Adobe Dreamweaver is such a powerful tool for web designers, because it has so many things you can do with it. Of course, all those things you can do make it challenging to learn. Find out some of the many things that Dreamweaver can do, including changes in the latest version, CS5. And don’t forget to check out the things that are missing from Dreamweaver CS5.

Defining a Site

  • Start a new websiteCreate a websiteSet up only the parts of the site that you need, when you need them *New in CS5Set up remote, QA, and testing servers for more complete workflows *New in CS5Create and publish new directoriesChange the doctypeInclude meta data in your pages

Putting Your Site Live

  • Define a remote site
  • FTP files to the web server
  • Use a version control system to check files in and out
  • Connect with Subversion for more advanced version control *New in CS5
  • Leave notes for your teammates

Creating Web Pages

  • Write a page in WYSIWYG modeWrite a page in HTMLCreate a new page from a templateCreate a new page from scratchCreate a templateSave files to your site directoryDefine the page properties

CSS

  • Use CSS style sheetsAdding inline stylesCreate an external style sheetAttach an external style sheetCreate class, ID, tag, and compound CSS selectorsEdit existing CSS rulesCreate CSS for printable pagesEnable and disable style properties *New in CS5Inspect CSS box model visually *New in CS5

Text

  • Modify text
  • Use different fonts
  • Insert a line break
  • Use special characters
  • Include today’s date
  • Write comments
  • Apply HTML tags to text
  • Add HTML attributes to tags
  • Link text and imagesCheck site linksChange the default link colors (link, visited, hover, active)Create tool tips on linksCreate mailto linksCreate web page anchors

Images

  • Add graphics to a page
  • Edit images
  • Resize images
  • Add alt text to images
  • Add additional accessibility options to images
  • Align images and text
  • Create a rollover image
  • Use image maps
  • Use tracing images
  • Use image placeholders
  • Insert Fireworks HTML
  • Insert Photoshop files

Layout

  • Use the included free templates *New CSS starter layouts in CS5Insert divs for layoutEdit divs in the CSS styles panelInsert absolutely positioned elementsFormat absolutely positioned elements in the property inspectorUse rulers, grids, and guides

Lists

  • Add bulleted and numbered listsCustomize list bullets and numbers

Tables

  • Create a table
  • Add header rows and columns
  • Use transparent images to hold table cells open
  • Create fixed width and flexible width columns
  • Change the border styles of tables
  • Embed a table within a table
  • Import tabular data

Forms

  • Use a mailto form
  • Define form actions
  • Add text, radio, checkbox, file, image, select boxes, and hidden form fields
  • Make your forms accessible with fieldset and label fields
  • Create custom submit buttons
  • Validate forms with JavaScript (Spry)

Databases and PHP Scripting

  • Attach your site to a databaseSet up a PHP/mySQL siteUse Spry elements to connect to the databaseInsert data objects into your pagesTest and update a Spry data source or displayEdit complex dynamic sites in design viewDiscover all dynamically related files to assemble PHP CMS sites (WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal) *New in CS5Custom class hinting for PHP code, including third-party frameworks like the Zend framework *New in CS5

Frames

  • Build a framed websiteEdit noframes contentFormat and style your framesSet up default link targets between frames

Add Interactivity

  • Build a photo album (No longer in CS5)
  • Add sound to web pages
  • Create a drop-down menu
  • Use Dreamweaver behaviors to open pop-up windows, create jump menus, play sound, swap images, and more
  • Add RSS feeds to a site
  • Insert Flash text as a rollover
  • Insert CSS text as a rollover
  • Insert other plugins
  • Add Spry menu bar, tabbed panels, accordion, tool tip, and collapsible panel
  • Use the Widget Browser to find new widgets for your site, without needing to know JavaScript

Test Your Pages

  • Test your pages in Live View to see the changes due to JavaScript and interactivity *New in CS5
  • Validate your HTML
  • Preview your pages in several browsers
  • Use BrowserLab to preview your pages in other operating systems *New in CS5
  • Use Device Central to check how the pages look on mobile devices
  • Check browser compatibility
  • Change the settings to match what your site needs to work with
  • Check internal site links
  • Test your site’s accessibility (No longer in CS5)
  • Convert a Word Document to HTML

Customize Dreamweaver

  • Add extensionsDisable extensionsCustomize Dreamweaver with shortcuts

Increase Your Efficiency

  • Use built-in keyboard shortcutsUse code snippetsCreate and use templatesGenerate new pages from custom templatesUpdate templatesInclude one file in another with the Dreamweaver libraryUpdate library itemsInclude one file in another using SSIUse search and replace

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