Computing Center

Using Microsoft Frontpage

Microsoft FrontPage is an application used when editing a web page, just as you edit a document. You can type and format text; add graphics, tables, and other features. FrontPage translates what you type into HTML code.

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)

HTML codes are embedded commands that supply information about a Web page's appearance to a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. The Web browser uses this information to display the page. You do not need to know HTML to use FrontPage. In the normal FrontPage edit mode, you see the page as it may appear in the Web browser. You will see a tab at the bottom of the edit screen where you may choose to see the HTML code (you may also directly edit the HTML code). You can insert images or hyperlinks by dragging and dropping all without knowing any code at all. You can also see what the page should look like in a web browser - select the Preview tab.

A Page

A Page is a Web document written in HTML. (Note: The Web Page, like any document, can be several paper pages long.) A Page can be either part of a web link, or it can stand alone. FrontPage provides several page templates so you can quickly create pages with a variety of layouts and functions. You can also use one of several themes to create pages with a consistent design. A theme contains unified design elements with a color scheme, including fonts, graphics, backgrounds, navigation bars, horizontal lines, and other page elements. Or, if you prefer, you can start with a blank page. Most of the features of FrontPage are useful for working on a web page. For example, a navigation bar, used to navigate to other pages, is useless on a single page.

Getting Started

• Organize
• A one page document should have one or more links. Plan before you edit. Outline where you expect to include the links to other sites, pages, or resources. You should provide ergonomic access between multiple pages and subjects.
• Open a New Page (Document)
• Go to the Menu Bar - select File; under File - select New then select Page. In the pop up window under the General Tab, select a blank page or one of the predefined layouts.
• Save! Save! Save!
• The first and wisest habit is to save your work - so start now. Go to the Menu Bar - select File; under File - select Save. In the pop up window make sure that the 'save in:' entry is correct. (Change this to the folder location of your choice. Or at least make sure you know what folder FrontPage is choosing.) Near the bottom center of the pop up window is the 'file name:' entry. Use a name related to your topic, or note the name that FrontPage is using. Also, note that directly below 'file name:' is the 'save as type:.' As a beginner, let FrontPage handle this one.
• Start Typing
• Enter your text (and graphics) in the same fashion as you would use Microsoft Word or any other word processor. Remember to save often. If you are following the steps, you will find that saving requires one or two mouse clicks. You can go to the tool bar (Just below the Menu Bar) and click on the diskette icon - or you can go to the Menu Bar select File, then select Save. In either case you will not be asked anything else. The name of the document and the storage location was decided with the first save.
• Stop or Exit
• When it is time to quit or go on to other task, simply save your work and exit just as you would from a word processor. You can return, restart FrontPage and open the file in the same way you would return to a word processor document.

• Modify the title
• The title is not the file name. The title is the web name of the file that appears in the title bar of browser programs used to see the page on the Web. You modify the title without modifying its name. In any view except the Tasks view, right-click the file, click Properties on the shortcut menu, and then click the General tab. In the Title box, type the title of the page.
• Graphics/Sound
• When you add graphics such as pictures, animations, and videos to your web page, the size of your web page will increase. The size, quality, type, and number of graphics are important considerations. Your Internet service provider has a limit to the size of your web site, and your viewers have limited patience when waiting for your page to load.
• Make a large picture smaller by resizing
• Resizing a picture just changes the way it is displayed in a browser. Therefore, if you only resize a large picture to be displayed at a smaller size, the picture's file size is still large. Graphics can take a lot of time to download, especially over slow Internet connections. To reduce a graphic file size, you can use FrontPage's resample command. Resample creates a thumbnail version of the original graphic.
• Create a thumbnail
• A thumbnail is a small version of the original picture that downloads quickly. By looking at the thumbnail, site visitors can determine whether they want to download the full?size version of the picture. To create the thumbnail: On the Picture's toolbar, click Auto Thumbnail. Auto Thumbnail creates a thumbnail picture with a hyperlink to your original picture. You will be prompted as you save the page to also save the new (smaller) thumbnail picture.
• Create a hyperlink to a page or file
• You can create a hyperlink to another page or file on the web. In normal Page view, select the text you want to use as a hyperlink. Go to the Menu bar and select Insert. Under Insert, select Hyperlink. Type in the URL address or click that little icon just to the right and navigate to the web in which the destination page or file is located Note: you will find yourself using your web browser. Don't panic! FrontPage has not deserted you. Once at the destination link find the FrontPage icon on the window task bar and select it. You should see that FrontPage was watching you. In the URL box you will see the address of where the web browser went - Click OK and continue working with FrontPage. You now have a completed hyperlink.
• Delete a hyperlink
• You can delete a hyperlink from a page. In normal Page view, Go to the Menu bar and select Insert. Under Insert, select Hyperlink. Delete the URL address.

Keyboard shortcuts

Create a new page	CTRL+N
Open a page	CTRL+O
Create a hyperlink on a page	CTRL+K
Print a page	CTRL+P
Refresh a page	F5
Close a page	CTRL+F4
Save a page	CTRL+S
Quit Microsoft FrontPage	ALT+F4
Find text	CTRL+F
Check spelling on a page	F7
Cancel an action	ESC
Undo an action	CTRL+Z
Apply bold formatting	CTRL+B
Apply an underline	CTRL+U
Apply italic formatting	CTRL+I
Create an Auto Thumbnail of a selected picture	CTRL+T
Display the online Help	F1



 
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