Chapter 2. Introducing Dreamweaver CS3

IN THIS CHAPTER

  • Understanding the Dreamweaver philosophy

  • How Dreamweaver is designed

  • Connecting to data in Dreamweaver

  • Accessing next-generation features

  • Automating Web application production

  • Maintaining your Web site with Dreamweaver

Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 is a professional Web site development program for creating both standard Web pages and dynamic applications. In its latest incarnation, Dreamweaver has rededicated itself to Web standards and sharpened its focus. In addition to creating standards-based HTML pages with enhanced Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) rendering, it is also suitable for coding a wide range of Web formats, including JavaScript, XML, and ActionScript—even those incorporating Web 2.0 methods, such as Ajax. Among its many other distinctions, it was the first Web authoring tool capable of addressing multiple server models. This feature makes it equally easy for developers of ASP, ColdFusion, or PHP to use it.

Dreamweaver is truly a tool designed by Web developers for Web developers. Designed from the ground up to work the way professional Web designers do, it speeds site construction and streamlines site maintenance. Because Web designers rarely work in a vacuum, Dreamweaver integrates smoothly with the leading media programs, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Fireworks, and Adobe Flash. This chapter describes the philosophical underpinnings of the program and provides a sense of how Dreamweaver blends traditional HTML and other Web languages ...

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