for full utilzation of website resources)
Since I do not know much HTML, DreamWeaver 4 (DW4) works out very nicely. Not only can you manage the HTML code (in its own window), but you can work in a WYSIWYG context in an adjacent window. That means that as you make changes to code, you see the results immediately and vice versa. That is a very useful function when you do not know code well. Another nice feature of the editor is that it will show you if you make a mistake. If you open code and do not close it, it will highlight the error. That is fine except when you open non-code and close it correctly. It just lets it slide past. The non-code and anything it is applied to either simply do not show up or show up as an error when you load the page in a standard browser.
As you can see, it is simple to place backgrounds and text colors/sizes as well as any font/format you want, typical of most HTML applications. The nice thing about DW4, again, is how nice it is to see what you are doing as you do it. If you are typing in the "viewer pane," you can see how you are changing things on the fly. You can do all the things necessary to create the hompage you came from to get here (background color, images, etc) that I have chosen not to recreate for effect in the same, easy way. Drag and drop is the word for most things. Frames and tables are simple add-ins, as well. Managing text, images, and links is done in its own dedicated dialogue box. There is help available for almost any option out there, as well as a good HTML code glossary.
According to Wikipedia:
"Macromedia Dreamweaver is a web development tool, created by Macromedia (now Adobe Systems), which is currently in version 8. Initial versions of the application served as simple WYSIWYG HTML editors but more recent versions have incorporated notable support for many other web technologies such as CSS, JavaScript, and various server-side scripting frameworks. Dreamweaver has enjoyed widespread success since the late 1990s and currently holds approximately 80% of the HTML editor market. The software is available for both the Mac and Windows platforms, but can also be run on Unix-like platforms through the use of emulation software such as Wine."
Like most things I have encountered during my use of computers, DW4 has morphed into a more comprehensive package with newer versions that the one I am using. In many respects, I still enjoy the simplicity of WordPerfect 5.0 but am also engaged by the interconnectivity of the Microsoft Office package. The same is coming true for HTML editors. With OpenSource architecture, I have no doubt that the days of difficult, time-consuming, HTML code editing are going to be going the way of DOS and BASIC (among others) programming for the commom user.
Since Dreamweaver 8 is now out (yes, we're a little behind at my school), let me let Adobe tell you about it:
Dreamweaver
8 (requires
for full utilzation of website resources)
My opinion is that, for even the advanced teacher, DW4 is a good product. However, having used Nvu, I think that for the general user, FREE WITH GOOD FEATURES outweighs paying for something that you will not fully utilize (plus, it makes Technology Coordinators very happy not having to spend money). DreamWeaver 8 (academic version) can be picked up for around $250.00. The non-academic version lists for around $399.00. If you are going to do a lot of intense development, it is probably worth the price.
Email me with any questions you may have.