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Chapter 1 ✦ Getting to Know FrontPage
Web pages
Web pages differ from other documents in that they are designed to be interpreted
by Web browsers. Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape Navigator take
text, graphics, and even interactive elements, such as input forms, sound, and
video, and enable Web site visitors to access them.
Web browsers interpret and display Web page content by reading Hypertext
Markup Language (HTML). FrontPage shields you from having to learn HTML by
translating the menu options that you select into HTML code. If you prefer to do
your own HTML coding, see Chapter 8.
Not only does FrontPage translate your commands into HTML, but it also generates
programming scripts in other languages, enabling you to add content such as search
boxes, input forms, interactive responses to visitors, and sound and video.
FrontPage server extensions
If you have used Microsoft FrontPage in the past, you know a thing or two about the
mystifying and frustrating FrontPage Server Extensions. I’ll give you the good news
up front—FrontPage server extensions are now gone in FrontPage 2003. Now for
the bad news — my previous statement isn’t exactly correct.
FrontPage server extensions enable the most powerful elements of FrontPage to
work. Among the FrontPage features that require server extensions are the following:
✦ Collecting form data
✦ Presenting database content
✦ Assigning Categories to Web pages (useful in defining search engines)
✦ Style sheet links (for assigning formatting to multiple pages)
✦ Confirmation fields for input forms
✦ Online discussion forums
✦ Hit counters
✦ Search forms (for your site)
In FrontPage 2003, FrontPage server extensions are no longer needed when you use
SharePoint Team services for publishing. However, in many cases, you’ll be upload-
ing your site to a server that is still running FrontPage server extensions. In this
case, you can configure your site to work with them. The goal here is to phase out
FrontPage server extensions, but in reality, they will still be an important part of
your FrontPage life until the rest of the Microsoft Web world catches up.
Confusion about the necessity and role of FrontPage server extensions can lead to
frustration. Therefore, let’s take a brief look at what FrontPage server extensions
are, where you get them, and how they work.
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