Xara Web Designer 6

Serious web designers wouldn’t give Xara Web Designer 6 anything more than a cursory glance. But it’s not aimed at the serious web designer. It’s aimed at users who want to create a web presence quickly and easily.

Web Designer 6 is a WYSIWYG editor – PC only – that boasts features galore. The interface is smart, simple and intuitive, and ensures that users are at ease from the off. Page creation holds little to fear, giving users the option to work with a blank canvas or choose from the extensive template selection. The blank option offers three standard pixel widths including the currently popular 955-pixel width.

Templates: A host of professionally designed templates are included for instant website creation

Where the software excels is creating from the Designs Gallery. This boasts a comprehensive set of templates to choose from, each offering more than just a single style. All that’s needed to create a complete website is available in a single hit. If the template includes a gallery, a gallery page is included, and likewise with blog pages. Real thought has gone into the template process. Pages include common elements such as navigation and colour schemes, but also offer individuality by tailoring the design to suit individual needs, much like a professionally designed website.

Manipulation and customisation of theme is a breeze. Changing elements is simple and intuitive – a feature promised by many competitors, but rarely delivered. Editing text is about as easy as it gets – select and type in, or Copy and Paste new text then format via the toolbar. The image manipulation tools are basic, but instinctive to use. Modifying the layout is little more than dragging and dropping, with elements easily resized and restyled.

Navigation bar: The navigation bar is fully customisable with the option to change the orientation, modify button spacing, automatically resize button widths and remove/add pages as desired

Users can change the orientation, adjust the settings and add/remove menu items. It literally takes minutes to create a fully-fledged working website. Spend a little more time and explore the widgets on offer. Drag and drop in social networking elements (eg Facebook and Twitter), include contact forms, create an e-commerce environment via PayPal and Amazon, and integrate Google Maps and BBC News. Go photo and video crazy with widgets for YouTube, Flickr, Picasa and more. It’s these easy-to-add elements that take the standard templates and present the opportunity to create a beautifully customised, operational site. Beyond the template base, there is a host of web-related elements; add keywords, change page titles and enter FTP details. With a single click, preview your website before sending it web bound to a worldwide audience.