Adobe® Dreamweaver® CS5 Bible

Chapter 11. Using Behaviors

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Behavior basics

• Dreamweaver Technique: Incorporating Behaviors

• Adding a behavior's event and action

• Dreamweaver Technique: Modifying Behaviors

• Looking at the standard behaviors

Behaviors are truly the power tools of Dreamweaver. With Dreamweaver behaviors, any Web designer can make AP elements appear and disappear, execute any number of rollovers, and even apply an advanced JavaScript effect — all without knowing even a snippet of JavaScript. In the hands of an accomplished JavaScript programmer, Dreamweaver behaviors can be customized or created from scratch to automate the most difficult Web effect.

Creating behaviors is one of the more challenging Dreamweaver features to master. Implementing these gems, however, is a piece of cake. This chapter examines the concepts behind behaviors and the reality of using them. It details the use of all the behaviors included with Dreamweaver, as well as some from notable third-party sources. This chapter also contains tips for managing your ever-increasing library of behaviors.

Here's a guarantee for you: After you get the hang of using Dreamweaver behaviors, your Web pages will never be the same.

Understanding Behaviors, Events, and Actions

A behavior, in Adobe parlance, is the combination of an event and an action. In the electronic age, you push a button (the event) and something (the action) occurs — such as changing the channel on the TV with your remote.

In Dreamweaver, events can be something as interactive ...