Advice

ERIC SPELLMANN

Web Design Tool Choices

ERIC SPELLMANN assesses the best software options for building your own website

Are you an aspiring web designer? If so, you've probably done a little research into the field and had to make some important decisions. For instance, "Should I use Microsoft FrontPage or Macromedia Dreamweaver?"

Both FrontPage and Dreamweaver are tools that facilitate the design and maintenance of websites. While a website can be built using any text editing program, including the free Windows Notepad, true web design programs pay for themselves through a variety of time-saving features.

For instance, both programs have built-in file synchronizing modules, negating the need for external FTP programs. (I know that last line may have lost some of you, but stick with me ... Once you design a web page on your computer, you have to transfer it up to the server hosting your site. In the old days, you had to use a third-party FTP program.)

In addition, both programs can check the validity of all of your hyperlinks. This feature, alone, is worth the price of either program. Remember, customers hate broken links and will question the professionalism of your company if they run into too many problems.

So, what are the primary strengths and weaknesses of these two products?

FrontPage

When Microsoft sees a developing software niche, they quickly create a product to fill it; as is the case with FrontPage. If you've used any of Microsoft's Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), you'll instantly recognize the interface that confronts you when you load this program. Most of the toolbar buttons are direct copies from other Microsoft programs.

While this consistency lessens the learning curve, it can hide some of the more important features specific to FrontPage. Luckily, FrontPage allows the user to customize these toolbars to their liking.

FrontPage's primary strength lies in a feature called, Server Extensions. One of the hardest tasks for new web designers is "form building." Without complex scripting knowledge, new designers often out-sourced this vexing project. Well, FrontPage makes form design a matter of drag-and-drop simplicity.

There's only one drawback, though. Did you notice the name of this feature? SERVER Extensions. In order for these remarkable features to be available, your website must be stored on a server with those extensions installed!

FrontPage 2003: around £51

Dreamweaver

Macromedia's focus on the needs of professional web designers has made it the "one to beat" in the web design software battle. Their newest version, Dreamweaver MX 2004, contains so many features, I could fill two more columns with them. Suffice to say, these features revolve around ease-of-use and "drop-in" scripting.

As I mentioned, FrontPage's primary strength is its use of Server Extensions. Dreamweaver's answer to that feature is called, similarly enough, "Dreamweaver Extensions". These user-built add-ons give Dreamweaver new features not originally installed with the software. Everything from connecting back-end databases to form design has been automated with these little programs. In fact, Macromedia's website lists over 700 free, downloadable extensions, yours for the taking.

In addition, Dreamweaver is much more "Netscape-friendly" than FrontPage. Often pages designed in FrontPage contain components only viewable in Internet Explorer. Dreamweaver avoids such browser-specific features and, instead, opts for industry compliant code viewable in both programs.

Dreamweaver MX 2004: £214.

Conclusion

Microsoft has spent a lot of money to gain marketshare in the web design industry. However, in their quest to simplify the web building process, they've neglected the needs of professional web designers. I only recommend FrontPage for true web design neophytes. For all others, Dreamweaver is the way to go.

See you in cyberspace!

Eric Spellmann is the owner of Spellmann & Associates, a corporate technology training facility in Amarillo, Texas. Besides his weekly column, he produces technology segments for his local CBS television affiliate and speaks at numerous conferences. If you would like to receive the full transcripts of his columns as well as the television segments he produces for CBS, sign up for his FREE e-mail newsletter by sending a blank message to nl@ericspellmann.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject. Or, you can sign up at his website: http://www.EricSpellmann.co

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		ERIC SPELLMANN Web Design Tool Choices ERIC SPELLMANN assesses the best software options for building your own website Are you an aspiring web designer? If so, you've probably done a little research into the field and had to make some important decisions. For instance, "Should I use Microsoft FrontPage or Macromedia Dreamweaver?" Both FrontPage and Dreamweaver are tools that facilitate the design and maintenance of websites. While a website can be built using any text editing program, including the free Windows Notepad, true web design programs pay for themselves through a variety of time-saving features. For instance, both programs have built-in file synchronizing modules, negating the need for external FTP programs. (I know that last line may have lost some of you, but stick with me ... Once you design a web page on your computer, you have to transfer it up to the server hosting your site. In the old days, you had to use a third-party FTP program.) In addition, both programs can check the validity of all of your hyperlinks. This feature, alone, is worth the price of either program. Remember, customers hate broken links and will question the professionalism of your company if they run into too many problems. So, what are the primary strengths and weaknesses of these two products? FrontPage When Microsoft sees a developing software niche, they quickly create a product to fill it; as is the case with FrontPage. If you've used any of Microsoft's Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), you'll instantly recognize the interface that confronts you when you load this program. Most of the toolbar buttons are direct copies from other Microsoft programs. While this consistency lessens the learning curve, it can hide some of the more important features specific to FrontPage. Luckily, FrontPage allows the user to customize these toolbars to their liking. FrontPage's primary strength lies in a feature called, Server Extensions. One of the hardest tasks for new web designers is "form building." Without complex scripting knowledge, new designers often out-sourced this vexing project. Well, FrontPage makes form design a matter of drag-and-drop simplicity. There's only one drawback, though. Did you notice the name of this feature? SERVER Extensions. In order for these remarkable features to be available, your website must be stored on a server with those extensions installed! FrontPage 2003: around £51 Dreamweaver Macromedia's focus on the needs of professional web designers has made it the "one to beat" in the web design software battle. Their newest version, Dreamweaver MX 2004, contains so many features, I could fill two more columns with them. Suffice to say, these features revolve around ease-of-use and "drop-in" scripting. As I mentioned, FrontPage's primary strength is its use of Server Extensions. Dreamweaver's answer to that feature is called, similarly enough, "Dreamweaver Extensions". These user-built add-ons give Dreamweaver new features not originally installed with the software. Everything from connecting back-end databases to form design has been automated with these little programs. In fact, Macromedia's website lists over 700 free, downloadable extensions, yours for the taking. In addition, Dreamweaver is much more "Netscape-friendly" than FrontPage. Often pages designed in FrontPage contain components only viewable in Internet Explorer. Dreamweaver avoids such browser-specific features and, instead, opts for industry compliant code viewable in both programs. Dreamweaver MX 2004: £214. Conclusion Microsoft has spent a lot of money to gain marketshare in the web design industry. However, in their quest to simplify the web building process, they've neglected the needs of professional web designers. I only recommend FrontPage for true web design neophytes. For all others, Dreamweaver is the way to go. See you in cyberspace! Eric Spellmann is the owner of Spellmann & Associates, a corporate technology training facility in Amarillo, Texas. Besides his weekly column, he produces technology segments for his local CBS television affiliate and speaks at numerous conferences. If you would like to receive the full transcripts of his columns as well as the television segments he produces for CBS, sign up for his FREE e-mail newsletter by sending a blank message to nl@ericspellmann.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject. Or, you can sign up at his website: http://www.EricSpellmann.co © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.