The program is a toolbar-based editor which can be customised to suit almost any style of operation. The wide range of default toolbars can be completely redefined, using the program's large collection of buttons or designing your own; its support for all major versions of HTML can be extended by defining new tags; the various Explorer-style file views and the multipurpose coding and browsing panel can be rearranged to your taste; and you can define keyboard shortcuts for virtually any function if you'd prefer not to rely heavily on using the mouse.

Productivity aids range from colour-coding schemes for every type of HTML document (also fully customisable) through very extensive online help to collection and retrieval facilities for snippets of useful code. The help material is impressively detailed; it's available from a topic 'tree' and can also be summoned to give detailed information on any tag selected in the editor. There are wizards to speed up some of the trickier operations, such as frame creation and working with JavaScript.

HomeSite has a liberal assortment of advanced features. It supports DHTML, SMIL and cascading style sheets, complemented by a Style Editor; there's a built-in code validator, a link checker, a graphical Site View for a rapid overview of the contents of a site, and a Tag Inspector that shows the attributes of any tag with a mouse-click.

While HomeSite is designed as an advanced HTML code editor for development of complete Web sites, rather than as a Web authoring tool, it does include a Design View screen which allows some WYSIWYG operations including graphic placement and text formatting; support for text operations includes a standard Windows font requester and access to the Microsoft Word 95/97 spell-check, if installed.

GetRight collects download instructions by intercepting clicks on links in Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator; you can also enter URLs manually or import a list. The registered version includes a Web Page Processor, which scans a page, identifies links, and presents you with a list of download choices. Many search options are available, including one based on the HTML tag associated with each file.

The automation options are many and varied. You can schedule downloads, have them resume after interruptions if the server permits it, choose a virus scanner to screen them, and specify a destination directory for each file type. If you'd like to automate the process completely, you can get the program to disconnect your modem or shut down your system when downloading has been completed; you can also opt for automatic reconnection to your ISP to complete an interrupted download session.

A couple of features optimise the efficiency of download sessions: the program can quickly find alternative download sites and use the fastest, and you can have two or more simultaneous downloads. This can achieve some real savings in time and money.

Some of the program's best time-savers are those which economise on mouse movements, button clicks and keystrokes. For example, you can scroll the screen vertically or horizontally by holding down an Alt key while moving the mouse. A wheel enhancement option for the IntelliMouse and similar products allows wheel scrolling in older applications that don't normally support it.

Software tools include AutoMouse, which can automate complex sequences of mouse actions by recording mouse-clicks and movements as scripts, and VisiMouse, a handy addition to software demonstrations which pops up a window to show the current mouse action: left, right or double-click. Less useful are the mouse odometer and statistics features (unless you have a compelling urge to know how far you've driven your mouse).

Two features may help younger kids use the mouse: a Panic setting detects and halts excessive mouse movement, and UniMouse sets both mouse buttons to trigger a left click, which can be handy in some simple games.

A few features do away with the mouse altogether: joystick jockeys can use their favourite master blaster instead, and diehard keyboard users can program the keys of their choice to do likewise. Trackball fans should appreciate the ability to wrap pointer movement around the screen vertically and horizontally.

The program includes a calendar, which lets you list entries for any day by clicking on the date, and a large toolbar for fast access to all entry/display screens. Its user interface is consistent across its various modules, and seems pretty intuitive -- an overworked label, but appropriate here.

Corporate users may find this a particularly useful application, because you can print or email any entry, and high-flying users should find the integrated news facility extremely useful.