PageMill 3.0

The first thing I thought when the install shield came up for PageMill 3.0 is, "Why in the world do they have all these software options for installing on this install shield?". (You'll find the answer to this question down the page a little way.) I only got PageMill 3.0. Then I thought, "Oh, maybe they just use one install shield for all these things and you can only install what you purchased". I then installed PageMill 3.0. (Silly me! So who reads the instructions first anyway?)

 PageMill 3.0 is a WYSIWYG web creation, update, organizing, and management tool. You can start from scratch with a single web page, a complete site, or manage and update an existing site. Its interface provides one click/drag 'n' drop access to strong web page creation tools. Creating forms, frames, tables, style sheets, and links are all automated and require little from you to be set up. You are not limited to WYSIWYG, source code can be edited manually also.  And once you have your page or site complete, PageMill 3.0 will upload it all for you to your web server.

Being a great web publishing tool isn't all that you get with PageMill 3.0.  Included on the CD also is Photoshop LE (Limited Edition), which means you can create your own images to include on your web site, and it also includes Acrobat Reader 3.0.

Above is the main interface you see when you open PageMill.  This is a single page creation interface. I really liked the small interface on the right of the screen in which you can see all the properties of the current action.  For instance, what is showing is the page properties box. It's as easy as moving your mouse and choosing text, background, and link colors. You can also apply a background image and a thumbnail represents your background image.

Above is the Site Properties interface. This is really awesome. It shows your site in totality, and when you load a site here, it automatically checks for errors in the site and logs them in the errors section of the "Site Overview" so you can easily see errors and correct them.

These are what three of the four properties boxes on the right of the screen look like.  These are very valuable tools, and extremely easy to use.  Setting up frames, forms, and objects is a snap and they are always in view. Of course, if you don't want them in your way, or you want your work area larger, you can move them. I found these very useful, and I did appreciate being able to see my settings as I worked. I didn't have to read through the source code. Everything was right there for me to see!

You can insert ActiveX Controls and Java Applets right into your pages easily and some of these come bundled with PageMill 3.0.
 

PageMill 3.0 gives you all the tools you need to build a great web site or a single page in an easy understandable way.  It comes with a small manual to get you started quickly and when you need more than that, you can always visit their web site for more information.  

It includes a web site up loader that will upload a whole site or just changes quickly and easily. For Windows users there is also a Web Server that you can install, and PageMill 3.0 comes packed with ready made images, some CGI scripts, and JavaScript.

I have purchased several other HTML editors and site creation tools and none of them so far have been as complete and easy to use and understand as PageMill 3.0. The added benefit of Photoshop LE makes PageMill 3.0 an extremely good value for the money.  Most of us have Acrobat Reader, but if you don't have it you should, and it comes bundled with PageMill 3.0.

If you have never created a web site before, there will be a medium learning curve, but PageMill 3.0 contains great help files in the software, a small manual to get you going fast, and the Adobe site has Tip&Tricks and a Q&A section for any extra help you might need.

In the manual that comes with the CD, are detailed instructions on how to install PageMill 3.0 and then the rest of the manual is devoted to what Adobe calls the Tour. The Tour takes you through most of the things a web site will need, from getting the site started all the way through getting it uploaded and live on a web server. The Tour flows well from beginning to end.

If I would have read the instructions first, I would have known that all the awesome software below comes bundled in one package.  I highly recommend reading first and installing second.  However, it was easy to go back and install the extra components that I wanted.

There is so much included with PageMill software, I needed a list so I wouldn't forget anything.

      PageMill 3.0 software 
      Photoshop LE software 
      Acrobat 3.01 Reader software 
      PageMill 3.0 Getting Started and User Guides in PDF formats 
      Professionally designed Web graphics and Web site templates 
      Tips and techniques from Adobe's Web site 
      Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0,
      Netscape Navigator (Mac only) 
      Apple QuickTime software
      PLUS!:
      Graphics and Animations
      Web Server (for Windows only)
      Link to Open Market ShopSite Express Software (for your e-commerce needs)
      CGI and JavaScripts
 

As you can see from the above list, the PageMill 3.0 CD has everything you need.  
One of the biggest advantages I saw in the installation process was that I was 
able to choose what I wanted installed.  I didn't have to install everything above 
all at once. The installation shield offers you the choices, so you have control 
over what you install and when.
 

All in all, for $99.00 US, I don't see how they did it.   I rated this 4 Stars for ease of 
use, cost, and content. I have personally never seen a package as complete as 
this one for the cost.
 

System Requirements

You can find a free trial download at Adobe.
As well as information at : http://www.adobe.com/internet/pgmphsle/content.html

Price:  Full Version 99.00  / Upgrade 49.00

Windows
Any 80486 or greater processor 
Microsoft Windows (R) 95 or Windows NT (R) 4.0 or later 
16 MB of RAM for Windows 95 or Windows NT 
20 MB of available hard disk space 
VGA (8-bit or higher) or higher-resolution monitor, 800 x 600 recommended 
CD-ROM drive

Macintosh
PowerPC processor 
System 7.5.5 or greater 
8 MB of available RAM 
23 MB of available hard disk space 
8-bit, 256 color display or greater 
CD-ROM drive

Copyright Vikki Olds, All Rights Reserved