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FRANK'S REVIEWS for the NJPCUG |
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Program: Microsoft’s Front Page 2000 In preparing a web site I have progressed from creating a simple, single page site to a multi-page site with graphics and now to a site with special features such as forms and feedback. I started using the “cut & paste” standard pages offered by web hosting sites, and progressed to Microsoft Publisher and now to MS Front Page, which is the program used to create and manage the pages on the Club’s web site. Even though web pages require HTML coding [HyperText Markup Language] to work on the Internet I have not had to learn HTML since the programs allow using a word processor-type editor. I thought Publisher was a marvelous program to ease web site creation. Now I see that Front Page is truly a marvel, but I find that it is more difficult to learn than Publisher. Another difference is that Publisher can be used to produce web sites or various printed works while Front Page is only for web sites. Front Page is set up to help a variety of users including those in the home, home office or small office and corporate environments. For example, there are options to allow and control workgroup efforts with management of editing, approval and publication. However, the workgroup features are not covered in this review which will cover features applicable to use in the home or home office [or small group]. The included manual, Getting Started With Microsoft Front Page 2000, and the Tutorial are great aids in learning program. The Tutorial is clear and informative with good descriptions of the various functions available. The manual has much info, although its index is sometimes lacking. There is so much in this program that I could not absorb and apply it all initially for this review – but I will be able to ramp up as I continue using it. To see how I have advanced, check the site I created with Front Page at https://members.tripod.com/franknjpc where I have posted this and my other reviews for the NJPCUG, as part of my learning experience. Front Page combines creation/editing, publishing, site management and reporting into one program. The program has many wizards and templates to facilitate web page creation. Of course, the program is fully compatible with other Microsoft products so files are transferable between them. However, it is also possible to create directly in Front Page which works like MS Word, even including the same Spell Checker dictionary as Word but Front Page does not include a grammar checker. All the standard toolbar features are present – files, editing, viewing, formatting, mail merge and so on. A good feature of Front page is the ability to instantly get a view of the web site being created. In Publisher this took additional, time-consuming steps after the creation/editing was done. Front Page’s instant view is much better in this regard. Also, Front Page provides graphic views of the site pages for easy editing and control of links. All browsers do not display the HTML code in the same way, although recent versions of Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator produce very similar results. Front Page allows previewing a page or site in any of the browsers and browser versions installed on the author’s computer. There is even provision to modify the page to suit WebTV [another MS product]. The manual cautions that older browsers may not be able to view all of the program’s features. Front Page includes a library of clip art, animation, photos and sound clips that can be added into the web site. This library is smaller than Publisher’s but additional graphics can be imported from any source, including the web. Also, the program allows editing the standard clip art images. Front Page has 60 themes, or artistic layouts, that are consistent across the site’s pages. Themes are artistic layouts that apply to all pages on the site. Those who are more artistically inclined can modify the themes or create their own. To further assist the program has a number of creation wizards for specific functions. Pages created with the wizards can be modified. Some web-site hosts do not support all of the Front Page features, termed Extensions. One should determine this beforehand and either find another host site or limit the features used to those supported. A Front Page enabled site will allow using such features as frames, sub-web sites, hit counters, responses, form handling, data base use, full-text searching, chatting, confirmations, e‑mail responses, tabulation of responses and online access to a database. Advanced users can use ActiveX controls, Java applets and other elements. Front Page simplifies the publishing of the web pages onto a server and then allows management of the pages such as automatic link updating, checking for orphaned pages, finding estimated load times [a great assist to the site developer]. There are 15 installed Reports that can be used to find and correct problems. These all can be seen in the single Report view. Access to selected pages or the whole site can be limited to those with an issued ID and password. Front Page’s minimum requirements are: PC [not MAC], Pentium 75MHz, Win95, or Win NT 4.0 with Service Pack 3, 24 MB RAM for Win95 and 40 MB RAM for Win NT, 167 MB Hard Disk space, CD-ROM, VGA and MS mouse. Multi-media capabilities are needed for sound and motion clips. A modem, e-mail program and browser are needed to post the site and download added graphics on the Internet. Pricing for Front Page 2000 is: $149 for the full version; $109 for the full version to those with MS Word, Excel, Publisher, FoxPro, PhotoDraw and Project; and $59 for the upgrade to earlier versions of Front Page. The program is included in MS Office Suite 2000, but only in the most expensive, Premium Suite. Those involved with publishing a web site should try Front Page. It offers so much capability that the web sites created with it can be truly functional, efficient and attractive. |