FP2000: How FrontPage Handles Document Conversion to HTML (205684)

SUMMARY

FrontPage can convert into HTML the following: pasted text, inserted file segments in HTML pages, and entire files from several formats. This article presents an overview of how FrontPage handles document conversion to HTML and answers the following questions:

When does FrontPage attempt to convert a file to HTML?
Why does the conversion process show two stages?
How does FrontPage determine which converter to run?
How are converters installed and where are they located?

MORE INFORMATION

When Does FrontPage Attempt to Convert a File to HTML?

FrontPage attempts to convert a file to HTML when you do any of the following:

Paste text from a non-HTML document.
On the Insert menu in FrontPage, click File and select a non-HTML document.
Drag a non-HTML document to FrontPage.

Why Does the Conversion Process Show Two Stages?

FrontPage first converts documents from their native format to Rich Text Format (RTF) and then converts the RTF files to Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). If the file is already in HTML format or in simple text, no converter is used. If the incoming file is RTF only, the RTF to HTML converter is used.

How Does FrontPage Determine Which Converter to Run?

When FrontPage imports a file, the algorithm for determining which converter will be run is as follows:

First the conversion routine looks at the extension of the file. For each converter registry entry that matches the extension of the file, that converter's entry point for the IsFormatCorrect routine is run. This routine reads the first few bytes of the incoming file and determines whether it understands the format. The first converter that understands the format is then run to convert the file to RTF format.
If FrontPage is unable to locate a converter that understands the file based on its extension, this procedure is repeated for each converter registry entry, regardless of the file's extension.
If FrontPage still cannot find a converter to open the file, it displays the Open File As dialog box with buttons you can click to open the file as RTF, HTML, or text.

How Are Converters Installed and Where Are They Located?

FrontPage 2000, Office 2000, and other Microsoft programs use the same location for shared converters (and the same registry keys to point to these converters). Installing or uninstalling any of these programs may change the versions of the converters that you are running.