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Windows default text editors may not provide a great variety of features, but help you perform basic edit operations, and save files under different popular formats. Coming as an enhanced alternative, SpineText wants to be by your side when editing text, or even creating HTML documents.

Installing the application is done before you realize, since it comes in a lightweight package. However, your computer needs to be fitted with .NET Framework for it to function. Modern Windows iterations come with it as a default feature, so chances are it’s already there.

The editor itself consists of a large text pad where all text input goes, a toolbar to quickly trigger general functions, as well as a side navigation panel to quickly access your project files. Sadly, you can only work on one document at a time, with supported formats like TXT, LOG, HTML, JS, and SEF, which is the application’s own document type, but encrypted.

General edit operations are at your disposal, but if text needs to look pretty, format options only include the possibility to adjust size, and font type. In case you’re editing HTML documents, line numbering on the side can be enabled for more comfort.

Unfortunately, the actual HTML editor is separated from the main window. There’s a built-in syntax highlighter, but you’re not able to edit any bit of code when it is active, because the application scans the document in real time to recognize code elements.

The HTML editor is fitted with a few more options. For instance, it helps instantly insert bits of predefined code for more accuracy, and convert between formats like RTF, HTML, and TXT, with an additional option to strip HTML.

All things considered, we can safely state that SpineText comes with good intentions, but feels rough around the edges, with a pretty difficult layout. Font customization options are shallow, while HTML editing is done in a different window, which doesn’t permit editing while syntax highlighter is active.