The Essential Guide to Dreamweaver CS4 with CSS, Ajax, and PHP (Paperback)

by David Powers (Author)
Key Phrases: server behaviors, page properties, smart object, Related Files, Insert Record, Code Navigator (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Dreamweaver CS4 is a massive step forward in terms of integration with the rest of the CS4 suite (Flash, Fireworks, Photoshop, etc.), and also includes a whole host of exciting new features of its own. The Essential Guide to Dreamweaver CS4 with CSS, Ajax, and PHP concentrates on getting the best out of Dreamweaver CS4, rather than going into every menu item and toolbar icon. The emphasis is on developing websites compliant with the latest web standards, using CSS, JavaScript libraries (with particular emphasis on Spry, Adobe's implementation of Ajax), and PHP.

The book covers all aspects of the new user interface, including workspace layouts, iconic panels, the related documents feature, Live View, Code Navigator, and Live Code. It also shows how to use the improved CSS editing features, and JavaScript code introspection. There is also coverage of other new features, such as version control through Subversion integration, and the improved support for Photoshop integration through the use of Smart Objects.

What you'll learn

• Streamline your workflow with the Related Files toolbar, Live view, and the Code Navigator
• Bring your pages alive with Ajax widgets from Spry, jQuery, and the Yahoo! User Interface Library
• Use server-side includes, templates, and Adobe's InContext Editing online service
• Create dynamic web applications using Dreamweaver's PHP server behaviors
• Build real world web site functions, such as form validation, random quote generator, search function, user management/login pages, dynamic Ajax gallery, and much more
• Consume RSS feeds and create Spry data sets
• How to publish your site after you've created it

About the Author
David Powers is an Adobe Community Expert for Dreamweaver and author of a series of highly successful books on PHP, including PHP Solutions: Dynamic Web Design Made Easy (friends of ED, ISBN-13: 978-1-59059-731-6) and Foundation PHP for Dreamweaver 8 (friends of ED, ISBN-13: 978-1-59059-569-5). As a professional writer, he has been involved in electronic media for more than 30 years, first with BBC radio and television and more recently with the Internet. His clear writing style is valued not only in the English-speaking world; several of his books have been translated into Spanish and Polish.

What started as a mild interest in computing was transformed almost overnight into a passion, when David was posted to Japan in 1987 as BBC correspondent in Tokyo. With no corporate IT department just down the hallway, he was forced to learn how to fix everything himself. When not tinkering with the innards of his computer, he was reporting for BBC TV and radio on the rise and collapse of the Japanese bubble economy. Since leaving the BBC to work independently, he has built up an online bilingual database of economic and political analysis for Japanese clients of an international consultancy.

When not pounding the keyboard writing books or dreaming of new ways of using PHP and other programming languages, David enjoys nothing better than visiting his favorite sushi restaurant. He has also translated several plays from Japanese.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1000 pages
• Publisher: friends of ED; 1 edition (December 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430216107
• ISBN-13: 978-1430216100
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,229 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Programming > Languages & Tools > Ajax
  #16 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Web Development > Programming > PHP
  #17 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Graphic Design > Web Design > Dreamweaver

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure genius, April 30, 2009

By	Ryan Satterfield "The_missing_link" (On earth Part time.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is pure genius. I am pretty good at HTML and CSS but David pointed out some things that really surprised me and have helped my Web Design to be even better. I mostly skimmed the first few chapters and now I am in the AJAX area. I absolutely love it. David please keep writing and don't forget to add in your humor once in a while in the book. Thats what I like about the book. It isn't dry and boring he throws something in that is geeky funny. Thats what really makes me keep reading the book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Guide a MindFriendly Resource, April 28, 2009

By	Richard W. Ritchie "webmathetic" (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Essential Guide to Dreamweaver CS4 with CSS, Ajax, and PHP is a valuable resource for the DWCS4 user who wants to understand the more complicated DW tasks in a way that is friendly to the mind. Comprehensive in scope. Powers seems to provide mental hooks to help the reader grab the concepts, whether it's how to make the best use of the CSS tools, or how to easily latch on to all the new Dynamic PHP features. I was amazed at how quickly I was putting together my recent online store.
Lots of "Aha!" experiences.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars thank you, January 25, 2009

By	Lois Reed Hagemaier "Lois" (US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Finally - a book for what is NEW in Dreamweaver. There have been many exciting changes in web development, and in Dreamweaver. It is frustrating to only find books that begin at - the - very - beginning.
The Essentail Guide to DW CS4 brings the intermediate and advanced web designer up to speed with clear and brilliant tutorials. There are some "texty" areas, but Powers acknowledges how tedious it is to read about programming - and gets back to hands on quickly.
Wish there were more authors out there who see the need for books that jump in 'beyond the basics'.
Thank you.
(I'm a mac, so it was a bit rough setting up a dynamic site with this book. I used the Missing Manual series to walk through that part...MM is mac friendly :)
PS - If you do the tutorials out of order, you may not have the necessary files for the sprys. MADDENING. If Amazon would let me take away a star I would for this very reason ...