Chapter 2: PAGE CHECKERS

HTML CHECKERS

HTML coding is the backbone of each web site page. It tells your browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Web TV, etc.) how to display each page. HTML is a universal internet language accepted by all browsers and major web design organizations as the "industry standard" for site design.

It is possible to check your coding after you are done designing a page to ensure you have dotted all of your i's and crossed all of your t's so to speak. This can be critical to the proper display of your web site so it is definitely worth the investment in time and resources to do so.

This is important to do. It is suggested that you do this at site launch and then run a check semi-annually.

The following links are to places throughout the internet that offer automated HTML testing services. Most of these are free by the way!

W3C
W3C is the official web coding organization for the internet. It has an HTML Validator, a CSS Validator, and an HTML Tidier. W3C is the official organization for drafting the programming language of the web.

Web Site Garage
Web Site Garage provides a variety of web site checking tools including HTML checkers, link checkers, spell checkers and other devices. Try it free.

Net Mechanics
Net Mechanics provides the HTML Toolbox to check your HTML, links, spelling, etc. Try it Free.

Imagiware HTML Toolchest .
This site provides a toolchest of HTML checkers such as Docter HTML, HTML squisher, HTML helper, etc. This is the most thorough site devoted exclusively to HTML support.

Ace HTML Expert
Ace HTML Expert is a full service HTML editing and checking site. It comes with a freeware version and a HTML Expert Pro for-purchase version.

HTML Kit w/HTML Checkers
This is a freeware application that edits your HTML and checks it all in one place. It will also plug into the HTML Tidy provided by W3C.

Spelling

After you check your coding, your site should also have proper spelling. These sites will check the spelling on your web pages. It is important for you to do this after every new site launch and site revision.

Net Mechanic
Web Site Garage
Site See

Link Checkers

After HTML & spelling, comes your links. Customers value the sites with the most accurate, up-to-date, and easy to follow information. You should always be checking your links. You can do this manually by personally checking each one on each page.

You can also try an automated service for quick and easy checking. These places will do it for you. This is an important thing to do and it is suggested that you do this quarterly.

Link Popularity
This internet site will check your site's links for free.

Link Bot
This site offers a link checker with a meta tag checker and a macrobot.

Net Mechanics

Web Site Garage

Site See

Proofreading

After all of that is there more? Yes, how about an entire proof read of your site from a make believe customer/outsider?

This hands-on insight/testing can be very useful. Read this article about a company that was losing most of its customers because of a simple form mechanical error found during mock customer testing. How Are Customers Using Your Site?

SUGGESTED USAGE: Nice thing to do for every new site launch and major site revision if you can afford to do this. Otherwise get friends, family, or employees, to do it for your web site. Or, if really desparate, do it yourself after taking a break from it.

Azurii Designs This site will proofread and run checks on your entire web site for $500 with a detailed report of its findings & suggestions for both maintenance and usability areas.

THE STORE

Learn about HTML Coding w/HTML 4 for the World Wide Web Visual from Amazon.Com

Check your HTML at W3C.Org's Official HTML Validators

Try HTML Kit w/HTML Checkers FREE here

Try HTML TIDY Freeware Here (by WC3.Org)to clean up your HTML

Test Imagiware HTML TOOLCHEST Here

Tune Up Your Web Site Free:

Try Web Site Garage Free Here

Try Net Mechanic's HTML Toolbox FREE Here

Checks spelling, links, HTML, ect. for $29.95.

Download a Free Trial of Link Bot, Macrobot, and Meta Bot here.

Ace HTML Expert Freeware & Pro

USEFUL INFO:

HTML: The official coding language of the internet.

CHECKERS Places where you enter your url to the page you want checked and it gives you back a report of areas where your HTML is faulty or incorrect. It also gives you advise on what to do to make it better.

NOTE: Many web design software programs have HTML checkers built into the program itself so check with your designer or program first.

MAINTENANCE CHECK UPS:

• HTML CHECK: Site Launch, Major Revisions, Semi-Annually.
• SPELL CHECK: Site Launch, Major Revisions.
• LINK CHECKS: Site Launch, Major Revisions, Quarterly.
• PROOFING: Site Launch, Major Revisions, Third party services are optional but the best way to go if you can afford it.