Does your site rule?

The Web has it share of irritations, ranging from slow-loading pages to broken Java scripts. And many of these irritations can drive away customers. To combat at least some of the problems, ParaSoft has released version 1.1 of its SiteRuler publishing-management tool for Web sites.

According to ParaSoft, SiteRuler detects bad links, spelling errors, and orphaned files. It also suggests and enforces HTML coding standards. Coding rules can be customized or suppressed if desired. The tool synchronizes on-line and off-line versions of a site in a staging area.

To publicize the new release, ParaSoft conducted a survey of 95 Fortune 100 Web sites. The survey turned up 84,302 link errors on 292,357 pages -- that's a 29 percent error rate. ParaSoft said it uncovered 3,683,974 HTML errors -- more than a dozen per page.

How does your site stack up? Check for yourself -- ParaSoft is offering a free demonstration scan.

The handwriting's on the Web

ParaGraph, a division of Vadem, has developed a server-side handwriting recognition engine for use over the Internet and corporate intranets. ParaGraph's NetCalif recognizes cursive and printed handwriting captured on mobile handheld and transmitted over an Internet connection. The system requires a small client package that forwards handwriting  to the server, where it is converted to text.

Based on ParaGraph's CalliGrapher handwriting engine, NetCalif requires no user training, ParaGraph says. It recognizes the Latin alphabet, numbers, and punctuation. An expansible 65-kiloword English dictionary is included.

The NetCalif SDK includes a Windows NT-compatible implementation of the NetCalif server, a developer's guide, and sample JavaPad code that illustrates how to establish a connection and perform handwriting recognition.

SkyLine Tools updates ImageLib for Delphi

A Delphi 5-compatible version of ImageLib Corporate Suite is now available from SkyLine Tools Imaging.

SkyLine's ImageLib Corporate Suite 5.0 for Delphi 5 supports image manipulation for more than 20 file formats, including Photo CD, TIFF, CCITT 3 and 4, TIFFs, Packbits, AVI, GIF, JPG, PNG, and more. More than 40 image-manipulation effects and filters are provided, as is extensive support for scanner interfaces and document imaging. Scanner support allows developers to scan documents and images directly into their applications, bypassing the scanner's interface.

New to version 5.0 is support for hardware devices. SkyLine raised the memory bar for compatibility with the larger images produced by high-resolution digital cameras and upgraded TWAIN scanning support for use with late-generation scanners. Also new is a magnifying-glass feature that allows users to zoom into a specific area of the image rather than enlarging the entire page.

Introductory and upgrade prices are detailed at SkyLine's Web site.

Printing tool for Windows CE developers

FieldSoftware has introduced PrinterCE 1.0, an ActiveX printing control for Windows CE. PrinterCE helps VBCE, NS Basic, and MFC/CE developers overcome the complexities of adding printing functions to Windows CE applications. 

PrinterCE 1.0 is available in two versions. The standard edition supports text, images, and objects. Text attributes such as text size, color, and attributes are supported. BMP and JPG graphics may be rotated in 90-degree increments and placed anywhere on the printed page. PrinterCE Standard edition supports the HPC/Pro and HPC 2.0 platforms and uses Windows CE printer drivers as well as Westteks JetCet color drivers.

PrinterCE Plus adds high-speed ASCII printing and Ps/PC palm-device support to the mix.

PrinterCE 1.0 costs US$19.95 for a single-user license. Bundled pricing is also available. Visit FieldSoftware's Web site for a trial download.