Dreamweaver - questions

[brianmole 0]

Hi all, I am now considering forking out for Macromedia Dreamweaver. Is it easy to learn? Are there any short courses aAny issues? Is it possible to obtain a non-current version at better price?

 

Cheers,

Brian

 

 

 

PS: please don't tell me how good word or publisher or vi or whatever! are instead http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif I just want to know about Dreamweaver specifically at this time.

[TonyB 0]

It depends on how much you already know about website design. If you already have a good knowledge of HTML, CSS and website design then you should be able to learn to use it pretty quickly. If no have no knowledge of HTML, CSS or website design then Dreamweaver is not a magical package that will make you a good website and it will take a while to get the hang of it. Have a look at Dreamweaver Tutorial . If that makes sence to you then get it.

 

Dreamweaver does come with some built in tuition packages that you can work through.

 

I used to use it a lot and personally I found it one of the best packages available if you wanted to design a website from scratch.

 

Can't say I know of anywhere where you can get a legit "out of date version". Copies sold on fleabay are usually just that, unauthorised copies.

[FrankieJ 0]

I designed my website using Frontpage 2002 whcih I thought was very easy.

I also purchased Dreamweaver but couldnt get on with it. I am now looking to purchase Frontpage 2003 as this version is almost simiular to DW but should be easier to use.

[brianmole 0]

QUOTE (FrankieJ @ Oct 5 2006, 01:22 PM)

I designed my website using Frontpage 2002 whcih I thought was very easy. I also purchased Dreamweaver but couldnt get on with it. I am now looking to purchase Frontpage 2003 as this version is almost simiular to DW but should be easier to use.

So, do you want to sell your Dreamweaver then? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif

 

 

Thanks for the input guys, most useful. I'll take a look at the tutorial later thanks.

 

Any one else wanna throw their 6p's worth in?

[NiM 0]

I really like Dreamweaver. Used to hate it (previously used homesite and then edit pad) - took me ages to get used to the interface, but now use it for pretty much everything.

 

Good piece of software, though is pricey for what is effectively a jazzed up notepad..

Edited October 5, 2006 by NiM

[Paul Smith 0]

I did consider Dreamweaver until a friend told me that he had attended a couse & still couldn't get to grips with it. It depends how much time you can spare to learn all the ins & outs.

 

I prefer the simpler things in life and so I use FP 2003 and I have a book called 'Javascript for the World Wide Web' by Tom Negrino & Dori Smith which I use as a guide when I want to change something.

 

There are also lots of snippets of code available on the web which you can incorporate into your own code to do specific things. Most of these are free to download.

 

OK so doing things the easy way means that my site isn't as flashy as some but it does the job.

[TonyB 0]

I say I "used" to use Dreamweaver. I bought the MX version about 2 years ago but have hardly used it. For individual websites it is like using a sledge hammer to crack a nut. I'm more into CMS (Content Management System) such as Joomla which is free open source. Just load it up and instant website. One I have been playing around with is at sample (and I mean having a bit of fun with!). You can select different templates by selecting from the template chooser on the left.

 

Its hosted on my server at home so it might be a bit slow or not there if I've turned it off!

 

If anyone is interested in this sort of thing (CMS) and DIY then I'll start a new thread.

[mikeee 0]

Brian, I did my site in Dreamweaver MX - thingy whatever it's called. Some bits do your head in and make FP seem easy, but other things are easier in Dreamweaver. I think it's a trade off game.

[tonyj 0]

i use dreamweaver, i find quite easy to use now after a bit of practise

[BigBen 0]

I started with FrontPage but upgraded to DreamWeaver because I got fed up with all the bloat required to run FrontPage built sites. I also found out that's what the pro's use. In answer to your question, without any training I can do everything I could on FP and more as well. It is intuitive and straight-forward.

 

If you can use Contribute then I am sure the transition to Dreamweaver will be a short learning curve.

[shakermaker 0]

I use Dreamweaver MX.

Ok, my pages are pretty basic and mainly just text and the same layout but it's easy enough. Once I get a moment I will look into properly so that I can use it to it's full potential.

[brianmole 0]

Once again thanks guys, FP is of no use to me at all, it only runs on a PC - I have a Mac, hence my comment about only wanting info on D/w

 

Now then, is there a different product called Dreamweaver MX then?

[shakermaker 0]

Dreamweaver MX is the one i have and you get Fireworks with it. It's the only one I know as someone 'gave' me it. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/whistling.gif

[Eskie 0]

QUOTE (TonyB @ Oct 5 2006, 03:18 PM)

I'm more into CMS (Content Management System) such as Joomla which is free open source. Just load it up and instant website. One I have been playing around with is at sample (and I mean having a bit of fun with!). You can select different templates by selecting from the template chooser on the left. Its hosted on my server at home so it might be a bit slow or not there if I've turned it off! If anyone is interested in this sort of thing (CMS) and DIY then I'll start a new thread.

Funnily enough I was looking at the Joomla site just a couple of days ago. I'd be interested in your views on CSM as I have very little knowledge of it and how it could be applied to something like a site for DJ use.

 

Bri, I use Dreamweaver MX 2004 (version 7), the latest version is I think Dreamweaver 8.

I find it a doddle to use, far preferable to Frontpage which produce lots of totally unnecessary code.

As for Paul's comments on going on a course and still being none the wiser, to me that would suggest the course tutor either didn't know the subject properly or he had no idea how to actually "teach"!.

I learnt DW a few years ago just by using it, after a couple of years I bought a couple of reference books to teach myself more of the many features the programme includes. Last year I decided I really wanted to be able to use all it's features in order to be able to produce a really cracking functional site and went on a 3 day Macromedia approved course. It was a little disappointing in some ways as I found that most of what was taught I already knew. The teacher was excellent, it was just that I had mastered much more of the the programme than I realised just from teaching myself and doing the various modules in the books I had read.

If you have the time I would say buy some books, they will give you a thorough understanding of it. If this is of interest to you, I'll find the books I used and put some links to them.

[TonyB 0]

QUOTE (Eskie @ Oct 8 2006, 08:14 PM)

Funnily enough I was looking at the Joomla site just a couple of days ago. I'd be interested in your views on CSM as I have very little knowledge of it and how it could be applied to something like a site for DJ use.

The biggest advantage with a CMS site is the ease at which it can be updated. E.g. to add a new page, you log into the admin, click on add new item. type what you want, insert pictures etc (it has a WYSIWYG editor built in) click on link to menu, type in name of link, click okay and its done complete with menu link. There are lots of addons like calendars, gig calendars, forms etc.

 

Also lots of free templates for different look to the site which are easily customisable (there are plugins for Dreamweaver if you wanted to design your own templates).

 

It can also be updated anywhere there is a web browser with an internet connection so you are not restricted to updating it from wahtever PC the files are stored on and then uploading to the site. All the info is kept in a MySQL database which is easy to keep a backup of.

 

Another CMS site I am working on at the moment is Mid Suffolk Action In Partnership for a local charity. I only started it yesterday and it is mainly just been a case of cutting and pasting the text plus adding the forms. It would of taken a lot longer to design a site like that from scratch. When I've finished it, I'll show them how to use the admin and they can update it themselves.

 

In conclusion, I would say the biggest advantage is ease of use and time saved.

 

[Eskie 0]

This seems perfect for those with not such a great knowledge of html and/or lack of time to spend on their websites but still wish to be able to add content on a regular basis.

When I get some time I think I'm gonna have to investigate this further, especially the plugins for Dreamweaver.

[TonyB 0]

In case you haven't already found out, Joomla is a derived from Mambo. A lot of stuff designed for Mambo will work for Joomla too.

 

A couple of years ago there was a fallout with the developers of Mambo so some left and started to develop Joomla. I have been using Mambo but it seems like a bit of a dead stick now. There is virtually no support for it and their latest version is very buggy (plus a lot of the original plugins don't work where they have recoded it).

 

Joomla on the other hand seems to be thriving and most queries get answered pretty quickly on their forums.

[madasafrog 0]

Have done quite a few sites in Joomla

 

Its an excellent way to run your website as you have control over the content and dont need to know how to do web design. Also when you want to upgrade the look of the site, you are only updating the template it runs in so you are only redoing part of the work, whereas a normal static html site will entail rebuilding the whole thing

 

If you need any help with joomla, just let me know

 

On another note, where people are spending time and money on dreamweaver (plus a good art package to get the graphics looking good), getting to learn how to use it, spending time building their site etc etc, it would have been far more economic to get someone to build it for you in joomla and plus it will look a lot more professional.

 

If you are doing web design for your own page, find a web designer you can trust and does not charge a fortune. There are loads of freelance designers who are reasonable. You will get lot better results and it will work out cheaper in the long run.

 

We have a division in our business that has been doing some web design and i have worked on joomla quite closely so if you want any advice, will be happy to help.

 

[Kane 0]

I designed my website on Dreamweaver, probably gonna change the layout of it soon though, as i think the logo takes over, but anyway, yeh, i think its easy to use once you get used to it, it took me a couple of weeks to learn how to use it, but i think your website looks fine as it as brian, better then mine even!

[Tom 0]

Isn't there still the free trial for Dreamweaver, just download that and try it.

And if you like it buy it if not dont!

[brianmole 0]

Isn't there still the free trial for Dreamweaver, just download that and try it.

And if you like it buy it if not dont!

 

 

I have just 6 days left of my trial. I quite like it, but don't like the $$$ price tag right now.

[Eskie 0]

Also lots of free templates for different look to the site which are easily customisable (there are plugins for Dreamweaver if you wanted to design your own templates).

I had a quick look on the joomla website for the dreamweaver plug-ins but couldn't find any info on them. Don't s'pose you've got any links? :nbow:

Cheers :thanks:

[TonyB 0]

I had a quick look on the joomla website for the dreamweaver plug-ins but couldn't find any info on them. Don't s'pose you've got any links? :nbow:

Cheers :thanks:

 

There is a tutorial and download for Dreamweaver here