EZGenerator

EZGenerator

Screenshot of EZGenerator v.4
Developer(s) Image-Line
Stable release 4.0[1]
Operating system Windows NT / 98 / 2000 / Me / XP / Win2K3 / Vista / 7
Type Web Design Program
License Proprietary
Website www.EZGenerator.com

EZGenerator is a web design program created by Image-Line. The program is intended to be accessible to users with no experience in code such as HTML or CSS, and displays results in a WYSIWYG manner. EZGenerator is available for Windows operating systems.[2][3]

History

EZGenerator was initially developed for Image-Line software in order for the company to maintain and set-up their own websites, such as the website for FL Studio and SampleFusion.com. The company eventually commercialized the program.[4] Upon its release, EZGenerator was awarded 5/5 stars at Tucows, and has won numerous web awards.[5] As of June 2011, it was ranked #12 for web site tool downloads on CNET.[6]

There have been three major version updates, and the program as of 2008 is at version 3.0.[6][7] There is a one-time purchase to use the program, and no monthly fees.[2][3] There is currently a yearly maintenance fee in order to continue downloading templates, etc.[1] The free trial version[3] contains an extra footer and a watermark on output.[6]

System requirements

EZGenerator works on Windows NT / 98 / 2000 / Me / XP / Win2K3 / Vista / 7.[6][8] As of January 2011, it requires Pentium II or higher, and Internet Explorer v5.0 or higher. It also requires a screen resolution of 1024x768 pixels or higher, and a screen color mode of 16 bit (65536 colors) or higher.[8]

Product overview

The program operates on the principle of WYSIWYG, (What You See Is What You Get),[2][9] and allows for the creation of multiple websites by users with no technical skills or knowledge of HTML.[2][3][10]

Publishing

EZGenerator uses FTP settings for publishing to the internet and uploading changes,[11] meaning the websites can be hosted on any server or hosting company.[3][8] There is a login feature that allows users to edit web-editable pages created from the program from any PC.[9] Using FTP, the program also determines which files need to be uploaded for an update.[2] The program has a test server so websites can be viewed before they are launched on their actual hosting accounts.[9] EZGenerator is built in with tools to make it search engine friendly, with automatic meta descriptions, <H1>, and alt image tags, and file names for SEO.[9]

Creation

The program includes a Wizard[8] that allows users to pick a project type and complete a working website in 15 minutes or less.[8][11] EZGenerator includes over 3,000 free web templates,[11] and each one is customizable.[12] Pages can also be built from scratch.[3][13]

EZGenerator works with Google features such as Adwords, Google Checkout, Google Analytics, and Google Maps.[3][11] It has an e-commerce model that allows for products and services to be listed in a catalog,[3] and allows for accepting credit cards and Paypal payments via the site.[8] Other features include a built in search function and hit counter,[2] PHP contact pages with capchas,[9][12] and RSS publisher, a calendar, and a guestbook, newsletter management, and interactive Flash polls for surveys.[3] The websites can also be made into blogs and photo-blogs.[3] The program generates its own XML sitemap for the websites.[9]

Media

Images are automatically scaled to be a web suitable format,[3] and the program as built-in image editors to allow for cropping, text additions, manipulation of image properties, and effects.[2][9] Images can be displayed in slideshows, image pop-ups, or thumbnail modes.[3][8]

The program has a built-in podcasting[3] and video-casting module. Flash media-players can display mp3s and video, and stream them directly from YouTube or Google Video.[11]

Support

Image-line has an online support forum where employees post answers to questions within 24 hours.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Home Page". e-OfficeDirect. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Sanchez, Nelson. "Review: Version 3.0 Information". Software Informer. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 "Home Page". EZGenerator. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  4. ↑ "History". EZGenerator. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  5. ↑ "Awards". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "EZGenerator Specs". CNET. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  7. ↑ "EZGenerator Version History". Forte Downloads. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 "EZGenerator Web Site Builder description". PC World. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 Contrata, Rick (October 2007). "Review". Devnic. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  10. ↑ "A five-minute website (no experience needed): EZGenerator 2.8.0.50". PC Plus Magazine. September 2007. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "Review of EZGenerator". Tucows. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Baillie, Simon. "EZGenerator 2". ShareWareJunkies. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  13. ↑ "EZGenerator Review". February 1, 2007. Retrieved 2011-06-16.

External links

Reviews