Web Designing with Xara Designer Pro 17 (Anyone download version 17)

Hello Xara community. Like many of you who use xara web designer, we are probably very interested in how the web development functions of xara designer are working out given that we know there are countless similarities between the two applications except for Xara Designer have more functionality. I read the release notes and am always happy about updates (even when not as big as some hoped). Is the responsiveness of the new software better, worse?
Do version 16 created websites import well? Just interested in seeing how things are going on the web design side of the Xara Designer Pro 17 so far. Thanks for the feedback of the early adopters of the new software.

The responsiveness (variants) has not changed or if it has in a very minor way.

One of the most useful new features is the ease with which you can now attach actual names to images vs Xara's assigning images numbers, e.g. our-wiget.jpg vs 1367.jpg.

The only difference I noticed is 17 does startup faster than 16.3. Very happy about that one enhancement.

Startup is faster if you then disable the Magix interference. I have a working application before the splash screen has disappeared.

My slowest feature is opening the Line gallery; that is now only 3 seconds but still well behind v11 - https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...?82684-Timings.

Acorn

@teachtopia. Good points. Question ... why doesn’t Xara switch everyone over to Designer Pro 17, from WD ? I realize WD is a separate product, but Designer Pro is basically WD with more info and options. I never understood why they made WD a separate product. Why update 2 programs when all one has to do is update Designer Pro. Call me Mr. Confused.

marketing ;)

@bwood - Bill have a read of https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...Update-Service. Definitely marketing as evinced by Xara's next to lack of endorsement of Xara Web Designer anywhere. XWD is what most companies would throw out as Shareware but MagiXara repack and market as if it is useful. Definitely marketing as Kate Moir has indicated in the release of version 17.0. Definitely marketing as Xara is spending all its resource on Xara Cloud.

It is one master package and cut-downs of that.The more applications MagiXara "release" the more punters they catch.

Acorn

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Originally Posted by teachtopia

Is the responsiveness of the new software better?

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The software is not responsive in any way - it is adaptive. It will never be responsive while Xara has a WYSIWYG mantra.

https://www.interaction-design.org/l...ponsive-design

'mantra' - marketing again of course.... for those who want an 'easy' solution that will always carry a price...

The point is that WYSIWYG is incompatible with responsive layout.

yes

I took mantra in it's ironic sense

xara hold wysiwyg as a positive marketing feature; it is easy for those not versed in website building [eg me]

if this is not compatible with true responsiveness - I have to take your expert view on this - it is what I see as the price you pay for wysiwyg

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Originally Posted by handrawn

yes

I took mantra in it's ironic sense

xara hold wysiwyg as a positive marketing feature; it is easy for those not versed in website building [eg me]

if this is not compatible with true responsiveness - I have to take your expert view on this - it is what I see as the price you pay for wysiwyg

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Well, it's not just my view, expert or otherwise.

The whole point about responsive design is that the layout changes as the available space changes (ie a fluid layout) - specifically the width. WYSIWYG design does not change to use the available width (a fixed layout), but adaptive design substitutes fixed layouts according to the width at specific breakpoints. Often responsive layouts use breakpoints also to substitute fluid layouts because what is a good layout at one width is not appropriate at all widths.

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Well, it's not just my view, expert or otherwise.

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yes [again]

I am not arguing with you paul, exactly the opposite

my point was that xara is marketing towards those that see wysiwyg as the simple ['easy'] solution - which comes at a price re responsivness [lack of]

I understand what you are saying..

I'm aware that while we may be exchanging messages and you may understand, a better explanation helps others reading them that do not - ie it's not all about you!

I am here to help people paul - as I like to think we all are

I don't think the point you made was ever in doubt

you chose to say 'mantra' in a particular context

I just followed that through... no worries ;)

Not true, there are quite a few wysiwyg web builders that are responsive, I have tried Adobe Muse (discontinued) Mobirise and a couple of others. I loved Muse but Adobe have discontinued support so I have been trying everything lately. I just wish Web Designer would allow me to add breakpoints where I want them, then it would be just right.

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I just wish Web Designer would allow me to add breakpoints where I want them, then it would be just right.

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Can you elaborate on what you are trying to do/achieve?

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Originally Posted by peebee44

Not true, there are quite a few wysiwyg web builders that are responsive, I have tried Adobe Muse (discontinued) Mobirise and a couple of others. I loved Muse but Adobe have discontinued support so I have been trying everything lately. I just wish Web Designer would allow me to add breakpoints where I want them, then it would be just right.

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Well WYSIWYG implies that the page visitor sees the page exactly how you laid it out. That is not guaranteed in responsive layouts that adjust to the width available to them. It is true for Xara since it uses fixed sizes.

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Originally Posted by gwpriester

Can you elaborate on what you are trying to do/achieve?

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Pretty sure we're thinking the same thing here.