Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
HTTPWatch Basic Edition is a free browser plug-in that collects and displays information about Web sites. It's a trial edition of HTTPWatch Professional, with which it shares many features, albeit with limitations, mostly for Web sites with nonproprietary log files. The Basic version also displays a logo banner on printouts. Both work with Microsoft Internet Explorer as well as Mozilla Firefox. You can save the information HTTPWatch Basic Edition collects as a log file and view it with an included utility, HTTP Studio.
We downloaded and installed HTTPWatch Basic for Internet Explorer. During the process, we allowed the plug-in's installer's request to install the Firefox add-on, too. HTTPWatch's quick start page appeared when we opened IE. Brief but detailed and with high-quality screenshots, this guide explains how to use, customize, and uninstall the plug-in in both IE and Firefox; how to log requests; how to open and use HTTP Studio; and more. We opened a new tab, browsed to a selected site, and clicked the Tools menu on the IE command bar. We clicked HTTPWatch Basic on the menu, and the plug-in's interface opened in the lower half of the IE display; we also tried the shortcut key combo, Shift + F2. We pressed the Record button to initiate a request, and the software quickly returned results in the upper file list view, which included a color-coded progress bar. We clicked Summary, and HTTPWatch displayed a variety of results in 10 tabs in its main view, including Time Chart, Headers, Cookies, Query String, POST Data, and more. We then browsed to a random site that apparently had a different log file type, and this time the request only returned results in six tabs. Next we opened Firefox and clicked the HTTPWatch icon in the extensions panel at the bottom-right edge; HTTPWatch Basic opened with a virtually identical interface to the IE version. We were able to open HTTP Studio and other tools from the program's Windows Start Menu folder.
HTTPWatch Basic Edition worked well despite its limits. For casual users, the free version's data may be more than adequate, but we appreciate the ability to try out the program's basic functionality in a free plug-in before buying the enhanced Pro version.
Publisher's Description
From Simtec:
HttpWatch Basic shows you HTTP and HTTPS traffic from within IE allowing you to quickly debug, fix, and optimize your Website. See headers, cookies, status codes, compression, content and more as you browse a Web site. The Basic Edition only displays extended information for a limited number of Web sites. Demonstrates the capabilities of HttpWatch Professional and can be used to exchange HTTP log files
Features include standalone log file viewer, shows HTTPS requests, support for HTTP compression, Page and Request Level Time Charts, saves full trace file, and supports HTTP compression.
What's new in this version: Version 9.0.7 has fixed 'No HTTP Request' error occurred when collapsing a page group in HttpWatch Basic Edition.
More Products to Consider
-
Explore the Web using Google's super-fast browser.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Collect and display in-depth HTTP information.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Organize thousands of Web pages and e-mail in a secure database...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Surf the Web comfortably, relying on speed, safety, and power o...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View Flash multimedia content through your browser.Visit SiteThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
-
Provide a versatile technology browser with high level of secur...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Run Java applications on your Windows computer.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Surf the Web with browser with automatic form filler, popup blo...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Run Java applications on your Windows computer.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Search for events in web pages and add them on your calendar.Visit SiteThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
-
Send Web links to your mobile device.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Try the faster browser that lets you get the most from today's ...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Visit virtual visual chat communities.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Send Web links to your mobile device.Visit SiteThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
-
Create and manage information for learning, brainstorming, task...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Take Google's Chrome browser with you on a USB stick.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Display the country flag of a current Web site's server on your...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View and search for entries inside LDAP directories.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Navigate the Web with HTTPS browser that encrypts browsing sess...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Universal query access to text-based data.Visit SiteThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
- Pep up your search in the Internet.Download
Installed
Smart Install -
Take your bookmarks, surf internet, and experience the private ...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Keep a watchful eye on your Web site's links and images.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install - Make screenshots from Web pages.Download
Installed
Smart Install
-
All versions:
4.0 starsout of 2 votes
-
Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-2 of 2
-
"Es una heramienta muy util"
Version: HttpWatch Basic Edition 5.3.8
Pros
Es muy util para encontrar los errores que se puedan tener al programar.
Cons
está todo bien....no me desagrada nada.
-
"Great for web developers testing their site's caching behavior"
Version: HttpWatch Basic Edition 4.2.12
Pros
The free version is very useful for viewing the status code, size, and time spent for HTTP traffic back to the site.
Cons
$250 for Headers and Cookies
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:
