Free Tools You Can Use by Thomas Benton
Free Tools You Can Use
by Thomas Benton
The Internet is a great resource for many free programs. I regularly search for new tools that I can use. In this article I want to share a few of these free tools with you.
FTP PROGRAM
What FTP program do you use? I would venture a guess that, if you are a Windows user, it is probably WS_FTP. I've recommended and used this program myself. Did you purchase the pro version? Or, are you still using the free version? If you're using it *commercially* past the trial period you are in violation of the license agreement.
Get legal by downloading and using SmartFTP! It is totally free for personal or commercial use. It is also very easy to use. You can even drag and drop files from Windows Explorer to your web server. One of the features I like best is the ability to transfer files directly from one web server to another without downloading to my hard drive. This makes the process of moving from one web hosting service to another fast and easy! Just connect to both servers, drag and drop files from one to the other.
You can download SmartFTP at http://www.smartftp.com . The online manuals make learning to use SmartFTP quick and painless.
ZIP PROGRAM
There are many great free zip programs out there. No need to shell out the purchase price of the popular WinZip! Here are three zip programs that I've tried and like.
FREEZIP. FreeZip is a small, fast and efficient Zip utility for compression and decompression of files and directories in Windows 95/NT4. FreeZip integrates with Windows Explorer and uses file associations and context menus to zip or unzip files, including long file names and subdirectories. If you know how to use Windows Explorer, then you do not have to learn anything new to use FreeZip.
Download FreeZip at
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nulifetv/freezip/
MONKEYZIP. MonkeyZip is a free zip/unzip utility for Windows with all the functions and options needed to create and manage zipfiles for beginning users, and a bit more advanced users.
MonkeyZip inlcudes the following features:
Adding/Extracting/Deleting files, Drag 'n drop, Renaming files in a zipfile, Scanning zipfiles, Converting multiple zipfiles into one, An Internal Viewer, UUEncoding, Favorite zipfiles option, Editable add/extract/environment options, Testing zipfiles, and Associating MonkeyZip with zipfiles.
Download MonkeyZip at http://www.monkeyzip.cjb.net/
POWER ARCHIVER. This is my free zip tool of choice. The later version isn't free, but prior versions are. *PowerArchiver is the ultimate archive utility for Windows® 95, Windows® 98, Windows® ME, Windows NT®, Windows® 2000 and Windows® XP. With a modern easy-to-use interface, PowerArchiver provides support for most compressed and encoded files, as well as access to many powerful features and tools. PowerArchiver is the most complete archive utility available today.*
Supports ZIP, CAB, LHA (LZH), TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, BH, RAR, ARJ, ARC, ACE, ZOO, GZ, BZIP2, XXE, and UUE file formats. Features an internal viewer that supports TXT, RTF, BMP, ICO, WMF, EMF, GIF, and JPG files. Creates ZIP, RAR, ARJ, LHA and BH self-extracting archives. Completely integrates with Windows. Repairs corrupted ZIP archives. Can extract multiple archives at the same time. Features automated backups. Can create multiple archives at once with Batch ZIP.
Download free version 6.1 at:
http://www.webdesignwisdom.com/gifts/powarc61.exe
SFXMAKER
If you want to put Power Archiver *on steroids* download SFXMaker. Once you've created a zipped archive, use SFXMaker to make a *hands free* self-extracting, self-launching executable file. For instance, your zip file can be made to automatically extract the files to a file folder that you prenamed and designated a path for. And, it will open a document or run an executable from within the archive.
You can also add messages for the user to read when the zip file opens. The user simply clicks on the executable that was delivered as an email attachment or downloaded from your website. No additional instructions necessary. Your archive can also be made to optionally span several floppy disks.
Power Archiver plus SFXMaker provide a SUPER zip solution!
Download SFXMaker at: http://sfxmaker.powerarchiver.com
META TAG GENERATOR
Mcatis Meta Tag Generator: There are many meta tag generators available, but this is one of the best. Mcatis is an award winning, fully featured meta tag generator for Windows 9x/NT. It creates meta tags that can be inserted into web pages. These meta tags can improve your site's ranking in web indices, search engines, and also make it much easier for web surfers to find relevant information. With this program, you can generate practically all of the meta tags. It even provides for adding title and description comments tags in addition to the meta tag version.
Download Mcatis at:
http://www.accesswave.ca/~dmisener/abstractamation/mcatis/
KEYWORD GENERATOR
Which keywords should you design your web page around? Good Keywords will help you answer that question. Good Keywords is a free Windows software for finding the perfect set of keywords for your web pages. It uses the tools provided by search engines like Overture, 7Search, Direct Hit and Lycos to build a suitable keyword set. Once you are done, a simple click will get you the required keyword meta tag... ready to be pasted into your HTML file.
Freeware! No registrations, No advertisements, No crippled features, No payments and No DLLs!
Download Good Keywords at: http://www.goodkeywords.com
HTML EDITOR
Have you tried Arachnophilia? If you create your web pages from HTML rather than using a WYSIWYG editor, you'll love this program. The interface includes everything you need for creating pages with HTML. An interesting feature is the ability to generate an HTML page from a Word RTF file. It even converts lists! Here are some of the features in version 4.0 (Java based 5.0 is on the way).
New internal browser "Instant View" mode shows your HTML changes as you make them -- on each keystroke! Interactive spell checker with 120,000-word dictionary. Accepts fully formatted text, tables, outlines from any Windows 95-compliant application, automatically creates HTML pages. Supports up to 6 Web browsers, switches between them in a flash. Supports development of HTML, frames, CGI, Perl, C++, Java and Javascript with many intelligent tools and functions. Built-in intelligent FTP client automatically uploads changed files, for complete Internet access in one program. Powerful keyboard macros can include system commands, even other macros, for maximum flexibility. User-defined toolbars provide any tags or content you need for any of the supported languages and support system commands as well. User-defined file templates -- allows you to specify default document format and contents. Global search & replace across all open documents, no limit to number of open documents
except system resources. Built-in step-by-step tutorials on HTML development, JavaScript, frames, the Internet.
Download Arachnophilia at:
http://www.arachnoid.com/arachnophilia/index.html
WYSIWYG EDITOR
This isn't a free program, but, since you do get a 30 day free trial, it's worth mentioning and trying. I've used FrontPage 98 for years. After trying WebExpress I'm switching! FP98 users will have little difficulty in quickly learning to use WebExpress.
I learned about WebExpress from Bob McElwain's website, SiteTipsAndTricks.com. Bob recommended the program so I decided to give it a try. It impressed me and maybe it will impress you as well. If you decide to buy WebExpress after trying it, be sure to call MicroVision Development to place your order. Tell them you saw where you could buy it at a discount price at SiteTipsAndTricks.com. You'll save $15.00 off the list price of $70.00. The toll free order number is shown each time you exit the program. *800.998.4555*
If you need help, take advantage of the hosted WebExpress Forum. Access the forum from the home page.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Some of you may be wondering why I use a WYSIWYG editor. Simple. It's faster for me. I'm a visual person. It helps me to be able to see the result while I'm creating a page. I may change it several times before I get it the way I want it. Once satisfied, I can clean up the HTML after graphically creating the web page. Arachnophilia is a great tool for this cleanup operation too. Not much cleanup required with WebExpress anyway!
Download the trial version of WebExpress at:
http://www.mvd.com/webexpress/download.htm
NOTETAB LITE
I've mentioned NoteTab before. This is my favorite free text editor. It has so many features that make it the perfect application for numerous tasks. Such as writing this newsletter. Download the free libraries and you've got a full blown website maintenance tool. With a click of the button I can convert this page to HTML with paragragh tags. If I were building a web page, all the HTML help I need is a click away. I can even choose websafe colors from a color chart! *Try it, you'll like it!*
Download NoteTab Lite and optional free libraries at:
http://www.notetab.com
I hope you enjoy using these free programs as much as I do. If you have favorite freebies of your own, send an email and I'll share it in a future issue.
Send to tjbenton@webdesignwisdom.com
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The author, Thomas Benton, has been designing websites and
marketing on the web since 1998. He helps beginning Internet
Entrepreneurs *get it right the first time* at
http://www.webdesignwisdom.com. (Check out his unique web
search site http://www.slingsearch.com. )
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