Web site software

[Dave Gurtcheff]

I built my present web site  in 2002 using Front Page 2002 software. I maintain it myself. It is time for me to upgrade my site. My plan is to do it seamlessly: First do a brand new site on my PC, then contact my web service provider, and somehow coordinate the uploading of my new site and deleting the old site. I have noted that Microsoft discontinued Front page around 2006, so the software is an orphan. Looking for advice: should I use Frontpage 2002 for the rebuild? Or is there another "USER FRIENDLY" program out there? Please keep in mind, I'm 74 years old, and maintain, and update, the site myself, so ease of use is imortant. Also, I am not a Pro, but do supplement my income with my photography and web site.
Thanks in advance....
Dave Gurtcheff
www.modernpictorials.com

[Craig Lamson]

I built my present web site  in 2002 using Front Page 2002 software. I maintain it myself. It is time for me to upgrade my site. My plan is to do it seamlessly: First do a brand new site on my PC, then contact my web service provider, and somehow coordinate the uploading of my new site and deleting the old site. I have noted that Microsoft discontinued Front page around 2006, so the software is an orphan. Looking for advice: should I use Frontpage 2002 for the rebuild? Or is there another "USER FRIENDLY" program out there? Please keep in mind, I'm 74 years old, and maintain, and update, the site myself, so ease of use is imortant. Also, I am not a Pro, but do supplement my income with my photography and web site.
Thanks in advance....
Dave Gurtcheff
www.modernpictorials.com

Microsoft Expressions web is an upgrade from Frontpage and a quick learn if you are used to Frontpage.  Its a decent piece of software...not Dreamweaver but competent.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/en_US/pd/productID.216452000/search.true

[Dave Gurtcheff]

Microsoft Expressions web is an upgrade from Frontpage and a quick learn if you are used to Frontpage.  Its a decent piece of software...not Dreamweaver but competent.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/en_US/pd/productID.216452000/search.true

Thank you Craig....I will check it out.
Regards
Dave

[Steve Weldon]

Microsoft Expressions web is an upgrade from Frontpage and a quick learn if you are used to Frontpage.  Its a decent piece of software...not Dreamweaver but competent.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/en_US/pd/productID.216452000/search.true

+1  I have a copy of this and have used it for simple projects and it's quite easy to use.  Make sure you upgrade it after installation.

[Dave Gurtcheff]

+1  I have a copy of this and have used it for simple projects and it's quite easy to use.  Make sure you upgrade it after installation.

Thanks Steve & Craig. I emailed Microsoft and asked if Front Page 2002 is eligible for an upgrade, or must I buy the full product. How is the manual? I had to buy "Front Page 2002 for Dummies" as the supplied documentation was very very meager.
Thanks again
Dave

[John.Murray]

The problem with FP is that MS has abandoned any development of it. A lot of hosting providers are no longer support it.  Although sites built with Expression Web do not require FP extensions, if you're existing site *does* use them, you are in for a total re-write

You might want to consider going with a Content Managed System (CMS).  Some examples of this are Wordpress, Drupal and Joomla.  Advantages of a CMS are:

1) Content and Presentation are separated
2) Content submission and editing can be done via a browser - no software is required on your machine.
3) User Management - a CMS supports private "members only" acccess areas.
4) Add-ins; a rich universe of addins such as shopping cart, gallery, calendar/scheduling are available.

A number of people here (including myself) use a CMS in one form or another:

Luminous Landscape
Nick Rains has a gorgeous site using Joomla - http://www.nickrains.com/
John Paul Caponigro  - http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/

Wordpress is a super easy way to get started - give it a try.....

[StuartOnline]

Have any of you taken a look at the new Adobe Muse: http://muse.adobe.com/?promoid=JBVVQ
which has been releast in Beta only for now? You are cerrenly able to download and try for free during this Beta time.
It is avialable for both Mac and PC.

There are a number of videos about Muse on the Adobe TV: http://tv.adobe.com/search/?q=muse


Stu

[Steve Weldon]

The problem with FP is that MS has abandoned any development of it.

Wordpress is a super easy way to get started - give it a try.....

I was inclined to suggest a CMS system first.. I use one too (dotnetnuke) for my site. 

I think as long as you find a canned setup (Wordpress has many) you're happy with then life is easy, but if you delve further than that it can become very intense and time consuming.  I put in a very solid block of time to learn my site well enough to build and manage it.. but once I was done it's as easy as using an HTML editor. 

IMO most Wordpress sites look/feel the same.  But I suppose you could say that about all websites to a degree.  Coming up with something truly different is hard, and mostly a function of the skin at my level.. though I've worked with my gallery and blog developers over the last year to give me the features and functions I wanted.

This is why if he can get buy with something like Expressions.. and keep it simple.. then considering his desires maybe it fits.   Hard to say.

[Dave Gurtcheff]

All the advice here is priceless. I have a lot to mull over before I start a complete re-build.
Thanks again to all.....
Dave

[Rhossydd]

Have any of you taken a look at the new Adobe Muse: ...... You are cerrenly able to download and try for free during this Beta time.

Interesting. I hadn't realised this was available in beta now. An interesting product at a first look.
Initial impressions suggest that anyone with a working knowledge of other Adobe products won't find it too difficult to get to grips with.

My concern is with the 'subscription only' model of licence that needs a permanent internet connection to work. 

[Doug Fisher]

>>I emailed Microsoft and asked if Front Page 2002 is eligible for an upgrade, or must I buy the full product.<<

Be warned the information you get from a Microsoft telephone support agent may be inaccurate because it sure was when I called them.  What he told me was different from what was stated on their website.  I had to read him information from their website and then he had to go to a supervisor to confirm things.  Frontpage didn't qualify for the upgrade but if you have Microsoft Office installed that does qualify.  I have 2003 and the installation of the upgrade version of Expression Studio went just fine.  I am not sure about versions earlier than 2003.

Now I just have to learn how to use it!

Doug

[Dave Gurtcheff]

>>I emailed Microsoft and asked if Front Page 2002 is eligible for an upgrade, or must I buy the full product.<<

Be warned the information you get from a Microsoft telephone support agent may be inaccurate because it sure was when I called them.  What he told me was different from what was stated on their website.  I had to read him information from their website and then he had to go to a supervisor to confirm things.  Frontpage didn't qualify for the upgrade but if you have Microsoft Office installed that does qualify.  I have 2003 and the installation of the upgrade version of Expression Studio went just fine.  I am not sure about versions earlier than 2003.

Now I just have to learn how to use it!

Doug

Thanks Doug. Interesting...I do not have the entire office suite installed...I bought my applications piece meal: Word, Excel, Publisher, and most recently Visio. I may qualify, but don't want to take a chance, then find out it is no good.
Regards
Dave

[Dave Gurtcheff]

I heard from my Web hosting company regarding deleting my old site and uploading a brand new site. They said I need to do it using FTP. I'm a Novice---can someone help as to how I would do this?
Thanks in advance
Dave

[OnyimBob]

Dave - I've noticed that you have had no reply to your last post. I'm no expert at all, but I do use a program called Smart FTP occasionally to upload files (images and web pages) to our site. Its basically a file transfer program to move files from your computer to wherever you want them to go on the web. There must be someone here who can give Dave a better explanation/advice - surely?
Cheers and good luck,
Bob.

[John.Murray]

FileZilla!!!!  Great ftp client - lightweight, no ads, runs on windows / mac / *nix

[Craig Lamson]

+1 for filezilla...

[Steve Weldon]

FileZilla!!!!  Great ftp client - lightweight, no ads, runs on windows / mac / *nix

If you're a Firefox user consider the add-on Fireftp.  It's free, very easy to use, and because I work on my website via a browser I find it more convenient to use Fireftp in another browser tab rather than have another separate open program. 

[Farmer]

For me, Directory Opus.  Simply the best file management software ever.  It's PC, but I know some Mac users who use it via Parallels because it's so good.  Anyway, it does FTP seemlessly - just looks like another folder etc, and it does so much more as a replacement for Explorer.

I can also add a vote for Joomla! (or generally the CMS approach to site building).