Microsoft FrontPage Extensions
Over the last couple of years, we have tried to inform all web administrators and authors that host websites on the MSLN web server that FrontPage Extensions are deprecated and will no longer be supported in the near future. That time has finally arrived.
In September 2006, Microsoft announced that FrontPage 2003 will be the last version of FrontPage to be released. The product has reached its "End of Life", and FrontPage server extensions have also reached their EOL date as of June 30th 2006. While MSLN continued to support them for as long as was feasable, the latest software packages that run our webserver no longer support these extensions.
"What does this mean for me?"
If you are the person that maintains your organization's website, if MSLN hosts your website, and if you use Front Page to author/upload your website, you will need to change your upload method.
"How do I change my upload method, and what are my options?"
The best method for transitioning away from FrontPage Extensions seems to be WebDAV. However, MSLN also supports FTP, and you may use either way to upload your site.
When you are ready to change your upload method, there is an excellent article written my Microsoft themselves on how to do so. You can access that article here. If you do not remember your website username and/or password, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
While changing your upload method is a relatively simple process, althought the use of FrontPage extensions may mean you use some dependent components that you will have to find alternatives for online. These components are:
- FrontPage generated Forms
- FrontPage Themes
- The search form
- The bulletin board
- The hit counter
- SubWebs
- Some Database Features
There are alternatives for all of these Microsoft components, and subscribers to the MSLN TC mailing list may have answers if you find your site does indeed use one or more of these components.