weaning off FP2003
Terry On Windigo
there another alternative to consider? I guess FP is/has been at the end of
it's life cycle, and although I've used it forever, I need to move on.
Also, how much of what I have already done can I move over to WE, as that
would be a factor? I have a huge investment in forms that submit to email
or databases.
Ronx
Expression Web will handle everything in an existing FrontPage site except
navigation (there is no navigation view) and VML graphics (which should be
avoided anyway). In addition, EW supports PHP and asp.NET. Your existing
forms and database applications should not present any problems, provided
your host continues to support FrontPage extensions.
Expression Web will support existing FrontPage webbots, but does not allow
new instances of webbots to be easily used - can be done by cut and paste.
However, the include file webbot is on the toolbar in EW 3.
Best way to find what can and can't be done with your site is to download
the trial and see:
http://www.microsoft.com/expression
--
Ron Symonds
Microsoft MVP (Expression Web)
http://www.rxs-enterprises.org/fp
Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.
"Terry On Windigo" <te...@windigo.com> wrote in message
news:evd08G8X...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
Terry On Windigo
the other way around. I like FP for my needs, but since Microsoft left them
out of 2008, and hired this RTC group to write and support them, I can see
that hand writing on the wall, and figure I better get on the stick and
learn something else because one day I'll out in the cold. So if there are
no other product from Microsoft, Adobe or other companies, I guess I better
get EW and start learning it. As you say, I can still do all my FP things
as I migrate my brain to the new software. Any recommendations on
tutorials, video or otherwise?
Thanks,
Terry
"Ronx" <ron...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Ronx
http://www.w3schools.com
For an introduction to web building with Expression Web, and more -
http://by-expression.com/content/tutorials.aspx
There are also e-books by Tina Clarke and Pat Geary (MVPs) at
http://any-expression.com/
--
Ron Symonds
Microsoft MVP (Expression Web)
http://www.rxs-enterprises.org/fp
Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.
"Terry On Windigo" <te...@windigo.com> wrote in message
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Tina Clarke
> Sorry for the WE, EW thing. I my head I thought it was Web Expressions,
> not the other way around. I like FP for my needs, but since Microsoft
> left them out of 2008, and hired this RTC group to write and support them,
> I can see that hand writing on the wall, and figure I better get on the
> stick and learn something else because one day I'll out in the cold. So
> if there are no other product from Microsoft, Adobe or other companies, I
> guess I better get EW and start learning it. As you say, I can still do
> all my FP things as I migrate my brain to the new software. Any
> recommendations on tutorials, video or otherwise?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Terry
Don't worry lots of people say WE or other combinations:)
First as Ron says get the 60 day trial ... you don't get everything with the
trial that you get with the full version but since you have fp you can
upgrade and save some monies and EW is familiar in respects to FP (fp 03)
where as any other program would be a whole new learning curve. Expression
Web when set up the right way will help you learn more coding, if were not
using fp03 then be sure to use the split view you learn even though you
don't know your doing so ... because you are seeing code and design at the
same time. Turn off the formatting toolbar and don't touch it if you can
help it. EW has new great css editor (from version 1.0) much like the
topstyle lite we recommended fp users use to enhance their css experience.
It also has error and compatibility reporting which teaches you methods on
how to fix your code... I bet once you have mastered the usage after a
couple of weeks you will have learnt a lot more about html and css.
When it comes to migrating ... I find it best to learn to make a new
template (and move to a dwt with includes for menus (some people prefer
server side includes SSI) and you learn even more in the process... then
start to clean your site of the old template and old formatting ... I've
pasted in a tweaked post I made in my ew list .. of a post I made in here
(so it was more generic) that sort of covers and outlines this in more
detail at the bottom of the post. (waste not want not:)
Upgrade to Expression Web 3.0
http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/Upgrade.aspx
Trial of Expression Web 3.0
http://www.microsoft.com/expression/try-it/Default.aspx?filter=web3
Overview demos and starter kits
http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/Web_Overview.aspx#tabs-3
When you install EW you will then want to set it up
Setting up Expression Web Ebook ( Free )
http://any-expression.com/expression-web/ebooks/setting-up-expression-web-ebook.htm
after that you might like to watch videos on making a basic starter site in
EW
Free Expression Web Videos - Getting started with a basic website
http://by-expression.com/media/
You might like to learn more about saving on maintenance time
Free Expression Web Dynamic Web Templates Ebook - How to make dwts
http://any-expression.com/expression-web/ebooks/expression-web-dwt-ebook.htm
and using Includes still within EW with dwts
Design Time Includes
http://any-expression.com/expression-web/tutorials/insert-include-pages.htm
You might like to see some very well coded free expression web dwts
Free Expression Web DWTs
http://www.expression-web-tutorials.com/ew-templates.html
and if you have any questions just come back and ask:)
I find the best way is to first make three backups of your current site ....
1. as a backup
2. working copy
3. experimental tryouts
take your working copy and do some prelim maintenance you don't want to
be dealing with anything you don't need to be.
1.Checking for redundant graphics - the first time I cleaned my first site
out I had two mbs worth ... uck.
2.sometimes you might have pages that you have marked don't publish because
you wanted to keep them for whatever reason, you have those backed up in
the backup so remove those in fact remove anything you are not going to
want, but if you are going to remove a page or change a file name or even
move it into a folder then there are seo (search engine optimization)
considerations that need to be
addressed.
3. Now its time to think about your navigation.. and it depends on what you
already have...Navigation is the total key to a site.. get that
right and the rest flows well. But save what you have already as text and
yes you can use includes within a dwt you mark that area an editable area
.. that way you can have different
menus on different pages with less pages to update STILL overall.
4. Insert a doctype if you don't have one already, your new dwt will
probably
be transitional xhtml with css for the formatting. .. if you don't feel able
to use xhtml at this time (its a doddle in ew though you
just use the last three right click selections in code view to implement
xhtml changes you might have forgotten and which fix most errors) then
continue with your usual transitional html doctype but I would move from
tables to divs ( don't use layers (absolute positioning) ... they are for
very advanced users
only who know every little quirk and gotchas.)
Now you start the cleaning.... and I find the best way (depending on your
scenario - there other instances where some methods are best employed before
this point like if you had a fp theme that is best removed in fp ... etc
etc) is to do this page by page.. however there is a huge variety of methods
also at this point (in your scenario) that can be implemented for some
global cleanups....using expression web and the tools within it .... using
Firefox and Firefox add-ons for web development which are all free.
When you are done cleaning you should be left with each page having its
title description and keywords metas intact all the formatting tables and
extra coding removed from the page so only the content is left. After you
clean each page
you will apply heading tags to your h1 heading and sub headings if these
were not in place already - You should validate the pages at this stage to
make sure nothing has slipped by you.
So that when you apply the newly designed dwt to the cleaned site .. the css
will format your content, the dwt will be applied to all pages and surround
your content.... in your dwt will be editables around the title and the two
metas so that these will be kept individually intact within each page.. you
then go to each page and double click the blank include built into the menu
area(s) to select the menu you wish to display... (if you were to have a
similar top menu that would not need to be an include and not an editable
area)... side menus being different though...
and viola your site is done...
of course knowing all the little methods of cleaning and tweaking to make it
a faster process helps ....there is a lot lot more I've not gone into detail
about for instance queries can help you clean up a site pretty fast
depending on your needs...and if I can make one anyone can... as I'm
completely numbers challenged and this stuff makes my head ache:)
http://any-expression.com/expression-web/tutorials/expression-web-querys.htm
any tricks? Yes lots and lots:) Its a good idea to do this with expression
web 2.0 its much much easier because you can customise the tools to make
cleaning easier...and the menu while changed from fp03 and ew 1.0 ... is not
as drastic as ew 3.0 changes which you can't move to where you want them to
be (presently).
Tina
--
Migrating from FrontPage to Expression Web Ebook v2.0
New version includes help for EW 3.0
Find out how to transition from fp to ew with ease
http://www.frontpage-to-expression.com/ebook.html
Terry On Windigo
Great, certainly enough here to keep me reading through the holiday season.
(Traditionally, it's a dead time around here)
Thanks,
Terry
"Ronx" <ron...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Terry On Windigo
Great, thanks for the tips. Sounds like something to try on one of my
smaller sites until I catch on. And thanks for all the links.
Terry
"Tina Clarke" <TinaC...@any-expression.com> wrote in message
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Terry On Windigo
One question. Why is a dwt a good thing? Do you use it in place of CCS?
"Tina Clarke" <TinaC...@any-expression.com> wrote in message
news:OAEKC9BY...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
Tina Clarke
> One question. Why is a dwt a good thing? Do you use it in place of CCS?
No ... CSS is for the formatting.... have you ever used themes in fp? dwts
are like those .. only much much much much more ... and standards compliant
... very easy to use .. read through my free dwt book .... it will be easier
than explaining fully here... but basically you have a 'template' that has
editable and locked regions .. eg the content area would be editable ..
perhaps the footer and header would be locked because its the same
throughout the site ... so if you lock those areas on the .dwt file you just
make one change on the .dwt file there and all the pages that are attached
to the .dwt file are updated in one go.. much like when you make one change
on the .css file and all the places the .css file lin is inserted into will
be udpated on the formatting .. eg turning all fonts from arial to times new
roman or the background colour from white to pale blue ... whatever you want
to do... there is much more to dwts ... and little tricks and tips ... once
you get used to them you will be thinking .... you have so much more time
for making content... I love em:)
hope that helps
Tina
-
F ree Expression Web Toolbar - Expression Web and Web Design Resources
http://frontpage-to-expression.com/expression-web-community-toolbar.html
Just posted new links to the toolbar - Make YOUR suggestions
Will work in FireFox IE and Safari
Clark
those moving to asp.net from the frontpage database webbots.
--
Clark, A.K.A. HomePage Doctor
www.HomePageDoctor.com/Tutorials.htm
www.Ownertrades.com Created with Frontpage, Access, Wizards & Bots
www.MyNumbersTracker.com Created with Expression, VWDExpress, SQLExpess,
ASP.NET
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"Terry On Windigo" <te...@windigo.com> wrote in message
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Cheryl D Wise
not in the stylesheet.)
--
Cheryl D Wise
http://by-expression.com
"Terry On Windigo" <te...@windigo.com> wrote in message
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