These days, everyone is becoming a webmaster/mistress. However, not everyone wants to learn the cryptic tags of HTML. Microsoft wants to take the pressures of writing HTML code off of you, with the introduction of Front Page 97. Front Page 97 is a major improvement over its predecessor. With the inclusion of a Word97-like interface, ability to add ActiveX and Java, and easy WebBots™, Microsoft wants you to create a page with a few simple clicks.
The Review
Front Page 97 consists of two main parts: the Front Page Explorer and Editor. The Explorer shares an interface very similar to that of the Windows Explorer. Using the Explorer, you can view your entire site in a tree view. You have the ability to drag-and-drop files to and from the Front Page Explorer. One very nice feature is the Publishing Wizard, which will selectively upload just the files that you've changed, saving lots of time. Explorer will also verify links in your entire 'web'.
The Editor features a true WYSIWYG development environment; any person who has used a word processor will automatically feel right at home with Front Page 97. The Editor, unlike before, now allows you to get down and dirty, and play around with the HTML code. Other new features include ActiveX, Java, and JavaScript support. Front Page is the best WYSIWYG HTML editor available, due to its ease of use. For example, let's say you want to add search capability to your site. All you have to do is pop in a WebBot™, configure a couple settings, and bang!, you have search!
Front Page's interface is basically the same as Microsoft Office. Toolbars are the name of the game, as they are fully customizable. Wizards are abundant, helping you create everything from discussion boards to frames. However, often these wizards aren't as flexible and open as the Editor itself. Adding hyperlinks and images is only a click away.
However, this ease of use comes at a price (doesn't everything?). To use most of the WebBots™, you must add the Front Page Extensions to your web server. Front Page Extensions support is not very popular at this point, and most ISP's will charge extra for it. Recently, a bug was discovered in the Extensions that allowed unauthorized access to your files. Not good.
Included with Front Page is what Microsoft calls a Bonus Pack. The Bonus Pack consists of Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft GIF Animator, and Microsoft Image Composer. The Image Composer is the best of the bunch. Image Composer is almost a mini-Photoshop, it has many image editing capabilities only found in higher cost packages. Included on the Front Page CD are a wide variety of pictures available for editing. Also included is the Personal Web Server, a scaled down version of Microsoft Internet Information Server. The PWS can handle up to 64 simultaneous connections.
The Verdict
Microsoft has successfully created a HTML editor that combines ease of use and power. However, many veteran web designers and coders will find FrontPage to be slow and awkward. One quirk was found that when it has to deal with nested sub-ables inside tables, FrontPage will slow to a crawl and become unusable.
