Dreamweaver
description
Transcript of Dreamweaver
Dreamweaver An introduction to Dreamweaver by
a beginner who can show you the rudiments of quickly and easily creating a web site.
An attempt to offer an alternative to Frontpage (especially for Mac users) and for those who want a different approach.
A Warning There is only one way to learn
Dreamweaver: set yourself a project and work on it.
If you are a confirmed FrontPage user – don’t switch. Enjoy.
If you are not: proceed.
What this will do: This is not an inclusive overview of
Dreamweaver The purpose is to get you started
and show you that you too can learn this easy program on your own.
What is the difference Dreamweaver is an FTP program
You will not workdirectly on the server as does FrontPage
You will have a local file on your computer and send it to the school server (FTP)
Macromedia is not Microsoft It supports macs as well as pcs
What is the difference Code is reliable and respected Layout is easier and more flexible More designers are moving to
Dreamweaver
What is FTP? FTP is file transfer protocol
This means that you keep a site on your local computer and when you make changes you ‘send’ them to the the server site.
You must have the Dreamweaver program on your local computer in order to work on your website.
What is FTP? FTP is file transfer protocol
You must establish a server site to which you will send your local site. It is that site that students access. (Sam Baynes will give you your access; you will need the site name, the ‘docroot’ and a user name and password).
Even without a site, you can create a website (not published) in your own local file.
So its not Microsoft? This is important if you use Macs or if
you find Microsoft programs unreliable. Whereas FrontPage will not be
upgraded for Mac Users, Dreamweaver is the program of choice for Mac (and many pc) users and continues to be updated for both platforms.
Current programs in Dreamweaver:4 and MX
The code is what? Reliable. Many programmers
prefer the web authoring provided by Dreamweaver to that of Frontpage because they feel it is ‘cleaner’ and translates more reliably to the internet.
The code is what? (continued) Browser compatibility issues can
be handled automatically in Dreamweaver
Layout is flexible? Yes – you can place things
anywhere on a page and then set that layout. You will not be limited to working through table layouts as you are in FrontPage.
So how do I begin The biggest hurdle is the
establishment of a “site” or local root site.
Establish a folder on your desktop Name it (whatever) Open Dreamweaver
And now…
Let’s start To start, establish your local site.. Then we will create a homepage
and several linking pages. On the homepage we will put in
text, a picture and two linking pages.
New Site Window
Begin…. Go to menu bar and open ‘sites.’ Go to ‘new site.’ You will name your local folder and
establish your local site. You may choose to establish your
FTP site at this time or wait.
Local Site Name your site(avoid spaces in file
names) Decide where you wish your “root
folder,” the folder which will house your site, to reside.
Create that local root folder and name it
On your new site window, browse for the name of your folder and click on it.
Check ‘enable cache’ box
Local site setup
Local info
Browse for folder - click here
Name site
Enable cache
Next…. If you wish to set up your FTP
remote site - the site to which you will post your local site - you can do that now.
Remote Site WindowPull down menu
Remote Info
Establish FTP site
Choose FTP from Pull Down Menu
FTP Window - version 4
FTP - MX VersionFTP Host
Choose Passsive Format
Field Information Once you have filled in these fields
you have established your site: FTP Host: northonline.sccd.ctc.edu Host directory: /docroot/northonline/
(name of site) Login - use your login name Password - use password given to you Check “Use passive FTP”
Now to begin…. Look at your menu headings
Under window make sure that objects, properties and launcher are checked and that each of these windows are visible on your screen.
On MX- the objects window is under the insert menu
Window Menu-version 4
Menu at top of screen
ObjectsPropertiesLauncher
Objects Insert - MX Version
The object window The object
window allows you to click on a variety of applications: Insert picture Tables Layers and more
Dreamweaver MX-Objects
In MX- this replacesthe object box. Find under “insert” menu.
Properties window
The properties window allows you to click to alter text and to make links. This window expands by clicking the lower right arrow.
Text editor
Links
Launcher window-version 4
This window allows you to open other windows in the application. The ‘site’ icon will show a list all the files you are using on your local and remote site.
Site icon
The site window (file view) The site window
allows you to view and move all of your local folders and files. It will automatically update links.
Local site files-right side
Full site window view-Dreamweaver 4
Remote siteLocal Site
Connecting to remote site Put files on remote site
File view in MX
The icons in the MX version differ slightly from Dreamweaver 4.
Connect Window- MX Version
Connect Icon
To start: go to the menu bar and click NEW under File.This will give you a brand, untitled document page.You may type in text here and add a picture if you wish.
Let’s add both text and a picture and make arrange them in a layout that you find interesting. To do this: go to the objects window
and click on layersIn the MX version there you can go to menu items: Insert and click on layer.In Windows- open panel groups will show all control panels - some people prefer clean pages on which to design and want panels closed.
You will now be able to use your cursor to drawan area which will appear empty - you will fill it inWith text or insert a picture later.Draw two such areas anywhere on your page.
Drawing Layers
Layers This is what your page might look like. The
darker rectangle is the ‘active’ layer.
Text in Layer When you click on this
box, you have the ability to alter its size or to move it anywhere on the page.
When you click in it, you can add text.
Click and insert text and format it however you wish.
Your layer now has text in it.
WYSIWYG
This stands for ‘What you see is what you get’ Dreamweaver allows you to format your page as you would a word-processed page and it converts it to HTML(HyperText Markup Language) behind the scenes for you.
Altering text
By highlighting your text and going to the ‘color box’ in the properties window, you can select any color you wish.
Layers
The layer box itself can also be moved. Click on it and move the
mouse until you see a ‘hand.’
That ‘hand’ grabs the box and allows you to move it wherever you wish on the page
Next Layer Go to the second
layer you have created
Click to make it active
Go to objects window and click on Insert Picture
Use menu in MX
To insert picture…. You will see a
browse path which allows you to find the file from which you wish to choose the picture.
Find the source Click
Insert Picture Once you have
located the source, click choose and the picture is inserted in the layer (box).
You may move this box anywhere on the page you wish by using the mouse and ‘hand.’
Picture insert property box
Notice that when a picture is inserted, the property box changes.
You can label the picture for ADA requirements, align it, or link it.
labelName of image
align
Stabilize the layout
After you have placed your two boxes (layers)wherever you want them, you must make sure they do not move when they appear through the viewer’s browser.Do this by creating a tableGo to the menu bar and choose “modify”
Layout Mode
Find the ‘layout mode’
MX Version: conversion
Go to the upper Menus and choose Modify•Under the Modify Option choose Convert•Choose ‘convert layers to table’
Converting to Table - version 4
Click on Convert layers to table
Now it’s a table
By converting the layers to a table, Dreamweaver has stabilized the text and picture. It will not move in the browser.
Congratulations
Now you have your first completed page!
Links are next Making a link with Dreamweaver is
very easy. First you must have the page to
which you want to make the link.You cannot link to a page you will create. It must already exist.
Start a new page and save it to your site.
Links to pages in your website Go to the properties box and click
on the file folder icon next to links. You will see a screen which will let
you browse your local site to find the file you wish to link to.
Choose it(click ‘open’) and the link is complete.
Save your page.
Adding links
To find the file for your link from your site. Click on the folder icon next to ‘Link.”
Adding links The files from
your site will now be available to you.
When you find the right file , click open.
The link is now made.
Outside Links To make a link to a page outside
your site, go to the properties box and type in the URL or ‘http’ you wish to use.
When you close the box, the link is made
Outside links
Type your URL here
Links
•Links can be assigned to any text or image on your page.•Link targets can be any file in your site,or any file outside your site. •After you have entered your http address, press enter and the text is linked. •Don’t forget to save you page.
THESE ARE THE BASICS There is far more to Dreamweaver
than this - but this is the basic start If you like Dreamweaver, but do not
wish to purchase it without trying it on your own, download a trial version for free at the macromedia.com website
Your trial version will work for 30 days.