This is a page created with Dreamweaver 4 by Macromedia. I have just started using this program and have had an interesting time using it. Please note that I have a basic understanding of HTML coding and do prefer to use straight coding to create pages with Notepad. Notepad is a text editor as is BBEdit and Simpletext. The only issues I would like to point out is that this program will put items into folders it creates and often the user has to recode to create links with documents and images. It does allow for easier use of Style Sheets and frames-which is more than I am able to do with just straight HTML at this point. Also, I have taken an on-line class to learn more about the capabilities of this program-I recommend instruction with this program as it has A LOT of features. It is a WYSIWYG-but has both an HTML view and a view to see both HTML and the Design view simultaneously.

 

This is the default font, you will get this text unless you make changes in the Properties Inspector. The Properties Inspector, pictured below, works like a word processing tool bar. It is here you can change size, color, alignment, link the text to another website or document, or make the text bold or italic.

 

Another item on the Property Inspector is ordered and unordered lists.

• Make an unordered list
• Just select the square with the blocks just above the List Item box
• Just type the line item then hit return
• Type another line item
• To add to the list, just make place the cursor back in the list and edit

The Common Task Bar works similarly to a draw palette. Simply click on the icons to insert images, tables, layers, navigation bars, email links, and the date. In addition, there is a way to insert Flash items and Fireworks items. These are Macromedia applications that allow for using video and animated objects in your web pages. I have not used these yet.

Other Objects are Characters( a few are-Copyright, Trademark, Quotations Marks), Forms(Radio buttons, Checkboxes, and other form items), Frames, Head(Insert Meta, Keywords, Refresh), Invisibles(Anchors, Javascripts) and Specials(Applets, Plug-Ins)

Here is an animated image inserted into the page--after clicking on the insert image icon (which is located in the top left hand corner and looks like a small icon of a small tree), just locate the image then click open. This image can also be a link by simply typing the URL in the Link area on the Properties Inspector with the image highlighted.

Here is a table (to insert a table just click the icon which looks like a two column table)-simply input data by clicking in the cell and typing text or numerals. To edit other table properties, click on the cell so it is highlighted and use the Properties Inspector for the table.

Monday	Assignment 1 due
Tuesday	Assignment 2 due
Wednesday	Assignment 3 due
Thursday	Assignment 4 due
Friday	Assignment 5 due

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This is a Horizontal Rule. To insert the Horizontal Rule, just click on the icon which has the line through very small print. Again, just use the Common Object palette to insert and edit the size with the Properties Inspector-just remember to have it highlighted to edit the properties.

Here is an email link. The email icon is a small envelope. Just place your cursor where you want the link to be and fill out the window with the information.

This is what the link will look like in your website.

Email me with your questions

Another item to discuss in this basic introduction to Dreamweaver 4 is the Insert Date. Once again, just click on the icon which is a calendar page with the numeral 19. Choose the format you would like for the date and if you want to update each time you work on the document.

Wednesday, July 25, 2001

Two items I would like to mention are the Style Sheets and Timelines. Although I have only worked with Style Sheets briefly, they are handy for editing websites with many pages. The Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) allow for changing an item one time then setting the change for all the pages. Timelines create a way to literally, "time" how long an image will display on a page and which items will load at different times.

 

The cost for this version of Dreamweaver 4 (this is the educational cost)is $99.00. To purchase this product and others such as Fireworks and Flash, visit the Macromedia website www.macromedia.com.