Word 2002 and "filtered" HTML

Does it really create clean code?

[tedster]

I was just reading that the Office XP version of Word has a new feature: Save as Filtered Web Page

Here's what Microsoft says [microsoft.com] in their downloadable .doc file (it's on the last page)

Save As > Web Page, Filtered

The second option (new in Word version 2002) allows users to save as a filtered Web page, which removes the XML tags and allows users to publish their document as "clean" HTML. This option also removes much of the Word-specific HTML and style markup used only when reading the file back into Word.

Has anyone checked this out? Would a user be able to do non-destructive text edits by opening the web page in Word and saving as a "filtered" page?

[mavherick]

We did some testing a while ago and here is what we found out (filtered html):

- never update an html document with Word. it adds a bunch of code you really don't need, comment out part of your own code and replace it with its own, get confused as soon as an external stylesheet is around (redifine it using inline style, or head style like the dreaded MsoNormal and such). And of course, it adds the meta generator in there for good measure.

- it's better at converting new Word documents to HTML but still need some tweaking, makes use of the span tag for God knows why all over the place...

all in all, I wouldn't recommend it, but that's just me. then again, the dreamweaver plugin to clean it up do a decent job, but you still have to go through it to remove unecessary code.

mavherick

[tedster]

Thanks.

I've got a client who wants to do simple text edits from time to time -- things like updating calendar pages, and I know they've got Office XP.

I think we're probably going to tell them to go with Macromedia Contribute, but when I saw this blurb, I had hopes.

[pageoneresults]

tedster, I hate to say this, but you might arm them with a copy of FP and preset the preferences for them. Once the preferences are set, they can make their simple text edits with no problem. You'll probably spend an hour on the phone with them instructing on the use of FP, but it will be an hour well spent for all.

And, you can have the host only give them access to those pages that they would be editing, that way there won't be any major blunders.

P.S. I believe there is a complete calendar solution in the SharePoint Team Services module of FP 2002.

[pageoneresults]

Quick cleanup in FP...

1. Open page.
2. Select all.
3. Ctrl + Shift + Z (Remove Formatting)

That typically strips out 99% of all alien code and will bring the html to the bone. You'll then of course have to add style back to the text and you do this using the convenience of the dropdown style menu in the upper left hand corner of your editor.

It's really a breeze once you set up your preferences. Using the default settings will of course produce some garbage. ;)

[Sinner_G]

I've got a client who wants to do simple text edits from time to time -- things like updating calendar pages, and I know they've got Office XP.

Is a very simple database an option? Like ASP pages with an Access database? You could provide your client with a browser interface to enter their changes and then they'd just have to upload the DB.