In this issue:  August 1999

In this issue:

• Chance to Win FrontPage 2000, Office 2000

• Software Developer's Kit Available for Download

• Corporate Applications Kit Available on CD

• Working with Collapsible Outlines in Microsoft FrontPage 2000 

• Creating Multi-functional Web Links with FrontPage 2000

• Dynamic Sorting of Database Results with FrontPage 2000

• Registering Your Web Site with Search Engines

• Web Site Showcase

• Tip: Remove Formatting from Text Pasted From Microsoft Word

• Tip: Adding a Subject to Your Mail Links (Revised)

• Free: El Scripto Lite

FRONTPAGE NEWS

Microsoft FrontPage 2000 Software Developer's Kit Now Available for Download
This version of the Microsoft FrontPage Software Developer's Kit (SDK) provides a rich variety of programming examples and reference materials that demonstrate the use of the components in the Microsoft FrontPage 2000 Web site creation and management tool. The audience for whom this SDK is intended is anyone with at least entry-level programming experience, and with an interest in extending the capabilities of FrontPage through the use of wizards, templates, custom FrontPage components, custom menu commands, or Designer HTML.

NEW ARTICLES

Working with Collapsible Outlines in FrontPage 2000
According to one study, Web surfers only scroll down on a quarter of the pages they view. That means they're likely to miss important information on your pages if that information doesn't fit on the screen. One way to present a larger amount of information—without resorting to multiple pages—is to use collapsible outlines in FrontPage 2000. A feature of Dynamic HTML, collapsible outlines let the user view or hide information in a list, much as they might do in Microsoft Windows Explorer. 

Creating Multi-Functional Web Links with FrontPage 2000
Despite the increasing prevalence of large computer monitors, screen real estate never seems sufficient for many Web sites. Too often, in fact, a site's navigation system occupies space that would be better used displaying actual content. There are many solutions to this problem, but one we've found useful is to create navigation links in FrontPage that provide additional functionality. When a visitor hovers over a given navigation link, that link can display a hover effect or change appearance to give the user a visual clue as to where he/she is within a Web site. That same function can also be used to call up an image that is associated with a given navigation link. In the article at the above Web address, we create navigation links that do both simultaneously.

Dynamic Sorting of Database Results in Microsoft FrontPage 2000
On the Internet or an intranet, it is common to see database query results or reports in a table that can easily be sorted by clicking a column heading. Using the new database integration features in FrontPage 2000, you can have this functionality on a Web page without needing to know structured query language (SQL) or custom programming. 

Registering Your FrontPage-Based Web Site with Search Engines
One of the best ways to make people aware of your site is to register with one or more search engines. Fortunately, registering your site is easy, quick, and something you can do on the Internet. This article describes how to register your site, the information you need to have ready, and how to use <META> tags to help search engines provide information about your site to their users. 

WEB SITE SHOWCASE

The Web sites listed below come from the thousands of submissions we've received to our request for "killer Web sites." Here we highlight sites that may provide you with new ideas, inspiration, and examples for your own Web sites. Thanks to those of you who have submitted sites. We will continue to highlight more of them in upcoming issues. 

Nova Central
Nova Central caters to an online gaming community that is committed to
multi-player battle simulation. This very professional-looking FrontPage-based Web site makes extensive use of FrontPage components. 

Cluas
Cluas is an Ireland-based Web site that promotes Irish music and cinema and was chosen by that country's leading ISP as a top ten site. Created entirely with FrontPage, Cluas uses color and background to create a nice-looking site that downloads quickly and easily.

Nelvana
See how Nelvana, one of the largest animation companies in the world, and animator of children's favorites such as Babar, Pippi Longstocking, and Rolie Polie Olie, has used FrontPage to its fullest extent on the company's corporate Web site. Be sure to check out the kids' area to see how Nelvana makes use of the Dynamic Animation feature to create really engaging Web pages. 

If you would like to nominate a site for inclusion in this bulletin, you can send e-mail to: fptips@microsoft.com

There are no technical support representatives on this alias, so please use it only to submit nominations for Killer Web Sites or technical tips we can publish in future bulletins.

FRONTPAGE TIPS AND TRICKS

Removing Formatting from Text Pasted from Microsoft Word
Easily remove unwanted formatting from text pasted from Word by selecting the text and pressing CTRL+Spacebar. 

Adding a Subject to Your Mail Links (Revision)
Last month, we told you how you could create an e-mail link with a pre-filled subject field. In that tip, we wrote that only one field might be pre-filled. A number of readers responded that several fields can be pre-filled (e.g., the Body, CC, or BCC fields in addition to the subject field). If you use a blank space and an ampersand, you can add multiple pre-filled fields. Here is a sample of what the HTML for such a hyperlink would look like:

<a href="mailto:fptips@microsoft.com?subject=New Article &body=Here's a good one &cc=abc@microsoft.com &bcc=xyz@test.com>Great Article Idea</a>

FREE STUFF

FREE* El Scripto Lite
El Scripto Lite is an easy way to add JavaScript to your Microsoft FrontPage Web sites without coding. Hard-to-program components become just a few mouse clicks away with El Scripto Lite, which integrates seamlessly with FrontPage. El Scripto Lite lets you add dynamic content like pop-up windows and text scrolls by simply entering information into a dialog box.

Check out the additional downloads from Office Update.

That's it for this month's issue.

*Internet Service Provider connect-time charges may apply.

Microsoft, FrontPage and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.