Themes

FrontPage 98 themes define elements and settings for the following categories:

A theme does not define the location of navigation bars, the layout of a page, the template used in a page, or the structure of a web. These are all different features that work closely together but are not specifically part of a theme.

Themes are selected and applied using either the FrontPage Explorer’s Themes view or in the FrontPage Editor’s Format: Theme command. Both the view and the command have the same user interface, but they behave somewhat differently. Specifically, if you apply a theme in the FrontPage Explorer, you are applying it to all the pages in the current FrontPage web. If you apply a theme in the FrontPage Editor, you are applying it to the active page only.

In the FrontPage Explorer’s Themes view, themes are selected, previewed and applied as entire sets in a Word Style Gallery-like interface, with a left column of names and a right preview column. This selection interface works as one would expect; selecting a theme from the list at left refreshes the preview pane at right. Clicking Apply applies the theme to the current FrontPage web or active page, depending on whether you are in the FrontPage Explorer or the FrontPage Editor.

The three checkboxes below the theme list are an important part of the feature. One of the limitations of themes in similar applications is that they are not always applicable enough to many Web sites. Themes that are fun and informal, like a “Jungle” theme with vines and bananas might look great the first time you see them in the application, but they may not look that great on your web page. Similarly, a large selection of elegant, professional, yet bland and generic themes will not look very exciting. FrontPage 98 bridges the gap by allowing users to easily change the impact of the theme by picking from three display options:

Vivid Colors

When this option is unchecked, a basic color scheme for text, hyperlinks, and tables is used. Moderate use of color will also be applied to hyperlinks and headings. This is the type of color scheme could be used for a more professional web page. Selecting the Vivid Colors option will change the colors of the page, text, headings, hyperlinks, and tables to something more in line with the active graphics option (see below). Depending on the theme applied, the colors will be brighter and more defined, suitable for less formal web pages.

Active Graphics

When this option is unchecked, the banners, bullets, horizontal rules, and navigation bar buttons are all very abstract, simple and elegant. These graphics will be fast to download and suitable in most scenarios. When the Active Graphics option is checked, a more lively set of graphics is substituted. The banners, bullets, and horizontal rules may be animated (depending on the theme chosen), and the navigation bar buttons become “hover buttons,” which change appearance when moused over and when clicked.

Background Image

Adding a background image to your web pages can have a big impact on how busy the theme looks. All themes include a background graphic with either a margin effect or one that appears to cover the entire page. The Background Image option toggles between the theme’s supplied background image and a solid background color.