Dennis DeRobertis - Expression Web Interview

Dennis DeRobertis.

Name: Dennis DeRobertis
Country: USA
WebSite: http://www.expressionextras.com/
Focus: Software and utilities for Microsoft Expression Web

Expression Web Interview with Dennis DeRobertis

Q 1. Do you own and maintain your own FrontPage/Expression Web resource(s)?

A. Yes. I own and operate the Expression Web Extras site.

Q 2. Do you have a special tip for Expression Web you can share with our readers?

A . Take advantage of the New Window option (Window > New Window). It's a great way to work with style sheets in one place and the effects those style sheets have on your pages. Oh, and use the "Tile Windows Horizontally" option (right click the taskbar) to quickly arrange your windows for optimal viewing.

Q 3. What feature would you most like to see available within the next version of Expression Web and why?

A . I'd like to see additional and nicer looking CSS templates. The
templates that shipped with FP languished for years without an update. The ones shipping with EW are OK, but they seem a couple of years behind the times. A hook-up with an Office Online-like template repository would be best.

Q 4. What Expression Web Add-on would you most like to see available and why?

A. I'd like to see something that hides and shows task panes. Oh, wait, I wrote that one! :-) I'm pretty happy with the core set of EW features, but an AJAX-style photo gallery would be nice.

Q 5. As a developer you participate online and answer many questions on (FrontPage) Expression Web. What started you down this road and why?

A. Honestly, I haven't answered a question in the forums in a while. If someone writes me, then that's a different story.

Q 6. What Expression Web or Web design good practices do you recommend our readers follow?

A. CSS. CSS. CSS. And a page management system like DWT or ASP.NET Master Pages.

Q 7. What five sites do you recommend should be in our readers web design arsenal?

A .
a/ https://www.microsoft.com/design/ - The company is a changin'
b/ https://www.google.com/ - Type in what you're looking for and get an answer
c/ https://www.amazon.com/ - Put yourself in the place of Lead Information Architect and understand why Amazon designs its site the way it does
d/ https://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/ - Keep up to date with what's happening with the world's most used browser
e/ https://alistapart.com/ - For the finer points of Web design

Q 8. Do you have any luminaries within Expression Web and the Web Design industry in general and who do you model your practices after?

A. I do not. I read a lot and keep up with current trends.

Q 9. What advice would you give to readers who are used to using the wizards and bots of FrontPage and want to move to Expression Web and a more user friendly site?

A. Building a good site is hard. Spend the time learning how to do it. It'll pay off.

Q 10. Can you tell our readers of any upcoming Expression Web activities or just launched projects you have planned?

A. I plan on updating the Expression Web Extras Toolbar by the end of the year.