Web Page Fundamentals with FrontPage 2000 is a comprehensive book that gives users a rich and accessible introduction to creating Web pages using Microsoft FrontPage 2000. It is appropriate for individual use as well as in both corporate training and college classroom settings. This book is different in many ways:
It covers all the skills necessary to take both Core and Expert Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) Certification Exams for FrontPage 2000 via hands-on exercises and examples.
More skills and areas are covered than MOUS criteria requires. For example, Project 10 is dedicated to teaching students how to use Microsoft PhotoDraw, the graphic-editing program included with FrontPage 2000. Also, users learn how to set field validation rules for form fields, add a background sound to a page, save a form to a database, and learn many other skills throughout the book not required by the MOUS criteria.
Step by step exercises take users through each skill. Plenty of illustrations aid the learning process. Lesson steps are well defined and supported by figures detailing the desired lesson step results.
The underlying HTML code created by FrontPage is also covered to aid the learning process. Although FrontPage creates the HTML code for the user, it is still important to learn the HTML code itself. This is because even the best WYSIWYG editor can't cover all the HTML tags New HTML tags are created on a frequent basis, and users learn that they can type in the tags directly in the FrontPage Editor. By understanding the code that is automatically generated by FrontPage, users better understand how to implement new code on their own.
A running Web site is created on a Project by Project basis, with users learning and applying new skills to their Web site. When users finish the book, they have created, modified and thoroughly tested a FrontPage Web similar to a real-world situation.
Sidebars help users with key terms, potential problem areas and tips and tricks. Every time a new term is used it is defined. Potential problem areas are not only identified but potential solutions to the identified problem are also given. Tips are provided to contribute additional information, and to guide users with alternative ways of completing a particular task.
Two Project Challenges at the end of every Project encourage users to practice the skills learned in the lessons. This reinforcement of skills helps users understand what they just learned, and strengthens their comprehension of FrontPage. Their new level of competency with the application inspires users to try their skills in real world circumstances.
A Web Portfolio is modified at the end of every Project. This Portfolio encourages users to add content, structural modifications, advanced Web development functions and so on related to the lessons in the Project. When users finish the book they have a personalized, functioning completed work that reflects their level of proficiency with FrontPage.
Three appendixes cover more advanced topics related to Web development and explain how to integrate these technologies with FrontPage where possible. The first appendix illustrates how Office 2000 applications can be integrated with the Web. Specific examples of how to convert Word documents, Excel worksheets, PowerPoint presentations and Access database information into Web ready formats is demonstrated. The second appendix provides detailed information on how to create an inline, embedded and external style sheet using Windows and FrontPage. Finally, the third appendix gives an overview of Java and JavaScript with an emphasis on the strengths of each language and their potential uses in Web development.
This book includes a CD-ROM that contains all of the data files used in the book lessons. Also, the CD-ROM contains several Web-related computer programs that can be used to create and modify graphics, Web pages, and add advanced Web development functions. Many of these programs can be used to enhance your FrontPage Web.
The Web site prenhall.com/zimmerman that accompanies this book provides links to numerous Web sites related to Web development. Links are provided to online tutorials, graphics libraries, advanced language resources, and many other Web development resources. This site will be frequently updated to provide you with the latest information and sites of interest to Web developers.
