Upgrade Path

[Iron Feliks]

Since MS, in its infinite wisdom has decided not to continue with FP, but to
try to herd us to Expression Web, I was wondering if anyone has an idea of
what is available that has the same functionality and ease of use that FP
has. I've tried EW and it take about 5 times longer to do a site as it did
in FP. I would rather have my computer work for me, rather than the
reverse.

I have herd the excuse that EW is version 1.0 and that future versions might
address its shortcomings, but I;I've seen no assurances the later versions
will be available as an upgrade from FP.

Therefore, I think it is time to jump ship. I've used FP since it first
appeared and have upgraded each time a new version appeared. Now, I feel
betrayed by MS which been cowed by the standards-huggers.

Anyone know a good alternative to FP with particular attention to ease of
use?

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

You can continue to use FP.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage

http://www.Ecom-Data.com
==============================================

 

[Tom Willett]

Why do you need to quit using FP?

--
===
Tom Willett
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
---
FrontPage Support:
http://www.frontpagemvps.com/
===
| Since MS, in its infinite wisdom has decided not to continue with FP, but
to
| try to herd us to Expression Web, I was wondering if anyone has an idea of
| what is available that has the same functionality and ease of use that FP
| has. I've tried EW and it take about 5 times longer to do a site as it
did
| in FP. I would rather have my computer work for me, rather than the
| reverse.
|
| I have herd the excuse that EW is version 1.0 and that future versions
might
| address its shortcomings, but I;I've seen no assurances the later versions
| will be available as an upgrade from FP.
|
| Therefore, I think it is time to jump ship. I've used FP since it first
| appeared and have upgraded each time a new version appeared. Now, I feel
| betrayed by MS which been cowed by the standards-huggers.
|
| Anyone know a good alternative to FP with particular attention to ease of
| use?
|
|
| --
| Iron Feliks
|

 

[Iron Feliks]

Why do you need to quit using FP?

--
===
Tom Willett
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
---
FrontPage Support:
http://www.frontpagemvps.com/
===
| Since MS, in its infinite wisdom has decided not to continue with FP,
but
to
| try to herd us to Expression Web, I was wondering if anyone has an idea
of
| what is available that has the same functionality and ease of use that
FP
| has. I've tried EW and it take about 5 times longer to do a site as it
did
| in FP. I would rather have my computer work for me, rather than the
| reverse.
|
| I have herd the excuse that EW is version 1.0 and that future versions
might
| address its shortcomings, but I;I've seen no assurances the later
versions
| will be available as an upgrade from FP.
|
| Therefore, I think it is time to jump ship. I've used FP since it first
| appeared and have upgraded each time a new version appeared. Now, I
feel
| betrayed by MS which been cowed by the standards-huggers.
|
| Anyone know a good alternative to FP with particular attention to ease
of
| use?
|
|
| --
| Iron Feliks
|

Because it appears MS has no intention of upgrading it and at some point in
the future it will no longer be supported. The question has also occurred
to me that if MS has no upgrade plans for FP, how long will it be before FP
extensions are no longer supported. If the platform is a dead end, I'd like
to find something (other than Expression Web) likely to be improved in the
future.

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

You can continue to use FP, you do not have to use any of the features that require the FP
extensions, unless you want to and are being hosted on a server that supports the FP extensions.

The upgrade for FP is Expression Web or SharePoint Designer depending on your needs. Both will
continue to work with sites that are hosted on server's that have the FP extensions.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage

http://www.Ecom-Data.com
==============================================

 

[Chris Leeds, MVP - FrontPage]

IMHO; there's nothing as easy and fast as FrontPage was. I would like to
add this though;
If you don't need the "Validity" and "Accessibility" that EW gives you easy
access to, just keep on using FrontPage.
also, while your first sites are harder with EW, it will get easier. You
should begin to develop workflows that speed things up and with a nice bunch
of snippets in your code snippet library and maybe even some reusable
scripts and the like in an importable/ exportable Personal Web Package,
you'll really be rocking. that's not even considering the whole .net 2.0
master pages/ navigation components situation...

so, in closing: Expression Web is not an upgrade to FrontPage it's a
replacement. you can use either or both. there's nothing inherently wrong
with continuing to use FrontPage.

HTH

--
Have you seen ContentSeed (www.contentseed.com)?
--
Chris Leeds
Contact: http://chrisleeds.com/contact

NOTE:
This message was posted from an unmonitored email account.
This is an unfortunate necessity due to high volumes of spam sent to email
addresses in public newsgroups.
Sorry for any inconvenience.

 

[Iron Feliks]

You can continue to use FP, you do not have to use any of the features
that require the FP extensions, unless you want to and are being hosted on
a server that supports the FP extensions.

The upgrade for FP is Expression Web or SharePoint Designer depending on
your needs. Both will continue to work with sites that are hosted on
server's that have the FP extensions.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage

http://www.Ecom-Data.com
==============================================

Let me try to clarify. Since FP2003 is the last of the line, at some point,
it will no longer be available for purchase. That means the available FP
base is finite. As new technology becomes available on the web, it will be
beyond the capability of FP2003. That means people will abandon FP2003 for
whatever provides them with tools for that current technology. As the user
base for FP diminishes, the need for FP extensions will diminish and the
number of providers offering FP extensions will also diminish.

EW does not provide the functionality and ease of use that FP does. SPD is
overkill for me. Since MS shows no interest continuing to provide a product
that is as fast and easy as FP, I need to look for a platform that will
continue to be developed that provides a rapid means of developing and
deploying website. EW slows the process down so much that it is not an
option.

I will have to look for another provider since MS doesn't think that those
of us who wish to do things quickly are a market worth supporting. It's a
shame. I've been using FP since it first came out.

 

[Tom Willett]

If you are looking for an alternative that provides for FP functionality and
ease of use, good hunting ;-)


--
===
Tom Willett
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
---
FrontPage Support:
http://www.frontpagemvps.com/
===

| >
| >
|
| Let me try to clarify. Since FP2003 is the last of the line, at some
point,
| it will no longer be available for purchase. That means the available FP
| base is finite. As new technology becomes available on the web, it will
be
| beyond the capability of FP2003. That means people will abandon FP2003
for
| whatever provides them with tools for that current technology. As the
user
| base for FP diminishes, the need for FP extensions will diminish and the
| number of providers offering FP extensions will also diminish.
|
| EW does not provide the functionality and ease of use that FP does. SPD
is
| overkill for me. Since MS shows no interest continuing to provide a
product
| that is as fast and easy as FP, I need to look for a platform that will
| continue to be developed that provides a rapid means of developing and
| deploying website. EW slows the process down so much that it is not an
| option.
|
| I will have to look for another provider since MS doesn't think that those
| of us who wish to do things quickly are a market worth supporting. It's a
| shame. I've been using FP since it first came out.
|

 

[Paul C]

Hi
I think Tom is Right.
Web design is becoming more technical by the day with introduction of new
technologies into the marketplace. It is only natural that newly developed
programmes such as EWD take advantage in supplying designers with the tools
they need . Someone at MS must have decided that a fresh approach was needed
to meet these needs.
I try not to use pages that require FP extensions because like you say the
will become obsolete like the abacus and betamax tapes and VHS soon for that
matter. If you wish to create websites with the functionality of today then
use FP but if you wish to move with the new technologies then you will have
to change.
Paul M

 

[Charles W Davis]

Maybe not at great as FrontPage, but Nvu does a great job.
http://www.nvu.com/websitehelp.php

 

[Iron Feliks]

Maybe not at great as FrontPage, but Nvu does a great job.
http://www.nvu.com/websitehelp.php

Well, I suppose it is more up to date (2005 vs 2003), but it appears to lack
the one feature of FP that I like the most. The navigation view where I can
arrange and re-arrange the site as I see fit, yet have all the navigation
links update automatically. I could probably live with EW if it had a
similar feature, but sadly, it doesn't have anything that comes close.

 

[Chris Leeds, MVP - FrontPage]

I used to like navigation view too. I generally used it to just generate
text links and then I'd use .css to style them heavily.
I'm currently looking at the navigation components in asp.net 2.0 instead.
obviously the asp.net alternative results in much more valid and modern code
but the XML file you define the navigation on is much less user friendly
than navigation view.

--
Have you seen ContentSeed (www.contentseed.com)?
--
Chris Leeds
Contact: http://chrisleeds.com/contact

NOTE:
This message was posted from an unmonitored email account.
This is an unfortunate necessity due to high volumes of spam sent to email
addresses in public newsgroups.
Sorry for any inconvenience.

 

[Tom Miller]

------------------------snip--------------------
, I was wondering if anyone has an idea of

what is available that has the same functionality and ease of use that FP
has.

--------------snip------------------------------
Just because MS has ceased to develop FP, it is still supporting FP. You
may have trouble buying a new copy on cd-rom after a while (or even now) but
there are to many legacy FP websites out there for FP to immediately
evaporate.

Put off making a decision for a couple of years. Depending on what you
actually need there maybe a new product (such as www.nuv.com) or EW will
almost certainly go through at least 1 major upgrade in the next couple of
years. If your old enough to remember MS's first version of Windows you
have some idea of how things can and do get better.

FP still has enormous power as a visual html editor even if you try to only
use the "standards compliant" portions of it. Its not going away for quite
some time. As a computer hobbyist and sometime geek I am still helping
support some Windows 98 people who don't want to upgrade. FP is NOT going
away anytime soon.

Thanks,
Tom Miller, Hobbyist