switch from Front Page to Dreamweaver?

[Joe Hussar]

Hi........

I've been using Front Page for my website, here:
http://www.candylandcrafts.com/

since inception, about 3 years. I am not a computer expert (probably somewhere between a fair and middle ground user), which is why I don't attempt to write doce directly (although I do sometimes "edit" it). I know Front Page is far from perfect......but it's been reasonably easy to use. I use Paint Shop Pro 6.0 for graphics.

It's been recommended that a better approach might be for me to use "Dreamweaver" for my web site. Less compatibility issues for one thing, I'm told.

I would be very like to hear some general comment about whether it's a good move for me to seriously pursue. The general questions that nag me are:

(1) Would I have to completely start over with the site? (it's about 400 pages and I cringe at a complete remake), or can Dreamweaver "start" with a Front Page built site?

(2) Does my level of knowledge with ftp, html, graphics, etc have to be at a highly proficient level (way beyond what I've described) before switching to something like Dreamweaver makes sense?

Thanks!

[pyro]

1. Yes, Dreamweaver would have no problem using the pages that M$ FrontPage has already created. The only problem with this would be the fact that you are already using the screwed up FP code... :p

2. No, IMO, Dreamweaver is easier to learn and much more straight forward the FP is. It has many nice features, including a built in FTP to transfer your pages.

I would recommend picking up the demo verions of DW, and playing around with it (I believe it is a 30 day trial) http://www.macromedia.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm#loc=en_us&view=snTDRC&viewName=Downloads

[InternetAdSales]

I agree entirely with pyro's reply, and would highly recommend switching. Dreamweaver also has some nice code-cleaning features which can work wonders with a lot of Microsoft proprietary nonsense codes -- in particular, document exported from MS Office, but I'm fairly sure it can clean messy Frontpage code as well.

[JackTheTripper]

Front Page Suxizzle. DW rulze j00!


Go with DW. It's so much nicer.

[Joe Hussar]

Hi All...........

Just to thank you for your sage advise. I feel a lot more comfortable with the idea now..............

:-)

[starrwriter]

Originally posted by Joe Hussar
Hi........

I've been using Front Page for my website, here:
http://www.candylandcrafts.com/

since inception, about 3 years. I am not a computer expert (probably somewhere between a fair and middle ground user), which is why I don't attempt to write doce directly (although I do sometimes "edit" it). I know Front Page is far from perfect......but it's been reasonably easy to use. I use Paint Shop Pro 6.0 for graphics.

It's been recommended that a better approach might be for me to use "Dreamweaver" for my web site.

Dreamweaver is too expensive. Namo WebEditor is much cheaper and easier to learn. Also much better than FrontPage.
http://www.namo.com