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• Templates--web design is easy using templates to create drag-and-drop images, image maps, frames and links;
• Extensive Library--users can choose from an extensive library of more than 2,000 ready-to-use images, animations, sounds and Java applets for their Web site;
• Color-coded Tags--these tags make it easy to edit source codes;
• Pixel Positioning Layout--enables users to arrange their images by pixel, allowing for greater control and clarity;
• Dynamic HTML--allows users without Java script or HTML programming skills to easily give images motion with a layer capability;
• Cascading Style Sheets--makes it easy for users to change the appearance of your Web pages at will and to unify the appearance of the entire site;
• Page Link Management--automatically checks each page for broken links and strayed pages and files. Links are automatically updated if files are relocated;
• Uploading and Downloading--only updated and newly added files can be selectively uploaded to a server;
• WebArt Designer--enables users to create logos and buttons for their Web sites quickly and easily;
• Animation GIF Creation--enables users to easily add lively animated sequences to create an animation GIF file with just a few simple steps.

The program is easy to install. But the Tutorial and User's Guide are accessible only with a Custom Install, not the Typical Install. There is no printed manual or tutorial included with the program, but there is a User's Guide on the CD, and you can print it out. IBM states that they will include the Tutorial and User's Guide in the Typical Install with the next version. They will also include more printed material.

Opening Dialog Box--With the Opening Dialog Box, you can create a new page and site; create a site with multiple pages from a template; or create a site from an existing page. For beginners, it is very easy to create a site with a consistent theme using one of the templates provided with TopPage and following the step-by-step procedures in the Opening Dialog Box. You enter a site name; select a genre and theme; select a background; select a banner; select a header/footer image; select an icon image; enter the title of your first page; enter the mail address; add or delete pages; confirm your choices; click ok; and you have a site with multiple pages that has a consistent look. Each element in the templates, such as icons, banners, background, is selected individually so you have a variety of choices. At any time during this process, you can go back and change your choices. Once the pages are set up though, you cannot go back and make global changes to the template as in some other programs. But you can go back and edit the individual pages and the individual items. TopPage has templates for a single page, a frame, an application, and multiple pages. IBM has a sample of some of the templates on their Web site. I used test reviewers who were interested in Web design, but had no experience, and had them try out TopPage, and they especially liked creating a multiple page site using the templates. I would have preferred more templates, but I have always found it difficult to find a pre-made template that is exactly what I want, even in the most expensive programs. Even if you don't like all of the elements, they give you a starting point and you can then edit them. It is a good way for beginners to start. You can also use templates from other companies. I used templates from Adobe ImageStyler in TopPage and had no problem. http://www.JP.ibm.com/esbu/E/toppage/index.htm

Site Wizard--With the Site Wizard, you can create a new page and site or create a site from an existing page. You can also make other settings, such as those for the destination server, at the same time. As with creating a site with the Opening Dialog Box, the procedure is easy and fast. To create a new page and site, you enter a site name; set site items; name your first page; set up the destination server; click the complete button and you have a site.

Link Pane--Displays the link layers starting from the top page. In the upper area of the Link Pane, a link hierarchy appears, in which the top page of the site is the top. If you select a file here, a list of files linked to this file or a list of files linked from this file appear in the lower area. The following information can be obtained in the lower area: URL, title, size, type, and date of update. With the Option dialog box, the type of files to be displayed can be set. By dragging and dropping or right-clicking, you can use the Link Pane for the following functions: open and edit an HTML document, text file, or CSV file; link a document or insert an image; open a document in a WWW Browser; or upload pages or site.

File Pane--Displays a list of folders and files. Site names appear in the upper area, and it shows the hierarchical file structure below the top folder of the site and displays the following file types: the files to be uploaded or not uploaded (unused files); image files; and CSS files. These types of files can be displayed separately by changing the settings in the Option dialog box. As with the Link Pane, if you select a file or folder here, a list of files belonging to the items selected appear in the lower area, and the following information can be confirmed: URL, title, size, type, and date of update. And you can use the File Pane for the same functions as the Link Pane.

Contents Pane--Displays images, sounds,and HTML files. The upper area of the Contents Pane shows the hierarchical file structure. If you select a file or folder here, a list of images, sounds, and files appear in the lower area. From the lower area, you can paste an object by selecting it and then dragging the object and dropping it onto the current HTML document. The Option dialog box can be used to display just certain types of files.

Set the Style for an HTML Tag--You can directly change the style of an element (for example, main body, paragraph, and headings) in a document. You can set the color of heading "H1" to red and all H1 headings will be displayed in red. You can set the font size of paragraphs "P" to 12 points and all paragraphs in the document will be displayed with a 12-point font.

Set a Style for a Class--You can assign one class to multiple HTML tags, so you do not have to define the same style several times. You can then assign the same class both to a table and to text.

Set an ID for the Style--You can embed one ID to only one HTML tag.

External Style Sheet--A style definition can be created as another file, not only as an HTML document. You can create the style definition in an external style sheet and link or import it to the HTML document. You can use the same external style sheet for multiple HTML documents.

Style List Pane--Displays the object, class, and ID for which the style is defined. You can add, edit or delete style by using the Add, Edit, and Delete buttons.

Current Style Status Pane--Many styles defined with style sheets can often affect subordinate objects. This pane displays the information defined for each object up to the top-level objects.

• Converting image file formats
• Removing unnecessary parts of an image
• Rotating an image
• Adjust the image file size to the viewed size
• Lowering image quality (or decreasing the number of colors)
• Increasing the resolution of images gradually in a Web browser
• Making a single color in an image transparent
• Making an image sharper or tinting it with sepia

Interface--In the center of the main window, a blank white rectangle appears which is called the canvas. The canvas is the work area on which you can place materials. On the left is the template gallery which displays the information needed to set the provided logos, buttons, frame samples, and backgrounds. The object stack is on the right and it displays the sequence of the objects. Thumbnails of the objects are displayed on the panels. The menu bar runs along the top of the screen and all the functions supported by WebArt Designer can be accessed from this bar. There is a tool bar directly below that has frequently used functions. A status bar runs along the bottom of the screen.

Wizards--There are the following wizards: logo, button, and photo frame. They are step-by-step procedures for making objects. To create a button you: (1) click the Button Wizard icon; (2) select a shape; and (3) select a color. You then can adjust the size on the screen with the mouse or use the menu bar and edit properties to specify the width and height in pixels. You can edit the shape and color of the object at any time. Shapes to choose from are circles, quadrangles, goods, and nature. Color choices are plain colors, gradations, or textures.

Objects--You can modify or change any part of the objects. You have a variety of options for modification. You can move an object to the head, to the end, forward, and backward; flip an object vertically or horizontally; rotate an object 90 degrees right or left and 180 degrees; align an object; combine objects; rasterize an object; and fit to size objects.

Tools--There are also a variety of tools to use on objects such as: paint, crop, effect, shadow, button, color tone, brightness/contrast, red eyes, and gradation. I was amazed at the features of this program and the options it provided. There is a great dialog box for correcting the brightness and contrast of an image. For the brightness group, the current setting appears in the middle. Brighter images appear above, while darker images appear below. For the contrast group, the current setting appears in the middle. Images with less contrast appear on the left while images with more contrast appear on the right. You can click on an image in the dialog box and preview the change on your screen image. The amount of brightness and contrast correction can be adjusted. As you move the slider to the right, the amount of correction increases. Most of the other options under the tool menu have similar dialog boxes that help you to create unique images. The effects palette is another great tool.

Interface--The animation window displays the animation that is currently being edited. One animation, or one GIF file is associated with an animation window. The animation window is divided into a top half and a bottom half. The top half displays images, while the bottom half displays frames. The image display window, top, is like a screen onto which a movie is projected. An animation is played back in this window. The frame display window, bottom, is used to display the frames that constitute an animation. The image in this window is similar to a single frame on a reel of a movie.

Animation Wizard--This wizard guides you through the animation process. It is so easy that beginners will be amazed at how fast it is to create an animation. You select an image, set the frame alignment, set number of repeats, and play the results. I created the bird animation using the wizard.

1. Beginner and Expert Suitability--TopPage is equally suitable for beginners and experts. Many programs make this claim but only a few truly have features that appeal to both. For beginners, TopPage has an interface that is intuitive, clean, and easy to use. There are wizards galore to help you with every aspect of the program. And there are templates to help you get up and running with a consistent and professional looking site. And it is not a program that beginners will outgrow as their knowledge increases. For intermediate and advanced users, TopPage uses up-to-date technology and allows you to get into the coding to tweak your site. You have the ability to use Dynamic HTML and Cascading Style Sheets, build editable site maps, and build JavaScript.
   
2. All-in-One Tool--TopPage really does provide all the tools you need to build a Web site. You can build and edit pages; scan in images; create buttons and logos; edit images and apply effects; and make animations. Usually for a review I use a variety of programs such as: Photoshop, PaintShop Pro, WebSpice, ImageStyler; and Eye Candy, to name a few. It can get quite expensive if you have to buy different programs for each aspect of your Web site or page. This review, headings, and animation were all created in TopPage. I thought the variety of tools and effects in WebArt Designer would allow even the most inexperienced user to created professional looking buttons, headings, logos, and icons. And the Web Animator is also an easy to use feature for a beginner to use for the experience of making animations painlessly.
   
3. Interaction with Other Applications--The program works well with other applications. I had no problem importing pages into TopPage from other programs or importing TopPage pages into other applications. Some existing HTML code is slightly reformatted when imported but not to a significant degree. I even brought in template pages from Adobe ImageStyler. It is also beneficial to have the option of transferring files from within TopPage or from another FOP.