TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (Full Version)

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windchimes -> TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (9/29/2005 19:24:00)

My Frontpage created website is becoming too large to manage (approximately 1000 pages). I would like to transition to CSS and I have read that there are programs like Style Studio 3.0 and TopStyle Pro 3.11 which will convert HTML to CSS. Will either of these programs, or similar programs, make life easier for someone who has never worked with CCS? Which program is best? ...I currently use Frontpage 2003 as my editor.

Thanks,
Windchimes



coreybryant -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (9/29/2005 19:26:37)

I use Topstyle sometimes to help me create style sheets. I have never used to convert HTML to CSS though. Not exactly sure if they would really do that since CSS is used to design HTML basically



Nicole -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (9/29/2005 19:40:19)

Hi Jim,

There's also a product called Style Master by Australian company "Westciv"which has a free 30 day trial.

A certain level of knowledge and understanding of CSS is usually essential with these products, also beware of any product that claims "to do everything for you". A lot of people think FrontPage alone will create lovely websites, indeed it can help you achieve that but it also takes a good knowledge of coding and standards.

Nicole



d a v e -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (9/30/2005 0:21:00)

you can also trial top style pro for 30 days as well for comparison. the lite version is free  



dpf -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (9/30/2005 0:55:04)

quote:

convert HTML to CSS
html never, ever, becomes css. i dont mean to be nitpicky but it doesnt. css supplements html - perhaps replaces some tags ..my point is that if you are indeed 1,0000 pages into a site and now want to revert control over some elements to css - fact is, there is no simple easy way - however, better to do it now no matter what the price than wait til it is 2,000 pages.



Tailslide -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (9/30/2005 2:57:05)

Think of CSS as a set of rules that govern what the HTML looks like.

More important than the package you use to help with CSS, is getting a firm grip on exactly how it all works. It will make your life easier in the long run BUT like anything else in this world, it takes time to learn it and get it right.

Have a look at the CSS links thread in this forum and start bookmarking these sites - I find a lot of them invaluable and I refer to the all the time. There are some good books too - look for anything by Zeldman or Cederholm.

Using packages like Topstyle etc may well make implementing CSS easier - I haven't tried them but I know a lot of people here are fond of them - but a firm understanding of CSS will be what makes life easier.




jaybee -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (9/30/2005 3:33:21)

There is, as far as I'm aware, nothing that will convert existing sites to css. The programs you mentioned make it easier to write css based pages but you can't just pull in an HTML page and press a button.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I had a 500 page site, developed initially using FP and tables everywhere. I decided to convert it to css and admittedly I went for WCAG level 3 (fully accessible). It took me 5 weeks from start to finish.

If you can't invest that sort of time then I suggest you begin by doing one page or by doing a new page. Once you are much more confident with css (especially for layout) then look at converting the rest of the site.

If you haven't already then check out Katherine's tutorial on css which can be reached from the Tutorial link on the thin blue bar at the very top of this page.



windchimes -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (10/2/2005 2:56:33)

Thanks to all for the great information! especially to Nicole! ...I evaluated the different software packages that were available for creating CSS and concluded that nothing even comes close to Style Master. I downloaded the trial version and tried it for one evening. The tutorials that accompanied the download were absolutely fantastic! Today I purchased Style Master and the full tutorial bundle. I have been working my way through the tutorials today. You won't find better tutorials for learning HTML and CSS anywhere! What a great find!...I have decided to change my tact a bit. Originally I was hoping to find software that would enable me to convert my Frontpage website to CSS. Now that I've gone through some of the tutorials, I've decided it's time to really learn this stuff and chuck Frontpage. Sounds goofy, but this is very exciting to me.

Again, thanks for everybody's input!

Regards,
Windchimes



Tailslide -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (10/2/2005 4:56:37)

Wow - you see this is what happens when you delve into this stuff - it'll take over your life now you know!!

Good luck with it all Windchimes. Let us know how you're getting on.



womble -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (10/2/2005 5:06:21)

quote:

take over your life


Hmmm, I used to have one of those (can't remember what I did with it) [:D]



jaybee -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (10/3/2005 18:53:30)

I just had 4 whole days where I didn't touch a computer let alone think about CSS. Good job I was busy or I'd have been in that Internet Cafe like a shot. [:D]



womble -> RE: TopStyle Pro or Style Studio for newbie? (10/4/2005 4:19:49)

I had 6 hours without broadband last night - I was distraught (must have been, nearly texted Golfer [;)]) and waiting for half an hour on my backup dial-up connection just spoilt the fun. At least it forced me to do some offline stuff though that keeps getting put to the bottom of the pile.

I am not addicted. [;)]



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