Microsoft Expression Web

[Jim Oaks]

Has anyone used this?

I'm looking to improve the look and operation of the site.

I'm still creating everything with Front Page.

Don't really know what to upgrade to and what I would have to do to integrate our existing .htm pages.

 

[brendank]

Your interested in editing only the .html files from things like the tech library in order to make them look better?

I can probably help, but I'd like more specifics on what exactly it is that you're trying to do.

 

[fleck]

Expression Web is just a newer version of Front Page. They just named it Expression Web because they are trying to compete with all the other high-level web design programs. I don't see it harming your current pages. But there is a learning curve, as there is for any new platform of development and design.

Of course, if/when you DO learn this stuff, it could make the site a lot better. Definitely a lot of new features, as the HTML/CSS standard keeps being updated all the time.

 

[Twizzler09]

I'm surprised you didn't mention Dreamweaver, Fleck.

Front Page used to (dont know if they fixed it) add in alot of unnessecary coding, make html files alot larger than they needed to be. Dreamweaver used far more efficient, and simpler, coding. Kept html file sizes down and everything still worked the way it was meant to.

I'm not sure, however, on its compatibility with css. Its been so long since I used either one to say how they are with current standards and recent versions.

 

[Psychopete]

Microsoft, standards, and compatibility never seem to fall into the same sentence. My favorite editor is Textpad.

Pete

 

[fleck]

I'm surprised you didn't mention Dreamweaver, Fleck.

Front Page used to (dont know if they fixed it) add in alot of unnessecary coding, make html files alot larger than they needed to be. Dreamweaver used far more efficient, and simpler, coding. Kept html file sizes down and everything still worked the way it was meant to.

I'm not sure, however, on its compatibility with css. Its been so long since I used either one to say how they are with current standards and recent versions.

Hah, well I wouldn't come here and namedrop what is now the most widely used web development platform. That wouldn't make sense.

Microsoft has worked out all those excessive coding kinks in Expression Web. It's still always smart to run all code through a filter.

 

[Twizzler09]

So they did axe the code monster, awesome. Expression Web might be worth toying with then.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I guess I'm interested in giving the site a newer, smoother look than all the boxy tables. Just wondering if there was newer better software.

 

[Jspafford]

I use both Dreamweaver and Expression Web. I use it to edit sites made in other software and dreamweaver seems to have a LOT more features, but it is not as user friendly as it's microsoft counterpart.

Expression is just a glorified version of frontpage. Not much difference really.

 

[Twizzler09]

Most of the awesome custom web designs and such use PHP and Flash to make their sites the way they are. Its a different story creating websites using those two....whole different world, actually.

The problem with Flash (which creates the best web pages, imo) is that it can use alot of bandwidth, you run the risk of bogging down the server(s), especially with the kind of traffic that TRS sees on a daily basis. PHP is more bandwidth friendly, but as is the case with flash, will require some tinkering and expertise in order to learn how to use it properly.

The programs themselves will help with making a more modern appearing website, but in the end it comes down to the guy behind the keyboard. You could supply a chimp with the best web devloper tools available, and it could still end up looking like a two year old with an etch-a-sketch designed it, if you get my drift.

If you want, Jim, I can supply you with some html/css templates. Its a good starting point, as they're easily modified and already have a good basis to work from. If you dont like em, can always make more