Frontpage Web Hosting Guide

How do I find a high-quality FrontPage Web Host provider?

Begin by visiting FrontPage Web Hosting Showcase to find reputable companies who provide a high-quality FrontPage Web Hosting. Our advanced technology will allow you to make an informed decision by comparing key factors such as:

• The cost Security and support Equipment Bandwidth availability The integrity of the web-hosting provider Site management and scripting tools Site performance and enhancement tools
• Hardware maintenance and much more

What is FrontPage Hosting?

Microsoft FrontPage is one of the most popular website development and editing software products on the market today. FrontPage’s popularity is its ease of use even for beginners who don’t have a clue about HTML (hypertext markup language). Anyone can build and manage a web site without having to be a programmer because Microsoft developed FrontPage to have a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) interface, much like a word processor. You decide how you want your Web pages to look using drag-and-drop functionality and FrontPage takes care of creating the correct HTML. All you do is cut and paste text and graphics and you’re ready to publish your web site. FrontPage also offers more advanced users the ability to work with CGI scripts and import their own HTML.

What are server extensions?

To use FrontPage you will need to have FrontPage extensions. FrontPage extensions are CGI programs that provide the server side implementation of FrontPage. FrontPage communicates with the extensions via HTTP using a Remote Procedure Call (RPC). When the server sees the "POST" request addressed to the FrontPage server extensions it simply directs the request to the appropriate CGI program. The extensions are capable of authoring (uploading/downloading documents, ToDo lists), administration (setting end-user, author, and administrator privileges), and dynamic content (browse-time WebBot components).

Without FrontPage server extensions you will not be able to take advantage of the WebBots that are available through FrontPage. Also, without the extensions you cannot author and administer your web using the tools provided as part of the FrontPage Editor/Explorer package.

How do I set up FrontPage extensions with a web host?

The web host you choose should offer you detailed service and support to install the extensions.

Is FrontPage hard to learn?

Learning to use FrontPage is easiest if you already know other Microsoft Office programs like Word, Power Point and Excel. The main menu of FrontPage looks like the Microsoft Word interface with a standard Menu bar, Toolbar and Formatting Toolbar. FrontPage has some additional features that you will need to familiarize yourself with such as the New Page or Web Task pane and the Views bar. If you want to insert your own HTML to add special features to your web site, you can easily modify the FrontPage supplied HTML in the HTML window. FrontPage also supports advanced web programming tools and techniques including Active X Controls, Web Browser Plug-ins, Java Applets and Scripts.

What components should your FrontPage Host Provider support?

Look for

• FrontPage site search FrontPage mail reply (form mail)
• FrontPage discussion forum (bulletin board or chat)
• FrontPage counter
• FrontPage permissions on directories only

Which components do not work well with FrontPage?

• FTP is not recommended since the extensions often get edited. Thus components will not function properly. Setting up sub webs is no longer permitted since FrontPage 2000 because of security risks. Access databases are not available on Linux because of database incompatibility. Netscape has known issues with some themes and scripts FrontPage creates. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is not fully supported since its extensions will not publish through the SSL port completely making it unusable.
• FrontPage components are not supported if migrating from a previous host. Migrated web sites should rebuild FrontPage components from scratch.