1. HTML OptimizerPro saves 10 to 15% of space on your web pages by removing unnecessary characters and tags. Though this may seem a small improvement, load time savings is much higher as your client's browser parses the pages more efficient. Embedded script code, e.g. JavaScript, is not ruined.
Your original pages remain untouched for later updating. New text files are created with the same Creator as the original (by default) and are put in a folder named "Optimizer Output".
When you're going to view in your browser the optimized files from within the program, the hyperlinks remain active if you have chosen to make an Alias Mirror of your web folder. The Alias Mirror represents your web folder to a depth of 8 levels and is created by making aliases of your web files at identical levels in the Optimizer Output folder.
Take care that you do not replace your original HTML pages with optimized ones because you may lose your nicely indented layout. Keep the originals in a safe place.
2. Another useful function of HTML OptimizerPro is checking the so called tagged pairs, i.e. the tags that always have to appear together with their end tags, for example <FORM>...</FORM>. All dangling tags are reported.
Further, the IMG tags are checked for the presence of the Width, Height and Alt attributes. The Width and Height attributes help the browser to build up the page faster because it can reserve the necessary room for the image while placing the text. The Alt attributes make your pages more user-friendly. If ALT attributes are missing you can choose to have them added, with a text string or no string at all.
3. The Mark function does the same as the Check function, but marks the error spots with the character •, so that you can easily find them for fixing. Files are always saved at root level of the Optimizer Output folder, with • before the name.
4. The Check Links function checks the validity of the internal hyperlinks, until a depth of 8 levels, of your web folder. The following links are checked: href, img src, img dynsrc, embed src and <script>.src. Excluded from checking are links that point to the Internet and links that start with the character #.
5. The Convert function takes care that special characters between ASCII 128 and 255 are converted to the appropriate &.....; notation. You can choose at the Preferences to have conversion done on the fly while optimizing.
All results are reported in the various Logs which are saved in the Logs folder. From within the Log on screen you can select a line for viewing the file that's referred in that line (if you have registered, that is).
Installing
When installing HTML OptimizerPro it needs to be configured. This means that it should know where to create the Optimizer Output folder and where your web folder is.
The directory structure of your web folder is copied to the Optimizer Output folder, i.e. nested folders are created at their original level.
The Configure menu allows you to override settings later on.
Recent Updates
Since version 1.5 it's possible to choose 'Entire Web Folder', in order to optimize or check an entire web folder, including nested folders, in one pass! Optimized pages are saved to their original level in the directory structure of the Optimizer Output folder, unless chosen otherwise at the Preferences.
Version 1.5.1 is a bug fix that prevents a Type 11 error under some circumstances.
Version 1.6 offers the option to remove comment lines; see the Preferences. Optimizing and Link Checking works more efficient. Further, a warning will be given if AppleScript was not properly installed on your computer.
Version 1.6.1 fixes a bug related to removing comment lines and optimizes more efficient. Revison A - see Info Window - has no limit of 1000 characters for comment lines.
License
HTML OptimizerPro is only US $ 8.00 shareware, making it the cheapest multi-purpose optimizer around. You can pay online via Kagi at <http://order.kagi.com/?U5P> or by using the Register Utility.
The unregistered version is not fully functional.
Required
HTML OptimizerPro is a PPC application and requires Mac OS 7.5 or later.
Please note that the Scripting Additions Folder must reside in the System Folder since Mac OS 8.0. If it is wrongly in the Extensions Folder, HTML OptimizerPro will not load.
