PROS:
|
CONS:
|
The Free SoThink editor is both a HTML and a WYSIWYG editor much like Trellian WebPage. If, after reading this review, you wish to use their free editor, please go to Sothink.com to read more about it and then download it at Sothink HTML Editor 2.5 Free Version.
| Please note that the Sothink editor can not drop and drag object anyplace on a web page. Space must already have been created to put an object there, i.e. blank lines, spaces, etc. |
When you install Sothink HTML editor you will find its icon on your desktop. Double clicking on this icon will start up the editor. As the program launches a small screen will appear on your monitor with a notice about the use of the free version of Sothink, which used to be named CutePage. It will take several seconds before the continue button is available for clicking so be patient.
Take note that only one web page can be edited at a time, which to some people will be a severe limitation.
Once you have started using Sothink it will automatically open the last file edited. You can select other files to edit by using FILE > OPEN or FILE > RECENT FILES as shown below.
If you wish to start a new web page then use FILE > NEW. Please note the area at the bottom left that is circled in RED. 
These three tabs are used for:
Actually, if you are using the DESIGN, then DESIGN and PREVIEW will look the same.
The area circled in BLUE blinks, but not that annoying, and it is always on the screen as an ad for purchasing their expanded editor, e.g. one that can edit many pages as the same time and other features not found in the free version.
Sothink's toolbar is expansive and with many features found in editors that are not free.
In the toolbar there are five different areas (beginning on the top row left side).
- file operations. The last icon on the right allows you to preview the page in your browser.
- formating. All icons here will be available in the HTML tab. The 
allows you to select the font face, i.e. the look of the font, as well as the size and color.
- inserting. If you wish to insert frame code then you must be in the HTML tab.
- widgets, which are not available in the free version but you can read about them in HELP.
- site manager can be use to assist in link references when files are moved. For more information see HELP.
Each of these portions of the toolbar may be displayed or hidden by using the VIEW. A check mark to the left of the area name, e.g. File, indicates that it is displayed on the toolbar.
You can easily determine what the various icons are for by holding your mouse over an icon and wait the for defining text to appear below it. The two icon features that I like are the UNDO and REDO, circled in RED, which can greatly speed up design by making it easy to remove wrong code or put code back in. All editors should have these two features.
The pull down menus in the toolbar, e.g. INSERT, have some sub-menu items not available when your are using the DESIGN tab. Note the difference in the INSERT two sub-menus below. You can insert FRAMES when using the HTML tab but not in the DESIGN tab.
|
|
I think that the novice webbie can use this editor and, in the process, learn a bit about the HTML codes. Eventually I would hope that everyone would switch over to HTML. There are other WYSIWYG editors that can make excellent web pages, e.g. Dreamweaver but they have two things in common:
Most people on the web are making fairly simple web pages so there is no need for such editors. Learning the basic of HTML will take a few hours or so. Then they can expand upon their knowledge as the need arises. To start learning HTML, please try my tutorial.