Since WebSite X5 is a PC program that works on the PC, the pages must be exported to the Internet in order for certain functions to be displayed correctly.

With the Pro version you can also use a real browser for the preview, but even then not everything can be displayed on the PC.

The situation is different with online modular systems or CMS scripts that are edited online in the browser.

So it's roughly comparable to an online shop and a store in the city. In one shop you have to wait for the parcel carrier, in the other shop you can take the goods with you straight away.

I live in Germany myself, use a notebook with Windows 11 Home and a fiber optic connection with a router.

Why is it constantly switching between offline and online?

I have an Internet flat rate and can stay online as long as I want, it costs the same money.

I started doing websites in 1989 using Microsoft Frontpage until it stopped having server side extensions. All the same wonderful things I can do now with X5, I could do with FPage including writing my own code if needed. So I looked for a program that was almost the same that included e-commerce & selected X5pro. From the very beginning I have never been able to be online as in seeing a preview of the site in the browser (Firefox or Bing of Google). During creation I need to see what a site looks like BEFORE it is published. I can only do this IF I am NOT Online. Why?

My ONLY avenue to see a page while online is to look at the BLANK screen I am presented with and type in the entire URL as in: https://www.holdstillproductions.com/index.html then I get to view that page.

So try again please. I am beginning to think I need to choose some other program.

Previews go to Bing or Google or if I am not online they just go to Microsoft.

This is what I see when I try to see the main page of the client I am working on now while Online.

See attached.

WebSite X5 uses grids and a little imagination to make the page look like a type case.

Then the individual grids of the "type box" are filled with different contents.

The upper and lower part of the website, i.e. header and footer, which are the same on all pages, are designed in an extra part.

In Website X5 there is a "Preview" button at the top right, which displays the website in the internal browser, which is sufficient for a first check.

If you want, you can first export the website to a subfolder, e.g.

----- WebSite X5 -----

> 5 Export > Export the website to the Internet

-----

Website URL:https://www.holdstillproductions.com/test123xyz/

Target directory: /test123xyz

-----

... to see it for yourself on the Internet without being seen by visitors.

The test directory on the webspace can be made via the FTP window in WebSite X5, see my instructions

>> https://helpcenter.websitex5.com/it/post/256090 (see post 12 and 13, marked in blue)

If the website does not have functions that require PHP, such as shop and blog, then the internal preview browser should suffice.

Correction: Shop and blog also work largely in the internet browser preview, only a few functions require PHP on the web space.

It is best to reinstall the WebSite X5 program.

To do this, click on the user name at the top right and select "My Profile", then on "Download" to download the current version, where you will also find the license key.

----- Screenshot of the preview -----

I am sorry to say that none of your answers work for me. Again, when I am creating or updating a website & want to see if it is what I wanted as in alignment or photos or whatever, I have to NOT BE ONLINE. If I do go online & try to pull up the preview in any browser I get a BLANK screen. This happens even if I actually have already published the website & just want to see my corrections before I actually upload it to the internet. So thats why I am asking you all why this happens. I am very tired of shutting off my HOTSPOT just to see the site to make additional corrections or updates. Then turning the HOTSPOT on to start the Publish program.

Again, Preview in browser does NOT work when I am online - never did. Yes I update my program. Yes I like the program & its features, yes I want to continue to use this program BUT this situation needs to be resolved. If an old program like Microsoft Frontpage let me see: design view, html code, browser view - why can't this program do that?

And BTW I can't see the html code for the site untill I loggin to my hosting company & use File Manager & I have had to do that also sometimes to correct a line or remove something the publish program didn't catch. SO it would be really nice if you updated the program so we all could see: WUSIWUG (design view), html code page, & browser preview page while not online and while online.

Another suggestion: catagories for what the business actually is are lacking. I hate choosing something that really doesn't match a business.

Praise: love the updated page & object & photo SEO which is included. Love the Gallery options. Don't like the Before & After options - too easy for viewer to not like either. Do like the Tables I can set up to keep photos or info where I want it & the option to remove excess space plus make the borders invisible. Do kinda like the e-commerce setup but would prefer more payment options (only PayPal is available). Items for sale: additional options/links should appear at bottom of item page in view in that catagory but I had to add them :( Otherwise viewer has to go back to Store/catagory/Toys/cars - for instance.

So what say you all? Can you see your site in creation on your computer in browser view when you are Online - ??

First your suggestions to reinstall the program - I downloaded both 2023 from X5 & reinstalled from the download. SHOP/ecommerce - 3 sites use the program & have no problems. But I did still have to shut down my internet to actually see what I had created even when site was online since if I am online & working with X5 I see a Blank.

Screenshot: I do these when I an not online before I publish so client can advise.

Upload to a fake file so I can see what I'm doing - that's rediculous ! Not gonna happen.

Can't someone in charge who updates this program fix problem for those of us who aren't online in design but who go online & then can't see anything. PLEASE FIX. Soon.

Maybe the moderators and employees of Incomedia will get in touch and understand better what is wanted and where the problem lies.

@Dianna

As you have the PRO version you can choose between installed browsers in preview.

You use the Windows 7, so probably the system chooses Internet Explorer as default. This is an obsolete browser and maybe that is why things don't function.

You should use Chrome, Firefox or Edge instead.

What happens if you choose Chrome as browser in preview?