php Designer 7 Editor's Review

PHP Designer 2007 is the latest release of the well known web authoring tool created by Michael Pham. Basically created as a PHP, HTML or SQL editor and debugger as well as a file browser, PHP Designer comes with lots of features such as: an extended code library, file browser, debugger, execution and preview of PHP scripts. You also have access to built-in dialogs/wizards, and to common code/script libraries, utilities and procedures, all embedded into a well designed, comprehensive and flexible interface.

In order to help you get your work done faster and easier you can also choose to highlight the text you are editing, depending on the programming language used. The AutoCorrect and AutoComplete features are very customizable, making development a quite easy task. Inserting code snippets can be done via three submenus of the main program menu: HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript and SSI. I think their names speak by themselves about what kind of code snippets and scripts are available in the user interface.

If you want you can export your code into LaTex, HTML and RTF file formats. The code maintains its syntax highlighting so it's very easy to read. Also, I found the "Search in files" feature to be very useful. You can browse the phpMyAdmin pages inside a window integrated in the user interface. phpMyAdmin has to be installed on your system and you must specify its path in PHP Designer's configuration.

Pluses: You can save the layout of your working windows and then reload it later or when you reopen the program. Among the many features, I would also mention the integrated ftp client, the skinnable interface, the project manager and the HTML and CSS tidy commands.

Drawbacks / flaws: No code/function folding is available.

In conclusion: This software is a very complex yet simple to use Web authoring tool, suitable for beginners and advanced programmers alike. Its features will boost your productivity and help you do your programming work easier.

version reviewed: 2007 5.0.3