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FrontPage 2002 Review...continued
Ironically the simplest of the new features are the ones that appeal
to me the most. Perhaps because they are the ones I use the most. Like
the way you are given more control over your borders. With the Border
Dropdown Tool, you can conveniently add borders of any color or
background color to text or graphics, without even putting them into
tables of their own. You can also modify table backgrounds and choose
which areas of the table will have borders and which portions you want
to leave empty.
You also get the ability to turn off underlining hyperlinks, something
I love to do…with just the click of a few buttons. This effect can
also be done the standard, safer way with CSS, but for those who don’t
have time to learn the language this is the tool can do it for you.
Another handy tool only programmers used to take advantage off is the
New Database Interface Wizard. Now FrontPage can convert the contents
of your database into a viewable webpage.
One of the long-awaited changes is the way the FrontPage handles code.
It finally has learned to leave your code alone when you tell it too,
its leaves HTML and ASP tags the way they are. No more must one have
to deal with changes the program makes for you, pages come out the way
you want them to look. Smart Tags also let you decide whether the
content you paste from other applications will retain original
formatting, adopt those of the destination page, or will be stripped
of all formatting (text-only). Unfortunately developers of this new
version have not tamed the size of the code it generates, bloated code
affects the download time of each page, so this is one important item
they have overlooked.
Priced at $134.99 for the full version, and $69.99 for the upgrade,
FrontPage 2002 is positioned as a cheaper alternative to other similar
web-authoring tools, available at half the price of its top competitor
Macromedia Dreamweaver4.
Indeed FrontPage may not be the most sophisticated tool where coding
is concerned, still its familiar interface and dynamic features not to
mention its affordable price makes it a good buy. New users will find
it a big relief that the program acts and works like most other office
programs…with handy wizards and templates to get you started on sites
of your own. Previous users will bask in the array of new features and
the opportunity to collaborate with other webmasters. As Microsoft
says, this version was developed to extend functionality and
usability…if that’s what you’re looking for then this is the product
for you.
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