MS Expression Web - tips?

[jlockley]

Knowing that I would have to be in charge of our web pages (we looked at various options and this turns out to be it) and having been taken down a few times by CSS, I figured I'd go the middle way with a program, deciding on using a legacy copy of Front Page to upgrade to MS Expression Web. (It's cheaper, but more importantly, it appears to be easier than Dreamweaver.)

It would be subtle to say I am disappointed -- it messes thing s up, won't let me change some parameters, won't import and is essentially undocumented for those who aren't already fluent. Still, I have the thing, so I wondered if there were any tips, suggestions. Have ordered the book plus other material on CSS. At this point various web information seems more valuable.

 

[Foamcow]

If it produces non-standard code and is related to FrontPage, throw it away. Don't even bother with it.

HTML is easy to write.
CSS isn't that hard to write.
It just requires a little training and thought.

Dreamweaver isn't hard to use on a basic level. You'd do alot worse than using that and growing into (then out of) it.

If you have requirements that are just beyond you then get a pro in. It might seem like wasted money, but the time a good (note, good) web developer will save you will reap benefits.

Really, do yourself a favour and get rid of the source of the problem before it becomes a big problem and get a proper tool that's fit for the job.

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[vacunita]

I have to agree with Foamy.

Frontpage was never a good tool to begin with. Its better to take the time to learn HTML and CSS properly that to be bound to a tool, that doesn't even work that well.

I started out using Dreamweaver for web development, but now most of the development is done in Notepad. I do use DW scarcely to write some of the CSS. It helps when you need a specific color or can't remember what the name of the property is. But most of the time its just straight notepad.

Don't depend on tools like that, that have so many problems.

Dreaweaver isn't really that hard, but learning html and proper CSS is a must and is also not that difficult.






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[jlockley]

I am in the process of learning CSS. Know enough HTML to get by and then some.
This is not supposedly the son of Front Page, but it does mess things up by defining styles on the content page. I am finding it more useful for reading the CSS than working with the web site. It won't display CSS and the site simultaneously, which would be of a lot more use.

When I make my next fortune I will pick up Dreamweaver. (I got an outdated copy of FP and got the EW upgrade fairly reasonably.) Anyway as it turns out it's essentially mostly in notepad. .

 

[johnwm]

I have found Programmers Notepad (

http://www.pnotepad.org/)

very useful. Very simple, with syntax highlighting built in for many popular languages, including PHP and Javascript

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[ChrisHunt]

Still, I have the thing, so I wondered if there were any tips

Yes, I have one: If you still have the CD it came on, you could use it as a coaster. Or hang it in the garden as a bird scarer - birds that have an appreciation of web design will be particularly scared.

If you're just maintaining a few static pages, hand coding through text editor (no need to go right back to Notepad, there are plenty of free/cheap editors that give you a bit more functionality). A wysiwyg program like FP might be OK for prototyping, but you need to get down to the code for production sites.

If you've got a bigger site to deal with, and/or you've got non-techie folk maintaining the pages, you might want to setting up a CMS (Content Management System) instead. This would be non-trivial to set up (consider hiring a professional to do it), but would give you a simple interface to enter your content and keep it seperate from all the HTML/CSS considerations.

-- Chris Hunt
Webmaster & Tragedian
Extra Connections Ltd

 

[jlockley]

Well, again, it's not Front page, cut I share your opinion to some extent. It has uses beyond that. I am learning a lot by using it (see what code goes in when something is changed.)

What free/cheap programs do you recommend?

I hat MS, too, but need to get this done.

As for CMS, I have some experience with a couple of systems. Sort of starting at the middle.