Microsoft FrontPage and the Advantages of “WYSIWYG’ Editors
Microsoft FrontPage is a Web site creation and management tool that enables users to author Web
pages and build professional, feature-rich Web sites without the need to code in HTML or write complex
programs. The FrontPage editor utilizes a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to create a ‘WYSIWYG’ (what you
see is what you get) environment for the designer. So when you create and edit files in FrontPage, your
work appears in the display window exactly the same way it would on a web page. The code that builds the
pages are generated automatically by the editor and concealed, although the user can still edit the HTML
code directly through a separate window view.
The great advantage of using ‘WYSIWYG’ editors is that it allows the user to visualize and think in terms
of how the content would appear. Layout, font, color and content changes can be viewed directly on the screen
as you make them – something that coding by hand simply does not allow. It is infinitely easier to work in a
‘WYSIWYG’ environment where you can create complex page layouts in a few easy point and clicks. Not only is it
less time consuming, but working with an editor is also more forgiving when it comes to errors. A simple typing
error in your code can affect your Web page dramatically, whereas in a ‘WYSIWYG’ environment it is far more
difficult to mess up a table, for example, when all you have to do is point and click “insert-table.” Editing is
also simpler. Rather than having to mull over the discrepancies in your HTML code, in FrontPage you can see exactly
where you went wrong and edit correspondingly.
Microsoft FrontPage does not lack in sophistication. It offers powerful authoring features that Web designers can
utilize to develop more interactive Web pages. You can install hit counters, forms, discussion groups, full text
searches, form handlers and link bars (to name a few things) without having to do any server-side programming. Simply
use the drop-down menus or icons to insert the application on your Web page and FrontPage takes care of the rest. The
only thing you have to be sure of is that your FrontPage host has the relevant FrontPage extensions installed on their
Web servers. Without them, the applications you have created with FrontPage will not work.
What is FrontPage Hosting and Why Do You Need a FrontPage Host?
Once your FrontPage-built Web site is complete, you will have to find a FrontPage hosting provider to host it. This way
your site will be capable of running features and applications that are unique to FrontPage-built sites. FrontPage hosting
can be done on both Unix and Windows platforms. The key being that the web servers – whatever platform they run on – must
be FrontPage-enabled. Enabling FrontPage simply means that FrontPage extensions must be installed on the hosting provider’s
Web servers - it is the basis of FrontPage hosting.
FrontPage Hosting:
What are FrontPage Extensions and How Do They Work?
FrontPage Extensions are files stored on Web servers that contain programming which serve to extend the capabilities of the
Web pages that utilize them. When your site goes live, the features will be processed on the server side and it is the FrontPage
extensions that run on the server that do this processing. Essentially, FrontPage extensions are server-side programs that
“activate,” “process”, and “enable” FrontPage-built sites to run their special features and applications. Take a hit counter
for example. When a visitor hits the site, the client (Web browser) contacts the Web server that stores the program files
(FrontPage extensions) which run the hit counter. The extensions are then run on the server and the results are sent back to
the client, completing the request. The hit counter is an extension-dependent application. Without the FrontPage extensions,
the request sent to the server would be incapable of being processed.
So in order to have fully functional FrontPage Hosting, hosting providers will have to ensure that all the FrontPage server
extensions for each corresponding feature are installed on their Web servers. Not all hosts do this, so when you are looking
for a hosting provider, inquire whether they can handle FrontPage Hosting and be sure that they are up to date on all versions
of FrontPage. Also be sure that your host has the extensions installed. There is a big difference between “supports FrontPage”
and “FrontPage extensions installed.” Ask and make sure.
To ensure that your host provides you with everything you need, it is a good idea to go with a Registered Web Presence Provider
(WPP) for Microsoft FrontPage hosting. These companies have registered with Microsoft and are guaranteed to support all features
of all versions of FrontPage.
Why FrontPage Hosting?
Using a Web page editor like FrontPage is convenient and saves your time. It is an ideal solution for SME owners and Web hosting
‘newbies’ who don’t have the time or resources to learn or hire advanced technical expertise yet still want to build feature-rich
web sites.
Another important advantage is that you won’t have to write the complex server-side programs typically required to run more
advanced applications.
FrontPage hosting can also help bring down your costs. FrontPage comes included with the Microsoft Office XP software package,
so you won’t have to spend the additional money to buy a separate ‘WYSIWYG’ editor.
Compatibility. FrontPage integrates with other Microsoft Office programs. FrontPage-built sites allow users to save Word and Excel
documents directly to their Web server. Likewise, FrontPage gives users the ability to edit Web pages directly on the Web server.
Some commonly asked questions about FrontPage Hosting:
Do I have to host my site on a Microsoft platform to run FrontPage Extensions?
No. FrontPage extensions can be run off all commonly used non-Windows hosting platforms including Unix, Linux and Apache.
What features can be run with FrontPage Extensions?
* Custom link bars
* Shared border background properties
* Hit counters
* Search forms
* Form handlers
* Discussion groups
* Front-Page created server-side image maps
* Database results wizard
* StyleSheet links to multiple files or ASP files
* Usage analysis reports
* Database interface wizard
Are FrontPage 97, 98 and 2000 compatible with 2002 extensions and vice versa?
Yes. 2002 extensions are backwards compatible with all earlier versions of FrontPage.
Are there situations where I’m better off running on a Microsoft platform?
Yes, if you are doing database work with FrontPage, make sure you are hosting on a Windows platform rather than Unix.
Can I create a Web site in FrontPage and host it on a server without FrontPage extensions?
Yes, this is certainly possible. However, your site will not be able to run extension-dependent features. If you chose to
do this, you can automatically disable features that require server-side processing that are enabled by server extensions.
