Dreamweaver MX: A Beginner's Guide [Paperback]

Ray West (Author), Thomas Muck (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0072223669 | ISBN-13: 978-0072223668 | Publication Date: December 2, 2002 | Edition: 1

Get a solid introduction to the tools, functionality, and newly integrated features of Dreamweaver MX. Discover how to create dynamic Web applications efficiently -- even if you're new to Web development. Filled with step-by-step tutorials, progress checks, hands-on projects, and more, this is the ideal starting point for learning to work with Dreamweaver MX.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Essential Skills--Made Easy!

Develop and deploy Web sites with Macromedia's unique Dreamweaver MX development environment. Get a complete introduction to this popular software's tools, features, and potent functionality. Web experts Ray West and Tom Muck will lead you through all the essentials while focusing on real-world implementation. Begin with basic site construction and design principles, make data and content decisions, and then build your site with tables, forms, behaviors, and other Web development components. Create server-side scripts, dynamic Web applications, and database-driven content while working simultaneously with source code and visual design. Learn to easily work with ASP--plus, learn the basics of ASP.NET, JSP, PHP, and ColdFusion.

Designed for Easy Learning:

• Modules--Each concept is divided into logically organized modules (chapters), ideal for self-paced learning
• Critical Skills--Each module opens with the specific skills covered in the module
• Mastery Checks--End-of-module reviews test knowledge using short-answer, multiple-choice, and fill-in-the-blank questions
• Ask the Experts--Q&A sections throughout are filled with bonus information and helpful tips
• Progress Checks--Quick self-assessment sections check your progress
• Projects--Practical exercises show how to apply the critical skills learned in each module
• Annotated Syntax--Example code annotated with commentary describes the programming techniques being illustrated

About the Author

Ray West is the Vice President and CIO of WorkAble Solutions, Inc; an Orlando, FL based company specializing in the Web-based administration of health care alliances. He is an experienced developer who has used Drumbeat to build enterprise-level web applications.

Thomas Muck is the Web Application Developer for Integram, a privately held corporation in Northern Virginia. He is responsible for the development of front-and back-end e-commerce capabilities.

Product Details

• Paperback: 550 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (December 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072223669
• ISBN-13: 978-0072223668
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,515,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a beginner's book, September 27, 2003

By 

Diskmeister "benchtek" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dreamweaver MX: A Beginner's Guide (Paperback)

This book contains a lot of info but it is not a beginner's book into the world of creating web sites - but a beginner's book into this particular version of Dreamweaver, despite what the "Who should buy this book" paragraph says.
I also found the descriptions of some of the procedures was not explained as well as they could be.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This book is mis-titled, March 4, 2004

By 

golferx "golferx" (San Francisco Bay Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dreamweaver MX: A Beginner's Guide (Paperback)

I've been using Dreamweaver for about 6 years, and also started doing ColdFusion development for a little over a year. I happened to come across this book only by accident when doing a search at the library for subjects related to SQL (database for backend development). I checked this book out figuring that it probably had a chapter or two related to backend development work. Surprise, surprise. Over half the book is dedicated to building database driven web sites.

If anyone is a believer is utilizing a good backend to power your web pages, it's me, but to call this book a BEGINNERS GUIDE is truly a disservice. The problem with books written by most APPLICATION DEVELOPERS (which this is) is that they tend to forget the core audience will most likely be coming from a ZERO KNOWLEDGE base. This is definitely the case here, where over half the book is dedicated to building database driven websites and technology explanations on how to achieve that. Unfortunately it does so at the expense of truly being a BEGINNER'S GUIDE, by quickly touching on topics that would be better explained, both in words and pictures.

As a reference book for getting some basic skills on doing appliction development work, it's admittedly not bad. BUT, if you're a beginner hoping to learn Dreamweaver from the ground up and to start building web pages utilizing the many tools that Dreamweaver has to offer, there are better books to be had.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for beginners, December 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Dreamweaver MX: A Beginner's Guide (Paperback)

The book covers the basics of creating a dynamic web site, from the HTML and CSS all the way to the database that drives the site. If you want to learn dynamic sites, this is the book for you. This is not just a glorified "this menu does this" book--it has some substance.