FP vs Dreamweaver

G

Guest

I use FP for all our web work, but was wondering how it compares with
Dreamweaver. I've heard and read lots of stories about DW being far superior
to FP in just about everything. Is this true?

Mart
 
K

Kevin Spencer

Dreamweaver in previous versions was definitely superior to FrontPage. It
also cost more than twice as much. Comparing the latest version of FrontPage
to the latest version of Dreamweaver, there is little difference. In some
ways, the latest version of Dreamweaver is superior (e.g. external style
sheet support by default, rather than inline styles); in other ways, the
latest version of FrontPage is superior (e.g. web site management support).
But Dreamweaver still costs more than twice as much.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
Neither a follower nor a lender be.
 
M

Murray

Actually, I find site management in the two is about equivalent. Where DW
really shines is in the following areas -

1. Extensibility - there is a huge community of 3rd party developers adding
functionality to DW. Not that there are not similar developers with FP, but
the size of the communities is different by an order of magnitude.

2. CSS support - in DW, the CSS support (particularly in the new DW8) is
huge. The whole program/UI is geared towards the full use of CSS on your
pages - FP seems rather awkward in this regard.

3. Server-model capability - DW has broad support for ASP, .Net, PHP, JSP,
and CF server models, and can write application code based on these models
right out of the box

4. A less 'intrusive' user interface - FP's interface can be downright
byzantine at times, trying to navigate 4 levels deep to find how to apply a
CSS border to something (see #2 above). Not that DW's can't be as well, but
generally, I find it much easier to find things.

5. DW's nomenclature for HTML stuff is more standard 'compliant' than
FP's - not that this would make any FUNCTIONAL difference. But try finding
a "watermark' description on W3C's site. 8) Both programs have goofy stuff,
though.

In fairness, there are areas where FP is much better, too -

1. FP seems more geared to those who have no prior HTML experience and who
have no real intention to learn it.

2. FP provides an easy way to get a site on the web - complete with a nice
theme and functional navigation - in a big hurry. If that's what you are
about, then FP is perfect.

3. FP seems to have a better relationship with other Office Applications
(and why wouldn't it?), although DW is very good about file compatability in
this regard.

4. FP has many more "wizards" to assist you with creation of various site
capabilities, e.g., form processing, guestbooks, etc., than DW does. In DW
you are 'on your own' to add such functionality.

Again in fairness, you can build a smashing website with either app - in
fact one that has no 'footprint' from either program.

That's just my take on things, however....
 
J

JIMCO Software

Murray said:
Actually, I find site management in the two is about equivalent. Where DW
really shines is in the following areas -
Click to expand...

It does seem that FrontPage 2003 played major catch up to DW. It made great
headway in that department. In fact, you can use Dynamic Web Templates
almost interchangably.

There are things I like better about DW and DW8 pushes the advantages way
out there once again. However, let us not forget that FrontPage 12 is just
around the (long) corner. If there's one thing all of us should know, it's
that Microsoft pulls out all the stops trying to one-up the competition.

Having two robust Web development tools is nice, isn't it? :)

--
Jim Cheshire
JIMCO Software
http://www.jimcosoftware.com

FrontPage add-ins for FrontPage 2000 - 2003
 
M

Murray

Having two robust Web development tools is nice, isn't it? :)

Sure is. Keeps the juices flowing, so to speak!
In fact, you can use Dynamic Web Templates almost interchangably.
Click to expand...

Only if you bring FP templates into DW. DW template syntax is very
different now (since DMX) and not backwards compatible with DW4-level syntax
(which is what is used by FP). This syntax difference is due to the many
new features added to DW's Template capability, for which there is no FP
equivalent.

Notwithstanding this, however, is the interesting fact that Macromedia's
Contribute would be able to work on a FP site (albeit one that allows FTP,
however), by virtue of this similarity in Template syntax.
However, let us not forget that FrontPage 12 is just around the (long)
corner.
Click to expand...

Yes - it will be very interesting to see how that all develops, particularly
in light of the potentially impending merger of Macromedia into Adobe.
 
R

Rob Giordano \(Crash\)

ok...does my DW2 qualify for an upgrade? :)



| Murray wrote:
| > Actually, I find site management in the two is about equivalent. Where
DW
| > really shines is in the following areas -
| >
|
| It does seem that FrontPage 2003 played major catch up to DW. It made
great
| headway in that department. In fact, you can use Dynamic Web Templates
| almost interchangably.
|
| There are things I like better about DW and DW8 pushes the advantages way
| out there once again. However, let us not forget that FrontPage 12 is
just
| around the (long) corner. If there's one thing all of us should know,
it's
| that Microsoft pulls out all the stops trying to one-up the competition.
|
| Having two robust Web development tools is nice, isn't it? :)
|
| --
| Jim Cheshire
| JIMCO Software
| http://www.jimcosoftware.com
|
| FrontPage add-ins for FrontPage 2000 - 2003
|
|
|
|
 
R

Rob Giordano \(Crash\)

Hay..you're right..still a tad pricey though.
Maybe Santa will be nice to me this year.


| Yes. It sure does! 8)
|
| --
| Murray
| ============
|
| | > ok...does my DW2 qualify for an upgrade? :)
| >
| >
| >
| > | > | Murray wrote:
| > | > Actually, I find site management in the two is about equivalent.
Where
| > DW
| > | > really shines is in the following areas -
| > | >
| > |
| > | It does seem that FrontPage 2003 played major catch up to DW. It made
| > great
| > | headway in that department. In fact, you can use Dynamic Web
Templates
| > | almost interchangably.
| > |
| > | There are things I like better about DW and DW8 pushes the advantages
| > way
| > | out there once again. However, let us not forget that FrontPage 12 is
| > just
| > | around the (long) corner. If there's one thing all of us should know,
| > it's
| > | that Microsoft pulls out all the stops trying to one-up the
competition.
| > |
| > | Having two robust Web development tools is nice, isn't it? :)
| > |
| > | --
| > | Jim Cheshire
| > | JIMCO Software
| > | http://www.jimcosoftware.com
| > |
| > | FrontPage add-ins for FrontPage 2000 - 2003
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
 
J

JIMCO Software

Rob said:
Hay..you're right..still a tad pricey though.
Maybe Santa will be nice to me this year.
Click to expand...

I'm getting Studio 8 simply for the video features. Flash video is
incredible, and Studio 8 did a lot of work in that department.

--
Jim Cheshire
JIMCO Software
http://www.jimcosoftware.com

FrontPage add-ins for FrontPage 2000 - 2003
 
J

JIMCO Software

Murray said:
LOL!

Download the trial now and you can develop a sudden belly ache! 8)
Click to expand...

Well, I would, but I don't do trials. I'm just weird that way. :) ... but
then again, now that you've put it in black and white, I'm not sure I can
wait!

--
Jim Cheshire
JIMCO Software
http://www.jimcosoftware.com

FrontPage add-ins for FrontPage 2000 - 2003
 
M

Murray

Heheh. The trial is the real thing only with a trial wrapper. If you feel
jiggy about that it's understandable. Consider this a test of your stamina
and commitment to principles. 8)
 
R

Rob Giordano \(Crash\)

For the amount of times I work with Flash I cant justify the cost. I need to
upgrade programs I use more often first like; Photoshop & Acrobath & Access
&.... and somewhere along the line I need to relearn basic or whatever the
heck they call it now, so I need to upgrade vb3 too.




| Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
| > Hay..you're right..still a tad pricey though.
| > Maybe Santa will be nice to me this year.
| >
| >
|
| I'm getting Studio 8 simply for the video features. Flash video is
| incredible, and Studio 8 did a lot of work in that department.
|
| --
| Jim Cheshire
| JIMCO Software
| http://www.jimcosoftware.com
|
| FrontPage add-ins for FrontPage 2000 - 2003
|
|
|
|
 
R

Rob Giordano \(Crash\)

Sometimes trials are worth it, a few years ago I was having trouble
installing a trial for Corel 9, so I called them and the rep called me
back...gave me a perm. reg code so I got the whole suite for free.


| Heheh. The trial is the real thing only with a trial wrapper. If you
feel
| jiggy about that it's understandable. Consider this a test of your
stamina
| and commitment to principles. 8)
|
| --
| Murray
| ============
|
| | > Murray wrote:
| >> LOL!
| >>
| >> Download the trial now and you can develop a sudden belly ache! 8)
| >>
| >
| > Well, I would, but I don't do trials. I'm just weird that way. :) ...
| > but then again, now that you've put it in black and white, I'm not sure
I
| > can wait!
| >
| > --
| > Jim Cheshire
| > JIMCO Software
| > http://www.jimcosoftware.com
| >
| > FrontPage add-ins for FrontPage 2000 - 2003
| >
| >
| >
| >
|
|
 
J

JIMCO Software

Rob said:
For the amount of times I work with Flash I cant justify the cost. I
need to upgrade programs I use more often first like; Photoshop &
Acrobath & Access &.... and somewhere along the line I need to
relearn basic or whatever the heck they call it now, so I need to
upgrade vb3 too.
Click to expand...

Wow! VB3! You've got a lot to learn.

If I were you, I'd just go with C# at this point. :)

--
Jim Cheshire
JIMCO Software
http://www.jimcosoftware.com

FrontPage add-ins for FrontPage 2000 - 2003
 
R

Rob Giordano \(Crash\)

Oh great...I sing off-key anyway so it should be quite easy. :)



| Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
| > For the amount of times I work with Flash I cant justify the cost. I
| > need to upgrade programs I use more often first like; Photoshop &
| > Acrobath & Access &.... and somewhere along the line I need to
| > relearn basic or whatever the heck they call it now, so I need to
| > upgrade vb3 too.
| >
|
| Wow! VB3! You've got a lot to learn.
|
| If I were you, I'd just go with C# at this point. :)
|
| --
| Jim Cheshire
| JIMCO Software
| http://www.jimcosoftware.com
|
| FrontPage add-ins for FrontPage 2000 - 2003
|
|
|
|
 
G

Guest

OK then - it seems that FP is not as mickey mouse or even donald duck as many
make out, but it also appear that I should try the latest DW. Thanks all.
 
K

Kevin Spencer

OK then - it seems that FP is not as mickey mouse or even donald duck as
many
make out, but it also appear that I should try the latest DW. Thanks all.
Click to expand...

There are many Microsoft-haters out there. Seems like anyone who succeeds
more than the rest of the competition in nearly any field is hated by
certain groups of people in the world community. It is as if they believe
that everyone in the world should do equally well regardless of their
talent, effort, work ethic, and/or ability. Sounds a bit like communism to
me, which, as we should all know, doesn't work because it removes incentive
from people to perform at all. In fact, human beings are the only creatures
in the world that entertain the idea of doing away with competition.

That said, your idea of trying both competing products is a good one, one
which will ensure you success. A well-informed choice is a well-made choice.
And a series of well-made choices is the path to success.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
Neither a follower nor a lender be.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

FrontPage Or ??? 9
FP Newbie - question on layers & compatibility with DW 1
Front Page/Dreamweaver etc 1
So how much pain am I in for? 7
Changing from DW to FP 5
Another Frontpage vs Dreamweaver question 7
FP Extensions vs FTP 3
Help with frontpage error, report error to webmaster/dreamweaver 2

Top