Software Review: Web Catalog Authoring Software
By Alyson Behr
And the Winner Is...
iCat and Cat@log have both taken very different approaches to finding solutions that address the identical corporate and industry concerns for online shopping environment development. iCat’s flight plan takes them directly to the database management field, and then they add graphics in the form of templates, secure commerce and marketing analysis. It’s clear there are database geniuses involved in iCat’s closet. Corporations with large inventory-heavy catalogs will not be disappointed making an investment in this product with its excellent support.
Cat@log’s route is somewhat more free-form, taking into consideration database management, multiple security issues both within databases and for secure transactions as well as graphic design and navigational consistency without limiting creativity or compromising the product’s scalability.
In our minds, both products are winners because they delivered what they advertised, but we opted for Cat@log as our overall choice for some simple reasons. Database Import was much simpler, not requiring re-keying into Tagged Text. This along with the component wizard features represented an enormous savings in time. Additionally, we were able to follow Cat@log’s documentation and learn the program without going to school. Cat@log is a better value and provides similar end results. These reasons translate to higher levels of productivity and will help you get your catalog online and creating return, if not by next week, certainly before the end of the century.
Resources
Cat@log Direct-To-Web
The Vision Factory
269 Mt. Hermon Road
Suite 105
Scotts Valley CA 95066
888-4TVFCAT
www.thevisionfactory.com
iCat 3.0 Electronic Commerce Suite
iCat Corporation
1420 Fifth Avenue
Seattle WA 98101
206-505-8800
www.icat.com
Biography: Alyson Behr is the Founder of Behr Communications, a Web development firm in Los Angeles, California, and a technology journalist with credits in Communications Week, NetGuide Magazine, ZD Internet Magazine, Smithsonian’s Air & Space Magazine and Plane & Pilot Magazine.
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