Getting to Work with Web Pages and Files

In FrontPage 2003, you can work with many different types of pages. FrontPage is configured as the default editor for most types of text and markup files.

Creating Web Pages

Before you can edit or work with a page, you must first create it. You can create a blank page in any view by pressing Ctrl+N, or by clicking the New Page tool on the Standard toolbar.

You can create new pages based on templates as well. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click the down arrow to the right of the New button, then select Page. This displays the Page Templates dialog box.

2. Select the template you want to use, then click OK. You ll find more information on working with templates in Chapter 3, Maximizing Template and Wizard Options.

Another useful technique for creating pages is to use the New task pane. Follow these steps:

1. Choose File, New. This displays the New task pane.

2. Choose a page creation option:

   • Creates a new page with an HTML header and body, but no contents, and names the file with the .htm extension.

   • Text File Creates a new text file with no contents, and names the files with the .txt extension.

   • From Existing Page Creates a new page that is a copy of the page you selected in the New From Existing Page dialog box, and names the file with the .htm extension.

Opening Existing Pages and Files

When you open a site for editing, all the pages and files in the site are easily accessible in the Folder Web Site view and in the Folder List pane. Simply double-click a file to open it. You can open multiple files for editing, using Shift+Click and Ctrl+Click. Once you ve selected multiple files, right-click, then choose Open .

You can also open existing pages or files by clicking the Open tool on the Standard toolbar. This displays the Open File dialog box, which lets you open files based on their location. You can open files from the current site, on your hard drive, or on the Web.

Editing Pages

You can enter text in FrontPage just as you do in Microsoft Office Word 2003. FrontPage generates the necessary markup for you behind the scenes. If you want to modify the markup yourself, click the Code or Split tab, and then edit the markup directly.

When you open a page for editing in FrontPage, the document title is displayed with a quick access tab. If you make changes to the page, an asterisk is added to the tab title to indicate that there are unsaved changes. The asterisk is displayed until the next time you save the page.

Saving Pages

To save a page in FrontPage, select File, Save, or click the Save tool on the toolbar. Pages are saved to the location from which you opened them, which is usually the current site.

If you are saving a new page, the Save As dialog box is displayed when you choose File, Save, or click the Save tool. This lets you set the page title, file name , save as type and save location. Usually, you ll want to set a new title and filename. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Click the Change Title button, enter the title in the Set Page Title dialog box, and then click OK. This title is displayed in Web browsers, and should accurately describe the contents of the page.

2. Enter the filename in the File Name field. The filename should end with the appropriate extension, such as .htm or .html for an HTML document.

3. Click Save.

Maintaining Pages and Files

You should perform all of your page editing tasks in FrontPage, especially when you are renaming, moving or deleting files. If you do this, FrontPage will automatically update references to the pages and files you ve changed in the current site, ensuring those pages and files are still accessible from within other pages ”as long as those pages and files are in the current site.

Renaming Pages and Files

To rename a page or file, right-click the filename in the Folder view or Folder List pane, then select Rename. The filename is highlighted for editing. When you are finished editing, press Enter.

Aha!  

Another way of renaming files is to use two single clicks to enter filename edit mode. Click the filename, pause, then click the filename again. The filename will be highlighted for editing, as with the Rename option.

Moving Pages and Files

Using the Web site Folders view or the Folder List pane, you can move pages and files just as you would in Windows Explorer. You can:

• Drag and Drop Left-click the file, hold the mouse button, and then drag the file to the new location. The file is moved to the new location.

• Copy and Paste Right-click the file, choose Copy. Navigate to the new location, right-click and then choose Paste. A copy of the file is created at the desired location.

• Cut and Paste Right-click the file, choose Cut. Navigate to the new location, right-click, then choose Paste. The file is moved to the new location.

Unlike previous versions of FrontPage, you can also use these techniques when moving files between sites. To drag and drop between sites, follow these steps:

1. Open the Web sites you want to work with in FrontPage. Note that each Web site has its own instance of FrontPage, which is accessible from the taskbar.

2. In the destination Web site, display the Web Site Folders view, or the Folder List pane.

3. In the source site, left-click the file, hold the mouse button down, and drag the file to the taskbar area. Multiple files can be selected using Shift+Click or Ctrl+Click.

4. Move the pointer over the FrontPage instance containing the destination web.

5. Continue to drag the file into the Folder view or Folder List pane, then drop the file in the desired location.

To copy and paste or cut and paste between sites, follow these steps:

1. Open the Web sites you want to work with in FrontPage.

2. In the destination site, display the Web site Folders view, or the Folder List pane.

3. In the source site, right-click the file, then select Copy or Cut. Multiple files can be selected prior to right-clicking using Shift+Click or Ctrl+Click.

4. On the taskbar, select the FrontPage instance containing the destination site.

5. In the Folder view or Folder List pane, paste the file in the desired location by right-clicking and choosing Paste.

Deleting Pages and Files from the Current Site

To delete a file, follow these steps:

1. Select the file in the Web site Folders view, or the Folder List pane. Multiple files can be selected using Shift+Click or Ctrl+Click.

2. Press the Delete key, or choose Edit, Delete.

3. FrontPage asks you to confirm that you want to delete the file. Click Yes.