This book is really just a collection of examples (hence the step-by-step) to walk you through. However, the text is probably 3 times longer than it needs to be. The book repeats very simple steps (do you really need to show the user how to go to File...Save in every single example?) in all the examples and also pointless steps. For example, many of the examples have the same two or three steps to open the file (click on open, highlight a file, press OK). These steps could be combined into one in future examples.

Further proof is that there is a whole Appendix on an intro to Windows. For example, how to click with a mouse, open and close windows, etc.

Overall this book should probably be called Frontpage for Dummies. If you are an absolute beginner to Windows applications and web publishing, this book would be good for you to get going quickly with Frontpage. However, if you are already comfortable with Windows applications or you have done any sort of web design, this book is simply too beginner.

I'm giving it 2 stars only because it would be good for absolute beginner. However, it is misleading to say it is from beginner to advanced. If the book clearly stated it was only for beginners or was called something like Frontpage for Dummies, I would rate it higher.

"If you want to be a FrontPage expert, do not buy this book.", I purchased this book because this was made by Microsoft Press, hoping that this book has a complete information on using FrontPage 2000. However, upon completion of reading and following procedures on every single page in 2 days, I found that it only covers certain basic features and does not cover any of the advanced features. (e.g. editing frames, creating search menus, using data base, displaying and replying to comments, etc.) I have to buy another book on FrontPage and wasted money and time on this book. If you want to be a FrontPage expert, do not buy this book, but buy the book with more detailed explanation on advanced features. (Running FrontPage 2000 from Microsoft or FrontPage 2000 Bible from IDG are good choices.)

"You will be designing webs in two days.....", Step by Step is exactly the correct title. This book is great for the person who buys software and wants to start using it right away without having to read a 4000 page novel. I was able to cover 6 lessons in two days (approximately 10 hours). To move this quickly, you should have a good foundation of Windows. Once you have completed all 10 lessons, then you can move on to the advanced books. This book covers planning, hyperlinks, adding style, tables, sound, images and video, creating forms, using frames and finally publishing and managing the web after it is published. Excellent.

"Just the Book for a Newbie", Learn by doing. This book leads you through a series of exercises and reviews which teach you the basics of FrontPage 2000. There are some missing areas (buttons has been mentioned), but for a beginner the book can give you the confidence to construct a moderately sophisticated web site.

I read through the book and completed the exercises within a weekend. The exercises use files included on the accompanying CD-ROM as starting points, and lead you through modifications and enhancements. There are some AVI files on the CD showing some of the techniques in video.

A big plus, if you are on the fence about using FrontPage 2000, is that there is a 45-day demo of this program on the CD. During the demo period you may use the unrestricted program to determine whether you want to buy your own version.

As has been stated, you will probably have to buy a more advanced book if you will be doing heavy programming, but for beginners, this is the one to get.

I'm off to order another title concerning FrontPage 2000, which I hope will be much more beneficial than this "Step by Step" publication.

"An Excellent Introduction", This is a very helpful introduction to Frontpage 2000. I completed most of it in about a week and continue to return to it as a reference. Working through the exercises on the accompanying CD-ROM gives the reader a good initial orientation to FP 2000 and a sense of what you can do with the product.