Product Reviews

Fusion has been rewritten specifically for the Mac and feels a fitter, leaner and less idiosyncratic program. Version 3.0 adds Cascading Style Sheet-based absolute positioning, Dynamic HTML animation and interactivity without scripting, and the ability to use FileMaker Pro database files. It also promises 'Everywhere HTML', ensuring the code will work across divergent browsers.

Fusion has a simple interface with a working window that toggles between the various stages of Web site design: site structure, page layout, styling, asset management, and publishing. The context-sensitive Inspector palette is used to adjust properties and parameters.

The site structure can be created either as a hierarchical map of draggable page symbols or in a Finder-like nested list view. This structure generates the pages for the site, automatically producing named banner graphics and linked navigation buttons.

There is a selection of AutoSite templates with pre-designed pages, and individual page templates for specific needs. Existing sites can also be imported, but this function only supports HTML 3.2, has problems with frames, and will strip all the alignment from tables.

Unlike most Web tools, Fusion doesn't use HTML as its native file format. Instead it maintains a sort of database, with HTML and images generated when the site is published. This means working files can't be opened by other editing tools and, because it uses absolute file paths, they can't be copied to another machine. To share a Fusion file with other Fusion users, you need to export it as a template, or publish it as HTML for import into other applications. NetObjects offers TeamFusion specifically for server-based shared development.

Fusion divides Web page layout into two areas: a page-specific layout area, and a MasterBorder which surrounds the page and contains items like navigation buttons that are common across the site. Images and text can be dragged and dropped into the layout or placeholders dragged to size and content imported. Precise positioning is possible using either text boxes which generate a standard table structure to stay in place, or by using Layout Regions which employ Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) absolute positioning and layering. Surprisingly,

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there is no support for CSS typographic control. The layout is fairly WYSIWYG but needs to be previewed in relevant external browsers, as there is no internal preview capability.

DHTML animation and interaction is menu-driven rather than via the usual timeline, and generally it works far better. A list of commands is built by deciding on trigger events like 'mousedown' or 'page load', which cause actions like movement or revealing other layers. Animations are created by choosing from a series of pre-built movements like 'Fly out to bottom left', or by saving positions and moving the layer to each in turn. An object action can also pass a message to another object to modify its behaviour. A collection of pre-built Java and JavaScript components also provide rollover buttons, a site map or even a message board.

Frames are handled by converting one or more MasterBorders to frames, which restricts your options. As frame targeting isn't used, the whole frameset reloads each time, which is very annoying. Anything more adventurous has to be hand coded, requiring the kind of technical knowledge that ought to be rendered unnecessary by this type of product. Custom HTML can be added individually to pages via a dialog box, or an external editor like BBEdit can be launched. External HTML files can also be referenced as sections in pages, which are incorporated on publishing. Fusion takes care not to modify external code in any way.

Fusion has always had an internal database capability, but will now publish a FileMaker Pro database by simply dropping the file into the program. This produces a static site based on the content of the database at that moment, but by using AppleScript, regular updates can be scheduled. Fusion sites can also be connected dynamically to practically any ODBC-compliant database using one of a growing list of connectors and components.

Navigation and banner graphics, as well as items like dividers and backgrounds, are automatically generated under the control of Site Styles, which can be applied at any time, altering the look of the whole site with one click. Relevant page names are automatically generated over these graphics but aren't anti-aliased, so the end results can look quite amateurish. It's also possible to add your own library of styles, although if you could do that you probably wouldn't need Fusion.

NetObjects Fusion is probably the fastest Web site development tool around. Using a pre-built site template and pre-designed style, it's possible to produce a large site with banner graphics, navigation buttons and even suggested content. It's ideal for the corporate site builder looking for a quick solution, but the serious Web designer will soon feel restricted by the border and page metaphor, and might be more comfortable with a tool such as GoLive CyberStudio.