
• WPTOHTML 1.0 by Hunter Monroe. Older version than 2.0, but supports conversion of tables of contents, cross-references, indices, endnotes, and WP 6.0 hypertext links to HTML hypertext links. Available for WordPerfect 5.1 and 6.0 for DOS. Freeware.
• EasyHelp/Web by Eon Solutions Ltd. Converts WinWord documents to Windows Help files or HTML files. Requires version 3.10.505 (extended) or later of the Microsoft Help Compiler if you want to compile Help files.
• AmiWeb by Steve Belleguelle. Combination of macros, style sheets, and a converter program for creating HTML files from Ami-Pro for Windows. Ami-Pro has since become Word- Pro, so I have no idea of this is compatible with Word-Pro or not.
• Advantage HTML=ASCII Convertor. Shareware. This will strip HTML codes.
• DBF to HTML Convertor by Ronald A. "Andy" Hoskinson. Shareware. Converts dBase/XBase files into HTML.
• ForeFront ForeHTML. WinHelp to HTML convertor. Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 versions available. Demo versions available for (limit you to 10 topics).
• KEYview: The Universal Viewer by FTP Software. Works as a file viewer and convertor. Can convert multiple different formats to HTML. Also functions as a Netscape plug-in for viewing multiple file formats on the Web. 30-day evaluation version available for download.
• RTFtoHTML 3.0 by Chris Hector. The latest version of RTFtoHTML, incorporating features from RTFtoWEB. Converts between RTF (Rich Text Format) and HTML. Supports tables, Netscape and Microsoft extensions, splitting long documents into smaller files. Supports coversion from RTF export from Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Next, Claris Works, Framemaker, and any other word processor capable of exporting RTF files. Shareware.
• Quadralay's WebWorks Publisher. Calls itself the premier FrameMaker to HTML convertor. 30-day evaluation versions available for download (Windows 3.1 requires Win32s). Be forewarned, however, this one, at $895, is expensive.
• WebMaker by Harlequin. Converts between Framemaker and HTML. Offers customizable conversion of text, graphics, tables, and equations. Evaluation version available for download. Evaluation version is not time restricted. The only feature limitation is that you can only create up to five separate HTML pages from any one FrameMaker document. And to register it is only $99 (which beats $895 for WebWorks Publisher by a mile).

Automated Page Creators, Site Managers, and Web Authoring Suites

• Web Publisher by SkiSoft. Automated web page production tool which can convert and enhance documents from Word, WordPerfect, AmiPro, and FrameMaker into web pages. Converts images, tables, tables of contents (with links to headings), and numbered/bulleted lists. Places signatures, mailto URLs, and corporate images/logos into your documents. 30-day trial version is available for download. This is a fully-functional version, not a demo or limited-function version. Registration is $495 for the Standard Edition and $990 for the Professional Edition (which includes the Long Document Utility which can take a long document and break it up into HTML subpages).
• QuickSite. Project- and database-oriented web site development and management system that requires no HTML coding. Automatically establishes all links to your pages. Supports imbedding of forms. Transfers finished files to your site via FTP. A 30-day evaluation version is available for download. Registration is $79 (Internet: Unlock Code Only) and $99 (Retail: Box, Manuals, and Disk).
• HTML Transit by InfoAccess. Automates production of HTML documents. Direct import of most major world processor and graphic formats. Automatic generation of table of contents and index hypertext links, linked navigation icons. Handles HTML 2.0, 3.0, and browser specific extensions. An evaluation version is available for download, but will stop working after 15 days. The registered version is $495, but has a 30-day no-risk guarantee.
• WorldDoc by SPI Inc. Allows point-and-click creation of web pages without having to learn HTML. A trial version is available for download, but is time-limited to 15 days.
• Dr. Web's Internet ListKeeper. Designed for the user who knows absolutely nothing about the Internet but wishes to maintain a frequently changing web page. Automatically generates web pages and FTPs them to your server. Provides default styles or can be customized for custom web pages. A 30-day demo version is available for download.
• Internet Creator: The Web Site Builder. 15-day trial version available for download. Build and maintain unlimited number of web sites with no need to learn HTML.
• Macromedia Backstage Designer. Project-level management system and site maintenance tool. 30-day trial version of Backstage Designer (but not Plus) is available for download. Word processing-like HTML editing, automates plugging in Shockwave and Java applets, professional image editing.
• 8Legs Web Studio by Foghorn Software. Integrated project management and web editing application. 14-day evaluation version for Windows 95/NT is available for download--it stops working after the evaluation period is over, but you can temporarily extend the evaluation period via e-mail.
• 4W Publisher by Information Analytics, Inc. A database tool for developing and storing web pages.
• SiteMan by GreyScale Systems. An off-line site management tool that checks links, analyses HTML files, does global search/replace, and finds orphans in multiple-directory web sites. Available in three versions, SiteMan 2 for Windows 3.1 (for single directory web sites), and SiteMan 3-16 for Windows 3.1 and SiteMan 3-32 for Windows 95/NT (both for multiple-directory web sites). Free trial version is available for download.
• Corel WebDesigner. Complete HTML authoring package, including 7500+ Internet-ready clipart images, 120+ professionally designed templates, graphics/text file conversion. No HTML knowledge required. No evaluation or demo versions available, but at only $99 retail, still a good deal.
• LinkStar Site Launcher. Free. Available in 16-bit and 32-bit versions. First create your web page, then post and promote it with LinkStar Site Launcher.
• Dummy by Sausage Software. HTML editing for dummies (or the non-technically gifted, to be specific). Provides step-by-step guide to web page creation using pre-generated style templates. Supports Netscape Navigator tags. Fully functional version for Windows 95 available.
• CyberSpyder Link Test by Aphrodite's Software. Checks the links of your web site to see if they are still good. Shareware.

Graphics Software

Graphics Editors, Viewers, and Convertors

• LView Pro by MMedia Research Corp. Must have for any web publisher, if only to create tranparent GIFs. 16-bit and 32-bit versions available.
• Paint Shop Pro by JASC, Inc. Full-feature photo-paint program that supports over 30 image formats, as well as Adobe Photoshop plug-ins. 16-bit and 32-bit versions available.
• GIF Construction Set for Windows by Alchemy Mindworks. Creates transparent and animated GIFs. Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 versions available.
• Graphic Workshop for Windows by Alchemy Mindworks. Converts files from wide range of file formats, as well as reverse, rotate, flip, crop, and scale images, manipulate and adjust color, contrast, brightness, dithering, etc., reduce color depth, and convert multiple files. Can be run in batch mode. Available in 16-bit and 32-bit versions.
• VuePrint by Hamrick Software. Image viewer which claims to use a special form of color dithering to produce high quality pictures. It can also view UUENCODED images and MIME/Base 64 images.
• WebImage by Group42. Image editor that an create transparent images and client-side image maps. Can apply variety of "web effects" to images. 10-day demo versions (16-bit and 32- bit) can be downloaded.
• GraphX Viewer by Group42. Image viewer for Windows 3.1. View and convert wide range of image formats, as well as manipulate and adjust images. Free for private, non-commercial use.
• PolyView Graphics Viewer/Converter by Polybytes. Multithreading graphics viewer, conversion, and printing utility for Windows 95/NT.
• GIFTOOL 1.0 by Home Page, Inc. DOS utility to set interlacing/transparency, do batch conversions. Free.
• Painter 4 by Fractal Design. Full- feature photopaint program that will also do interlaced/transparent GIFs and image maps. Demo version for Windows 95 is available. This is a biggy--over 8 megs. Demo only lacks ability to save, print, or paint across a network, and to work with frame-by-frame animation. No time-limit mentioned. If you like, registration is $549.
• VuGrafix by Informatik, Inc. Views 10 different image formats. Does thumbnails and slide shows, as well as the usual array of image manipulations.
• PhotoImpact GIF/JPEG SmartSaver by ULead Systems. Adobe PhotoShop plug-in that works with Ulead PhotoImpact. Optimizes JPEG and GIF images. 30-day trial period.
• Dr. Jack's HTMLView.Available in 16-bit and 32-bit versions. An image browser that allows you to batch view graphic files, even in different directories. Only a 9-day evaluation period, but may just pester you with nag screens (but registration is only $10, if you like).
• TC-Image by Tashcom Software. Lets you view, crop, grab, and print images.
• CleanUp by Lazar Kaufman. Windows 95/NT utility that removes unnecessary GIFs and JPGs from a web site. Freeware.

3D Modelers and Ray Tracers

Want to create your own 3D bullets, buttons, and other objects. Check out these programs:

• Genesis 3D Editor by Silicon Dream Ltd. A fully functional and free 3-D editor. You're limited to 1000 polygons in any one session, which means you end up rebooting the program a lot. Definitely worth the trouble, however. 32-bit and 16-bit versions available. (I created the bullet icons on my Web Book page with Genesis.)
• RT Editor. A 32-bit, full-feature, freeware ray tracing program, with lots of goodies. Can read and write DXF files (from 3D Studio, etc.). (I created the bullet icons on my Budget Web Host page with RT Editor.) Windows 3.1 requires Win32s.
• 3DEnvMap by Thanassis Tsiodras. 3-D renderer from Greece. Requires WinG, which is available from site. I haven't got around to checking this one out yet (it's a slow download all the way from Greece). Looks interesting though.
• RenderDotC by Dot C Software. A photorealistic rendering toolkit for Windows 95/NT. This looks like it could be very, very hot. Unfortunately, if you are not a programmer, you're going to need another program capable of exporting RIB files, such as RenderMan, if you want to take advantage of this program's unique features. Free demo version available, but is incapable of saving rendered image file. Registration is only $50, however.

HTML Utilities

Image Map Utilities

• Map This. A 32-bit freeware image map utility (Windows 3.1 requires Win32s, which is available from the site). Supports client-side image maps.
• MapEdit by Boutell.Com, Inc. Supports client-side image maps, as well as frames and toolbars. Evaluation period is 30 days, plus 10 days grace period. Haven't tried, so can't say, but implication would seem to be that it expires after 40 days, but may only nag.

Forms Utilities

• WebForms by Q&D Software Development. Allows creation of forms to accept orders for products, conduct surveys, etc. Includes Forms Generator and Response Reader. The first creates the forms. The second reads the responses from any WebForms form. If you are using a standard POP3 mail server, it will dial directly into your mailbox and download all your forms responses, automatically separating them from other e-mail, importing them into the WebForms database. Cool.

Tables Utilities

• XL2HTML.XLS by Jordan Evans. Converts Excel spreadsheets (ranges) to HTML table. Works with Excel 5.0 for Windows 3.1 and Excel 7.0 for Windows. Freeware.
• hcTableToHtml by Yuri M. Lesiuk. A freeware WinWord 6.0 table to HTML converter.
• Tbl2HTML by John Dirkman. This is another freeware WinWord 6.0 table to HTML converter.

Frames Utilities

• Frame-It by GME Systems. Point-and-click interface for generating frames. 16-bit and 32-bit versions available.

Color Utilities

• HTML Color Scheme Designer by Wolf Spider Web Architects. Test text, link, and background color combinations. Beta version available.
• Colour Buster by Tashcom Software. Color to hex code conversions. Freeware.
• Color Machine. Free. Small utility that automates insertion of hex color codes. Automates insertion of hex color codes. Free.
• Color Browser by Maximized Software. Another utility for inserting color hex codes. Freeware.
• Color Picker for HTML by Vector Development. Freeware.