Last Update: 16 May 2006
Microsoft will discontinue support for Frontpage and its extensions (the server modules that provide special effects and connections to other applications) in a year or two. Faculty who run Frontpage websites should consider (1) where to find a different server to host (publish) the sites, and (2) what software to use for authoring tasks on the sites.
Use the Content Management System, provided by University Public Relations
Call Stan Skrabut or Pat Wolfinbarger at University Public Relations for an appointment (766-2457 or 766-5454; skrabut@uwyo.edu or wolfy@uwyo.edu). They will guide and assist departments, divisions, and units in the use the Content Management System interface. The page design and appearance will conform to UW standards.
Request an online course shell: WebCT, eCompanion, or Course Studio.
You can request an online course shell at the Ellbogen CTL website (go to "Online Courses" and then "Faculty Resources"). This option will use our general online education platforms, WebCT and eCompanion, to make materials and activities available to the students in your class. The Course Studio option offers similar but less functionality (no quizzes or grade maintenance, but communication and file distribution tools).
For more information, see the workshop notes "WyoWeb Portal for Faculty." Compare these course shells with the commercial products that carry more tools on the "Comparison of UW's Supplemental Online Course Platforms."
If neither students nor instructors need authoring privileges-- you just want to distribute readings:
Set up electronic reserves at the libraryThe UW Library provides, not
full-blown websites with URLs, but PDF versions of documents to students with
UWYO domain accounts, grouped by instructor. See
http://www-lib.uwyo.edu/services/reserverq.htm, or click on "Library
services" at their home page.
If you prefer the Frontpage and Microsoft interface, or don't want to switch website development methods:
Wait for the replacement, either Expressions Web Designer or SharePoint Services.
Microsoft claims that its new website design applications, based on the ".NET" server technology, will be completely backward-compatible. You will be able to import your Frontpage websites for opening and editing with no trouble, and the interface will be similar. For information on licensing Frontpage and its successors through the university, see the IT "Software Licensing and Sales" pages. For academic websites through IT, see "Academic Websites," below.
If you want a more independent website that does not rely on Frontpage extensions or other commercial software:
Convert to plain HTML and switch to a different authoring tool or method.
The language of web pages is HTML, which can be rendered into a formatted pages by any browser. Frontpage, however, departs from the standards in various ways. The various "Save As..." options in Frontpage may not generate standard HTML, without many steps for each page or element.
See the Washington State University page at: http://caheinfo.wsu.edu/webtips/misc/web_spider.html for a recommended tool called WebSpider to help convert Frontpage to plain websites. Instructional Computing Services will have this software, and can help you in the lab. For editing and future development, some browsers include graphical interfaces that display formatting as you write, and allow easy import of links and pictures. We recommend SeaMonkey, and provide help with it (see below). When your web pages are in plain HTML, any web server can host them. For academic websites through IT, see "Academic Websites," below.
If you want to have your students set up websites as part of their coursework:
Options for development and publishing of student websites follow the faculty options above. You can (continue to) request academic websites from IT, either Frontpage, which will be compatible with the new software, or basic sites, which host plain HTML pages. The UW Student Labs will continue to carry Frontpage or its replacement software, and this office is requesting SeaMonkey installation in the Student Labs for use with basic sites. See "Academic Websites" below. OR you can request online course shells, which offer a variety of student website options, after consulting with us to make sure that they meet your needs. See "online course shells" above.
Academic Websites on the UW Servers: For an academic site, such as for a class, ask your department's user consultant for space on uwacadweb.uwyo.edu. First, see the explanation at http://www.uwyo.edu/askit (click on "Frequently-Asked Questions," then "UW Web Servers" at the bottom). These academic websites can be basic or Frontpage services.
For related topics, please see the questions from the "Faculty Help" page at http://www.uwyo.edu/ctl/Inst_Computing/Faculty_Help.html:
"Where can I get a website for my class or research group?"
"How can my students and I develop websites or e-portfolios with an HTML editor?" This page describes SeaMonkey.
"How can my students develop their own e-portfolios for my class?"
"How can my students set up their own class web pages?"
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Ellbogen Center
University of Wyoming