by-expression blog

FrontPage Migrators

I have to wonder why it is that there seems to be a number of people who have used FrontPage that can't seem to understand that Expression Web is not FrontPage 2006 or 2008. They come into the Expression Web forum and complain that it is "missing" FrontPage bots. Then protest that MVPs and "Expression fan boys" don't react well to being harangued about how Expression Web doesn't have the click, click tools of FrontPage that allows someone to use it without learning how websites work.

Fortunately, the majority of people who are moving from FrontPage to Expression Web are embracing freedom and cross browser direction of Expression Web. For those who are complaining let me outline a few things that may help you in deciding where to go with FrontPage.

Microsoft Options for FrontPage Users

Microsoft discontinued FrontPage and has three options for those who used it and want to move to a newer program. They are:

• Expression Web - intended for the serious hobbyist or professional who understands the importance of cross browser and cross platform website. This requires a willingness to learn about how to structure html, css - how it works and differences in browser implementation. Using a certain amount of "real" code whether it is a javascript library like jQuery or server side code using ASP.NET or PHP.
• SharePoint Designer - remember that FrontPage was part of Office and the primary user Microsoft had in mind would be an "information worker" using FrontPage in a Microsoft centric environment. There you don't need to worry about someone on a Mac using Firefox or Linux using Opera to visit your site. As a result SharePoint continues the FrontPage tradition of bots and wizards that create code that works well in Internet Explorer but probably won't work too well in say Google Chrome.
• Publisher 2007 - this is what Microsoft has recommended for the "home user" since it has navigation tools and relies on the FPSE in much the same way as FrontPage. As someone who is concerned about web standards and cross platform/browser I don't recommend this option but if someone is a dedicated bot user and the site is personal then it is an option.

Coming into a forum or other venue for Expression Web and complaining about what is missing and how "Microsoft" got it wrong. Maybe those who complain are picking the wrong migration path?

Other Options for FrontPage Users

If they don't like the options that I listed above there are others.

Stick with FrontPage 2003 - FrontPage will continue to be supported by Microsoft until 2013 under the Microsoft Life Cycle Support policy. See: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/gp/lifepolicy (FP is part of Office which is a business application, it was never intended as a home user web editor though many of course used it for such.)

Use your hosting company's site tool, most web hosts offer some sort of tool to create a website in your hosting plan. If they don't, you may find that they offer a one click install of a blogging application (Wordpress is common), content management system (Joomla, Drupal or some ASP or ASP.NET system).

Use a service like Windows Live which even offers free hosting http://www.officelive.com/ or Geocities http://geocities.yahoo.com/ which have their own web site creating interface.

Using Dreamweaver

I must admit that I find it particularly amusing when someone comes in complaining about the learning curve with Expression Web and threatening that they will drop Microsoft web editors in favor of Dreamweaver.  Anyone who thinks that the learning curve for Expression Web is "too hard" will completely freak out over Dreamweaver.

Don't get me wrong I love Dreamweaver and really appreciate the new features in CS 4 like Live View, Code Navigator, the ability to freeze a state during the execution of JavaScript but it has a much steeper learning curve than Expression Web.