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As explained in the opening editorial from this issue, I'm giving away Expression Web software.
Microsoft is no longer developing their Front Page web designer software, as they have finally moved into the field of real web software and have now developed Expression Web as their new web designer/developer software.
I say designer/developer, because they have all the professional coding tools needed for a professional developer, as well as all the predesigned templates and ease of use that will allow the novice web designer to create their own sites. In truth, Expression Web is very similar to Dreamweaver in how it looks and works.
Along the right are your various tools. Menus and toolbars along the top. And the work area can be switched between design view, code view or even dual design/code view, as shown below.
The software comes loaded with a pile of professionally designed web sites that you can customize to your own needs and fairly quickly upload as your own web site.
If you're not ready to design your own layout, use one that comes with the program. As you can see along the right, all the folders and prototype pages are created for you in an instant once you pick a template. Your default page is your main home page (don't rename that page...that's how the web works). And you get a master template. Open the master template to change information that goes on all the pages, like the name of your site. Add pictures. Modify as needed. Upload to the Internet and you're on your way to having a professional looking presence on the web.
Just replace the sample text with your own. It's really not that difficult.
In the near future, I'll be posting tutorials on how to create web sites and also how to use Expression Web. But many of the tutorials you'll already find in TechTrax related to Dreamweaver (another web design software program) will provide you with a lot of background about how web design programs like these work. So, if you need help understanding the process, check out our TechTrax archives to read previously posted articles on Dreamweaver.
If you're a paid member of TechTrax and would like a shot at winning this very cool web design software, be sure to hit this issue's member's page and click the Expression Web Drawing button to enter. The drawing will be held Wednesday, December 19th, 2007, Chicago time.
Good luck!
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