Anyone change from FrontPage?

[stuny]

My site hosting facility changed to new servers which don’t tolerate FrontPage, the software I used to build and maintain our site. After 26 days of tech support that was friendly, confusing and contradicting, during which I could not upload changes to the site, the site became unavailable for four days (Thank fellow Forum member you Jacques for your concern). I finally managed to reload my files to have the site work again, but I cannot add photos to one page (New York part 12) and have several photos on another that I can’t get to display (Paris part 5).

It seems I must replace FrontPage (no longer supported) with something else. Microsoft has newer software, such as Expression Web, that I’m hoping can accept my current files with no problem and let me continue to grow the site.

Has anyone replaced FrontPage successfully, and with what? If so, I’d like to ask you some questions.

Thank you.

[johnwolf]

Stuart,

Sorry I can't help with the FrontPage conversion because I've always used Dreamweaver. But have you considered switching hosting services? That might be an easier solution, especially if you like FrontPage and given the scope of your site.

John

[mreddington]

I have made a web site for a friend using FrontPage, which uses webbots for the basic structure. I use 1&1 hosting in France, who support the FrontPage extensions.

When MS Expression Web came out I thought I would try it. It's a very different animal indeed, more state of the art but there is no equivalent to the webbots. I tried importing my current site into Expression Web and it registered a lot of HTML errors. On looking into it more I realised that I would have to completely rethink the site if I was going to change.

If you have used the FrontPage extensions, the suggestion to migrate to another host might be the best option.

[stunsworth]

I use 1&1 from the UK and as mentioned they support Frontpage extensions - which I assume is the source of your problem. 'Normal' HTML from Frontpage should work on any host, so I assume you are using some of the extensions. Do you know what's causing the problems?

As mentioned earlier it may be easier to change hosts rather than rewrite everything using a different package.

[stuny]

John - Thank you. That may be the only recourse.

Martin - Thank you. You've confirmed my deepest fears of Expression Web. This is a major issue when you consider I have thousands of images, and hundreds of other (text with links) files across 278 pages.

Steve - Thank you. I suspect changing hosts will be the answer, and yes I do use FrontPage extensions, though I couldn't define what they are.

How about SharePoint, another supposed replacement for FrontPage?

[mreddington]

Stuart - we are undergoing a major reorganisation of our IT system at work and are implementing a database system based on SharePoint. It certainly isn't a replacement for FrontPage. SP started as a way of sharing documents but has developed into a very powerful and programmable browser-based system for managing workflow. It is based on the WIndows IIS web server and we will be using it linked to SQL Server.

Although SP does have inbuilt functions such as photo sharing, you would still be working with a very different system and would have to migrate the content of all your pages.

At least that is my understanding and I stand to be corrected.

Best

[imported_peter_m]

Hi Stuart,

You still can use FP to do your web page. ( still got some miles left as editor) FP extensions are no longer supported and by now pretty well only work on Windows servers. Just don't use any of the FP components that use the extensions and you will do fine. When uploading instead of using the FP publish option upload with the FTP option.

Expression is a better editor then FP, they cleaned up the code a lot. Yes it dose have a bunch of bells and whistles that require APS and will only work on a windows server. You don't have to use them, there is lot of third party options that will work and are more server compatible.

Peter

[mreddington]

Peter is correct that there is no problem using Front Page as your editor in principle. The only issue is if you have already used the Front Page Extensions extensively.

You might like to check out the Front Page Forum at FrontPage and Expression Forums. It's a friendly place and also has an Expression Web section.

Looking at the source code of your home page I didn't notice any webbots but I believe the <!--msnavigation--> tag indicates a Front Page-specific design that sets up your site structure according to the navigation scheme. I don't know if that depends on the Extensions.

I hope you find a painless solution!

[stuny]

Martin & Peter -

Thank you. I do use extensions, though other than borders I know not what -- Among the things my hosting firm has done is reinstall extensions several times. Now I have them looking into the strange message where the photo galleries should be on about a dozen of my 278 pages (Botswana, Belgium, Belize, etc).

[imported_peter_m]

Stuart,

If your hosting company is using Linux or apache servers chances are FP extensions won't work correctly anymore ( especially if there was a recent server update) The extensions will still install but won't work. Can you still upload with the FP publisher or do you get an error message?

Some of the FP galleries require extensions but just had a quick look at your page and it looks like its all there.

Next time you do a new page turn off the components that use the extensions, this will tell you how many you use. You can do that in the Page Options > Authoring set the FrontPage and Share Point technologies to None.
A little write up about it here Front Page Extensions at “End of Life” | An Internet Consultant Speaks | Scott Hendison

Peter

[imported_peter_m]

Stuart,

Just looked at the source code and on the Botswana, Belgium and Belize galleries you did use a gallery style that requires the FP extensions. Indicated by <!--webbot bot="PhotoAlbum"

Peter

[mreddington]

Peter - thanks for that link, which outlines the options pretty well. I will also have to bite the bullet and change over one day but for now I have a Windows server account and 1&1 still supports the extensions.

[stuny]

Peter & Martin -

Thank you for all your advice. I'm making so little progress (virtually none) with trying to fix/edit in FrontPage and transfer by FTP via SmartFTP, that I fear I should bite the bullet and perhaps try to convert to Expressions Web --shudder! A bit more research, and then....

[imported_peter_m]

You are welcome Stuart.

I am afraid you may have to redo the galleries that disappeared, and it won't matter if you upgrade to expression or any other editor. They are just not compatible anymore.
The advantage of upgrading to expression is; It will open FP web sites. If you been using FP it will look very familiar and works very similar. The big difference is Expression's html code is W3C complaint where FP isn't. The biggest learning curve in Expression is using CSS.

If you got Photoshop there is some photo galleries in there that are not all that bad and its not hard to add them to your web site, that may be an alternative option for you.

Martin,

With having your hosting on a windows server will give some more time, but might be a good idea to slowly change the site to be more complaint. You never know how long the FP extensions will work.


Peter

[mreddington]

Peter - you're absolutely right - I will somehow have to find the time, also to learn how to use CSS effectively. I guess this is the retribution for using FP's proprietary characteristics!

[stuny]

Again, thank you. I

I tried FTPing newer copies of the bad galleries, but only some of them got better. I've tired editing (barbara found labeling errors on the new Paris pages) but they won't take.

I've gone into the Forum Martin recommended, got some useful data, and asked for some more. We shall see, but I suspect I'll be buying Expression Web, and slowly changing everything over.

[mreddington]

Good luck! By the time I get around to migrating to Expression Web I hope you are the resident expert!