Newbie question on FrontPage editing

[S_Wagner]

I'm very new to FrontPage, but need to make a small change to an existing site that was developed in FrontPage. I was thinking that I would use the "Open Web" option (in FP 2002) to edit the site live and make the change, but the site doesn't have FP Extensions installed (I understand that you must have extensions enabled to make live updates). Is it an ok alternative to FTP copy the page I want to change to my local drive, edit w/ NotePad, and then FTP back to server? Or will I break some FrontPage code doing it that way? Thanks for the help!

[pageoneresults]

Is it an ok alternative to FTP copy the page I want to change to my local drive, edit w/ NotePad, and then FTP back to server? Or will I break some FrontPage code doing it that way? Thanks for the help!

Tricky question. It all depends on what you are changing. If it is just content that resides outside of any included content, then you should be fine.

If its part of any included content, then you will need to "Recalculate Hyperlinks" from your Admin Console from within FrontPage. But wait, you don't have FP extensions installed. That probably means that the site doesn't rely on any of FP's functionality to make it work. If that is the case, then changes shouldn't be a problem.

[Marshall]

In FP 2002, you should be able to open a page using the built-in FTP. Just click on FILE > OPEN SITE and where it has SITE NAME, type in the FTP address. Even without FP extensions, you should be able to edit the page when opening it this way. I know this feature works in Expression Web.

Marshall

Hey pageoneresults,
I am surprised you missed that part about no extensions ;)

[edited by: Marshall at 5:31 pm (utc) on Sep. 10, 2007]

[S_Wagner]

Ok, thanks for the input. I just double-checked and the hosting control panel says that frontpage extensions are disabled. So, it sounds like I should be ok to edit in NotePad and use FTP. Thanks again!

[pageoneresults]

I am surprised you missed that part about no extensions.

I've never used FP's FTP program. I got hooked on editing live when FrontPage Express 1.0 made its debut. That's all I've done since then, edit live at the server and then "Publish" to my local drive for backup. :)

[Marshall]

hosting control panel says that frontpage extensions are disabled.

Can't you enable them?

edit live at the server

Ouch! I prefer the other way around whenever possible. I have this vision of hitting the wrong key and deleting the site.

Marshall

[S_Wagner]

It looks like I can click on "enable" within the hosting control panel to enable the FP extensions. Would that have the possibility of breaking something on the existing website?

[pageoneresults]

Would that have the possibility of breaking something on the existing website?

There is "always a possibility". But, the probability is what counts and in this case, it is very low. ;)

I have this vision of hitting the wrong key and deleting the site.

While that too is a possibility, the probability factor is very low. In my case, its been null. I learned the hard way. :)

[Marshall]

As pageoneresults pointed out, since the extensions are not currently enabled, the site does not rely on them. Enabling them should not cause any problems, it will just provide you with the ability to use some some of the FP features immediately like link checking and so on. Except for publishing the site using FP's http publishing method, the extensions really serve little purpose, other than the tools I mentioned, unless you are using the built-in features such as forms, site search, bulletin board, FP includes, and so on.

Marshall

[Wlauzon]

I don't recommend turning them on. FP has entered the land of the Dodo, the last version was 2003, and will not be updated.

[Marshall]

FP has entered the land of the Dodo

Yes, and no. FP will no longer be upgraded since MS now has Expression Web, but EW uses FP 2002 extensions.

Marshall

[Wlauzon]

Yes, and no. FP will no longer be upgraded since MS now has Expression Web, but EW uses FP 2002 extensions.

Not really - it will only use them for an existing built in FP site. You cannot add anything new to the site with EW.

[Marshall]

You cannot add anything new to the site with EW

I beg to differ. In Expression, you can create forms as you would in FP or using asp.net. To do it as in FP, you drag form elements from the "toolbox" onto a page then right-click the form field and select "Form Properties." From there, it is the same as doing it in FP.

Marshall

[edited by: Marshall at 12:31 pm (utc) on Sep. 11, 2007]

[Wlauzon]

I don't see where ASP.NET has anything to do with FP extensions.

From the MS site:

The new product does not use Front Page Extensions. It IS 'backward compatible" with earlier versions of Front Page. If there is a webbot in an old site then you will be able to edit it just like you do now. You will not, however, be able to create a new webbot.

[edited by: Wlauzon at 1:10 am (utc) on Sep. 12, 2007]