NetObjects ScriptBuilder 3.0 How Does ScriptBuilder Work? Douglas Smith
ScriptBuilder speeds up and simplifies creating scripts in several ways.
First it uses a Visual IDE (Integrated Development Environment), which programmers know is vitally important because it provides an easy to use workspace to create your scripts. One of the biggest problems you'll encounter in implementing scripts on you web page is the fact that different browsers handle scripting languages in different ways. What works with Netscape Navigator 3.0 might not work with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and vice versa. To help with this ScriptBuilder includes the Script Inspector that identifies on which browsers your current script will run on and help you resolve compatibility issues with the various web browsers.
Another nice feature is the script library. This gives beginning script writers a good starting point of pre-built scripts and allows experienced programmers to organize and keep track of scripts they've built before. ScriptBuilder uses a Document Map that allows you to get a quick overview of the whole script in one quick shot. Color syntax highlighting lets you quickly find and debug faulty scripts.
Finally ScriptBuilder has internal previewing so you can instantly see your script in action and tweak it accordingly, no need to jump through hoops just to see if your script works.
The enhanced script editor in NetObjects ScriptBuilder makes the development and debugging of scripted Web pages more efficient. The Internal Preview function speeds Web page testing by allowing you to preview your work in the script editor. NetObjects ScriptBuilder allows you to customize and reuse your scripting assets, and customize the application to work with language references for your own scripting tags and document type definitions.
Summary
It's the 12th round and NetObjects ScriptBuilder has just delivered the knock out blow to all of the competition. Now don't be confused, ScriptBuilder is not meant for the amateur developer, it is an advanced to expert tool. But if you want to learn to do your own scripting, by all means give it a shot. This is an excellent tool for doing any type scripting that you will probably ever want to do. System requirements are a PC with Windows95/98 or NT 16 MB of ram or more and 30-MB free hard-disk space 30-day demo on Web site and a street cost of $149US and there is a mail in rebate special going on this month, with a $50 rebate.
