Expression Web Upgrade Questions

[Joseph]

Thank you so much for your help. I have a number of questions about
FrontPage and Expression Web. After scouring the web for a few hours, I have
not found the answers. I will be as brief as possible.

I am completely happy with my FrontPage 2002. I publish four websites with
it. These websites have all the functionality I need, and while I am willing
to change and upgrade, I have no need to become any more "tech savvy" than I
am already. I do not need to be "standards based" or anything like that, but
if FP extensions are going to be discontinued, I need to retain/convert that
functionality. I am getting a new computer, which means I have to buy
"something" to continue my web publishing.

1. Is FrontPage 2002 eligible for upgrade pricing to Expression Web? (I'll
call it EW)
2. Will my FP Webs open and edit in EW without hassle?
3. Will EW preserve my extensions, and will I be able to publish the
updates the same way? (I constantly make minor revisions to my webs -
current events, etc.)
4. Is there a "Conversion Wizard" that will convert my webs to EW complaint
webs?
5. My new computer will have "Ultimate Office" and Vista Premium - soon to
upgrade to W7 premium. If I buy an old copy of FP (or a new license) will
there be any compatibility issues. Can I even buy it anymore?
6. How long until FP extensions are just a thing of the past? And how can
I convert without becoming a web expert?
7. I am certain that two minutes after I post this, I'll think of a dozen
other things. Is there a resource (other than here) where I can find the
answers to quesitons like these?

Thank you so much for your help and patience with me.

Peace

Joseph

 

[MikeR]

Joseph -
EW may be the 'official' replacement for FP, but consider SharePoint designer too.
Comments inline, and refer to SPD, not EW. Pretty fair support for CSS.

Thank you so much for your help. I have a number of questions about
FrontPage and Expression Web. After scouring the web for a few hours, I have
not found the answers. I will be as brief as possible.

I am completely happy with my FrontPage 2002. I publish four websites with
it. These websites have all the functionality I need, and while I am willing
to change and upgrade, I have no need to become any more "tech savvy" than I
am already. I do not need to be "standards based" or anything like that, but
if FP extensions are going to be discontinued, I need to retain/convert that
functionality. I am getting a new computer, which means I have to buy
"something" to continue my web publishing.

Until/if your ISP discontinues FP extensions, you don't have to upgrade for that
reason. Whether FP 2002 will run in later OSes I dunno. I suspect it will.
And you do need to move to standard based construction. Really.

In that line, get Firefox browser and the HTML validator. It's an amazing combination.
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/personal.html
http://users.skynet.be/mgueury/mozilla/

1. Is FrontPage 2002 eligible for upgrade pricing to Expression Web? (I'll
call it EW)

SharePoint Designer is free.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointdesigner/FX100487631033.aspx

2. Will my FP Webs open and edit in EW without hassle?
Yes.

3. Will EW preserve my extensions, and will I be able to publish the
updates the same way? (I constantly make minor revisions to my webs -
current events, etc.)
Yes.

4. Is there a "Conversion Wizard" that will convert my webs to EW complaint
webs?

None needed.

5. My new computer will have "Ultimate Office" and Vista Premium - soon to
upgrade to W7 premium. If I buy an old copy of FP (or a new license) will
there be any compatibility issues. Can I even buy it anymore?

You can't buy it from MS any longer. You may find a copy somewhere else.

6. How long until FP extensions are just a thing of the past? And how can
I convert without becoming a web expert?

Some ISP's are discontinuing the use of FP extensions, others not.

You really really really should bone up on css. eXPERT IS A RELATIVE TERM.

7. I am certain that two minutes after I post this, I'll think of a dozen
other things. Is there a resource (other than here) where I can find the
answers to quesitons like these?

Well, according to my calendar, it's more than two minutes, and I don't see any more
questions. ;-o.

This is a good place, and there are similar groups for EW. I haven't found one for SPD.
Mike

 

[Ronx]

Comments inline. As Mike said, also consider SharePoint Designer.

--
Ron Symonds
Microsoft MVP (Expression Web)
http://www.rxs-enterprises.org/fp

Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.

Thank you so much for your help. I have a number of questions about
FrontPage and Expression Web. After scouring the web for a few hours, I
have
not found the answers. I will be as brief as possible.

I am completely happy with my FrontPage 2002. I publish four websites
with
it. These websites have all the functionality I need, and while I am
willing
to change and upgrade,

I have no need to become any more "tech savvy" than I
am already. I do not need to be "standards based" or anything like that

Are you sure about that? More and more users are moving to IE8 and
FireFox - these are both standards compliant browsers, and FireFox users
cannot see code that is for IE only, such bordercolor, VML, bgsound and so
on.


, but

if FP extensions are going to be discontinued, I need to retain/convert
that
functionality. I am getting a new computer, which means I have to buy
"something" to continue my web publishing.

1. Is FrontPage 2002 eligible for upgrade pricing to Expression Web?
(I'll
call it EW)

Yes - any version of FrontPage and MS Office is eligible.

2. Will my FP Webs open and edit in EW without hassle?

Open - Yes, Edit? depends on content. EW (and Sharepoint Designer) does not
support VML graphics at all. VML is WordArt, ShapeArt, Textboxes created
from the FrontPage drawing toolbar. FrontPage Navigation components cannot
be edited in EW, but can in the *current* version of SharePoint Designer.
There are no problems with other components.

3. Will EW preserve my extensions, and will I be able to publish the
updates the same way? (I constantly make minor revisions to my webs -
current events, etc.)
Yes


4. Is there a "Conversion Wizard" that will convert my webs to EW
complaint
webs?

File->Open Site (EW1 and 2)
Site->Open Site (EW3)

Just open the site in EW - converted.

5. My new computer will have "Ultimate Office" and Vista Premium - soon
to
upgrade to W7 premium. If I buy an old copy of FP (or a new license) will
there be any compatibility issues. Can I even buy it anymore?

FrontPage is no longer supported by Microsoft - EBay might be a source for
purchase, though your existing FP2002 should install OK. I am running
FP2003 on Windows 7.

6. How long until FP extensions are just a thing of the past? And how
can
I convert without becoming a web expert?

Become an expert Seriously, Extensions are still supported on Windows
servers running IIS6 and IIS7, but not supported by Microsoft on any other
platform. Hosts are gradually removing extensions from their servers.
The replacement for the extensions are FTP (for publishing) PHP, asp.NET,
asp - whatever you are willing to learn AND your host supports - for forms
and databases.

7. I am certain that two minutes after I post this, I'll think of a dozen
other things. Is there a resource (other than here) where I can find the
answers to quesitons like these?

http://expression.microsoft.com/frontpage
and other links mentioned in
http://social.expression.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/web/thread/99c95aee-bfe6-4c4d-80d4-8d197194a942