How can I use Frontpage to edit my web site?

[Encoyand]

Greetings:

 

I have had a company develop a web site for me (http://www.BudgetCastingSupply.com/osc) and I am trying to figure out how to edit it with my computer at home using frontpage. I downloaded all the files to my machine but when I open a web page all I get is some code / scripts, but no html that I recognize. Viewing it in the preview mode just shows the same code. I did modify front page to recognize the .php extension type, but it still shows just code, no html that I can deal with.

I really appreciate any help you can give me!

 

Thanks,

 

Paul

[bkellum]

Greetings:

 

I have had a company develop a web site for me (http://www.BudgetCastingSupply.com/osc) and I am trying to figure out how to edit it with my computer at home using frontpage. I downloaded all the files to my machine but when I open a web page all I get is some code / scripts, but no html that I recognize. Viewing it in the preview mode just shows the same code. I did modify front page to recognize the .php extension type, but it still shows just code, no html that I can deal with.

I really appreciate any help you can give me!

 

Thanks,

 

Paul

Paul, the only way that I know that would allow you to use FrontPage to "fully" edit your store files is by installing and using the Simple Template System contribution. STS will allow you to edit your store files by using PHP templates that are created by using Tags in a HTML page. FrontPage would easily recognize the HTML but will only preview the actual tag as text until you viewed it in a live browser window. In a live browser window, you will see your edits "live" as you make your changes.

That is the only way that I know to make FrontPage really work in desiging with PHP. I know several people who love designing this way so at least I know that it can be done with ease.

Note: Even if you are going to use FrontPage with STS, I suggest that you use a plain text editor such as NotePad or even better yet a specific PHP editor to make any changes to your actual PHP code. FrontPage would not be very good at modifying your PHP code. I like to use PHP Designer 2007 or Dreamweaver.

[usernamenone]

You can not use frontpage to edit your shop. Infact frontpage can break your php code if you open them up with it.

 

 

Your software is written in php and not html.

 

Most all the wording you need to change is in your language folders.

 

english.php and languages/english/index.php

 

Make this your new best friend.

 

http://www.oscommerce.info/kb/osCommerce/Catalog_Area

 

You will need to open your files in a text editor.

[Encoyand]

Paul, the only way that I know that would allow you to use FrontPage to "fully" edit your store files is by installing and using the Simple Template System contribution. STS will allow you to edit your store files by using PHP templates that are created by using Tags in a HTML page. FrontPage would easily recognize the HTML but will only preview the actual tag as text until you viewed it in a live browser window. In a live browser window, you will see your edits "live" as you make your changes.

That is the only way that I know to make FrontPage really work in desiging with PHP. I know several people who love designing this way so at least I know that it can be done with ease.

Note: Even if you are going to use FrontPage with STS, I suggest that you use a plain text editor such as NotePad or even better yet a specific PHP editor to make any changes to your actual PHP code. FrontPage would not be very good at modifying your PHP code. I like to use PHP Designer 2007 or Dreamweaver.

 

Hi Bill:

Thanks for your help. I see that I've got to study this a lot more! I'd hoped that I could use some sort of wysiwyg page editor to work on my web site. Do either PHP Designer 2007 or Dreamweaver have that capability? I can hack a bit at html but I don't have a clue about PHP code......

I'm wondering too if I have to have the database software (SQL?) running on my machine to simulate what my hosting service has running in the background?

I sure appreciate your taking the time to help us newbies out!

 

Paul

[Encoyand]

You can not use frontpage to edit your shop. Infact frontpage can break your php code if you open them up with it.

Your software is written in php and not html.

 

Most all the wording you need to change is in your language folders.

 

english.php and languages/english/index.php

 

Make this your new best friend.

 

http://www.oscommerce.info/kb/osCommerce/Catalog_Area

 

You will need to open your files in a text editor.

 

 

Greetings Anonymous one! Thanks for the link! I've definitely got some reading to do..... - Paul

[usernamenone]

Please do not use frontpage to edit html code for php. It adds non compliant code to your html.

 

The best free wysiwyg html editor is NVU

 

http://www.nvu.com/index.php

 

If you know your way around FrontPage you will easily catch on to NVU.

 

You should also have PSPad in your tool box. It knows php, html, xhtml, java and many more languages. Also has numbered lines.

[bkellum]

Hi Bill:

Thanks for your help. I see that I've got to study this a lot more! I'd hoped that I could use some sort of wysiwyg page editor to work on my web site. Do either PHP Designer 2007 or Dreamweaver have that capability? I can hack a bit at html but I don't have a clue about PHP code......

I'm wondering too if I have to have the database software (SQL?) running on my machine to simulate what my hosting service has running in the background?

I sure appreciate your taking the time to help us newbies out!

 

Paul

Paul, FrontPage is a bad idea UNLESS you have STSv4.x installed, then it doesn't matter. STS allows you to edit the design and layout of your shop using HTML, exactly what FrontPage is good for. So, if you do not know a lick of PHP and you still want to use osCommerce, then you will need to install the Simple Template System.

Once in FrontPage, you will see your web site's folder structure including your catalog folder that contains all of the osCommerce files. The only time you will need to edit these files directly would be when you want to do something advanced such as changing the functionallity of osCommerce. You can still do this in FrontPage "with a twist". You would right-click on the PHP file that you want to change and then select "open with". Choose a good PHP editor such as PHP Designer 2007, NotePad or any Plain Text Editor. The editor would then open with the PHP file ready to edit. When done modifying the PHP code, you would save the file and then it will bounce you back to FrontPage.

When doing any contribution installations such as installing STS, Header Tags Controller, etc., you would use a FTP program to download the file that you want to edit to your PC, make the changes using your PHP editor, then upload the modified file(s) over your "live" files in your web site. Do not use FrontPage as your FTP client. Only use FrontPage as your WYSIWYG design and layout editor.

Hope this makes sense to you.

Have fun,

Bill Kellum

[Encoyand]

Please do not use frontpage to edit html code for php. It adds non compliant code to your html.

 

The best free wysiwyg html editor is NVU

 

http://www.nvu.com/index.php

 

If you know your way around FrontPage you will easily catch on to NVU.

 

You should also have PSPad in your tool box. It knows php, html, xhtml, java and many more languages. Also has numbered lines.

 

 

I loaded Pspad and it works like a champ! Thanks - Paul

[Encoyand]

Paul, FrontPage is a bad idea UNLESS you have STSv4.x installed, then it doesn't matter. STS allows you to edit the design and layout of your shop using HTML, exactly what FrontPage is good for. So, if you do not know a lick of PHP and you still want to use osCommerce, then you will need to install the Simple Template System.

Once in FrontPage, you will see your web site's folder structure including your catalog folder that contains all of the osCommerce files. The only time you will need to edit these files directly would be when you want to do something advanced such as changing the functionallity of osCommerce. You can still do this in FrontPage "with a twist". You would right-click on the PHP file that you want to change and then select "open with". Choose a good PHP editor such as PHP Designer 2007, NotePad or any Plain Text Editor. The editor would then open with the PHP file ready to edit. When done modifying the PHP code, you would save the file and then it will bounce you back to FrontPage.

When doing any contribution installations such as installing STS, Header Tags Controller, etc., you would use a FTP program to download the file that you want to edit to your PC, make the changes using your PHP editor, then upload the modified file(s) over your "live" files in your web site. Do not use FrontPage as your FTP client. Only use FrontPage as your WYSIWYG design and layout editor.

Hope this makes sense to you.

Have fun,

Bill Kellum

 

Just wanted to say THANKS! to all you guys / gals out there who took the time to answer my questions. You are the best. - Paul

[usernamenone]

Paul, FrontPage is a bad idea UNLESS you have STSv4.x installed, then it doesn't matter. STS allows you to edit the design and layout of your shop using HTML, exactly what FrontPage is good for. So, if you do not know a lick of PHP and you still want to use osCommerce, then you will need to install the Simple Template System.

Once in FrontPage, you will see your web site's folder structure including your catalog folder that contains all of the osCommerce files. The only time you will need to edit these files directly would be when you want to do something advanced such as changing the functionallity of osCommerce. You can still do this in FrontPage "with a twist". You would right-click on the PHP file that you want to change and then select "open with". Choose a good PHP editor such as PHP Designer 2007, NotePad or any Plain Text Editor. The editor would then open with the PHP file ready to edit. When done modifying the PHP code, you would save the file and then it will bounce you back to FrontPage.

When doing any contribution installations such as installing STS, Header Tags Controller, etc., you would use a FTP program to download the file that you want to edit to your PC, make the changes using your PHP editor, then upload the modified file(s) over your "live" files in your web site. Do not use FrontPage as your FTP client. Only use FrontPage as your WYSIWYG design and layout editor.

Hope this makes sense to you.

Have fun,

Bill Kellum

 

For those of us that want a web site that will validate and be code compliant with the ( http://validator.w3.org/ ) w3, FrontPage will not and can cause display issues in non Windows browsers.

 

Why on earth anyone would use FrontPage is beyond me................. Not here to argue but when there are much better wysiwyg editors why push the code breaker!

[bkellum]

For those of us that want a web site that will validate and be code compliant with the ( http://validator.w3.org/ ) w3, FrontPage will not and can cause display issues in non Windows browsers.

 

Why on earth anyone would use FrontPage is beyond me................. Not here to argue but when there are much better wysiwyg editors why push the code breaker!

Lola, I was staying on topic. No one was pushing FrontPage, it's just that is what the original post was all about. The question was really a newbie type question and MS FrontPage is a great tool for newbies. Hey, if that is all they know then let them have their fun. At least they are trying and not just "paying" someone else to do it for them. :thumbsup:

Regarding being code compliant, Microsoft has actually discontinued FrontPage and has replaced it with Expression Web which will create validated code just fine. I was invited to their send off tour last month and have to say that I was quite impressed by their new web software suite which includes Expression Web among others. I've been testing this new suite for a while now and I think it will compete strongly in that market.

Well, enough about Microsoft. I here osCommerce is pretty good. :rolleyes:

And you can't beat the forum community...some of the nicest people you will ever meet. ;)