Does knowing Microsoft Publisher Help in Learning Front Page?

[marcia]

I have been working with Microsoft Publisher 2000 for
years (designer flyers, posters, mailers, etc.). I am
thinking of now buying Front Page 2003 as I would like to
try and design a website. I have no experience building a
website and am a little hesitant. I thought Front Page
would be an easy introduction for a website design newbie
like me, or do you think it is complex to learn? Also, do
you think my knowledge of Microsoft Publisher willl
facilitate my learning Front Page?

 

[Bob Lehmann]

Also, do you think my knowledge of Microsoft Publisher willl facilitate my
learning Front Page?

No.

In fact, a common mistake made by people comimg from a print oriented
background, is trying to apply their print knowledge to the web. And, it is
usually worsened by their attempts to draw paralells between the web tool
and their favorite print application - ie; Why is their no word count in
FrontPage?

While they usually have a good eye for layout, and even competency in
graphics related areas, the actual implentation in the web is far differnet
from print.

"Easy" is relative. Some people get it, and some don't, particularly from
the technical aspect. While you may be able to "easily" create a web page,
understanding web servers, permissions, browsers etc. is a totally different
ballgame.

Bob Lehmann

 

[Guest]

Bob Lehmann hit the nail on the head, Marcia. I was also a newcomer to Front
Page from Publisher. My Publisher knowledge was actually a serious
impediment to learning FP. EVERYTHING works differently in Front Page, and
FP even has MORE bugs than Publisher! I'm a skilled computer user, fluent in
MS Office products, and I **COULD NOT** use FP until I had over 16 hours of
training specific to FP. I'm still struggling with some of the concepts (I
still haven't quite figured out the difference between a Frames Page and a
Dynamic Web Template, for instance) but I'm at least able to get usable work
out of the program now. I bought "Front Page for Dummies," hoping to learn
on my own. Don't waste your money! I've yet to see a usable book on FP. If
your web-publishing needs are modest, do it in Publisher - FP isn't worth the
hassle. If you need more sophisticated web sites, though, consider either FP
or MacroMedia DreamWeaver.

 

[=?Windows-1252?Q?Rob_Giordano_\=28aka:_Crash_Gordo]

1- Don't use Publisher or Word to design webs!
2- FP will require a moderate learning curve...but way less than Dreamweaver.
3- If you go with FP...buy Jim Buyens book Frontpage Inside Out.

FP is like any other tool, if you're patient and willing to spend some time understanding it and the web design process (and not wasting time complaining about shortcomings of the tool) you'll be fine.



| I have been working with Microsoft Publisher 2000 for
| years (designer flyers, posters, mailers, etc.). I am
| thinking of now buying Front Page 2003 as I would like to
| try and design a website. I have no experience building a
| website and am a little hesitant. I thought Front Page
| would be an easy introduction for a website design newbie
| like me, or do you think it is complex to learn? Also, do
| you think my knowledge of Microsoft Publisher willl
| facilitate my learning Front Page?

 

[Murray]

Publisher produces the most incredibly bad HTML I have ever seen. I
wouldn't begin to recommend that someone use it to create any content for
the web.

 

[Bob Lehmann]

My comments apply to the jump to any HTML IDE - FP, DreamWeaver, NotePad -
it doesn't matter.

Many people from a print background will have difficulty adjusting to the
web paradigm.

Bob Lehmann

 

[Murray]

Many people from a print background will have difficulty adjusting to the

web paradigm.

Truer words were never spoken!

The loss of control seems to present an insurmountable barrier to some!

 

[Guest]

The MS PRESS book "Using Front Page" really helped me find my way around the
program and learn the basics. It comes with 2 CDs' and you do not just read
you practice along with the book.

 

[Andrew Murray]

No - don't assume just because you know Publisher, you will know Frontpage - they
are two separate and completely different applications designing for different
mediums - print and electronic.

The one mistake to avoid is saving Publisher files as html - - this is not a
good idea.

 

[Guest]

Andrew, can you import (or save) a Publisher web site into FP? I am thinking
of moving to FP primarilty because I want to avoid the two step process of
creating the site in MP, opening up word pad to modify the html (primarily
for formatting and inserting meta tags) and then savoing and uploading to the
site.

Will FP make the process of developing/maintaining a 6 page web site easier?

 

[Wes]

Don't use Publisher. It is simply not worth the effort. Stick with
FrontPage.
Unless of course you like getting headaches, frustrations, and beating up on
your keyboard.

 

[Tom Pepper Willett]

The bottom line is:
Publisher is a desktop publishing programing..
FrontPage is a web authoring program.

--
===
Tom "Pepper" Willett
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
---
About FrontPage 2003:
http://office.microsoft.com/home/office.aspx?assetid=FX01085802
FrontPage 2003 Product Information:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/frontpage/prodinfo/default.mspx
Understanding FrontPage:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/office/understanding/frontpage/
===
| Don't use Publisher. It is simply not worth the effort. Stick with
| FrontPage.
| Unless of course you like getting headaches, frustrations, and beating up
on
| your keyboard.
|
| | > Andrew, can you import (or save) a Publisher web site into FP? I am
| > thinking
| > of moving to FP primarilty because I want to avoid the two step process
of
| > creating the site in MP, opening up word pad to modify the html
(primarily
| > for formatting and inserting meta tags) and then savoing and uploading
to
| > the
| > site.
| >
| > Will FP make the process of developing/maintaining a 6 page web site
| > easier?
| >
| > "Andrew Murray" wrote:
| >
| >> No - don't assume just because you know Publisher, you will know
| >> Frontpage - they
| >> are two separate and completely different applications designing for
| >> different
| >> mediums - print and electronic.
| >>
| >> The one mistake to avoid is saving Publisher files as html - - this is
| >> not a
| >> good idea.
| >>
| >> | >> > I have been working with Microsoft Publisher 2000 for
| >> > years (designer flyers, posters, mailers, etc.). I am
| >> > thinking of now buying Front Page 2003 as I would like to
| >> > try and design a website. I have no experience building a
| >> > website and am a little hesitant. I thought Front Page
| >> > would be an easy introduction for a website design newbie
| >> > like me, or do you think it is complex to learn? Also, do
| >> > you think my knowledge of Microsoft Publisher willl
| >> > facilitate my learning Front Page?
| >>
| >>
| >>
|
|