Dreamweaver CS4 All-in-One For Dummies [Paperback]

Sue Jenkins (Author), Richard Wagner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470391804 | ISBN-13: 978-0470391808 | Publication Date: November 17, 2008 | Edition: 1

Web site designers, Web developers, and visual designers all use Dreamweaver CS4 to build world class Web sites. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a design pro, DreamweaverCS4 All-In-One for Dummies makes Web development easy!

You’ll start with Dreamweaver basics and the essentials of a good Web site. Then you’ll learn to add zing with Spry effects, set up Contribute, build dynamic pages, extend your site with Web applications, configure database connections using PHP, ASP.NET, or ColdFusion, and more! Discover how to:

• Get familiar with Dreamweaver’s workspace, use the toolbars and panels, and set preferences
• Plan, design, build, and manage a site that meets your audience’s expectations  
• Add Flash files, movies, and sound, and keep your site updated with Cascading Style Sheets
• Create and use code snippets and history panel commands
• Follow the right steps for setting up links
• Incorporate interactive images to build visually appealing Web pages
• Use layers with CSS, JavaScript behaviors, or Flash® movies
• Review source formatting and clean up your code to avoid errors when publishing your site
• Capture attention with dynamic content and forms

Dreamweaver CS4 All-In-One for Dummies is divided into nine minibooks:

• Getting Started
• Mastering the Basics
• Working Like the Pros
• Energizing Your Site
• Publishing Your Site
• Working Collaboratively
• Building Web Applications
• Making Pages Dynamic
• Developing Applications Rapidly

Your one-stop Dreamweaver reference is Dreamweaver CS4 All-In-One for Dummies!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Your one-stop Dreamweaver reference, filled with the latest tips and techniques

Whether you're new to Web site development or simply want to learn all the cool new stuff in Dreamweaver CS4, this book has what you need in one convenient package. It gets you going with Dreamweaver basics and the essentials of a good Web site, and then shows you how to add zing with Spry effects, set up Contribute, build dynamic pages, and more!

• Learn the landscape — get familiar with the workspace, use the toolbars and panels, and set preferences

• Wow them with your site — plan, design, build, and manage a site that meets your audience's expectations

• Make it shine — add Flash® files, movies, and sound, and keep your site updated with Cascading Style Sheets

• Snip, snip — create and use code snippets and history panel commands

• Layer it on — explore the versatility of layers and use them with CSS, JavaScript® behaviors, or Flash movies

• Keep it clean — review source formatting and clean up your code to avoid errors when publishing your site

• Go configure — extend your site with Web applications and configure database connections using PHP, ASP.NET, or ColdFusion®

• Dynamic data — make your site shine with dynamic content and forms

Open the book and find:

• A guide to planning and designing a site

• The basics of Web design workflow

• How to insert rollovers and interactive media

• Steps for setting up links

• How to use Server Side Includes

• Why and how to make pages XHTML-compliant

• How to collaborate through a Contribute site

• Cool Web applications you can build

About the Author

Sue Jenkins is a seasoned Web designer (www.Luckychair.com) and ACE/ACI software instructor. She appears in 3 software training DVDs and is the author of several books on Web and graphic design. Richard Wagner is an experienced Web designer, developer, and author of over a dozen Web-related books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 816 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (November 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470391804
• ISBN-13: 978-0470391808
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > Computers & Technology > Graphic Design > Web Design > Dreamweaver

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars As a non-graphic designer, do not buy this book. Period., September 2, 2009

By 

K. Reuter (Tallahassee, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dreamweaver CS4 All-in-One For Dummies (Paperback)

With a title: "Dreamweaver CS4 for Dummies", you expect it to be just that...for dummies. Even the intro explains that this book is aimed at people with only a basic level of computer experience (ie: internet experience, microsoft word, etc.).

Now. I am a smart person - I am not expecting web design to be a peace of cake, but I am finishing a degree in biology...I should really be able to use the "dummies" book.

It jumps back and forth between the different "books" within this big book. It fails to fully explain many, many things. I've been sitting here for three hours trying to "Create" a website, and this book is a big epic fail.
For example:

I took the book's advice and picked a "preset template" with which to play around in. It notes in the book that I can also pick from preset colors, as well. I have read and reread the step-by-step instructions (as well as flipped through various areas of the book), and am I still stuck with either 1) a layout with no color or 2) a bunch of HTML script which (I assume) codes for a bunch of colors. What. The. Heck.

Furthermore, after trying to see how I can edit the color on my website, I check the book for "color" in the index...and, believe it or not, there is no general info page on how to change/add colors onto websites. There is merely a page number which takes me to an advanced and non-related page.

Anyway, the other reviews were written by a graphic designer and an individual who had experience with past dreamweaver versions - for someone with that level of experience, this is surely a helpful book. However, for you people who have never looked at dreamweaver and have utilized websites at the facebook/google/wikipedia/blackboard level, this is probably not for you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good reference, September 28, 2009

By 

J. Durand "Freefaller" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dreamweaver CS4 All-in-One For Dummies (Paperback)

This book is a must have for anyone starting out with Dreamweaver. The book offers easy to follow intruction and can be easily navigated. As with all their books Dreamweaver cs4 for Dummies assumes you know absolutely nothing about web design/development so it's a good fit for almost anybody.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great instruction and reference tool for Dreamweaver CS4, August 16, 2009

By 

Robert Vizzini "vizzphoto" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dreamweaver CS4 All-in-One For Dummies (Paperback)

Being a graphic designer I have always found that after some initial understanding of a piece of software the way I really learn to use it is to do a job with it. At that point is when I have to problem solve to get the job done. "Dreamweaver CS4 for Dummies" by Sue Jenkins and Richard Wagner fits right into my game plan. Equipped with a great table of contents and especially an extensive index I can find what I need to know at a glance. The information is extremely extensive for each topic so I can get as deep into the topic as I need to at then time. Organized with tips to remind you of workflow and production information you may not consider otherwise is an especially usful plus when you are doing a real project.

The beginner and expert alike will benefit from "Dreamweaver CS4 for Dummies" since it gives you the basic training as well as more technical information. I suppose you could follow the book from start to finish but I can't say I have time for that. I choose to investigate the lessons that I need to use to problem solve my projects as they come up. It gives you plenty of room to learn in your own time. Although I have used various DVD training courses for my Dreamweaver study I find "Dreamweaver CS4 for Dummies" an invaluable instruction and reference tool for my ongoing web design and development needs.