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Microsoft FrontPage 97 Unleashed, Second Edition


by William Staneck et al.

201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46290


What's New In This Edition


With the 1997 version of FrontPage, Microsoft once again establishes FrontPage as the most advanced Web publishing and management tool on the market. FrontPage 97 allows everyone from novices to experts to create advanced Web pages using the latest technologies including HTML 3.2, Java, ActiveX, JavaScript, VBScript, and Netscape plug-ins.

Two of the most advanced features added to FrontPage 97 are the Script Wizard and the Internet Database Connector. You will use the Script Wizard to generate advanced programs in either JavaScript or VBScript. You will use the Internet Database Connector to perform database searches and updates via the Web. Your guide to using these and many other FrontPage tools to their maximum potential is this book.

Microsoft FrontPage 97 Unleashed, Second Edition, is a completely revised edition of the most comprehensive guide to FrontPage available. In this new edition, you'll find three new sections and nearly a dozen new chapters. These new chapters feature the same dedication to total coverage of the issues and hands-on development that made the original edition an instant best-seller.

New sections you will find in this edition include:

New chapters you will find in this edition include:

All other chapters have been revised and updated to reflect the new features of FrontPage 97 and advances in Web technology. Here are just a few of the updates you can look for:

Whether you use FrontPage now or plan to use FrontPage in the future, Microsoft FrontPage 97 Unleashed, Second Edition, is for you. Nowhere will you find more comprehensive coverage of FrontPage and the issues you need to be a successful Web publisher.


To my wife, who let me follow my dreams and sincerely believed when others didn't.



Copyright © 1997 by Sams.net Publishing


SECOND EDITION

All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. For information, address Sams.net Publishing, 201 W. 103rd St., Indianapolis, IN 46290.

International Standard Book Number: 1-57521-226-9

2000 99 98 97 4 3 2 1

Interpretation of the printing code: the rightmost double-digit number is the year of the book's printing; the rightmost single-digit, the number of the book's printing. For example, a printing code of 96-1 shows that the first printing of the book occurred in 1996.

Composed in AGaramond and MCPdigital by Macmillan Computer Publishing

Printed in the United States of America

All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Sams.net Publishing cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark. FrontPage and Microsoft are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Publisher and President: Richard K. Swadley

Publishing Manager: Mark Taber

Director of Editorial Services: Cindy Morrow

Assistant Marketing Managers: Kristina Perry, Rachel Wolfe

Acquisitions Editor

Development Editor

Software Development Specialist

Editors

Technical Reviewer

Editorial Coordinator

Technical Edit Coordinator

Editorial Assistants

Cover Designer

Book Designer

Copy Writer

HTML Conversion

Acknowledgments


After a dozen books or so, and without a full-time day job, you would think writing would not be so extraordinarily taxing. Yet, it is not so. Clients and business matters occupy many more hours of my time than is prudent and the writing still lures me through the wee hours of the night. Sometimes it seems that I work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and indeed sometimes I come close. Without the support of my wife and two children, the days would seem eternal. Thank you for your continued support and your extraordinary ability to put up with the clackety-clackety of my keyboard!

I'd also like to thank my mother, who has taken command of my company's electronic publishing operation. Managing four electronic book imprints and answering correspondence is no easy task. Thanks for coming to the rescue to ensure I had time for other projects—like writing this book. Now if we could only find national distributors that could get our products on the shelves of software and bookstore chains!

As always, the team at Sams.net has been great to work with. I've worked with many of you on previous books and your dedication to excellence is really quite wonderful. Specials thanks to Beverly Eppink and Mark Taber who recognized the tremendous potential and quality of my message in the original edition of Microsoft FrontPage Unleashed and believed enough to rush a second edition covering FrontPage 97 into print.

Thanks to the many thousands who have read and continue to read my books. As I have stated to the hundreds who have contacted me over the years, I take all comments to heart and relish the contact and input from you, the reader. I will continue to try to answer all correspondence personally. As the dragon sometimes wins, keep in mind that e-mail isn't 100% reliable and that many times I am so overwhelmed with work, I don't have time to answer any e-mail be it business or pleasure, but I do try.

About the Authors



Lead Author


William R. Stanek (director@tvp.com) is a leading industry expert and founder of an Internet start-up company called The Virtual Press (http://tvp.com/ and mirror site http://www.tvpress.com/). As a publisher and writer with more than 10 years experience on networks, he brings a solid voice of experience on the Internet and Web publishing to his many projects. He was first introduced to Internet e-mail in 1988 when he worked for the government, and has been involved in the commercial Internet community since 1991.

His years of practical experience are backed by a solid education, Master of Science in Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. While his Internet start-up company publishes electronic books under four imprints, the core business revolves around three primary divisions that conduct Internet consulting (icteam@tvp.com), Web design (wdteam@tvp.com), and multimedia development (epteam@tvp.com). The time that isn't spent writing such runaway hits as FrontPage Unleashed is spent consulting with corporate clients and developing hot new Web sites.

William served in the Persian Gulf War as a combat crew member on an Electronic Warfare aircraft. During the war, he flew on numerous combat missions into Iraq and was awarded nine medals for his wartime service including one of our nation's highest flying honors, the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross. He has written many books, articles and essays. His book length projects include nine fiction titles and eight nonfiction titles. When he's not writing or working, he spends time with his family, his favorite time of the day being when he reads to the youngest.

Contributing Authors


Mark L. Chambers (sysop@batboard.org) has been a PC software freelance writer, bulletin board system operator, and game programmer for more than 10 years. He is the author of Running a Perfect BBS and has contributed chapters to Microsoft Internet Explorer 3 Unleashed, Netscape Unleashed, Introduction to PC Communications, and Using PC Tools 8.

Rick Darnell (darnell@montana.com), a contributing author to Java Unleashed, Web Publishing Unleashed, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3 Unleashed, is a midwest native currently living with his wife and two daughters in Missoula, MT. He began his career in print at a small weekly newspaper after graduating from Kansas State University with a degree in broadcasting. While spending time as a freelance journalist and writer, Rick has seen the full gamut of personal computers, since starting out with a Radio Shack Model I in the late 1970s. When not in front of his computer, he serves as a volunteer firefighter and member of a regional hazardous materials response team.

Tom Hayes currently resides in Indianapolis with his wife Michelle and their new son Owen. Tom graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in Visual Communications and received his MBA in marketing from Indiana University. Tom has been involved in computer programming for more than 10 years and has recently concentrated on database design using Visual Basic, FoxPro and Excel. For the past six years, he has provided fax marketing solutions to national clients as the owner and general manager of Fax Daily. When he's not feverishly preparing to franchise the company across the country, he spends a lot of time changing dirty diapers, rough-housing with the dog, and occasionally squeezing in a round of golf. Tom's life-long ambition is to be the guy who thinks up new paint color names at the hardware store. If you know of a job opening, Tom can be reached at thayes@vnii.net.

John Jung (jjung@netcom.com) is a professional systems administrator with a world-wide information services company. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a Computer Science degree. He has been on the Internet for over eight years and spends entirely too much time online. He has worked on almost a dozen books and is the co-author of Special Edition: Using HTML, Second Edition.

Dick Oliver (dicko@netletter.com, http://netletter.com/) is the author and co-author of numerous books on computer graphics and the Internet, including Web Page Wizardry, Creating Your Own Web Graphics, Netscape Unleashed, Internet Explorer Unleashed, and Tricks of the Graphics Gurus. He is also the president of Cedar Software and the publisher of a paper and online newsletter called the Nonlinear Nonsense Netletter. Dick lives in Elmore, Vermont, USA and commutes to work all over the world via the Internet.

Ned Snell is an award-winning computer journalist and author. Ten years ago, after a brief career as a teacher, Snell entered the software industry as a documentation and training specialist for several of the world's largest software companies. He then moved into the computer trade magazine business, where he served as a staff writer and eventually editor for several national publications.

In 1991, he became a freelancer so that he could pursue his dual professions: computer journalist and actor. Since then, he has written for international publications such as Datamation and Software magazine, and he has also developed documentation and training materials for diabetes management software. At the same time, he has acted in regional professional theaters, commercials, and industrial films. Snell is the author of the Sams titles Laura Lemay's Web Workshop: Netscape Navigator Gold 3, Navigating the Microsoft Network, Navigating the Internet with Windows 95 (now in a Deluxe Edition with CD), Curious About the Internet?, and Souping Up Windows. He lives with his wife—Nancy Gonzales, a writer and translator—and their two sons in Florida ('cause it's warm there).

Tell Us What You Think!


As a reader, you are the most important critic and commentator of our books. We value your opinion and want to know what we're doing right, what we could do better, what areas you'd like to see us publish in, and any other words of wisdom you're willing to pass our way. You can help us make strong books that meet your needs and give you the computer guidance you require.

Do you have access to CompuServe or the World Wide Web? Then check out our CompuServe forum by typing GO SAMS at any prompt. If you prefer the World Wide Web, check out our site at http://www.mcp.com.


NOTE

If you have a technical question about this book, call the technical support line at (800) 571-5840, ext. 3668.


As the publishing manager of the group that created this book, I welcome your comments. You can fax, e-mail, or write me directly to let me know what you did or didn't like about this book—as well as what we can do to make our books stronger. Here's the information:

FAX: 317/581-4669

E-mail: newtech_mgr@sams.mcp.com

Mark Taber
Sams.net Publishing
201 W. 103rd Street
Indianapolis, IN 46290

Introduction


by William Robert Stanek

The best-selling and most comprehensive guide to FrontPage has been completely revised to cover FrontPage 97. In this new edition, you'll find the same dedication to total coverage of the issues and hands-on development. You'll also find complete coverage of HTML 3.2, Java, JavaScript, VBScript, ActiveX, and Netscape Plug-ins.

Web technologies are growing at a phenomenal rate. At one time, there was only HTML; now there is HTML 3, HTML extensions for Netscape and Microsoft Explorer, VRML, CGI, Java, and much more. Keeping pace with this ever-growing array of technology is confusing. Enter FrontPage, an integrated WYSIWYG tool for creating and managing Web sites that is years ahead of the competition.

As the first authoring tool created for nonprogrammers that is robust enough for professional Web developers, FrontPage provides everything you need to design, publish, and manage your Internet or Intranet Web site. Millions of Microsoft Office users around the world will find that FrontPage uses the very familiar Microsoft interface. In fact, FrontPage is the only Web site creation and management tool that is a member of the Microsoft Office family of applications. All tools included in FrontPage are also part of one complete package. You will find that it is surprisingly easy to become a Web publisher using FrontPage!

Whether your Web publishing plans are large or small, you do not want to wait any longer to get into the action. By the end of 1998, more than 100 million people will have access to the global Internet and to the World Wide Web. What this means is that for a few dollars a month, you can reach a potential audience of millions. If you think this is hype, think again. The World Wide Web has caught the eye of the media, businesses, entrepreneurs, and governments. Media coverage of the Internet and related issues grows every day. Thousands of articles related to the Internet are published every month in books, magazines, newspapers, and newsletters. You will find discussions about the Internet and the Web on TV shows, radio, and the news. You will also find addresses to Web pages in all forms of advertising—from magazine ads to television commercials.

As you read this book, you will learn about what the Web has to offer. I have taken great care to provide invaluable tips and pour my expertise into every page of Microsoft FrontPage 97 Unleashed, Second Edition. Today's Web publishers have powerful resources at their fingertips, and this book shows how to use every one of them.

Who Should Read This Book


Microsoft FrontPage 97 Unleashed, Second Edition is for anyone who wants to publish on the Web or who has considered publishing on the Web. Although this book is intended for those with a casual to accomplished knowledge of the Internet or the World Wide Web, the plain English approach makes this book perfect for just about anyone. I truly hope you find this book to be invaluable as you plot your course to success in Web publishing.

How This Book Is Organized


This book is designed to be the most comprehensive resource guide to FrontPage available anywhere. Chapter by chapter, you will learn everything you need to know to create, design, and publish dazzling Web publications with FrontPage.

Part I, "Getting Started and Planning," covers everything you need to know to get started as a Web publisher. Chapter 1, "Before You Start: Issues to Consider," explores the issues to consider before publishing on the Web. Coverage of these issues is intended to save you time, money, and resources. Chapter 2, "Navigating and Publishing on the Web," answers the questions about why you should publish on the Web, what you can publish on the Web, and who is already publishing on the Web. Chapter 3, "Developing and Planning an Intranet," helps you design and plan an Intranet.

Part II, "FrontPage Basics," introduces you to the FrontPage development environment. In Chapter 4, "Introducing FrontPage," you get a first glimpse of the Personal Web Server, the FrontPage Explorer, and the FrontPage Editor. You also learn about hot features such as Web Wizards, templates, and WebBots. A quick walkthrough of the FrontPage Explorer and the FrontPage Editor is the subject of Chapter 5, "The FrontPage Explorer and Editor Step by Step." Afterward, in Chapters 6 ("Working with Pages and Files") and 7 ("Working with Webs"), you learn the basics of creating pages and Webs with FrontPage.

Part III, "Working with FrontPage," explores the WYSIWYG features of FrontPage and includes extensive coverage of the hottest and latest Web publishing issues. Chapter 8, "Creating Web Documents with FrontPage," is a power primer for creating Web documents with FrontPage. You will find useful tips, expert advice, and a strong emphasis on sound design. Chapter 9, "Adding Features to the Page," covers adding features to your pages, such as hypertext references, lists, scrolling marquees and Netscape plug-ins. The chapter also discusses how to use alternate document transfer protocols. Chapter 10, "Enhanding Your Web Publication with Images—the Easy Way," tells you when, how, and why to use images and image maps in your Web publications. Chapter 11, "Adding Sound and Video to Web Pages," covers the specifics of adding sound and video to Web publications. The chapter tells you when, how, and why to use sound and video. You'll find complete coverage of document sound tracks and inline motion video.

After you've worked with FrontPage for a while, you are ready to move on to advanced issues, and Part IV "Advanced Publishing with FrontPage," takes a comprehensive look at advanced issues. Chapter 12, "Using Forms and the Form Page Wizard," tells you how to create forms using the Forms Wizard. Chapters 13 ("Creating Tables with FrontPage") and 14 ("Using Frames and the Frame Wizard") explore two of the hottest elements in Web publishing: tables and frames. Not only do leading browsers such as Netscape and Internet Explorer support tables and frames, but these elements are also a part of the new HTML specification. You'll find complete coverage of the latest table and frame enhancements, including using background colors and images in tables, and floating frames. Chapter 15, "Creating and Editing Graphics with the Microsoft Image Composer," explores creating images with the Microsoft Image Composer, a free tool in the FrontPage 97 with Bonus Pack CD. The final chapter in Part IV, "Exploring Style Sheets and 2D Layout," examines style sheets. With style sheets, Web publishers finally have sophisticated control over the placement of elements on the page.

Integrating FrontPage with Microsoft Office is a key concept that millions of MS Office users will want to learn all about, and Part V, "Microsoft Office Web Publishing," provides you with everything you need to know. The first chapter in this part, Chapter 17 ("Web Publishing with Microsoft Office 97"), introduces the Web publishing tools you'll find in Microsoft Office 97 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Schedule+. Chapter 18, "Using Internet Assistant for Word," examines the Internet Assistant for Word and discusses how to use Word with FrontPage. Chapter 19, "Using Internet Assistant for PowerPoint," examines the Internet Assistant for PowerPoint and discusses how to use PowerPoint with FrontPage. Chapter 20, "Internet Assistants for Excel, Access, and Schedule+," examines the Internet Assistants for Excel, Access, and Schedule+.

Part VI, "Templates, Web Wizards, and WebBots," explores three of the hottest features of FrontPage and how they make Web publishing a snap. Chapter 21, "Creating Web Pages with Templates," looks at the dozens of templates included in FrontPage. Not only will creating Web pages with templates save you time, but the templates themselves are guides that can help you design better pages. In Chapter 22, "Instant Web Sites with Web Wizards," you learn how to generate content for your Web page by using Web Wizards. The final chapter in this section, "Automating with FrontPage's WebBots," looks at WebBots. At the touch of a button, WebBots enable you to add advanced capabilities to your Web site—including interactive forms, navigation bars, text searches, and discussion forums—with no programming involved at all.

Customizing FrontPage with the FrontPage Developer's Kit is the subject of Part VII, "Using the FrontPage Developer's Kit." Chapter 24, "Introducing the FrontPage Developer's Kit," introduces you to the features of the developer's kit, and Chapters 25 ("Creating Your Own Templates") and 26 ("Creating Your Own Wizards") tell you how to create your own templates and wizards. Not only will you be able to use these templates and wizards with FrontPage, but you can also share the templates and wizards with other FrontPage publishers.

Beyond HTML, a whole world of hot technologies is waiting to be put to use. The hottest of these technologies is ActiveX. ActiveX is a family of technologies for activating the Internet with real-time interaction. In Part VIII "VBScript and ActiveX," you will learn how to use ActiveX, how to write scripts using VBScript, and how to integrate ActiveX and VBScript. As you will discover in Chapter 27, "Using the Scripting Wizard with VBScript," VBScript provides the development language for activating your pages. But to create truly interactive pages, you need to integrate ActiveX with VBScript. Using ActiveX and integrating ActiveX with VBScript is the subject of Chapters 28 ("Exploring ActiveX and ActiveX Controls") and 29 ("Creating Interactive Pages with Controls").

Part IX, "JavaScript and Java," provides a fast track to using JavaScript and Java. Chapter 30, "Using the Scripting Wizard with JavaScript," shows you how to use JavaScript in your Web pages. The next chapter, "Including Java Applets in Your Web Page," follows up by teaching you how to add Java applets to your pages. But your lesson in object-oriented programming is only beginning. Next, you learn in Chapter 32, "Writing Java Applets," how to write Java applets. Afterward, in Chapter 34 ("Integrating JavaScript and Java"), you see firsthand how to integrate JavaScript and Java.

Although managing your Web site is the key topic in Part X, "Managing Your Web," the section covers everything you need to know to set up, configure, manage, and maintain Web sites. Chapter 34, "Writing CGI Scripts," provides a top-notch introduction to CGI scripts that will not leave you confused and wondering how it all works. Chapter 35, "Search Engines and Indexed Databases," shows you firsthand how to use the hypertext facilities of the Web to put the world's most powerful search engines at your fingertips. The chapter also provides in-depth coverage on how to build an indexed database. In Chapter 36, "Using Web Servers with FrontPage," you learn all about using Web servers with FrontPage. Chapter 37, "Personal Web Server Administration," explores Web server administration. Because server security is an extremely important aspect of server management, Chapter 38, "Managing Server Security for the Personal Web Server," looks at how you can manage server security with built-in FrontPage features. Web publishers who plan to create advanced Web sites with multiple authors will also want to know how to manage these large projects. Chapter 39, "Creating and Managing Discussion Groups," tells you how to create and manage discussion groups. Finally, because no section on server management would be complete without a troubleshooting guide, Chapter 40, "Troubleshooting FrontPage," provides you with expert advice on solving routing—and not-so-routine—difficulties you might encounter.

Practical application of this book's many topics is the subject of Part XI, "Putting It All Together." Every success story has a beginning, and in Web publishing, the first step is creating and publishing a Web page following sound design techniques. Chapter 41, "Designing and Publishing a Home Page," tells you how to do this. The chapter covers everything you need to know to build a terrific home page: publishing strategies, page structure, creating the page, adding features, proofing the page, testing the page, and publishing the page. Creating and publishing your first Web page is only a starting point. The next chapter, "Designing and Publishing a Web Site," tells you how to build a cool Web site. But the chapter doesn't stop there; it goes on to tell you how to publicize your Web site as well. Chapter 43, "Building a Powerful Intranet," tells you how to publish on an Intranet. You will find the detailed information in this chapter to be invaluable as you design and publish your corporate Intranet site.

The final section of the book puts the reference resources that you need into your hands. Appendix A is an HTML reference. Appendix B is an ActiveX Control Automation Command Reference. Appendix C gives you a rundown of everything on the book's CD-ROM.


CONVERSION NOTE

In the code listings in this HTML version of FrontPage 97 Unleashed, the are many times when lines were too long to fit conveniently on one screen width. Therefore, the symbol ¬ (¬ ASCII) is used to mark the beginning of continued lines.



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