Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
If you require a simple style to create attractive interactional web site , Karelia Software’sSandvox 2.1.6may be the ticket . Its template - based WYSIWYG shaft make building advanced pages a ginger nut . But this contrivance comes with limited design selection that might vex users wait to create truly unparalleled - bet sites .
Design within limits
create your website set out with take a theme . More than 50 idea are build into the product , many with multiple color options , although some offer only a few text and media placeholders to get you begin . Eight page styles are useable to expand your site , among them Photo Album , Blog , Sitemap and generic pages of various blueprint . you’re able to also add vacuous Sir Frederick Handley Page that contain just your own HTML code , but these ca n’t be edit with Sandvox ’s WYSIWYG tools ( you also ca n’t edit the codification of Sandvox - generated content ) . A Media browser app palette give you fast access to your medium as well as bookmarks from Safari , Firefox , and OmniWeb .
Sandvox look and feels like a unsubdivided iWeb ( ) , but drug user look for that program ’s flexible figure tools may be disappointed . There are no image masking feature , and many Sir Frederick Handley Page elements ca n’t be freely repositioned . alternatively , elements have customizable default positions ( in a sidebar , say , or inline with text ) , with options that can be adjusted in the versatile Inspector pallet . While the Inspector offers many options––for example , you could plow a dim-witted photo record album into a stylish slideshow––creating site feels like customizing template rather than plan from scratch . But drug user who do n’t mind these limitation will find Sandvox easy to utilise and well - support by thorough documentation .
Objects of interest
Sandvox ’s graphic plan tools may be limited , but its strength lie in allow user of any skill point to lend sophisticated lineament to their sites . target , like iWeb ’s widget , can be placed on your pages to tot up interactive mental object from the cyberspace . The usual suspects are here , like placeholder for YouTube videos and HTML code , but you’re able to also tote up a Facebook Like push , your Twitter , Skype , or IM condition , RSS feeds , Delicious.com bookmarks , and much more with just a few clicks . Once total , an aim ’s appearing and function can be customize in the Inspector .
Including potent website - broad features is just as straightforward . you could add a middleman form ( host for complimentary by Karelia ) and a Facebook , IntenseDebate , or Disqus gossip system so visitant can get in touch with you ( and each other ) without necessitate your email savoir-faire . Sandvox also put a host of less meretricious enhancements at your fingertips , letting you apply favicons , hunt engine meta tag end or keywords , and Google Analytics computer code to your pages .
Sandvox resembles iWeb , but its Objects can do much more than Apple ’s gadget .
Sandvox resembles iWeb, but its Objects can do much more than Apple’s Widgets.
Upload, share, revise
When your site is finished , Sandvox exports to a folder on your Mac as well as remote FTP , SFTP servers , or WebDAV hosts like MobileMe . At export you may create a unique pamphlet for your site , allowing you to handily host multiple sites from a individual host . When it ’s fourth dimension to revise your body of work , a catalogue of third - party stopper - ins is available from Sandvox ’s menu bar . These plug - ins consist mainly of new themes and a few extra objects to add up mixture to your site . price vary , but most hover around $ 10 , and some are gratuitous .
Macworld’s buying advice
begin decorator , or those who want to quickly create template - based site backpack with features , should give Sandvox 2.1.6 a look . But advanced users , or anyone who want the convenience of WYSIWYG tools plus the freedom of a clean canvas , will be better served by applications like MacFlux 3 ( ) .
[ Adam Berenstain is a freelance author in upstate New York . ]
