With a ValueWeb FrontPage account and a copy of Microsoft FrontPage, you will be able to use the powerful features of the program with the power of ValueWeb's server to produce a professional looking web site with little difficulty. This area provides a basic introduction to FrontPage, with terminology explained and tips for using the FrontPage extensions.

• What is FrontPage?



• Microsoft FrontPage is a powerful web editing software that is available at retail locations everywhere. While we do not provide the FrontPage software, we do have the required files on our server to support your copy of FrontPage. These server files are called the FrontPage extensions, and are a necessary component for using FrontPage with a web server. Currently we have the latest version of the FrontPage extensions installed on all of the newer machines here at ValueWeb, and the older accounts are gradually being converted to these newer servers in order to make FrontPage extensions available to all of our customers.



• FrontPage differs from other web design programs



• FrontPage is different due to the fact that the server extensions allow special features to become availble that are not present with other web design utilities. For example, FrontPage users can 'Publish' their web site directly to their account, without any need for FTP. Also, FrontPage's 'Web-Bots' make it easy for a FrontPage designer to place things such as forms and guestbooks on a site without having to learn complex scripting or CGIs. In addition, FrontPage users can edit their sites 'on the fly', meaning that FrontPage can log a user directly into his site on the server to edit the pages in real time, rather than having to make changes locally and then re-upload all the changed files. Even though ValueWeb strongly recommends keeping a local copy of your updated web site at all times, this feature is very useful for minor changes to the site on a day-to-day basis.



• Getting FrontPage technical help directly from Microsoft



• Although our technical support personnel do not provide assistance for the FrontPage software itself, we do make sure the extensions are functioning correctly on your account. Also, you can access technical support documents directly from Microsoft at this location.



• FrontPage Versions



• Currently, the latest version of FrontPage is FrontPage 98. Our servers also support the older FrontPage 97 version as well, so you should be able to use either version of the program for your site.



• UNIX accounts, FrontPage accounts, and Windows NT accounts



• We currently have two types of servers running at ValueWeb: UNIX servers, and Windows NT servers. A 'FrontPage account' is actually a UNIX-based account, just like all of our other UNIX accounts. The only difference is that we ADD the FrontPage extensions to create a 'FrontPage account'. Any UNIX account can have the FrontPage extensions installed (or removed, if necessary) by visiting the Control Panel (at www.yourdomain.com/stats) and selecting 'Account Information'. There is a button on the page that adds or removes the FrontPage extensions automatically. If you do not see this option, please contact our sales office at 800-934-6788 to correct this. Windows NT accounts all have FrontPage server extension installed at the very beginning.

For more assistance, please call Technical Support at 954-429-3449 between the hours of 9 AM and 10 PM Eastern, or E-Mail us.