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Live's Not Perfect

We spotted a few minor shortcomings in GoLive 5.0, compared with its rival Macromedia Dreamweaver. For example, GoLive doesn't display a thumbnail of the file you highlight in a folder, so locating the stuff you need inside folders crammed with cryptically named Web files will take you more time. We also wish that GoLive would let users designate (and launch) non-Adobe programs, such as Corel Photo-Paint or Jasc Paint Shop Pro.

While GoLive's Flash support is better in this new version, double-clicking on a Flash animation can only start up Adobe's LiveMotion, not the more widely used Macromedia Flash. At least GoLive users are no longer forced to add Flash files manually by writing their own code; instead, the application provides an icon representing a Flash animation, which you can drag onto the page; you then enter the link to the file in a palette.

GoLive's new edit-listing History palette is a mixed blessing. The History palette--a common feature in many Adobe applications--keeps a running list of your every edit so that you can quickly undo (or redo) several editing steps with a click. It's a handy feature, except for one irksome habit: GoLive wipes the History list clear each time you switch the workspace mode--say, from Source view to Frame view. In contrast, rival Dreamweaver offers a more flexible History palette that lets users undo or redo changes anytime, anywhere. Moreover, Dreamweaver users can automate tasks by storing a series of History steps as a custom command for reuse elsewhere--even on other documents. GoLive can't do that, but (like Dreamweaver) it does allow users to save JavaScript actions that trigger Web page events, links, or timelines. In a nutshell: GoLive 5.0 feels less restrictive than prior versions did, but its History palette needs more depth.

Web Page Powerhouse

Despite those minor wrinkles, Adobe has delivered a significant upgrade to GoLive. Version 5.0's enhanced scope of features will impress finicky designers, code geeks, and Webmasters alike. For synchronizing Web production tasks without major slipups, it's a valuable Web authoring tool. To judge for yourself, download the trial version from Adobe's site.

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