Resources

Create Custom Themes
With NetStudio

Use NetStudio to Create a Button
Modify a FrontPage 2000 Theme
Benefits 

The NetStudio software contains a good tutorial for learning the basics of this program.  As their tutorial concentrates solely on NetStudio, I wanted to develop my own tutorial to show how to incorporate NetStudio graphics into a custom FrontPage 2000 theme.  The following demonstrates how to create a simple blank horizontal button in NetStudio and add it to a custom made theme.  With this approach, not only do you get the look you want, but you can develop new pages quickly and easily without constantly redoing basic graphics.

Use NetStudio to Create a Button

On the menu bar in FrontPage 2000, click on Custom and select NetStudio Picture.  For Create with a Wizard, select Button, click on Next.  Click on a button you like and Next.  When prompted for the button label, press the space bar one time, then click on Next.  Finish.

While still in NetStudio, drag an edge of the button graphic window to resize it if you think you'll need to based on what you want your button labels to say.  There are many ways to further enhance the button in NetStudio.

Once you're happy with your button, drag it onto a FrontPage 2000 practice page.  Save the web page as practice.htm, and you'll be prompted to save the button.  Rename it blankbutton.gif (or something else that's easy to remember.)

Modify a FrontPage 2000 Theme

If you want to try this out before committing your current site, in FrontPage 2000 go to File and select New and then Web.  Set up a couple of practice pages and follow the instructions for creating the navigation and shared borders per the FrontPage 2000 Navigation, Shared Borders and Themes page.  Now you're ready to modify your own theme.

To build your own theme, you need to modify an old one and save it under a new name.  On the FrontPage menu bar, click on Format and select Theme.  Select any theme and click on Modify.  Click on Graphics.  For Item, select Horizontal Navigation for this example.  Browse to the new button file you made with NetStudio.  Click OK, then Save As.  Give your homemade theme its own name, click OK.

Benefits

If your web is set up with a theme, you only have to create one navigation button, period!  FrontPage automatically adds the label text for navigation buttons per the website's navigation view.  As you add to your website, each and every page will continue to have the same consistent navigation, and all you've done is drag the new page over to its proper location in FrontPage 2000's navigation view.

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