Microsoft FrontPage

Microsoft FrontPage (full name Microsoft Office FrontPage) is a WYSIWYG HTML editor and web site administration tool from Microsoft for the Windows operating system. It is part of Microsoft Office and is included in some versions of the popular bundle. It can also be purchased separately.

Overview

FrontPage was initially created by the Cambridge, Massachusetts company Vermeer Technologies Incorporated, evidence of which can be easily spotted in filenames and directories prefixed _vti_ in web sites created using FrontPage. Vermeer was acquired by Microsoft in 1996 specifically so that Microsoft could add FrontPage to its product line-up.

FrontPage used to require a set of server-side plugins known as the FrontPage Server Extensions (FPSE) to be installed in the target web server for its publishing features to work. Microsoft offered both Windows- and Unix-based versions of FPSE. However, newer versions of FrontPage also support the standard WebDAV protocol for remote web publishing and authoring.

As a CMS editor, FrontPage is designed to hide the details of pages' HTML code from the user, making it possible for novices to easily create web pages and sites.

A version for Mac OS was released around 1998; however, it had fewer features than the Windows product and Microsoft has not updated it since. FrontPage's primary competitor is Macromedia Dreamweaver, another web design product.

One of the more unique features of FrontPage is its built in support for automated web templates. The main distinction between these templates and HTML templates generated by other products is that FrontPage templates include an automatic navigation system that creates animated buttons for pages that have been added by the user. It also creates an advanced multi-level navigation system on the fly using the buttons and the structure of the web site.

Pros and Cons

Some of the benefits of Microsoft FrontPage are:

Help navigating through your site, and seeing your file structure, visually
Built-in features for HTML, CSS, and Java / JavaScript (partial)
Built in image editor (MS Image Composer)
Links can be from anywhere (local computer, LAN, internet, etc)
Point-and-click functionality for common tools, like mouseovers, e-mail forms, and hit counts
Simple to use with previous knowledge of Office products
Easily integrated with Office (perfect for Access databases)
CSS based themes can be used (like ASP.NET master pages)
When you change the URL of a page, all the links to that page are dynamically changed
Task-assignment for team projects
Content is editable from anywhere with FrontPage (password is needed)
Makes creating a simple personal / family website simple and low-knowledge needing

Along with these, the cons of FrontPage are:

Relatively non-standard HTML code generated by the WYSIWYG mode — however, version 2003 is capable of generating XHTML.
FrontPage is not ideal for managing a medium to large corporate website. Microsoft Visual Web Developer and Microsoft Visual Web Developer Express Edition are better suited for these types of usage scenarios.

Superseded by two new products

In 2006, Microsoft announced that FrontPage would eventually be superseded by two products. Microsoft SharePoint Designer will allow business professionals to design SharePoint-based applications. Microsoft Expression Web Designer is targeted for web design professionals who create full-blown web sites. Both are partially based on FrontPage and are currently in development. The beta of Express Web Designer is available from Microsoft main site for download. See the link below.

Versions

The current (and final) version is Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003, Version 6. No new versions will be offered. The company will be introducing the new Expression Web Designer by end of this year to replace the FrontPage 2003, and it will not be part of the new Office 2007 edition. Previous/future versions include:

Vermeer FrontPage 1.0
Microsoft FrontPage 1.1
Microsoft FrontPage 97
Microsoft FrontPage Express 2.0 (free stripped-down version came with Internet Explorer 4.0, and can be found online from numerous "download" repositories)
Microsoft FrontPage 98
Microsoft FrontPage 2000 (version 4)
Microsoft FrontPage 2002 (version 5)
Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 (version 6)
Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 (version 12)
Microsoft Expression Web Designer (Beta)

External links

Windows software | Microsoft software | HTML editors | Microsoft Office

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Overview

Pros and Cons

Superseded by two new products

Versions

See also

External links