Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Full Version for PC (392-02321)

Although people love to put down Microsoft products (as I sometimes do), this is an excellent program. I've worked with FrontPage for eight years now and have used every version of their web authoring tools since the 97 version. The older versions seem downright primitive since the first versions came out. I remember when there were two windows to work with (one in Explorer, one in edit mode) and you couldn't press the space bar more than once.

There are a few more features in this new version of FrontPage which are worthwhile.

With some of them the jury is still out. This one feature is the tables. They've been greatly changed sine the last versions. You can get pre-made table to work with which can be a feature.

Although many people don't like tables, they are essential to create a website. FrontPage can be quirky with the tables in setting widths, heights and getting them to align. You have the ability to embed tables. This helps to position graphics, text, and buttons more efficiently. However, getting things to align can be a bit tricky in any version. When typing data in a table or even inserting a graphic, the column widths of not only the column you are working in can change, but other columns can change.

Also, the designer needs to realize that different browsers see websites differently. Although Bill Gates would love to have 100% of the world use his software and operating systems, they don't. What works terrifically in IE 6.0 may look dreadful in Navigator, or (gasp!) Mozilla. Mozilla is a growing browser and is great to work with as you don't get annoying pop-ups. Plus, they are up to about 8% of market share as of this writing (2/26/05). However, Mozilla sees the website slightly differently than IE. What looks fine in IE may look ajar in Mozilla.

In addition, there is another feature that allows the user to create graphical buttons that will work as links. It is a fairly easy feature and puts in some simple java. It is one of the "canned" features that the beginner may wish to use, but a professional would opt out of by creating his graphics in Photoshop. If this feature is used discreetly, it can look somewhat professional.

There is a preview tab at the bottom of the screen which has been there since the beginning of this program. In fact, the tabs have been renamed (why, this can only confuse the novice?) and there is a fourth one with a split screen. This is good if you are somewhat familiar with html code so you can now debug or insert code more efficiently with this method. One nice thing added to the html tab (now called code) is that there are line numbers so you can find information much quicker.

Publishing the site is a new experience. It works essentially the same, but now you get an entire window (or web page) in the editor section that details both the website on your hard drive as well as the World Wide Web. There are quite a few more buttons, tasks showing there which can be useful to the publishing process.

One feature that was eliminated (or that I can no longer find as the programmers often rearrange things when they do an update) is that I can no longer link the background color from one page to the other. One used to be able to link the background colors to the source page (i.e. home page) so that when that one page was changed, the entire website changed. No more! However, one can do it with some html code which is a bit aggravating and needs to be copied from page to page to make it work (or, one can use the save as feature or create a template).

In addition, the panel that used to be at the left side showing tasks, hyperlinks, etc. has been more efficiently been moved to a slender toolbar at the bottom of the screen. That's nice…less screen space is wasted and one can work in a wider view on the screen.

Another new feature being used include layers. Like Photoshop, the program is trying to go more high-end. Again, test this out if you have customers using older computers or browsers. It may not work. I've seen a few funky looking websites with the author used some fancy features. The layers work like text boxes and can be used to position text around the website. This is good if you have a lot of graphics. It can also be very time consuming.

The folder list is a tab at the top next to the web pages that you are working on. This is also nice in not having to click back and forth to see when a file was created, its size, etc. There are many nice enhancements to it.

However, working with the tables is a confusing and sometimes upsetting task and will take more than a few minutes to adjust to. There is a layout tool that is on the table that shows the exact numbers for the width and the height. It can be easier than trying to stretch with the mouse and a precise size can be established.

However, when one gets all these strange colored lines and background colors in the tables, it can look like a very strange Mondrian painting. Often, I shut off the layout tool so it is easier to work with. In time, I will adjust to this new version. You can even put in special shading with rounded corners in a table.

Another new feature includes behaviors. This can do some fancy stuff such as changing the web url if a certain browser is used. For example, if a user is using a specific version of IE or Navigator, it can jump to a different webpage so that the view is optimized. Pop up windows as well as prompts in the status bar can be added. These are features that I hardly consider that worthwhile, but may be of interest to a techie.

Bottom line:
An excellent program that is user friendly and can be self taught if you are somewhat computer literate. If there's a class available, take it (I have been teaching classes on FrontPage for over six years now and students have found it to be an investment in their time to improve their proficiency).

The program is taking on some more advanced features to compete with DreamWeaver. Most people I've known who have used both programs have found FrontPage a bit easier (and friendlier) to work with. DreamWeaver does have more features.

If you disregard the superfluous features, you'll find this to be a great program to work with. Keep practicing with the tables, it is mostly trial and error!