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NickV 2006-05-15 06:06:39 #

Few days with DzSoft PHP Editor

DzSoft PHP Editor 3.6


Being the web developer the best interest of mine is the Integrated Development Environments for such kind of programs users. I specialize in PHP-, Perl- and Python scripting development. Let's observe such programs listed in our software archive.

As this mentioned in the review title now we are reviewing the program with the name DzSoft PHP Editor 3.6. As the name says this program is intended to be a PHP scripting language editor. As a matter of fact it's possible not only PHP scripts to edit, but HTML and XML files as well.

1. Installation

That's enough simple step, just download the installation file and run it. The installation wizard starts. Answer for the simple questions (I think if you try to install such kind of software you are able to answer such questions). The last step of the wizard is the suggestion to start the program. If you are not the registered user the program will ask you do you want to buy this program or are you already a registered user before each program start. If you'd like to work with the program during an evaluation period you can do it in 30 days but every time you start the program this will ask you about registration.

2. First start

Main window

After the first start the program runs and you see the usual interface of the application. The default document is opened: it is the HTML file with the simplest PHP code included "Untitled-1" named.

By default the Explorer Bar and Project Manager appear. The first thing helps to view variables, classes, includes, functions in the opened file. The second one helps to control the project files. By the way, there is inconvenient place for this - at the bottom of the main window. I tried to move it to left or right and did it unsuccessfully, may be I did something incorrectly (but what could be there special).

Another part of the main window is the Run & Preview tab sheet - this allows you the work of edited PHP script. To have this working correctly first of all you need to set up the PHP interpreter options (appropriate button at the Toolbar, the item in the Run menu or Ctrl+F9 shortcut). Also you may see the script work results as the browser output and this output source code as well.

Toolbar

As usual this kind of programs has toolbar to speed up some repeated operations. Files creation, opening, saving; undo-redo, clipboard operations, script running, code syntax checking, PHP code editing operations (PHP tags, double quotes, HTML code to PHP code conversion, code indentation), HTML code and special symbols insertion. In short words - the Toolbar gives usual things offering by the similar programs that are very convenient in the everyday scripting work.

Code Editing
The code edited in the DzSoft PHP Editor is highlighted and there is the possibility to tune this feature - you can change the color palette for different code parts as you prefer.

The useful and convenient thing is the PHP code snippets insertions during the editing: if-else, for- or while-loop and other code templates. In fact there are not many ones in the standard distribution, but you can affix additional code templates (menu View -> Customize Code Templates). Also you can insert PHP functions (standard or defined by yourself) by Ctrl+Enter pressing.

Bookmarks setting is another useful feature: it allows you to navigate through the code very fast.

DzSoft PHP Editor allows to upload your files (HTML or PHP) to your web server using built in FTP client. It also has built-in web server: you may test your scripts with it or use some external web server installed on your machine.

Conclusion

This is not enormous program like ActiveState Komodo or YesSoftware Codecharge, but this covers most of your needs in the everyday work of PHP development.