Advantages/Disadvantages vs FrontPage

I have been considering using Expressions to supplement my hand coded site. Does Expressions also use the apparently obsolete frontPage Extensions.

"As you may know, Microsoft has stopped supporting Microsoft FrontPage and FrontPage Server extensions. Providing support for a legacy platform that is not supported by the manufacturer requires extra resources which we are not able to absorb and necessitates a price increase of $19.95 per month" (Web.com)

Hi Peter, Expression Web will allow you to upload files via FTP or FrontPage Extensions, depending on what your web hosting company provides.

We offer either method at InternetCrusade, but we prefer to have our customers choose one or the other, as allowing both to the same directory potentially creates a security hole.

Actually, the point that I wanted to make was that, at least in the case of my web host (Web.Com), FrontPage extensions are now obsolete and would require an additional $19.95 monthly payment if I wanted to use FrontPage. It might be time for long time FrontPage users to think about moving on.

Keith, you mentioned that "Expression Web will allow you to upload files via FTP or FrontPage Extensions".

FTP functionality would be in FP extensions too but what is the purpose of FrontPage extensions?

Well Web.com may be doing that, but I don't know of other FrontPage hosts raising their rates for that reason. My guess is they simply want to stop hosting FrontPage sites eventually, and this is their way of gradually weening customers away. But there may be other hosts doing the same thing, I haven't looked into it.

FP Extensions, when used with FrontPage, work behind the scenes in administering your site, and also house many components("web-bots") unique to FrontPage. They also perform the function of allowing you to "publish" your site to a server via http(rather than having to use FTP).

This last feature is really the only function the Extensions perform in Expression Web. But it's a big feature to hold on to because it helps both web hosts and Expression users transition more easily from FP to Expression. They are used to publishing their sites using the Extensions. Hope that makes sense - it's kind of late in the day for me. ;-)

Peter asked:

FTP functionality would be in FP extensions too but what is the purpose of FrontPage extensions?

Peter,

One thing that Keith didn' mention was that by using for FrontPage extensions in Expression Web, you can still use forms for responses. Without forms for leads to respond on, a website can be pretty worthless.

Linda Grissette

Thanks Linda, you are correct, at least to a certain extent. If you already have forms created in FrontPage, or you are more familiar using FrontPage extensions to create your forms, then the extensions are the way to go. However, you can indeed still create forms in Expression Web without relying on the extensions, but there is a learning curve involved, and you will also be reliant upon what your web host provides as a form handler.

Here's a quick article discussing the options....

http://www.expression-web-designer-help.com/forms/feedback-forms.htm

Ok, here is a question for Anyone. I recently upgraded to Expression Web 2. In reviewing more it seems I probably should have gone to Sharepoint.. Can anyone tell me the real differences between these two. Near as I can tell they are very similar and Sharepoint just seems more directed towards the Microsoft Server Line.

I have been using FP since 1998 and really don't look forward to learning a new program, I'm getting too old. I wonder how much trouble the upgrade would be to Expression Web 2. Will I have to rebuild my site or will Expression convert an existing FP 2003 site? I use Web.com and have not been told yet about the $19.95 charge for use of FP extensions.

David(dkgrealty), the short answer is this - if you were previously using SharePoint features with your FrontPage 2003, then upgrading to SharePoint 2007 is best for you. If you were not using any of these features, then upgrading to Expression Web 2 is the best option.

Carl, you are not alone. Many FrontPage users do not want to deal with the expense or the learning curve involved in upgrading. If FrontPage still suits your current needs, you should have no problems finding web hosts that will continue to support FrontPage Extensions for the next several years(we plan to keep hosting FP sites here at InternetCrusade for some time to come). I would always keep an up-to-date copy of your website(s) on your local hard drive though, just in case you ever do need to scramble to find a new host for your site(s).

Regarding your question about converting an existing FP site to EW, check out this free pdf download from Microsoft. It's a bit of reading, but it might give you some idea as to what would be involved in upgrading your particular site....

http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/f/2/ff2d736a-9ec6-4e3b-b094-d782aa7cda72/Microsoft_FrontPage_to_Expression_Web.doc

Hi again Keith,

I've returned to visit the group and see how everyone is feeling about their Expression conversion experience. I'm still considering. I'm wondering if the cleaner code is more friendly to the search engine bots. I have studied search engine optimization enough to know that probably know one for sure knows but I have a feeling it could make a difference. I've tweaked and page ranked for ten years. I like to think that I have a feel.

Every real estate presentation that I have made since 1998 is published to my domain. I'm wondering if it is possible to only convert the few main pages and leave the massive old material unchanged. I surely do not want to have to deal with every page in the domain.

Thanks