Upgraded to Windows 8.1 and it seems I have to leave Frontpage behind

6 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
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Hello everyone,

I have now upgraded to Windows 8.1 and of course Front Page seems to now be obsolete. I can understand that it doesn't cover the new demands for website creation, however what is one to do, whose html skills are pre-school at best, to use a bad analogy..lol

Microsoft's new program is that Web Expression, which is not a WYSIWYG, but it looks to me like a fancy html editor, so that means a big learning curve for learning HTML. Well who has time to learn that when busy running an online business.

I do have websites also that are created with Wordpress. I was wondering if other fellow Warriors think that Wordpress is actually what most people are going to be doing, over static websites? Will those who build a webpage or site for others, just choose Wordpress? I have built websites for others using Frontpage, but now that is passe, and I don't know HTML well enough to do anything, I was thinking I would just setup Wordpress for someone.

What Wordpress theme does anyone recommend for a business or retail type site?
#frontpage #leave #upgraded #windows
  • Profile picture of the author gerardojv
    Hey gabbydeb,

    Wordpress is a pretty common used platform for most websites, the fact that its easy to edit, edit content and add extensions. In other words, its simple.

    A good way to start is by looking at wordpress's directory on their site:

    WordPress › Search for free « Free WordPress Themes

    The above is a search for "Free" in their theme directory, you'll see that most of the templates are clean, modern type themes and can be used for business and retail type sites.

    Frontpage is pretty ancient but it I would highly recommend learning and beginning with Wordpress as its one of the most popular, widely used but easiest platform out there. It will open up so many doors for you in terms of business, clients, and of course skillsets.

    G
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    • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
      Originally Posted by gerardojv View Post

      the fact that its easy to edit, edit content and add extensions. In other words, its simple.
      Don't believe it - it's a lie!

      While I agree that FrontPage is an ancient and bad tool... I must clarify this:
      WordPress is easy to install and start publishing right away. Ultimately, it is a publishing tool, NOT a html editor, NOT a web design tool.

      The "simplicity" stops being true in the moment you want to customize the look of a ready made WordPress theme. (They call 'themes' the special file packages that define the look of your content stored in the MySQL database, which is then presented dynamically through these template files...)

      To be able to make custome, unique websites witn WordPress (and with any CMS, for that matter) you have two choices:
      a) learn XHTML & CSS for doing it yourself;
      b) outsource and hire others to do it for you.

      Anybody saying otherwise is lying. :rolleyes:
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      • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
        Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

        To be able to make custome, unique websites witn WordPress (and with any CMS, for that matter) you have two choices:
        a) learn XHTML & CSS for doing it yourself;
        b) outsource and hire others to do it for you.

        Anybody saying otherwise is lying. :rolleyes:
        I would partially disagree, you can do enough customization from within the dashboard of most modern themes, even the free ones, to make a site unique.
        Signature

        Robin



        ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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      • Profile picture of the author gabbydeb
        You have expressed the thoughts, I have been having for the last day or two. In looking at portfolios of wordpress sites, that have been customized, for having a local biz directory type website, I can see that the basic WP theme has been highly customized. I have found some themes that are perfect for having one these sites, but still it seems that the theme will still need further customization, to get the look I want, so if one doesn't know CSS or XHTML it looks like one would have to hire it done, like you said. I didn't want to do that, but since I don't have my old stand by Frontpage, it looks like I don't have a choice. Thank you for your help!

        Gabby


        Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

        Don't believe it - it's a lie!

        While I agree that FrontPage is an ancient and bad tool... I must clarify this:
        WordPress is easy to install and start publishing right away. Ultimately, it is a publishing tool, NOT a html editor, NOT a web design tool.

        The "simplicity" stops being true in the moment you want to customize the look of a ready made WordPress theme. (They call 'themes' the special file packages that define the look of your content stored in the MySQL database, which is then presented dynamically through these template files...)

        To be able to make custome, unique websites witn WordPress (and with any CMS, for that matter) you have two choices:
        a) learn XHTML & CSS for doing it yourself;
        b) outsource and hire others to do it for you.

        Anybody saying otherwise is lying. :rolleyes:
        Signature

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      • Profile picture of the author gerardojv
        Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

        Don't believe it - it's a lie!

        While I agree that FrontPage is an ancient and bad tool... I must clarify this:
        WordPress is easy to install and start publishing right away. Ultimately, it is a publishing tool, NOT a html editor, NOT a web design tool.

        The "simplicity" stops being true in the moment you want to customize the look of a ready made WordPress theme. (They call 'themes' the special file packages that define the look of your content stored in the MySQL database, which is then presented dynamically through these template files...)

        To be able to make custome, unique websites witn WordPress (and with any CMS, for that matter) you have two choices:
        a) learn XHTML & CSS for doing it yourself;
        b) outsource and hire others to do it for you.

        Anybody saying otherwise is lying. :rolleyes:
        True, the simplicity stops when you want to customize your wordpress sites, but a lot of sites now include their drag and drop customizations, theme panels to edit header color, body color, footer etc etc, and with the use of frameworks like T3, Gantry, Genesis, Headway, it just make it that much "simpler" to edit with little programming knowledge.

        And the reason for a CMS? Is to get away from having to hire and outsource and pay a developer every single time you want to edit html or save the hassle of opening the files to everytime via ftp to edit content of add in pictures.

        Just depends on what you prefer, hope this helps gabbydeb lol.
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        • Profile picture of the author gabbydeb
          Since my last post here, I have been looking high and low again, to perhaps solve my wordpress design and use problem. I did find a couple of things that I thought would be perfect for what I want, but thought I would post them here, to see if my fellow warriors know about them and if so, give me some feedback on them.

          These aren't free, but I am sort of running out of free options, so here they are.
          Buzzler - WordPress Business Directory Theme | SiteMile.com

          and wp local plus

          One of them is a wordpress theme and the other one is a plug in.

          I would love to hear from you guys, if you know anything about these two products.

          Regards,
          Debbie
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