csott's Full Review: Adobe Dreamweaver 4.0 Full Version for PC (DWW40D0...
...But I've Never Designed a Website!
Never fear, Dreamweaver 4 is here. Like you, I had never done any serious web design. I was strictly a print designer and had no use for the web. And then I was bitten by the bug, and I downloaded the demo of Dreamweaver 4. Suffice to say, I'm hooked!
Dreamweaver is a software package for everyone -- regardless of your skill level. Operating in Design Mode, you can create a simple site right out of the box. Type out some text, add photos of Grandma and your dog, and you're ready to publish your site.
As Your Skills Grow....So Will Dreamweaver's Capabilities
After I developed a better (ahem) design aesthetic and my skill level increased, I found I was still using Dreamweaver..and hadn't even come close to using a lot of the more advanced functions. I can now edit code in Codeview Mode, and I've created templates to save for later. It's got a great link-check feature, and it stops me from making silly mistakes with warning boxes. In Codeview Mode, it will even highlight your mistakes so you can go back and fix what's wrong.
The interface is wonderful -- very intuitive. If you've used a word processing program or a layout program, you're already familiar with a lot of the menu items. There's nothing overly-techincal or unfriendly about the program. Obviously Macromedia knew that not everyone who used the program would be a pro -- and they wisely designed the program for every user.
But I Need a Tutorial!
Ah! Then you've come to the right place. The manual is one of the best I've seen -- we all know how bad software manuals usually are....but Dreamweaver is chock full of great help information and tutorials. There's also a handy set of online HTML references to help you when you're at a loss for a code. And then Macromedia's website has wonderful tips and tricks, and extensions (ways to expand the program's capabilities) -- there are also user forums and newsgroups where you can ask questions.
Bottom Line
It's a pricey piece of software if you think you'll only use it once or twice. But if web design is what you want to do -- even if it's just a couple of personal sites -- I'd highly recommend Dreamweaver. You'll be using it right out of the box, all the way through your career.
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