dotTech

Giveaway of the Day for June 2nd, 2009 is:

Tree Menu

Version Reviewed:

v2.9

Software description as per GOTD:

Sothink Tree Menu is the most powerful and easy-to-use JavaScript tree menu builder in the world. It is a family member of Sothink DHTML menu products. Both of them use the same user-friendly interface, which nearly all the other competitors of Tree Menu cannot beat.

Features

• Full cross-browser compatibility. (Supports the latest IE 8, Google Chrome, FireFox 3, Opera 9.5 and Safari 3.1!)
• FREE Integration with Dreamweaver, FrontPage, Expression Web and Adobe GoLive as add-ins/extensions.
• Database driven JavaScript menus with ASP, PHP, JSP, ASP.NET, ColdFusion and more.
• Animated effects are pre-created for sub menu tree.
• Configures arrow image of the node that includes sub menu trees.
• Ruler function can layout the menu tree precisely.
• Allows setting the indent between sub-tree and parent node.
• Fully customizable properties, like font, icon, button, background, line, border, cursor, tool tip, etc.
• Free Google XML Sitemap and general sitemap generators based on your menu structure.

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Rating (out of 10)

Features as Described
I can't tell if the add-ins are there, but hey, everything else was- except they probably have'nt reviewed every single Menu creator in the world.    8

Ease of Use
Point, click, double click, type, find the buttons, etc- Eek.   6

Performance
It was speedy and no heavy on my VM.    7

Usefulness
"No commercial use" kind of defeats the purpose of this software.    6

Arbitrary Equalizer
This category reflects an arbitrary number that does not specifically stand for anything. Rather this number is used to reflect my overall rating/verdict of the program in which I considered all the features and free alternatives.      7
Total    9

Quick Verdict

if you need do HTML, or are planning to.

Full Review:

Once again, I have made a video showing how to do simple things in this software.  Unfortunately my internet connection is slowly uploading.  Here's the link to follow when it's done:  http://mafia-penguin.com/dottech/Menu.flv. Warning:  File is 15+ MB! The last bit in the video shows how many files it makes when you save a thing, so make sure to save to a folder.

Installation was fast and easy.  The software prompts you with a menu to select a template, like so:

After that you can select an option and just start clicking things- It's not dangerous.  To change something, just double click it and type in what you want it to say in the bottom. Here's a pic to explain:

You can export it via File>Publish, and to acess things like the Google Sitemap, click on Advanved.

Free alternatives:

CSS Tab Designer

(I'm a little rushed right now, sorry!)