Working with Web Packages in FrontPage 2003

Web packages are new to FrontPage 2003 and as mentioned previously, provide an entire package of Web design features. The Web Packages options are accessed through the Packages tab of the Web Site Templates dialog box.

CAUTION

It is important to stress that Web packages will only work in the SharePoint hosting environment.

By default, FrontPage 2003 comes with two Web Packages: News and Reviews Site and Web Log.

TIP

I have no doubt that the introduction of Web packages will quickly bring a number of third-party packages. At the time of writing, these were the only two available, but you can check the Office Marketplace for more at http://officemarketplace.frontpagelink.com.

If you are installing a Web package not available through the Packages tab (for instance, a third-party package), select Tools, Packages, Import. The Import Web Package dialog box, seen in Figure 14.9, will walk you through the process.

Figure 14.9. The first step of the Web package installation process requires telling FrontPage which parts of the Web package you would like to install or import.

The install process will first ask you which elements of the Web package you would like installed. By default, all options are selected. Refer to your specific Web Package documentation for which package elements are right for you.

NOTE

Because they can contain scripting and database information, a Web package could do considerable damage if it contained malicious content. Any Web package you use should be digitally signed to ensure that it comes from a trustworthy source. The News and Reviews and Web Log packages are digitally signed by Microsoft.

If you aren't able to import your Web package into your Web site, see "Can't Import a Web Package" in the "Troubleshooting" section at the end of this chapter.

News and Reviews Web Package

The News and Reviews Web package provides a complete News and Reviews Web site that allows you to share news and information with others through a Windows SharePoint Service enabled Web site. Participants in the site can post News information directly through the Web interface if they have the appropriate permissions to do so. The initial home page is seen in Figure 14.10.

Figure 14.10. The Web site produced by the News and Reviews Web Package instantly enables powerful online interaction without any additional coding or development work.

The Web package provides content management, headline generation, and dynamic historical updating generated from content as it is entered into the Web site.

As will all SharePoint site content, look and feel for the News and Reviews Web site can be edited and updated through FrontPage (see Figure 14.11).

Figure 14.11. Any page in the News and Reviews Web site can be edited for content and look and feel through FrontPage.

If you can't get your Web package to install on your site, see "Web Package Doesn't Install" in the "Troubleshooting" section at the end of this chapter.

Web Log Web Package

Web Logs (or blogs) are a popular Internet technology used for everything from "stream of consciousness" rantings to legitimate vehicles for news and information dissemination. A quick search of the term "blog" on the Internet will show that they are a fascinating element of the Internet landscape and have key players and providers behind them. The interactive nature of blogs and their low barrier to entry has caused an exponential growth rate.

The Microsoft Web Log Web package hopes to provide a blogging solution to both the FrontPage and SharePoint user. The Web Log Web package provides the ability to post a Web log from browser and lets readers of your blog comment on content written. In addition, the site presents your Web log online, provides search capabilities, and offers a historical archive of content added to the site. The initial home page is seen in Figure 14.12.

Figure 14.12. The Web site produced by the Blog Web Package instantly provides an online blogging system with remote content management and historical content archiving capabilities.

The Web package provides everything you need to run a personal Web log. As with all SharePoint site content, look and feel for the News and Reviews Web site can be edited and updated through FrontPage (see Figure 14.13).

Figure 14.13. Any page in the Web Log Web site can be edited for content and look and feel in FrontPage.

Exporting a Web Package

Creating a Web Package is as simple as placing all the content in a single FrontPage Web and selecting Export from the Packages option in the Tools menu (see Figure 14.14).

Figure 14.14. The Export Web Package dialog box will walk you through the process of exporting your package into a single Web package file.