26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good Overview of EW2, March 26, 2009
This review is from: Microsoft Expression Web 2 Step by Step (Step By Step (Microsoft)) (Paperback)
Over the last month, I have gone through all 354 pages of this book sentence by sentence, word by word and "step by step" except for Chapter 2 on "Moving from FrontPage to Expression Web2." I have never used FrontPage so it would have little meaning for me.
I'm new to web-building so I can only speak with that experience. This begs the question, "Who is this book designed for," that is, "who would get the most out of it." The book makes no statements to that effect. And perhaps another question, "Are there enough books and training material available on this software to allow one to pick and choose for one's experience level? "Is there a "master manual" for this software or some other "Missing Manual?" There was a "Dummies" book for the first EW version. The answers to those question seem to be that because this software is relatively new, few books are available and apparently, a master manual does not exist and would need to be so massive and expensive (if it had to cover a complete understanding of the EW2 program including a complete review of CSS/PHP/ASP.net, etc., etc.
I purchased this Microsoft Press book along with "Sam's Teach Yourself MS EW2", "Visual Quickstart Guide MS EW" (Hester/first version of Expression), and "Special Edition-Using MS EW2" (Jim Cheshire). Sam's claims their book was written for the "novice designer" which fits my description (they qualify it by saying a seasoned designer will find lots of useful info). On the cover of Cheshire's book it states it is "The ONLY EW2 book you need."
Regardless, one would assume that, minimally, only a person who had some decent computer skills and serious interest in designing web pages (and time on their hands) would want to delve into an intense program such as EW2. I have, like anyone fitting that description, been sitting in front of a computer and MS Office Programs for the last 12 years and hence decided on this Microsoft program rather than say Dreamweaver. But I had never heard of cascading style sheets (CSS) nor PHP, ASP.net before I bought the program and books. So it was a struggle for me to get through the Leeds book in the sense of having to struggle with those entirely new concepts. Even I have had a little experience with creating a web site on a crude level some years ago. But if you are very new to web building and do not know the difference between HTML start and end tags you will be at a serious disadvantage with this book and you had best start with a "Dummies" book or a simpler book or course on web building before you jump into this one by Microsoft Press. Some books will say you can use EW2 without ever looking at the code view but I can't believe you can be proficient with EW2 without at least some general understanding of how to use the code view for very basic manipulations. This book does help you with that to some degree.
This book literally is "step by step" as the title states. Throughout the entire book you are told to "click on X", then "click on Y" browse to Z and type 1, 2, 3. An occasional explanation and/or description may be given. This was a bit of a problem for me, because I need a "big picture," "concepts" type of approach to learn anything as complicated as EW2. I'm not sure the "learn by doing" approach in this book will be valuable to many persons. It might be sufficient for the general construction of a web page but not for CSS and server side scripts programs. Perhaps MS Press needs to re-think this approach and get more opinions of whether this learning style really works for the complexity of EW2. I think they may be confused as to whom this book is directed. Perhaps the publisher should separate out the CSS and server side script learning into a separate book---two companion books such that they can each be more intense?
So I have come away with only a very general picture of how to build a website using EW2 and certainly need more intense training on CSS, PHP, and ASP.net either because of the approach used in this book or because of the general complexity of the Program and my limited experience. If you have some good experience in web building you may sail through this book and pick up all you need relative to this new EW2 version or to modern web building programs; but not if you are a "beginner" or novice.
So my next decision is which of my books to turn to now---or to buy separate CSS and scripting books and/or take some courses. These conclusions of mine are actually noted by the author Chris Leeds in the book, where he repeatedly notes his book is not the end of ones learning curve of EW2. I suspect I will now skim Jim Cheshire's book and thoroughly study certain sections which appears to take a more "theoretical" conceptual approach that I need. I will no doubt need specialized learning on the scripting programs and most definitely on CSS; it is critical to the program.
For me, this was a good, first, "review of basics" book, introducing me to CSS and the other programs now connected to modern web building programs. I had the time, interest and dedication to put into running through the book thoroughly in a short period of time. I wish it had more of the Nolan book "visual" approach, that is, a lot more and clear screen shots; they help also when it's necessary to look at code sections. I suspect MS Press wanted to put out a quick, inexpensive, overview of EW2 and in that sense, it does the job.
The author, who was quite helpful with some guidance, stated he was confined to this style by the overall business plan for the book. There are support websites for the subject of this book given in the book including an errata page for a few basic errors, online community support systems, how to contact Leeds for questions, and other help locations. Where needed, there are good listings of additional help for specific topics such as at the end of the PHP/ASP.net chapters.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kudos, November 23, 2008
This review is from: Microsoft Expression Web 2 Step by Step (Step By Step (Microsoft)) (Paperback)
A very good book for the beginner, or an intermediate user of Frontpage, This is the second edition, explains how to embed Silverlight, Media Player and Flash into your website. Explains how to use ASP.NET 2 features and controls, somethings not in the first edition (Step by Step Microsoft Expression Web). Includes CD for practice files, book arrived in good shape and within 2 days for standard mailing. Can contact author for questions.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for the Novice, July 27, 2009
This review is from: Microsoft Expression Web 2 Step by Step (Step By Step (Microsoft)) (Paperback)
I bought this book along with the Expression Web 2 software. Before this, I knew almost nothing about making a website, and I had never even heard of EW2. A few weeks earlier, I had purchased a few domains with visions of .... I'm not really sure. Was I going to create a business, a blog, or just play on the internet? If you're in a similar situation, I cannot recommend this book (and software) enough.
Step by Step is arranged like a workbook. A companion CD includes practice files for almost every chapter. The exercises are nearly idiot proof, although I managed a few stumbles along the way. Despite that, the novice should have very few problems creating and publishing a web site with nothing other than EW2 and this book. The teaching style is "click this," "enter this text," "after entering this text, an options menu appears, select option....," "the result is displayed in Figure...." If you manage to destroy a project, you can just reload it from the CD. The book is loaded with figures, hints, and problem solving tips.
Initially, I tried skipping things that I didn't think were relevant to me. For example, why would I ever need to read the chapter "Building a Web Site from Scratch?" Even a fool knows that there are terabytes of free templates out there. However, I soon realized the error of my thinking. My problem was that I didn't know what I didn't know. Within each chapter are loads of tidbits I immediately incorporated into my template based website. No part of this book should be skipped if you are a novice.
This book is not a study book or a book to be read in front of the TV. It's a book that you sit down in front of the computer with and go through page by page. Before you get half way through, you'll have a website up and running.
I also want to emphasize that this is a book aimed at the novice. If the only thing you want to do is design a blog, advertise a business, or something similarly simple, this book is all you need. However, if you really jump into web design like I did, you'll soon be looking for a book to take you too the next level. For that I recommend Jim Cheshire's Special Edition Using Microsoft Expression Web 2 from Que Publishing.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
