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Ken Fermoyle: Upgrading?


Book Review:
Web Publishing with Microsoft FrontPage 97

by Ken Fermoyle

I know, I know, FrontPage 98 is out already, so why review a book on FrontPage 97?

First, a lot of people are still using FP 97. Second, a new edition that includes coverage of FP 98 will still be substantially similar to the 97 version, but with extra added attractions. Third, author Martin S. Matthews establishes his credentials in this earlier book to the extent that I would buy the new one sight unseen.

I started using the FrontPage application first, then got the book to review. Reversing the procedure would have been a smart move. FrontPage is not an extremely difficult program, but it is more capable -- and thus more complex -- than Web building programs I had used before (e.g., Adobe PageMill). The structure of the book would have helped me approach FrontPage in a much more organized fashion.

As the author says, the book "leads you through the planning, creation, deployment, and maintenance of both intranet and Internet web sites with FrontPage." Matthews includes generous helpings of real-world examples and step-by-step instructions.

Two criteria I always use in judging the quality and usability of any software user's manual are: how well it's illustrated (with figures, not pretty pictures), and whether or not it is well indexed. This book scores high on both counts.

Figures, mainly screen capture shots, are used profusely and illustrate the instructions clearly. With them, you always know where you are in any procedure. You also know when you've gone astray because your screen display won't match the one in the book. Figures blend with the step-by-step instructions very well, making the steps easy to understand and follow.

The index covers more than 15 pages of rather small type (keep reading glasses or a magnifier handy if you have tired old eyes like mine), and there is a goodly amount of cross-referencing.

The early part of the book contains basic information, as the chapter headings indicate: Exploring FrontPage, Using Wizards, Using Templates, Creating & Formatting a Web Page from Scratch, Using Tables & Frames, Working with Forms. The first chapter is packed with interesting and informative detail about the Net and the Web. Matthews' explanations of terms and concepts are extremely clear. His explanation of TCP/IP is one of the best and easiest to understand that I've read.

Further along, the book delves into more advanced topics: Using WebBots, Importing & Integrating Files, Working with HTML, and Databases and Security on the Web.

Then comes Activating Your Webs and, a bit later, Publishing Your Web Pages, critical areas for novice site builders. Most of us have had at least some experience with creating pages for print, but moving pages onto the Web instead of a printer is whole 'nother ballgame! Matthews' step-by-step instructions on how to post your pages to a Web host are detailed and easy to follow. He covers posting both to hosts with FrontPage Server Extensions installed and to hosts that don't offer such extensions.

One things I liked very much about this book is that it very successfully covers a wide range of users and types of Web sites. It includes information to help novices build sites of simple to medium complexity, as well as help for experienced users whose goal is to create more exotic sites for their businesses. I know from experience that this is not easy to do. Of course, the fact that Matthews has almost 700 pages to work with helps a lot.

Summing up, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book, or later editions from the same author and publisher. It has earned shelf space in my office.

Title: Web Publishing with Microsoft FrontPage 97
Author: Martin S. Matthews
Publisher: Osborne McGraw-Hill (www.osborne.com)
Price: $29.95 USA

Ken

Copyright 1998 by Ken Fermoyle, Fermoyle Publications.

Ken Fermoyle has written some 2,500 articles for publications ranging from Playboy, PC World and Popular Science to MacWeek & Microtimes. He was cohost/producer of a radio show on computers and a partner in a DTP service bureau during the '80s. Ken's Korner articles are available free to User Group newsletters and Websites. For permission to reprint this article, contact kfermoyle@earthlink.net.


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