Once the implementation phase is complete, you are now ready to make the Web into a FrontPage Web Template or Super Theme to exchange with others.

What are Super Themes?

Super Themes are an extension of the Web Template format in FrontPage that provides the user with a way to apply the wrap-around theme look with the ease-of-use of regular FrontPage themes. The user just brings up the Super Themes Browser from the Format menu, selects a Super Theme and presses the OK button and the wrap-around graphics and supporting FrontPage theme is applied to the existing Web site.

At this point, you have two choices for deployment and packaging:

• Create an FrontPage Web Template and ship the Web template and theme folder to your customer via zip file or
• Create a Super Theme using the Super Theme Maker and package it in an easy-to-use self- extracting installer using the Super Theme Installer Wizard.

To see the Super Theme Browser in action, download our Super Theme Sampler from our Web site at: http://www.frontlook.com/

Creating a Web Template in FrontPage

First, you will need to download the template installer utility from the FrontPage Add-in Center from the following Web address:

http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/downloads/addin/searchdetail.asp?aid=28

After installation, you can then run the program via the File->Save as Template menu. After the creation process is complete, you should find the Web template data in the typical location for Web templates.

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates\1033\Webs\YourTemplate.tem

To package your Web template for transfer to another system, you will need to package or make an installer for the Template plus the FrontPage Theme that the template uses. The Theme folder will typically be located in the central themes directory.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Themes\YourTheme

Super Theme and its Installer

The Super Theme Maker and Installer are supported products of DPA Software and are available for purchase at the FrontLook.com Web site.

Making the Super Theme Template

To make a new Super Theme / Super Theme Web Template, bring up the Super Theme Maker by selecting the File->Make Super Theme/Template...

Super Theme Maker Dialog

Fill out the Super Theme name, description and compatibility information in the dialog. Press the Capture button to make a preview of the theme for the Super Theme browser. Select a file for the Super Theme Preview Press the "More Options..." button to set the Copyright, author and margins info for the Super Theme. You can also add additional files to the Super Theme template by pressing the "Additional Files..." button to include or exclude files. Now press the Save button to make a Super Theme template.

After the creation process is complete, you will find the ST template data in the typical location for Web templates as described above.

Making the Super Themes Installer

Using a General-purpose installer program to install Super Themes on a user's computer system typically requires programming skills as well as specialized knowledge about how themes and Web templates are accessed in FrontPage. Additionally, general-purpose installers are usually much larger than dedicated installers.

The Super Themes Installer allows the Super Theme developer to create compact Super Theme Installers for royalty-free redistribution and sale. The Super Theme Installer package includes an installer wizard that will take you through the process of making a fully functional Super Themes self extracting installer*. Once the Super Themes installer is built, it can be redistributed or sold. The ST Installer will create installers for both FrontPage 2000/2002 installations can package one or more Super Themes into a single Super Theme Installer.

First Screen of the Super Themes Installer Wizard

Press here for more information on the Super Theme Development products.

That's It

This tutorial described the basic phases in the development of a wrap-around Web design. If you should have further any questions on this process, please email me at support@frontlook.com.

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