Validator plugin
You do not have to use the W3C Validator to check HTML and co. for validity. You can do it offline, and that standalone as well as from within phase 5.
version history
- Version 3.3.0 (January 2016)
+ GUI is DPI-aware, i.e. will adapt to the general settings for the font size.
* Minor fixes in the GUI.
* Some icons were missing in version 3.2.0. - Version 3.2.0 (January 2016)
* Paths with spaces for onsgmls.exe and sgml-lib.
* Files in paths with spaces can be validated.
* Better error messages for files or folders not found. - Version 3.1.1 (December 2015)
* Improvements when reading the ini file. - Version 3.0 (January 2008)
* window opens faster.
+ behaves like newest version 0.8.2 of the W3C Validator.
+ comparisons with all recent W3C versions (version 0.7.4 and up).
+ ini allows to define timeout for calling the online Validator. - Version 2.0 (April 2007)
+ support for localhosts according to base directory and file extension (both you can set freely).
+ checks results with the original W3C Validation Service (supports local installation).
+ example.ini to explain and illustrate new ini settings.
+ all hints and error messages are now displayed within the program. - Version 1.0 (March 2007)
- Validator.bat (October 2004)
this batch file, which already used OpenSP, was the plugin's predecessor, yet not as easy to use. Since visitors stayed interested in downloading it, we decided to develop it further.
installation
- Download OpenSP, the SGML parser that is used by the W3C, and unzip it into a directory of your choice.
- Unzip recent SGML libraries from the W3C into a directory of your choice.
- From validator.zip unzip the files Validator.exe and validator.ini into the plugins directory of phase 5. If you use the plugin standalone, just pick any folder you want.
- In validator.ini change the paths to onsgmls.exe and to the directory where the SGML libraries reside and start work.
- in addition you can put a link to validator.exe on the desktop or into your SendTo folder.
usage
Simply open a file in phase 5 and choose Validator from the Tools menu. Alternatively, you can create a shortcut, e.g. on your desktop, and validate files via drag and drop.
If you have a link on your desktop you can validate files via drag and drop, a link in SendTo can be reached via Send To... in the context menu of any file.
remarks
- Our thanks go to Franz Kruft for beta-testing the plugin.
- SGML parser onsgmls.exe cannot check files that contain spaces in their names or are stored in folders named with spaces. As of version 3.2.0 there is a workaround in the plugin to make validation work.
- For validation to work properly, a document needs a doctype and/or xml declaration. Documents from the XML family usually get away with the proper file extension.
- In validator.ini you can set German and English as languages.
- Our download also includes two test files (one with and the other without errors).
- Validator plugin should work in any program that can pass an open file as a parameter to another program.
- Should you get a timeout error when trying to connect to the W3C Validator, simply try again - most of the time this does the trick.
- If you have doubts as to the output check online with the W3C Validator first. As of version 2.0 this can be done by pressing the button in the plugin. If the online result is similar, any strange output is due to the SGML parser and not to the plugin.
- Validator.exe was created with a freeware script-program named AutoIt. It may not accept files in very large sizes or do well with an unlimited number of errors. We would be glad to receive reports about your experience.
- This plugin has been tested from Windows 2000 up to Windows 8.1. Any comments are welcome.
- More tips on the topic can be found on our page on the offline installation of the W3C validator.
PS: freeware & viruses
All programs by blechtrottel.net are of course free of any virus. But they may be wrongly accused by some virus programs. Why this sometimes happens, can be found on this info page.