At its very basic level Frontpage is an HTML editor (no different in that
respect to Dreamweaver).
However it uses "server extensions" for which it adds its own code to
utilised the server extension features (known generally as "web bots").
Unlike Dreamweaver the "web bots" are what make common functions like a form
handler work, where with Dreamweaver I assume it would generate a script
(using ASP, PHP or the like) to do many of the same things that FP's web
bots do.
The Webbots handle features such as
Form processor (either to email, to a database e.g. MS Access or to a text
file eg *.CSV)
Site Search engine
Include Pages (a form of Server Side Includes).
Shared Borders (a second kind of SSI particular to FP)
Discussion forum
Registration handler
Guest book
to name a few.
Unlike Dreamweaver, Frontpage has a http: publishing mode, which is the mode
you have to publish the web in if you want to use features with the
extensions. FTP'ing will corrupt (more than likely) the server extensions
which then require the server admin/host/you to reinstall the extensions for
your hosting account (you can probably do it yourself through your hosting
control panel).
As for links with info on Frontpage, try
www.microsoft.com/frontpage as a
good place to start.
If you're an experienced developer, then Frontpage is probably "too simple"
for your level of expertise and you're probably better off sticking with
Dreamweaver etc.
From my experience, I see Frontpage as targeted at novice, beginner, pro/am
and semi-professional users (and possibly professional developers) but is
certainly not the same level or standard as something like Dreamweaver or
Adobe GoLive or Cold Fusion and so on.
It has basic functions for databasing with ASP and access db's, but beyond
that its really up to the user to code their own ASP applications, or find
add-in code and ASP scripts to add to their sites. Many of the MVP's here
will say it is better to code your own database functions rather than reply
on the 'wizards' to do it for you, although for the very basic application
the wizards are fine.
Frontpage does have comprehensive all-round site management features and
keeps track of things like broken hyperlinks etc.
The latest release Frontpage 2003, also includes features like dynamic web
templates, along with interactive buttons (a form of rollover button using
DHTML) and Behaviours (common elements that can be inserted through the GUI
that use javascript such as status bar messages or customised pop-up
windows)
Anyway I hope that gives you some idea of what Frontpage is all about.
Frontpage as an HTML generator is fine, if you want to put up with its
"bias" towards Internet Explorer, which may not be your first choice of
browser, so it does contain little idiosycracies like that, and uses a lot
of HTML that is "IE-only" code that won't work in netscape, firefox or
opera, etc.
It is and have improved alot over the various releases, and the next
release I presume in about 12 months (no less) will be even more compliant
with today's web technologies such as Sharepoint/.Net (which I have heard
(on this group) will actually replace the server extensions that FP now
utilises.).
