Dreamweaver Workshop

1
Dreamweaver Workshop

• Ian Harrison i.harrison_at_bbk.ac.uk
• Learning Environment WebCThttp//vle.bbk.ac.uk
• Use Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Flash in
  Multimedia Assets

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DW Workshop Outline

• Use Dreamweaver CS3
• to create XHTML web pages
• to test, publish and manage websites
• Author to web standards using XHTML Strict and
  CSS (Style Sheets)

3
Dreamweaver Workshop Web Links for Advice and
Tools

• XHTML Tutorial and CSS Tutorial
  (w3schools)http//www.w3schools.com/
• Adobe Creative Suite Video Workshophttp//www.ado
  be.com/designcenter/video_workshop/
• Bulletproof web design (Dan Cederholm)
• CSS Web Design http//css.maxdesign.com.au/
• A List Apart http//www.alistapart.com
• Position is Everything http//www.positionisevery
  thing.net

4
Dreamweaver WorkshopHow to study

• Hands-on exercises intentionally show several
  ways of doing the same task with DW (CS3)
• Practice different methods in the exercises then
  choose your own preferred way of working
• Think while you work and experiment

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Dreamweaver WorkshopHow to author efficiently

• Author with web standards XHTML/CSS
• Author for browser independence (within limits)
• Author usable websites
• Author accessible websites
• HINT Dont aim for pixel perfect designs as
  well as the above cant be done

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Dreamweaver WorkshopWebmaster Configuration
Strategy

• DW tools automatically manages and updates links
• Consistent configuration management is vital
• Save new pages as soon as created
• Avoid moving files outside DW

7
Dreamweaver WorkshopCreate and publish an XHTML
page

• Revise web standards XHTML
• Dreamweaver CS3 Test Drive to create website with
  XHTML pages
• Create local mirror for new website wa1
• Set DW Preferences and explore DW Workspace
• Use DW to author XHTML web page
• Structure content semantically with headings,
  lists
• Add/edit special characters, images, links,
  metadata, data tables
• Edit images from within Dreamweaver using
  Fireworks
• Import content from MSWord and MSExcel
• Use snippets to create simple navigation bar

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Old fashioned techniques which will not be
covered and should NOT be used

• Do NOT use tables to layout pages
• Do NOT use deprecated HTML tags
• Do NOT use frames
• Do NOT use JavaScript internal scripts
• Do NOT use XHTML Transitional
• Do NOT use Flash, Shockwave
• Do NOT use browser hacks
• Do NOT use layouts relying on spacer images

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Reminder of common problems

• DO NOT use spaces in file or folder names
• Use short meaningful filenames (lt31 characters)
• IE running in quirks mode causes many browser
  bugs so always have complete XHTML Strict DTD on
  line 1
• Use Firefox to author pages then adapt for IE
• For DW to manage links remember to save new pages
  quickly and avoid moving files outside DW
• Can't drag/drop folders onto BBK student web
  server so remember to manually create folders on
  website

10
Web AuthoringTesting and publishing tools

• Define webmaster configuration management
  strategy
• Publish and manage web sites (HO2)
• Create website wa2 sample pages with lots of
  errors
• Use Files Panel to track files/links
• Use testing tools
• Check links
• Check browser dependence
• Validate and find HTML errors, accessibility
• Document website architecture using DW sitemap