Need advice

[bdale]

I am a graphic designer that is finally is trying to get some wed site development skills. In the beginning I did all my work by hand, then bought a Mac. Learned Canvas, Illustrator, Photoshop and then settled on and used Corel Draw for years. I began using Xara at version 1.2 and it is has been my workhorse tool ever since.
My question:
The XX movies on web design seem fairly straight forward and I would like to use XX to do my basic page design and artwork. Then I get lost. It seems to me that I need some way to compile these pages into a web presentation and to publish and maintain the site. I am looking at Frontpage for this purpose. Can I easily "import" my XX pages(with buttons/banners etc. into Frontpage?. Am I on the right track? Being basically an artist type,I have no desire to learn HTML.

[bdale]

Thanks Ross, Quentin, and Jon. good information. I especially appreciate your explanation,Quentin,of how XX graphics are brought into a web page.
I am now going thru the Net Object Fusion tutorial. It seems like something I can get my "right brain" around. With all due respect Quentin, I think learning HTML will be my last resort.
Ross and Jon, I think I'll get my feet wet in this before dropping 300 bucks on Dreamweaver but thanks for the suggestion.
If I get a site up and running one of these days, Ill be sure and drop you a line so's you can crit my work.
Bill

[bdale]

I am a graphic designer that is finally is trying to get some wed site development skills. In the beginning I did all my work by hand, then bought a Mac. Learned Canvas, Illustrator, Photoshop and then settled on and used Corel Draw for years. I began using Xara at version 1.2 and it is has been my workhorse tool ever since.
My question:
The XX movies on web design seem fairly straight forward and I would like to use XX to do my basic page design and artwork. Then I get lost. It seems to me that I need some way to compile these pages into a web presentation and to publish and maintain the site. I am looking at Frontpage for this purpose. Can I easily "import" my XX pages(with buttons/banners etc. into Frontpage?. Am I on the right track? Being basically an artist type,I have no desire to learn HTML.

[Ross Macintosh]

Bill - there are only three programs of the many I've bought that I can say I haven't regreted the purchase price: Xara X, Xara3D4, an Dreamweaver. I should also add that with our deflated Canadian dollars that Dreamweaver2 cost me the equivalent of close to 100 days of lunches. (Sure I eat cheap - no phillymig-non for me [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] ) It was a significant purchase for me given that I don't do web work professionally. With it I find I get professional-quality results whilst do'n it myself. If you are going to spend any significant amount of time building webpages, Dreamweaver is worth the cost.

Quentin - I'm sorry I'm so dense. I'm incapable of understanding your explanation about the string although I did greatly enjoy the humour of your explanation. If it isn't too much trouble could you create a diagram or two to explain the string-thang? I'd hope you'd do it as a new thread so we could respond with golden section perfect graphics - all in harmony with the world. It would be the absolutely perfect thread! - Just think you would be responsible for bringing that perfect harmony to the Xara forums. You'll be celebrated throughout Xara history! (Is that enough arm twisting to "encourage" you to do it?)...

Regards, Ross

<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>

[amoore]

I evaluated FrontPage last fall when the company's tech director decided I needed to use that for our website because we got it bundled with other stuff he needed.

It wasn't very flexible. It was difficult to get a handle on. It conflicted with other apps on my computer. And it sets up a local web server, which can be problematic in itself but can also be a security risk.

Take a look at Net Objects Fusion and Dreamweaver.

Net Objects Fusion has a 30-day trial you can download from efuse.com or netobjects.com. There's a rebate available until January 31st, so you could wind up getting NOF for $50 (www.netobjects.com/info/nf5rebatepromo/). I've been working my way through some tutorials using the trial version, and so far I very much like what I see.

I believe that Dreamweaver also has a trial version available, but I haven't downloaded it yet. It's the industry standard (for whatever that's worth [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] ), but it appears to involve much more HTML coding than I have time to learn. If you're planning to do sites professionally, that may be a consideration for you.

Allison

[jon spain]

I have also been using NetObjects Fusion (make sure you have the latest release 5.02a) for a while. When it works, it's wonderful but it can be maddening. But there are some great newsgroups with help much faster than NO's own techsupport.

On a DW trial version, perhaps we ae luckier than we know in the UK because we have a lot of cover CDs, which very often include Dreamweaver and other goodies. For example, ComputerArts has demos of XX and DW4. Is it different in US? worse?

Jon

[Ross Macintosh]

Hi - I use dreamweaver2 and am very happy with it. So far I haven't found the need to upgrade to the latest version of it yet. I might now that Xara X is apparently quite compatible with it. I think that means that if you want to edit a jpg or gif you have only to double click it (or something like that) in dreamweaver and it will launch xara for the editing work.

At first I was a little intimidated by dreamweaver as it has lots of features. It didn't take very long to get the hang of it and now I find it quite intuitive and very flexible. It makes dhtml effects easy. Things like rollovers and dhtml layer effects are a piece of cake. I can't imagine using the rollover code xara x can produce. In dreamweaver I have only to place the first image and then tell to replace it with the other on mouseover or whatever. Dreamweaver will have the rollover image preload etc. Very easy and, as I've noted - very flexible.

One of the very best things about dreamweaver is that is extensible. Hundreds of very talented users all over the world apply their programming skills to improving the program and then freely distribute the code they develop on websites. It is sort of like getting free photoshop plugins that improve the functionality or allow new effects. It is a wonderful approach to software design.

I'd certainly recommend taking a hard look at dreamweaver. Combined with Xara X its about all you'll need. Although my site is a work in progress - check it out and see what can happen when you put the two programs together.

Regards, Ross

<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>

[caraman1]

Bill, I use NetObjects instead of FrontPage but I have always done all of my web graphics with Xara. Just export to a JPG or GIF and place into your web page. Xara does beautiful web-work!

Dennis

<a href=http://www.inconnect.com/~dennisco>Carillus Design</a>

[Ross Macintosh]

Quentin - Oh wise one! You mention the Golden Section and a string. Having a design education I am familiar with the golden section. When no one is looking I worship it! I am not familiar with your reference to the string but I sense you have a nifty tip hidden in there.

As a public service to all Xara designers who, like me, need to instill the golden section in their thinking, could you please-please create us a little tutorial?? A golden section thread would be fantastic...

I promise I will carry a string in my pocket at all times and I will apply the golden section more frequently in my designs, both for pleasing effect, and a more perfect world.

I said please-please...

Regards, Ross Macintosh

<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>

[bdale]

Thanks Dennis & Allison. You guys are great! I just ask a question and get an immediate reply...

I bought Frontpage yesterday but I havn't broken the seal on the package yet. I think I will take it back to the store and download Net Object Fusion.

Any more advice to a beginning web artist would be appreciated.