Conversion to Expressions Web from FrontPage 2003

[Patrick]

Hello:

I have FrontPage 2003, and have used it for several years, thus I have
several of our websites on the Internet. I was notified by my hosting
service that Microsoft would no longer be supporting FrontPage and that my
sites may no longer function properly, especially FrontPage Extensions! They
suggested that I convert to Expressions, but they did not have any idea what
would be required to make the conversion.

I went to the Microsoft site only to find several products available... and
that there was now even a version Expressions Web 2. No where on Microsoft's
site could I find anything about the conversion/upgrade process -- not
anything regarding what was required to make the transition/conversion, or if
I would have to make any modifications to what I had created under FrontPage.
I contacted Microsoft sales and they didn't provide and insight whatsoever.
I have been switched back and forth between Microsoft sales, customer service
and tech support, several times, and no one would/could answer my questions.
They simply pointed to the site... they didn't answer one question.

I don't understand why they would not answer my questions. The questions
were simple and straightforward. All I asked was, "what is involved in
converting/upgrading from FrontPage 2003 to Expressions Web (2), and if it
would be basically transparent to me... or, would I have to rewrite and/or
modify, or whatever what I had created under FrontPage 2003 in order to
convert/upgrade to Expressions Web, or Expressions Web 2? I am hoping that I
won't have to modify and change what I have already created under FrontPage
2003?

Now that I've become very comfortable with FrontPage, again, I'm faced with
another Microsoft upgrade and possibly learning another product. I use all
Microsoft Office products... so, I'm hoping that this conversion/upgrade to
Expressions Web will be transparent and I won't have to rewrite or modify the
sites that I have created?

I use Windows XP Pro... and fortunately didn't go down the Vista path --
especially now that another upgrade/version of the operating system is
forthcoming. So, hopefully, the conversion/upgrade to Expressions Web, or
Web 2, won't be done in futility, and won't require that I have to modify
what I have created under FrontPage 2003, or that I would be required to
install Vista, or whatever?

Please, what is the conversion/upgrade process. How do I go about getting
from FrontPage 2003 to Expressions Web, or Web 2? I would appreciate any
insight that you can provide.

Thanks, Patrick

 

[Patrick]

Sorry for posting twice, but I received and error message, even the second
time?

 

[Patrick]

I'm receiving error messages each time I post a message -- sorry about the
duplicate postings and blank message.

After I post the message and error message appears and it states that it
will be reported.

Sorry...

 

[Ronx]

The almost every FrontPage site the conversion process is:

1) Make a backup of the site

2) Open the site in Expression Web

3) Converted.


Expression Web does not allow editing of any FrontPage navigation
components, such as Navigation View or link bars based on navigation bars,
but these will continue to function as they are.
Expression Web has NO support for VML graphics (text-boxes, WordArt,
ShapeArt and other objects from the drawing toolbar)

Tina Clarke has an e-book giving information on moving sites from From
FrontPage to EW. You should be able to find it here:
http://any-expression.com/expression-web/ebooks/

 

[Patrick]

Ronx:

Thanks... that's what I wanted to hear, "no major conversion problems!"

You say "Open" in Expression Web, please explain? For example, I have a
website SterlingCrest.com -- In Expression Web, do I click on File, then Open
then what? Then, if I make a change and want to publish, is publishing done
in the same fashion as with FrontPage 2003? Will there be something similar
to FrontPage Extensions?

You also mentioned that with Expression Web that Navigation View can NOT be
edited. Does that mean that I can NOT bring up Navigation and move things
around, name and rename as I have been doing under FrontPage 2003? Or, am I
misreading what you've stated?

I will check these other references that you have provided.

Btw, is there any "cheap" way to upgrade from FrontPage 2003 to Expression
Web, or must I buy a "New" complete version of Expression Web?

Also, do I purchase Expression Web, or Expression Web 2? In other words, is
Expression Web 2 the current version, or what?

I sincerely appreciate your quick reply and all of the info provided.
You've done in a few minutes what it's taken me a week or two to try to
extract from Microsoft Sales, Customer Service and Tech Support.

I have always been impressed with you-people at Newsgroups. You ARE the
experts!

Thanks so very much, Bruce

PS: Are there any other functions that I've had in FrontPage 2003 that I
will not have in Expression Web? It appears that those other products listed
with Expression Web must be additional functions or features? Therefore, is
Expression Web the correct version for me? Or, is Expression Web 2 not
simply the current version but rather an upgrade with additional features?

 

[Rob Giordano [MS MVP]]

File | Open SITE

EW won't bother existing FP navs but you cannot edit them in EW. (for what
it's worth I have gone back and forth between FP & EW to keep/edit my old
navs...but this may not be recommended

You just missed a half-priced sale on EW2 (49.95) - I think it went back up
to 99.95 now.

EW2 can run separately from EW1 - I have FP, EW1, EW2 all on same machine.



--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression

 

[Ronx]

Rob's already answered some of your questions.

Publishing is exactly the same as in FrontPage - choice of publish to/with
FrontPage extensions, FTP, Webdav, File System
In addition, you can open and edit a site using FTP - avoid this if the
site has FP extensions.

There is no navigation view. As Rob does, I use both FrontPage (for FP
Navigation components) and Expression Web in the same websites. Both
programs are web editing tools.

Cost - Buy from Amazon - upgrade version around $90 last time I looked.
Expression Web 2 is the latest version.

Other missing functions -
VML graphics (no loss there),
FP Navigation,
Shared Borders - inherited borders and settings are honoured and supported,
but no menu items for shared borders
Forms validation

Expression Web is designed to produce standards compliant websites, and
will point out errors in your HTML and CSS - be prepared for lots of wavy
red lines and yellow highlighting of errors.

 

[Patrick]

Rob:

Thanks, I appreciate the insight.
--
Patrick

File | Open SITE

EW won't bother existing FP navs but you cannot edit them in EW. (for what
it's worth I have gone back and forth between FP & EW to keep/edit my old
navs...but this may not be recommended

You just missed a half-priced sale on EW2 (49.95) - I think it went back up
to 99.95 now.

EW2 can run separately from EW1 - I have FP, EW1, EW2 all on same machine.



--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression

 

[Patrick]

Thanks for all of the info and insight... consequently I feel much better
about converting to Expression Web... sorry that I missed the 1/2 price sale.

Thanks again, Patrick