What is FrontPage?
The technology powering websites has changed drastically over the years, going from simple static pages to dynamic pages that allow visitors to get hands on with the content. On the surface, these creations look rather complex, as if they were created by highly skilled web designers. While that may be true in some instances, many of those professional websites you run across were created with ease, all thanks to web building technology.
A Closer Look at FrontPage
Microsoft Office FrontPage, better known as just FrontPage, is a unique program that enables easy web development and management. It allows you to create, edit and manage your web pages in the popular language of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) with the aid of its WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor. In contrast to freehand coding, the editor hides the raw HTML code, a real benefit for the novice with no programming experience. Though easy to use, FrontPage is also preferred by experienced designers as well. Those handy with the HTML language enjoy the program’s power and flexibility as it helps them to create dynamic web pages much faster.
Aside from the editing tool mentioned above, newer versions of FrontPage also come equipped with a WYSIWYG XSLT (eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation) editor. This allows you to use the XML language to create data-driven sites without hassle. With XML, visitors can connect with your content in a number of ways as it enables the creation of functions such as RSS feeds. Any website making use of XML is certainly a step above the average.
FrontPage Functionality
The Microsoft FrontPage program is packed with functionality, one of the favorites being its supply of automated website templates. These appealing designs come sporting automatic navigation systems for your visitors, some containing link buttons and all. This frees you from worrying about the little details that often take so long to address. After getting handy with the program, you should be to create your entire site in a matter of minutes.
Aside from the two primary editors, Frontpage has an integrated editor as well, the MS Image Composer. This tool allows you to build your site with graphics from a range of supported applications. It also lets you visualize how the site will look when being open in different screen resolutions and web browsers. With precise pixel control of the layout, you can create a website that jumps off the pages and pulls your visitors right in.
The FrontPage program is a member of the Microsoft Office suite, an application specifically designed for the Windows operating system. This makes it easier to use for people familiar with Microsoft Office products such as MS Word. FrontPage also integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft software including the MS SQL and MS Access database.
When using FrontPage to build your site offline, you will then need a web hosting company to store it on their server so it can be accessible on the internet. In order to get the full benefits, that provider must have a supporting version of FrontPage server extensions installed on their hardware.















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