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toshiba1 · Nov 23, 2009, 23:59

Hi,

I've just installed Sharepoint Designer 2007 on my laptop. I'm running Windows XP Professional. I'm learning this on my own.

I'm really confused on how to deploy websites. According to some books I've bought, it appears I need Windows Server 2003 to run SharePoint Server so that I can build websites using SharePoint Designer.

I can not get Windows Server 2003 because it is no longer available through microsoft. I've downloaded Windows Server 2008 R2, but this appears to be an operating system. Is this correct? If it is, then I guess I can't run Sharepoint Server on a machine using Windows XP Professional. I'd have to change operating systems?

Please help!

thanks,
rachel

AlexDawson · Nov 24, 2009, 17:46

Firstly, is the website you are producing dependant on sharepoint? While Sharepoint Designer is centralised around the integration of sharepoint it's still at heart a code editor (like any other) and will not require the use of a sharepoint server unless you explicitly use sharepoint through a technology such as ASP.NET. Secondly unless you are planning on hosting the website yourself there is no reason why you should even be thinking about changing operating systems. If you are just building a website and using the sharepoint designer editor to produce your code (conventional HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc) rather than ASP.NET and sharepoint services you do NOT need to run SharePoint server, the information you have been given is highly inaccurate and pretty bad advice actually (what books tell this to you?).

We would need to know exactly what you are producing to determine whether you will need such a service, but speaking generally, unless your hosting the website yourself and unless your explicitly using ASP.NET server-side scripting (with sharepoint services), you do not need anything more than the designer to produce the code. Incidently if you are a beginner you would be better off using another editor (if you want to write code, use something like Notepad++ or Aptana Studio or if you want a visual editor, use KompoZer), for conventional website design you would be better off using Microsoft ExpressionWeb or Adobe Dreamweaver (if you want a big brand commercial tool). You could use SharePoint Designer if you wanted, but (in my opinion) it's a bit bloated and gnarly to be too useful.

AlexDawson · Nov 25, 2009, 22:30

You want a simple explanation of what SharePoint Designer is?

It's a WYSIWYG editor aimed at coding for SharePoint Server (though it will handle conventional web design needs).

Nov 23, 2009, 23:59	#1
toshiba1 SitePoint Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2	Beginning SharePoint Designer 2007 Hi, I've just installed Sharepoint Designer 2007 on my laptop. I'm running Windows XP Professional. I'm learning this on my own. I'm really confused on how to deploy websites. According to some books I've bought, it appears I need Windows Server 2003 to run SharePoint Server so that I can build websites using SharePoint Designer. I can not get Windows Server 2003 because it is no longer available through microsoft. I've downloaded Windows Server 2008 R2, but this appears to be an operating system. Is this correct? If it is, then I guess I can't run Sharepoint Server on a machine using Windows XP Professional. I'd have to change operating systems? Please help! thanks, rachel

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Nov 24, 2009, 17:46	#2
AlexDawson SitePoint Mentor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 5,556	Firstly, is the website you are producing dependant on sharepoint? While Sharepoint Designer is centralised around the integration of sharepoint it's still at heart a code editor (like any other) and will not require the use of a sharepoint server unless you explicitly use sharepoint through a technology such as ASP.NET. Secondly unless you are planning on hosting the website yourself there is no reason why you should even be thinking about changing operating systems. If you are just building a website and using the sharepoint designer editor to produce your code (conventional HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc) rather than ASP.NET and sharepoint services you do NOT need to run SharePoint server, the information you have been given is highly inaccurate and pretty bad advice actually (what books tell this to you?). We would need to know exactly what you are producing to determine whether you will need such a service, but speaking generally, unless your hosting the website yourself and unless your explicitly using ASP.NET server-side scripting (with sharepoint services), you do not need anything more than the designer to produce the code. Incidently if you are a beginner you would be better off using another editor (if you want to write code, use something like Notepad++ or Aptana Studio or if you want a visual editor, use KompoZer), for conventional website design you would be better off using Microsoft ExpressionWeb or Adobe Dreamweaver (if you want a big brand commercial tool). You could use SharePoint Designer if you wanted, but (in my opinion) it's a bit bloated and gnarly to be too useful.

Nov 25, 2009, 22:30	#3
AlexDawson SitePoint Mentor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 5,556	You want a simple explanation of what SharePoint Designer is? It's a WYSIWYG editor aimed at coding for SharePoint Server (though it will handle conventional web design needs).