NetObjects Fusion 4 review

Another instance of this strangeness can be found in the Asset Manager view. This allows you to take a snapshot view of all the files, as well as the data sources and links being used in your site. But beyond verifying the status of your links and informing you helpfully whether or not files are being used, it's hard to see the point. Once your site is finally ready, all the files to be published can additionally be viewed directly using the Publish view, which is also where you can determine the sort of code NetObjects generates when it finally outputs your site in browser-friendly format. Options here include an All browsers option, which generates nested or regular tables, right up to cascading style sheet positioning and layers options. However, you can also specify the directory structure from here, along with character sets, the server location and any other components that require publishing, such as the ColdFusion component.

There's no doubt that for those wishing to avoid the ever-spiralling breadth of knowledge needed to author good Web sites from scratch, the professional results that can be achieved after just a quick spell with NetObjects are unparalleled. Ignoring the obvious advantage inherent in absolute positioning compatible with all browsers, the sheer number of advanced tools and superb database connectivity support puts NetObjects in a class of its own.

It's just a shame that so little effort has been put into improving the way in which it all hangs together. Although there are significant additions in Fusion 4 - an improved Table tool, new e-commerce tools and so on - the inflexible interface could have done with an overhaul. The £199 price tag is certainly good value, but it's debatable whether existing Fusion 3 users will be persuaded to pay out £69 for the upgrade. However, for those who want to be more in control of their code and add advanced customisations of their own, the NetObjects create-then-generate model, as well as the continuing absence of a decent overall HTML view, means they'd be better off with the more flexible Dreamweaver 2.

Author: Jonathan Bray