Getting Started With Website Maker

In the Website Maker 5 box you get the software CD itself, an activation code, a 60+ page manual, but you also get some other interesting things which are included for the first 12 months:

• 3 web addresses (actually 1 domain and 2 subdomains)
• 5 email accounts
• 5GB of storage space

It’s worth mentioning here that although you need to install the software which comes on the CD the actual Website Maker application is web based and requires a constant web connection during use. Upon installing the access software you are greeted by a few options:

• Access to the Website Maker handbook – a more detailed version of the printed handbook that comes with the packaged software
• Frequently Asked Questions – links to the Help & Support section of the Magix website
• Websites from other users – a useful gallery of websites created using the software which gives an insight into how the software is really being used
• Multimedia Knowledge Community – lets you ask questions and get answers from the user community

Once you have successfully activated your software you can set up your “Online World” using the Control Center which allows access to an online album (which needs unlocking), manage hosting and domain services, access email (once a domain has been registered), and update your website anywhere in the world as long as you are logged on to the internet.

Whilst everything is available from the control centre the interface isn’t quite as intuitive as you might expect primarily because some things need unlocking or activating before you can use them which inevitably leads to an annual subscription page. It might make more sense to group together the things that come with the package you have purchased and have a separate group for all the optional extras.

To use the Website Maker application hover over it in the Control Center then either choose “Start Website Maker” or use one of the wizards under the “Quick Start” menu.

There are three modes for creating a new website project.

• Assistant mode walks you through the entire process
• Template mode offers a range of jumping off points for your website with a host of templates for you to choose from – each of these can be further customised
• Empty Website mode starts with a completely empty website where all the decisions are left up to you

For the purposes of this review we will look more closely at the first option – the Assistant mode.