We cover each of the Expression Web versions 1, 2, 3 and 4 as well as the Expression applications.

• Expression Design
• Expression Blend
• Expression Encoder

as well as Contests/Giveaways and Offers for Expression Web 3.0 and 4.0.

We let you know about Expression Web Communities, Webcasts and Live Events.

We also cover Web Design and there are other features that let you keep up todate with tweets, blogs and Facebook plus more besides.

You want to hand all the Expression Web links and have to be bothered to go spend hours searching for lists, forums, ebooks, add-ins and to find out about new links then the toolbar is tailor made for you. It works in Internet Explorer Safar and FireFox.

Learn more about Expression Web and CSS – Information about CSS

You can also find it on the Microsoft Expression Web Gallery

The Free Setting up Expression Web 3.0 Ebook has also been updated and revised

Why should you bother to follow the free setting up Expression Web ebooks?

Every programme has a settings feature, the designers provide different setups for the user so a user can ‘do it their way’. By choosing the defaults by which you set your application, you are therefore more in control. However, what if you don’t know what methods to choose? That is where the Setting up Expression Web Ebooks come in. Designed with the newbie in mind and even intermediate users who can tweak their way around the settings but let them stand to keep them reminded and nudged about their coding. Therefore providing a best practice experience to help guide you to doing things the Right Way.

If you spot any errors or omissions please drop me a line.

Thanks to all who took part in the Design a 404 page competition congratulations to our winners
-Apologies for the delay in announcing the winners – computer issues-

What I was looking for was a visual impact but with words that made the 404 page FUN.

Our 1st prize winner Marsha Bryant who wins a full version of Expression Web 3.0 has accomplished just that.
Her quirky design really made me laugh and want to look further, it also encompassed directions to help the visitor find the page they were looking for. Congratulations Marsha and well done.

Our 2nd prize winner is Rayburn Taylor who wins Volumes l and ll of my Expression Web Tips Ebooks. Rayburn had five entries, however this one stood out, it has visual impact  but is short and sweet congratulations Rayburn.

Our 3rd prize winner is Jill Edwards who wins a copy of Volume l of my Expression Web Tips Ebook, Jill just edged out a fellow entry for third prize as her entry was easy to read. Not quite the visual impact of the first two winners but the puns spiced up the page and made me smile. She had three entries, congratulations Jill.

The there were not many entries overall, it was a fun contest and we will have more in the future with similar prizes.

Standard price is $29 you can now obtain it for $22.

Where is the Time and Place?

• DATE: June 7th – 14th, 2010
• PLACE: New York
• TIME: between 11:00 AM — 01:00 PM

If you would like to be at the event go register at Expression 4 Launch

Who is the Featured Speaker?

Bill Buxton will be the featured guest speaker, he is the Principal Research at Microsoft and author of the book “Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design“

What will be shown?

Design agencies who have seen their business grow with Expression Studio will also be showcased. Not only Expression Web Studio 4.0 but design tools for the Web, the desktop, mobile devices, and Silverlight will be shown in action.

NOTE: Anyone that has Expression Web 3.0 can upgrade for FREE to Expression Web 4.0 when it becomes available, so take this opportunity to upgrade NOW. Bear in mind if there is a launch of EW 4.0 on the 7th how much longer will that offer last?

If you are wanting to upgrade Expression Studio or Expression Web then the Microsoft Store currently has an offer on for 40% less.

If you can’t afford it then how about entering my 404 Design Page contest to win Expression Web 3.0?

• 1st Prize Expression Web 3.0
• 2nd Prize Expression Web Tips Vol l and Vol ll Ebooks
• 3rd Prize Expression Web Tips Vol l Ebook

What you have to do to enter the contest.

NOTE: You DO NOT have to own FP or EW to enter, its about designing a 404 page not what web editor you have. Part of the design will be a photo of some sort in probability and for that you will need a graphic editor though the simple Paint that comes with windows can be used. There is a selection of free graphic editors in our Expression Web Community Toolbar.

Design a 404 page that embodies a play on words or a play on the photo, or introduces a double meaning or even a pun.

For example http://www.lanaichc.org/404.html uses the plane wing to sport a number which is of course 404. Then half the photo is in negative mode whilst the other half is positive and the wording emphasis this with a play on the words. “Let us turn a negative into a positive and help you find that page you are looking for”

You can enter as many times as you like as long as the site is your own site, or its a site you designed, such as for a client, but it must be all your own work.

If you are looking for inspiration or how to implement a 404  then check out the following links

http://www.plinko.net/404/

404 Google

What if I can’t implement a 404 page?

Then pop along to our Microsoft Expression Web List where members will attempt to help you work through your hosts particular requirements.

If you host with Bluehost.com this tutorial will help you set a 404 page up.
http://www.expression-web-tutorials.com/bh-custom-error-pages.html

If you host with 1and1.com or need to make a 404 page in a general way this tutorial will help you.
http://www.genealogy-web-creations.com/create-custom-error-page.html

To implement a CUSTOM 404 file, you need to find out what YOUR host allows. If they do not allow you access to the .htacces file or allow you to implement it via the control panel, do they at least allow you to ‘turn on’ their own generic 404 pages?

For more help with your 404 page implementation first take a look at the above links and if you are still stuck come join the Microsoft Expression Web List where will we endeavour to help you. You need to make a subject line of 404 – http://yoursite.com with yoursite being your own domain, in the body of the message give us the link to your host, and the link to your site and tell us what problems you are having. Better yet just come join anyway for help and advice with Expression Web, even if you are still using FrontPage or are using SharePoint Designer 2007. You can be using any editor to enter this contest.

If your host does not allow custom  404 pages for whatever reason just upload the page as a page and enter it as the design.  At the very least you will have learnt more about your host, what a 404 does for you and had some fun ito the bargin not to mention in with a chance to win the prizes.

What are the dates of the contest?

It starts today 18th May and runs till end of the month  31st May

18th May – 31st May EXTENDED to 6th June

How do I enter?

You MUST enter via the contact form, no other form of entry will be considered.

Simply use the contact form here on the blog – head it with Expression Web Contest.
http://www.expression-web.net/contact/

Give me your:

• Name
• Email
• link to the 404 design or 404 custom page design

Now all you have to do is have a bit of fun. Good Luck.

Site Templates

Expression Web has included within it, generic Site Templates which can be accessed via File – New – Web Site – Templates in EW 1.0 & 2.0 and Site – New – Templates in 3.0. However these generic Site Templates leave something to be desired. After I was inspired by a post on the xweb team blog to write an in-depth tutorial on how to Register Custom Templates in Expression Web Pat Geary and I via our joint site Migrating from FrontPage to Expression Web decided it was time to produce some basic layout templates for every one to enjoy within their own Expression Web programs. Based on Eric Meyer’s CSS Sculptor for Expression Web produced by Webassit but no longer in production we have created 12 Site Templates which come with a linked style sheet and dwt and commented in-depth for your ease of use. Included is a search box and contact form with instructions on their usage and full instructions on working with these and other aspects of the site. You can download your very own set at Expression Web Site Templates.

The Site Templates come in four flavours

• One column, with top navigation, header, and footer
• Two column, with left sidebar, top navigation, header, and footer
• Two column, right sidebar, top navigation, header, and footer
• Three columns, left and right sidebar, top navigation

Within each of these basic structures come the following modes;

Fixed to 800px - Page and column widths are set with pixels and do not resize if the browser window or browser text size changes.

Fixed to 1024px – Page and column widths are set with pixels and do not resize if the browser window or browser text size changes.

Liquid – Page and column widths are set with percentages which allows them to resize when the browser window changes with the exception of the three column templates which has the left and right side columns set in pixel widths.

You can download them in zipped packs of 3 for easy use. Full instructions on the precise place to download them to, to ensure you can access them from
within Expression Web itself is provided. These Site Template are FREE and a gift to the Expression Web community. They will work with all versions of Expression Web.

Included are the following pages, which explain why you should have each of these basic pages in site, and how you go about making or writing content for each of them.

• Working With Forms
• Add a Search Box – Add Bing Search Box
• About Privacy Policies on your site
• Site Map page
• Links page
• About page
• Working with a Site DWT

When you have downloaded your Expression Web Site Templates and tweaked the basic layout with your own colours and graphics, please let us know your site link and we will include it as an example of what you can do. If you have any questions or feedback please contact us.

Cracked Ice DWT

A new free Expression Web DWT called Cracked Ice DWT is now available for download. Brought to you from Any Expression Web Designs for Xmas 2009.

Along with the free template you can use it to follow the new tutorial Register your Custom Template in Expression Web 3.0, the tutorial also lets you know you can do the same with the previous versions of EW 1.0 and 2.0. Never have to go searching for your favourite designs again.

NOTE: Watch out for a series of free basic Site templates that you can be sure are well coded coming your way soon. Start off the right way.

Any Expression have also made available at the Microsoft Gallery their three Setting up Expression Web eboooks for each version.

Each ebook is priced at $7 however if you buy both together you can save $1 and get them for $13

Each ebook has 26 Expression Web Tips – one for each day of the week  – There are guest authors on both ebooks however the majority of the tips are written by myself.

With the second volume you get a bonus of a Expression Web Query of “Find and Replace any border size” with Tip 49

You can read more about Expression Queries and pick up a few free ones as well.