Front Page 2003

As I stated in my intro, I know nothing about webdesign but I want to design a web site. I have the basic plan down on what I want it to look like. I don't know HTML, XML, PHP, API, etc, etc and all I have is Front Page 2003, used to have 2002 but recently upgraded my office suite. Front Page seems like a good tool for someone like me. I learn pretty quickly and playing around last night with it I learned quite a bit. But I have a few questions.

What is CSS and can I use it in Front Page?
Is there a good "help" book that I can buy that would aid me in my design?
Is there a website that can help me as well?

I am looking for something written for the beginner but can be utilzed by a pro. I don't want to do anything special with the site. I have looked at some Front Page sites and saw some really nice looking ones and I want mine to look nice, not too flashy and cluttered looking. Hopefully someone here can help. Just from searching through the forum's I know there is at least one person who is a "Front Page guru". Thanks in advance for any help.

Front page can be good, but it does have it's limitations from what I've heard. I use it, and I haven't had too many issues with it. I think the biggest issue most folks have with front page is that it doesn't write "proper" code, although it will work. Dreamweaver seems to get the most respect around here in terms of WYSIWYG editors. Also, HTML Kit is a good (free ) program.

Regarding style sheets, yes, frontpage can be used with style sheets, although as far as i can tell it has no capability for doing external style sheets. If you're not sure how to use style sheets, http://www.w3schools.com has alot of good info. there are lots of pages on the internet (again, free ) that you can read that will probably tell you all you need to know about CSS. if, after reading through all the online material you still are confused, then i would advise going and getting the book. but the online resources are very good.

In terms of learning HTML, XHTML, CSS, or alot of other things, http://www.w3schools.com is a good place to start. I would say i was in the same place as you about a month ago when I found this forum. After following some of the links i found in different threads, I think I've learned quite a bit (although I'm certainly not advanced by any means.) There's more than enough stuff online to keep you busy for the next several months IMO, so find some good links and start reading.

A few links to sites I've found helpful as I've tried to learn:

CSS:
http://glish.com/css/
http://www.mako4css.com/index.htm
http://www.wpdfd.com/
http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/ref ... eet_guide/

Obviously, there's alot more out there, but that should keep you busy for a while. I especially recommend the glish.com site, as there are a ton of other links there that will lead to good sites as well.

mark

all great info from allgoodpeople there.

but don't put too much weight on a professional's opinion if you
know nothing about design. FP will be a great asset to you
and work well to teach the basics. After all, I learned html and
design using FP and don't think I turned out too bad.

FP is usually looked down upon by those that know html and
design very well. You don't have any other way to know
differently, and I say go for it! especially if you have 2003. It's
quite a nice program, even with all the negativity that goes
with it.

You'll have a blast with it, and it's quite forgiving. WYSIWYG = what you
see is what you get. and with FP, that's usually the case...you'll see.

SO far I am enjoying it. I worked on it for about 3 hours last night playing with the different things. I finally got the basic look of the site so now I need to work on the content. My wife was impressed with it but she doesn't really know anything. I just need some FP resources that will help explain what a few things are. Got quite a bit to look at already thanks to allgoodpeople. I pretty much figured that FP was looked down upon by HTML guru's but I don't know HTML this is all I have. Once I get it ready I will publish it using my ISP as soon as I figure out how to do it and I will submit it for review. I am sure all you webmasters out there will have quite a bit to say and I'll be looking forward to it.

actually, publishing your site to your server is really easy with FP. this is one of the big reasons i've stuck with FP over switching to dreamweaver. first, create a "web" (FP terms). Once you make all your pages and such in the web, you go to files/publish to web, and it will automatically sync what is on your server with what you have on your computer. any files on the server you don't have in your web on your local computer will be deleted, and any new files in the web not on the server will be uploaded or updated. really nice feature if you ask me

mark