anyone know some stuff about FrontPage?

[bootNumlock]

i have a new client (large account) who insists on frontPage for his web management...

i know nothing about frontPage--however, i did read that uploading files with ftp and then trying to continue to manage with frontPage doesn't work so well...

can someone tell me a little about what the "frontPage extensions" are all about, what 'Tuning' them means in hsphere and just some good advice to give my client--other than pick another tool...

no not me, the software...

[Brangwyn]

Yes problems can arise if the frontpage data is modified by FTP e.g anything in a directory starting with an underscore. Avoid updating those directories and your usually ok with FTP.

To find out what Frontpage Extensions are, you should have a bit of a read here http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...tml/fpovrw.asp

As for H-Sphere tuning, theres really nothing you need to do in H-Sphere besides turn em on, then click edit to add the default email address for the extensions to use when sending emails and thats about it.

Alternatives ... anything !

[bootNumlock]

thanks Brangwyn--

what should i tell my client who is having major problems with his navigation vanishing over the past few days?

[Brangwyn]

first try clicking the "fix" option in H-Sphere, if that doesn't work then try switching frontpage off and back on in H-Sphere, if that doesn't work delete the thing and publish it again (could try a publish all before resorting to the delete as well)

[MEELAN]

Originally posted by bootNumlock02
thanks Brangwyn--

what should i tell my client who is having major problems with his navigation vanishing over the past few days?

In my experience with hsphere, this problems appears when you try to fix the FP extensions using hsphere FIX command.

The navigation is a part of the FP extensions. If you remove FP extensions or try to fix it using hsphere, the navigation also removed.

HTH

[TonyK]

I can't see why you have to use FTP when FrontPage does all this for you all you have to do publish the site.

[Brangwyn]

How about FP is slow, clunky and can regularly time out leaving you with an equally messed up site.

FP rewrote my code - thats why I stopped using it after the first day i tried it so many years ago NOTEPAD IS THE BEST!

[Silverbug]

i have to agree with you bladesnitz. very rarely have i heard of notepad re-writing your code for you.

[soky]

There is another tool in the FrontPage® arsenal that may help with the navigation loss. Click tools/recalculate hyperlinks. This will run through the web and reestablish so called "lost" or "forgotten" files. What makes this issue is FrontPage® tries to keep track of the pages using a text file, it tracks information like hyperlinks but also when create/modified ect. If a file shows up on the server, or comes up missing, then essentially that text file is corrupt and FrontPage® gets a little confused.

I have a very large account with several editors with varying degrees of access. It is an "NT" / "MSOffice®" organization so FrontPage® was selected by default. It has taken every bit of four years and major scripting to make the site easy to update and reliable. Interesting thing is, if it were me, I would dump FrontPage® too, but if the client wants it and is willing to pay for the support (and oh they do) then FrontPage® is what they get.

Interesting anecdote: When setting up this site, I was using Interdev... Interdev is great but because of the intricate permissions structure, a Microsoft® engineer and I discovered that I actually needed to manage the site with FrontPage® because of subweb issues. See, in order to limit a directory, or have alternate permissions in a folder and use FrontPage® , a new "web" must be created and the unique users assigned. There is no way to do this in Intedev® so FrontPage® must be used to create/modify/manage subwebs and permissions. With the new 2002 extensions and admin interface, it makes it easier.

If you absolutely have to have FTP access to simply upload a few files, create a folder and then convert it to a subweb with unique permissions. Then, use NT to manage access. Another way is to try Windows Explorer. It has worked for me as an administrator but I have never allowed access to people with lower rights.

Kind of mixed up post... sorry, it's 4:30 AM and besides... FrontPage® is mixed up too.

[Allergy]

Did anyone try FP 2003?

[bootNumlock]

Thanks for all the input gang!!

[Brangwyn]

http://www.msfrontpage.net/fp/ftpcorrupt.htm