Generator Tab

The Generator Tab provides the Update and Template functionality, and is where you'll work when you're modifying the site. Once you've completed your changes, you can upload them to your web server using the Upload tab.

The Generator Tab's functions are provided by a number of panels that provide different services, and you can select which panels you want to show for your particular task. Many of the panels work together. So, for example, when you select a file in any of the file trees its keywords are displayed in the Keyword Editor. (Provided, of course, that it is visible.)

Operations

The Generator Tab is used to update and maintain your site. It provides a number of facilities for managing your site including: site update, page templates, site organization and maintenance, keyword editing, data import, and quality control.

Update

Updating your web pages is accomplished by dragging document files and dropping them into special processing folders (). Each processing folder has a set of instructions specifying how the dropped document should be used to update the web page. For example, you can have a processing folder that replaces one section of the page with the contents of the dropped document. Synthesis takes care of all the details including: changing the format, copying the graphics, updating the links, and more.

If you don't like what you see (or you just want to try something else) you can return the entire page to it's original state by right-clicking on the red .htmg folder and selecting Reset. Or, you can reset part of the page by right-clicking on one of the blue sub-folders and, again, selecting Reset.

Templates

Templates use the Update functionality to combine the information from multiple files. Through the same drag-and-drop operations used to update your web site, you can quickly create custom pages that bring out the best in your material.

Drop the formatted page into your web site to publish. You'll be free from having every page look just the same. (Imagine how poor a magazine would look if it had the repetitious format common to most web sites.)

With a selection of basic templates to choose from, you'll be able to create the look you want. Quick and easy. And, since you can do what you want, you won't end up with tacky 'fill in the blank' pages. Plus, building your own templates is a snap. So you'll never be stuck with something you don't like.

Organization

Routine maintenance requires you to rename files, or reorganize your site. Unfortunately, because of the way web pages are linked to each other, this type of work is both time consuming and error prone. Synthesis automates these tasks, making the job quick and easy.

Using Synthesis, you can move, or rename, your web pages just like any other file. Any changes that are required (to fix up the links, copy graphics files, etc.) are handled automatically. And stray files can be tracked down and deleted with the push of a button.

There is also a cleanup operation for your web server. So after you've updated your web site, you upload the changes and press the cleanup button to remove the stray files.

Keyword Editor

Your Page's Title, Description, and Keywords are crucial to how your page is indexed and displayed by the search engines. And, while this information is important, most is not even displayed by the browsers. A few moments updating this information, and visitors will have a much easier time finding your site.

Whenever you have the Keyword editor visible, it automatically tracks the pages you're working with, and shows you that pages indexing information. It even looks at the words currently on the page, easing the task of picking appropriate keywords. A few moments updating this information, and surfers will have a much easier time finding your site.

Import

When you need access to files outside of the Library or Site, you can use the Import utility to fetch them. Import works on collections of files, so you only need to identify the base page and Synthesis will track down the rest.

Quality Control

After modifying your web site, you'll want to review the changes to ensure that everything is the way you want. If you can't remember precisely which pages need to be checked, this is going to take some time. Synthesis keeps track of the changed files, so you don't have to.