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FrontPage 2002: Reviewed
 I've tried,
but this is what I've learned, whatever you start with that's usually
what you'll stick too. I started with Front Page way back since
version 3.0 (FrontPage 98) and have stuck to this WYSIWYG
Web-authoring tool ever since. Being a tool of my trade, I've upgraded
every single time, and have found each program to be better than the
last. This time around FrontPage provides users with the ability to
add dynamic content to their sites with new features such as its Photo
Gallery Component, PowerPoint like drawing tools and Automatic Web
Content from Microsoft's other services. It also improves means for
web collaboration with SharePoint Team services integration. Best of
all FrontPage finally leaves your HTML codes untouched.
FrontPage 2002 gives you more control over your site. Going beyond
authoring this version offers management tools and user analysis
features. Usage Analysis Reports give you access to visitor
information like where they come from, which sites they visit, and
which pages get the most hits. It polls these results, which are
available in tabular form as a top 10 list updated each time a page is
loaded.
One of the highlights of the entire Office XP family is its
collaborative capabilities. FrontPage 2002 boasts of being able to
allow individual users to increase productivity and teamwork each time
they use it. Nicely integrated with the SharePoint team Services,
custom web pages and collaboration capabilities are accessible to all
members of the team or work group. Users can also access their
workspace, upload documents, and participate in thread discussion all
through any normal browser.
FrontPage 2002 also integrates well with other Microsoft Services,
users can insert MSNBC headlines and weather forecasts, Expedia maps,
MSN search boxes and bCentral small business tools. This content is
updated daily and does not require any additional manual programming.
The bCentral components allow you to setup an online catalog and sell
items online (with a bCentral account, that is). An optional upgrade
package with bCentral also lets you venture into e-auctions.
Managing an online photo album also becomes easy with the Photo
Gallery Wizard. Organizing photos online has never been as simple as
this tool can provide. You can now add captions, descriptions, and
layouts all from the wizard box. FrontPage does the rest.
The new PowerPoint-like drawing tools allow you to edit images without
leaving the program. It provides access to other drawing tools like
auto-shapes, drop shadows, Word Art and text boxes. Microsoft says
these images are all supposed to work on a variety of browsers but
ZDnet user tests say users will need to be running a browser 5 or
later to view them.
Users of previous FrontPage programs will delight that the interface
hasn’t changed much. This version shares common enhancements with the
rest of the Office XP family, including the appearance of SmartTags,
the Task Pane and other minor interface modifications. One useful
change is the addition of page tabs which allow users to open multiple
pages and switch from one active page to another.
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