Customer Reviews

FrontPage 2000 for Dummies

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Whenever I have a new software to learn, I go buy the "dummies" title to get me up to speed. Sadly, I'll be returning this title and looking for something more informative.

Although this book does teach you how to use FrontPage in the most basic possible way, it does not cover some very fundamental topics. For one thing, the author recommends using readymade (albeit customize-able) "themes" to design your site, with little information on how to format if you're NOT using a theme. The author also neglects to mention that using a theme will create a huge folder of theme graphics in your web, whether your site uses those graphics or not. So you can double or triple your upload time.

This example is emblematic of many problems with the book. I'm not a sophisticated computer user, and when I'm first learning a software, I count on the "dummies" titles to answer my novice questions. When I have questions that go unanswered, something's wrong.

This might be a good book for the individual user who wants to fool around with the software and perhaps design a personal web page. But if you're looking for the skills you need to design a professional looking site, look elsewhere.

If I had it to do over again, I would just take the Microsoft tutorial that comes free on the FP 2000 disc, and then buy a MUCH MORE HEAVY DUTY reference book. While this book was entertaining and clear enough, FrontPage 2000 is far too complex a program to deal with in this "Dummies" format.

I ended up very frustrated trying to understand the concepts, because they were far over-simplified.

This book probably got me up and running more quickly on the basics of my first attempt at a web page. HOWEVER, the difficult answers - about folders, server extensions, PWS, etc. were glossed over too much to be of any value.

You'll eventually need one of the 900 page reference works to be successful here...

I now approach the Dummies titles for what they are - clean, simple introductions to software, etc. I have no problem with Dornfest's approach. She is, perhaps, a bit restricted by the massive amount of information that is out there - and consequently, she refers the reader to certain websites for further training. If she didn't, the book would start to resemble one of those "bibles" that nobody reads but only refers to as a reference manual. Perhaps there are better introductions to FrontPage 2000 out there, but this is a fair start. Almost always better than the manuals that are enclosed from the developer. Why is that?

The book gives sufficient info so that you can get on with using FrontPage. It is quite humorous and the author tries not to keep you bored while reading this. However, I'd suggest another book unless you consider yourself somewhat a dummy. The author thoroughly explains things that are more or less common sense. Some things are very easy to understand so I suggest not reading a whole page reading about them, as a result if you familiar with Windows and have some experience with the Internet, don't waste your time reading this.

This book does an excellent job of leading the FrontPage beginner throught the mechanics of the program and explaining the possibilities available. Where the supplied manual explains what can be done, this book shows how to do it in an entertaining manner. Five stars would have been earned had there been a section with examples (not tutorials) and how they were achieved using tricks and graphics.

I liked "FrontPage 98 for Dummies," and this updated edition is just as good. The author clearly explains the basic features of a very complex program and provides practical solutions for the new user. Advanced topics (database connectivity, ASP, theme customization, etc.) are left good for a good reason: this book is one of the least intimidating books I've read. Highly recommended.

I read this book a couple of years ago as a fledgling "web master" for a non-profit organization. With virtually no experience in web design before, I was able to complete this book in a weekend and start designing in Front Page. It was the perfect book to get me started. I have since outgrown Front Page and moved up to Dreamweaver which is much better suited for large advanced sites. Though, I still think Front Page is the fastest way to create a simple website and the easiest way to manage a small to medium sized website. Front Page for dummies will give you the essential skills you need to use Front Page and is a quick easy read. Well worth the nominal price of the book.

This was quite a informative book, it gives you all the things you need to master frontpage 2000. I would just wish it could of gave a example part in the book. Instead of all tutorials, the example part for this book may happen in future editions, more than likely.

You are also given a CD with the book which includes software and a few example pages done with frontpage. But no reference to how they have done these pages. I'm no rookie or anything so it comes as common sense but not everyone figures things out the same. So wondering how to do these pages could be a problem for people. There are 361 pages in this book I feel this could of been cut down to 250.

But OVERALL good book with a vast range of information all about Frontpage. Will soon hopefully get you making great looking web pages. :)

Not a bad book for complete newbies, but I was hoping for some detailed info on the most exciting part of FP2000- its ability to generate its own database and query it. Don't look for "database" in the index. It's mentioned on p.215 where it refers you to the program's online help. There is no coverage of ASP.

After reading "Frontpage '98 - Fast and Easy" when I was using that version of the program, I have to say that this book is not up to the task. Information is unnecessarily repeated, sometimes within the same chapter. It has no flow or momentum towards easily completing a web site. And it curiously contains few illustrations and screen shots for a "Dummy" book. I'm going back to the "fast and Easy" series.