Connect Microsoft FrontPage 2003 with Hosting Account and Edit Website Files Locally

Every website requires editing or modifying the code files on times. You need to deal with those files every time you want to make any changes in your theme design or want to add more features etc. If you are a website owner or offer website related services, you would need to edit or modify the files at the web server. The simple and traditional way to do so is downloading the files from the server via FTP and editing or modifying them through some editing application. Though the Notepad is a universal editor, Microsoft FrontPage 2003 is stand alone for its unique and useful features (Microsoft has released latest version of web development application, still the most of the users use the MS FrontPage 2003). But, whatever the application you use to edit the files, you’ll have to upload the modified version of the file again at the server to show the changes at the user end. There is no such arrangement in the web servers to edit files inside from it.
If you use FrontPage 2003 to edit or create website source files, you might be wondering that you can modify any website source file live from the FrontPage interface. You can also sync files between your server and FrontPage. All you have to do is connecting FrontPage with your website server control panel.
Note: Those who are using WordPress as the website platform, can edit theme files from their WordPress dashboard. Apart from that, all the other files are needed to be downloaded to get any changes or modification.
Here is the detailed guide on how to connect Microsoft FrontPage with hosting control panel and edit/modify the source files within from FrontPage 2003.

Install FrontPage extension at your hosting account from the cPanel

To initiate the process, at first install the FrontPage extension at your hosting account. It will help to build the connection between your server and FrontPage. Here is the step by step guide.
1. Login to your hosting Control Panel.
2. In the cPanel, go to the Advanced segment and notice that there is an option to install FrontPage extensions. Click on it.

3. Click on the Install Extension button for the right domain.

Note: Make sure that the permission level for your root directory is 777 before you start the installation.
The server will start to install the extension at your account and show a confirmation message when it is done successfully.

That’s it. You can now logout from your cPanel and open Microsoft FrontPage to build the connection with your hosting account.

How to configure FrontPage and connect with hosting account

Before you start connecting FrontPage 2003 with your server, you need to apply a small trick. In your computer, go to My Documents and open the folder called My Web Sites.

Create a new folder and give it a name as your website name and go through the following instructions.
Step 1. Open FrontPage 2003 and click File > Open Site.

Navigate to My Documents > My Web Sites and open the folder you created earlier.
Step 2. Opening the folder will open a new tab in FrontPage window. Look at the bottom of the window and you will find an option called as Remote Web sites. Click on it.

As soon as you click, you will view another option “Remote Web Site Property” at the top-right corner of the tabbed window. Click it.

The “Remote Web Site Properties” dialogue box pops up. Select the FTP button and enter your server FTP details. Also type the name of the web directory that should open into FrontPage. Enter /public_html at the “Ftp directory” text box. Finally, click the OK button.

Step 3. It will pop up another window asking you to enter the username and password for your FTP account. Once you do so and hit the OK button, it will start the authentication process and connect FrontPage with your hosting account through FTP.

After building the connection successfully, it will split the Website tab into two windows, one of which contains the local website files and the other contains all the files under the pre-mentioned(/Public_html) directory at your server.

Now, whenever you want to edit any source file of your website, just navigate to that file from the Remote Web Site part and double-click on it. The file should open with FrontPage 2003. After modifying the file, save that as usual. Doing so, you have actually edited and saved the file directly at your server place. Enjoy!
Tip: Block Access To A Website Without Any Software.
This technique cuts down the hassle of downloading and uploading files from your server every time you want to edit or modify them.
Some time ago, I also used to follow the path that people do. But now I edit my website files locally with FrontPage. What about you? Let us know if you liked this tutorial. If you have any other solution, let us know via the comment section.