C
CharlieChaplin
After a long absence, I'm a webmaster again. I've been out of the loop
since 2000, and, while much of my knowledge still applies, I'm
experiencing some growing pains. Back in ‘98 through 2000 I used
Netscape Composer for basic design layout work and a code only editor
named 40Tude for plugging in any Javascript or CGI/Perl code. I also
developed image editing skills which I’ve not forgotten.
Now fast-forward to 2006. I’m once again in the role of webmaster. I
invested in a copy of Microsoft FrontPage XP because I like the idea of
having the software keep track of which files are part of the site, plus
being able to use FP extensions and publishing the web with a single
command that uploads only the files necessary.
I’ve been learning FP via an interactive tutorial (Professor Teaches),
which has been helpful in learning how to use FrontPage’s features, but
which is obviously designed for people who don’t want to bother knowing
what’s under your web page’s hood. Well, I want to know. I like how
FrontPage has ready-made themes. I used to have to create all my color
schemes and background images from scratch. However, as nice as
FrontPage’s themes are, I’m finding I don’t understand how they’re
implemented via code. For example, I chose the Checkers theme, which
makes every page have a nice color scheme of jade green, black, white,
and a little turquoise and grey. All I could find in the code is this:
<meta name="ProgId" content="FrontPage.Editor.Document">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;
charset=windows-1252">
<title>Privacy Trust Group</title>
<meta name="Microsoft Theme" content="checkers 011">
<meta name="Microsoft Border" content="none, default">
Is the color scheme being accomplished somehow via these meta names? Is
FP using css style sheets? I never had the need to learn them before,
but will now if that’s necessary. I also like how it was easy in
FrontPage to create a graphic banner that appears on every page. I used
to always have to create an image in an image editor and then put the
same image link on each page -- or resort to using frames (gasp). While
FP’s banner feature is cool, I’m not understanding how the code is doing
it.
Any clues on what I should read to get up to speed would be greatly
appreciated. And the use of FrontPage is not etched in stone, by the
way. I also have Namo Web Editor 6, which seems to also be a very good
editor with a lot of features similar to FrontPage. Can I switch back
and forth between these two programs or is that asking for headaches? I
also have Dreamweaver 2004 MX. (Yup, every program is exactly one
version back; I can almost always find legal bargain copies of good
software if I don’t insist on having the latest version.)
Any advice on where I should study up is greatly appreciated. Also, if
you know of a good forum on FrontPage, I’d be glad to check that out
too.
Thank you.
since 2000, and, while much of my knowledge still applies, I'm
experiencing some growing pains. Back in ‘98 through 2000 I used
Netscape Composer for basic design layout work and a code only editor
named 40Tude for plugging in any Javascript or CGI/Perl code. I also
developed image editing skills which I’ve not forgotten.
Now fast-forward to 2006. I’m once again in the role of webmaster. I
invested in a copy of Microsoft FrontPage XP because I like the idea of
having the software keep track of which files are part of the site, plus
being able to use FP extensions and publishing the web with a single
command that uploads only the files necessary.
I’ve been learning FP via an interactive tutorial (Professor Teaches),
which has been helpful in learning how to use FrontPage’s features, but
which is obviously designed for people who don’t want to bother knowing
what’s under your web page’s hood. Well, I want to know. I like how
FrontPage has ready-made themes. I used to have to create all my color
schemes and background images from scratch. However, as nice as
FrontPage’s themes are, I’m finding I don’t understand how they’re
implemented via code. For example, I chose the Checkers theme, which
makes every page have a nice color scheme of jade green, black, white,
and a little turquoise and grey. All I could find in the code is this:
<meta name="ProgId" content="FrontPage.Editor.Document">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;
charset=windows-1252">
<title>Privacy Trust Group</title>
<meta name="Microsoft Theme" content="checkers 011">
<meta name="Microsoft Border" content="none, default">
Is the color scheme being accomplished somehow via these meta names? Is
FP using css style sheets? I never had the need to learn them before,
but will now if that’s necessary. I also like how it was easy in
FrontPage to create a graphic banner that appears on every page. I used
to always have to create an image in an image editor and then put the
same image link on each page -- or resort to using frames (gasp). While
FP’s banner feature is cool, I’m not understanding how the code is doing
it.
Any clues on what I should read to get up to speed would be greatly
appreciated. And the use of FrontPage is not etched in stone, by the
way. I also have Namo Web Editor 6, which seems to also be a very good
editor with a lot of features similar to FrontPage. Can I switch back
and forth between these two programs or is that asking for headaches? I
also have Dreamweaver 2004 MX. (Yup, every program is exactly one
version back; I can almost always find legal bargain copies of good
software if I don’t insist on having the latest version.)
Any advice on where I should study up is greatly appreciated. Also, if
you know of a good forum on FrontPage, I’d be glad to check that out
too.
Thank you.