I am new to this web design thing, and I learned to build sites with ms frontpage. Why you say? Well, because it came with mircrosoft office and had instructions. However, when I talk about using frontpage I have the feeling that I am trying to spread the plague or something worst. What is wrong ms frontpage? And what program do I need to learn to keep creating websites without running in to a brickwall at every turn. Just asking because I am thinking I don't want to make the same mistake again. Advice please.
the problem with frontpage is well... ummm were do i start.... its just not good, the code is sloppy the designs usually dont look good.... really if your just starting out there no problem with using that or lets even say Dreamweaver, there both decent programs for Beginners if your to charge people for your designs though, i feel its ripping them off if you use frontpage. I code in Notepad (Notepad++ because of the cool colors ) You have to have understanding of the code to code with notepad though. Read some tutorials, buy some books, steal some code/modify it (dont sell or use it ) , and youll become an expert in no time. Its not all that hard, once you know how to code properly you will understand why its not good to use frontpage or dreamweaver or any other programs like that.
As Frontpage progressed - it did get better and better. Their newest product Expressions is fantastic. It is free right now while in beta and the code it creates is compliant. You can choose if you want inline CSS or internal. I worked with a DWT this time and I was pleased with the outcome It seems that Microsoft is stepping in the right direction. Having said that, you should still know / learn HTML / CSS if you plan on doing a website.
NotePad Plus or NotePad Plus - I had problems bringing up both sites just now. Might give it a few minutes. Other than Expressions, I used UltraEdit as well.
The problem with MS FP is the same problem with any WYSIWYG editor. They pump out crap code and keep the person using it from actually learning proper HTML. I used to teach development and I loved the kids we got who took HTML in High School .... they would always start off "Oh I don't need to learn this, I learned it already" So I would tell them to open up notepad and code a little page for me. 99.9% of the time THEY COULDN'T DO IT! Then the whining would start, "oh we used FP (or DW) and it does it for you!" My biggest question to anyone that uses these programs: Do you KNOW what the code does and how to fix it without a program (or when the program screws it up)? If your answer to that is NO, then it's time to learn what the heck the code does and how to use the tags properly. You want to do this well and do it for a living or do you want to be "just another HTML hack"? BTW, I LOVE editplus (www.editplus.com) ...... great app!
Nothing wrong with FP, it's a great program. Don't get upset at the large microsoft/gates/IE bashing community, if it works, it works. I used FP and built www.v7ndotcomelursrebmem.net which won the 2006 seo comp so don't let anyone at present tell you it leads to ranking problems or the like {myth}. I like sex, but I don't need a biology lesson to create a child, I may fumble a bit but I'll get there in the end ;P , I like TV but I dont need to have HDTV to enjoy a good film, I like food but I don't need to go to a restaurant to enjoy a good steak. I like FP even if the code is bulky so what? We are hardly using 56k modems nowadays and even then they didn't exactly kill pages. The recent versions have been decent enough IMO. Some people will just boohoo if its not FF or open source. I swing both ways, oo er.
Yeh well you could also say, im decent at rasing my child, i might fubmle here and there, and i dont know how to fix his problems thats for him to find out. Websites dont fix themselves. Like i said earlier, if your doing it for fun/ your own projects then yeh, Dreamweaver and Frontpage work just fine. If someone is going to pay your for the design then you should have a proper understanding of the code and how it works, + no how to fix it if any problems arise.
Learning code is no problem for me, I guess I got into frontpage because I am self taught and it was the only program I could get my hands on fast and without paying for software. I also did not want to use templates. All programs can be learned with a proper manual, dp and just plain wanting to know what does what. PS Not one starts out wanting to be a "hack" you learn as you go.
Thanks for your input, presently I do not plan to design sites for people professionally. I help out a couple of family members with one page sites so they have something until they hire a pro (I hate to see hosting company ads on domain names that are already paid for). I never build a site until six months ago and I build my site from scratch. I learned everything I know from "help button," books, and dp. It is just the vampire and garlic reaction I get anytime I have frontpage questions that made me start this post and I am glad I did. Thanks I will be looking into your suggestions when I am building my next site. T
I never had problems with frontpage, just make sure the settings are such that it doesn't add too much weird code. Professionally: do learn CSS and HTML. You should slowly get to a place where you can type it if you have to. I use NVU when I edit the text, and PSPad for coding.
Also to keep in mind, Microsoft just killed off Frontpage. From their site: What happened to FrontPage? After nine years of being an award-winning Web authoring tool, FrontPage will be discontinued in late 2006. We will continue to serve the diverse needs of our existing FrontPage customers with the introduction of these three brand-new application building and Web authoring tools using the latest technologies, Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Designer 2007 for the enterprise information workers, Microsoft® Expression™ Web Designer for the professional Web designer and Microsoft® Visual Studio 2005 for the Web developer.
Frontpage always turned out crappy code...Dreamweaver's code is a little better but you still should know HTML