Dreamweaver(R) 4 Fireworks(R) 4 Studio: A Beginner's Guide
Authors: Kim Cavanaugh
Venue:  (2001)

From the Book:Introduction In 1999, as I began developing a course for middle school students on the principles of web design, and specifically on the terrific Dreamweaver and Fireworks programs available from Macromedia, I was increasingly frustrated by my inability to find one book that presented web design principles in a thoughtful, sequential, and thorough manner. Certainly there were (and are) any number of well-written books available that cover the software and all that it is capable of, and yet none of them presented their material in a manner that was consistent with what 1 knew to be sound educational principles. This book fills that need for a web design reference that begins with the basics, then leads you through a series of step-by-step tutorials to build your skills and comfort level to the point that you can confidently use the software to create unique and dynamic web sites of your own. In addition, because this book is written by a teacher, as opposed to someone who is an expert on the software but who knows nothing about the way people really learn, you can be sure that the lessons and tutorials make sense and anticipate your questions every step of the way. Who Should Read This Book Macromedia's Dreamweaver and Fireworks programs are the industry leaders in the creation of web sites and graphics for use on the Web, and yet they come with the undeserved reputation as being too difficult for the average user to learn on their own-what I call the "Macromedia Myth." Although the software is unparalleled in its ability to quickly and efficiently develop entire web sites, to visually design pages that are compliant with standard HTML code, and to produce graphics that look great while being small enough to load quickly, many new users are put off by the way that the tools for doing those things are organized, and choose to settle for less capable software as a result. This book is designed for the person who wants to use what is considered to be the best "What You See Is What You Get" visual web-authoring tool available today-Dreamweaver 4, and its companion graphics creation and optimization program Fireworks 4-without giving any credence to the myth that the software is too hard to understand. Anyone who has basic experience in using computers can easily follow the exercises in this book and in a surprisingly short time can be designing and posting their own creations to the World Wide Web. What This Book Covers Many books claim to present an approach that is like being in a classroom setting, but few actually deliver on that promise. Throughout the development of this book, my approach has been to literally imagine myself in front of a classroom full of bright, motivated students (no dummies here!), who are eager to learn about Dreamweaver and Fireworks, and who are excited by the possibilities that the Internet affords. You can think of this book as a combination of lectures and hands-on activities, presented in self-contained modules and projects that support new concepts and tools as they are introduced. Part 1, "Dreamweaver 4 and the World Wide Web," contains ten modules that lead you through a series of projects covering not only how the program is used, but also covering many of the fundamental principles required for a full understanding of how the Web works, including both technical and practical considerations in web design. In Module 1, "Fundamentals of the World Wide Web," you will learn how the Internet and the World Wide Web are organized, how the coding structure that makes web pages possible actually works, and how the Internet browsers function to read the code that you will create with Dreamweaver. You might consider this module as "Internet 101," as it explains the basic underlying structure of the computer coding language, HTML, which makes it possible for web pages stored on a computer halfway around the world to display on your computer at home. Module 2, "Planning and Organizing Your Web Site," explains why the planning process for creating web sites is actually more important than the design of the pages themselves. At the conclusion of Module 2, you will understand why the simple question, "What is the goal of my web site?" drives almost every design, layout, and site management decision you will make in defining your web site, and how Dreamweaver is used to help you focus on both the practical and technical aspects of site design. In Module 3, "Understanding the Dreamweaver Interface," you will be introduced to the Dreamweaver authoring environment and the primary tools that are used for designing your web pages. The Properties Inspector and the Objects panel are the two primary tools for inserting and modifying content, and in this module you will come to appreciate how efficient this interface is and how quickly you can use it to lay out your pages. Module 4, "Layout and Alignments: Building Your First Web Page," delves into the actual creation of your first web pages, and provides you with an understanding of how files are named and titled and how the properties of the page are defined in Dreamweaver, including text and page colors. Included in this module is a guide to the use of colors in web design, with some practical tips for creating pages that are easy to read and that make the maximum possible impact. "The Printed Word: Working With Text" is the topic of Module 5, and in this section you will begin adding text to your pages and gain an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of text for the Web. This module will teach you not only how text is entered on a page, but will also show you how formatting can affect the viewer's experience, and present some of the issues involved with text alignment and how it displays in different browsers. In Module 6, "Adding Visual Interest: Working with Images," you will learn how the use of graphics and images can lead to a more dynamic experience for your intended Internet audience. You'll learn in this module not only how to insert basic images, but also how to create sophisticated rollovers that respond to a viewer's mouse pointer, and be introduced to one of the newest features of Dreamweaver-Flash text and buttons-that continues the tight integration between the Macromedia family of products. Module 7, "Controlling Page Layout," covers the use of the new layout tools in Dreamweaver 4, and introduces you to the concepts that are fundamental to creating pages that look great on any computer. By understanding the way that tables are used for page layout and alignment, and the advanced features available with objects such as tracing images, you will be able to produce web pages that have an interface that is easy for your viewers to navigate. In "Advanced Page Design: Frames and Cascading Style Sheets," which is Module 8, you will learn how web page design can be taken to the next level through the use of the more advanced techniques afforded by frames, and get a peek into the future of the Web by working with cascading style sheets. Module 9, "Automating Your Work: Tools for Consistent Content," covers another new feature of Dreamweaver 4, the Assets panel, and how it is used to keep track of all of the items that you have employed in your site-from links, to colors, to library items and templates that can be used over and over not only to make your work easier, but also to assist in branding your site so your viewers find a consistent experience when they visit. Module 10, "Forms and Functions: Interactivity in Web Design," explores the use of programming techniques and the requirements for creating interactive elements in your site design. At the end of this final Dreamweaver-only module, you will understand how forms are created, the programming required to make your forms function properly, and be introduced to some of the capabilities of the Extension Manager-Dreamweaver's tool for extending the capabilities of the program by offering free extensions at the Macromedia web site. In Part 2, "Graphics Creation and Optimization with Fireworks 4," you will find seven modules that introduce you to all of the capabilities of the fabulously easy-to-use graphics program, Fireworks 4. Module 11, "An Introduction to Fireworks 4," explores the Fireworks interface and explains in detail how the program works and how to access the features of the software through the panels that organize tasks based on their function. In Module 12, "Working with Bitmap Images," you will learn how GIF and JPEG files, the two most common formats in use on the Web, are created and how you can modify existing photographs and graphics in new and exciting ways. Module 13, "Creating and Modifying Objects with Fireworks Panels," takes you further into the many uses of the software by exploring vector-based drawing tools, how objects are arranged and combined, and how special effects such as drop shadows, glows, and bevels are applied. Module 14, "Working with Text and Text Effects," details the different ways that text can be created and converted to graphical images with the Fireworks Text Editor, and how advanced techniques such as attaching text to different shaped objects is possible. "Creating and Organizing Complex Objects," which is Module 15, explores more advanced techniques available through the use of masks, and Fireworks' Styles, Symbols, and Layers. By using these tools you will be able to compose highly sophisticated graphics in a short period of time. In Module 16, "Optimizing and Exporting Fireworks Files," you will learn essential skills required for preparing your images for the Web by discovering how Fireworks allows you to fine-tune your images to achieve the fastest download times possible while maintaining image quality. Module 17, "Creating Animated Files with Fireworks," covers in-depth both the practical and technical aspects of the creation of animated images. You will learn not only how animations are created, but also be introduced to the new animated symbols features of Fireworks 4. In Part 3, "Bringing It All Together," the exceptionally well-integrated features of Fireworks and Dreamweaver are explored as one, with an emphasis on how the two programs work together to create dynamic content for the Web. Module 18, "Creating Interactive Images," leads you step-by-step through some of the more complicated and exciting ways that the two programs can be used together. Not only will you learn how the programs easily create the JavaScript necessary for advanced features such as rollovers and image maps, but you will also be introduced to one of the cutting-edge features of Fireworks 4, pop-up menus. Module 19, "Integrating Fireworks and Dreamweaver," continues to explore some of the ways that the two programs can be used together, including how you can optimize and edit an image created in Fireworks directly from within Dreamweaver. Finally, in Module 20, "Getting It Out There," the Dreamweaver interface for transferring files from your own computer to the server where they will be accessible on the World Wide Web is the focus. In this module you will learn how Dreamweaver is set up for file transfers, and information important for you to know when it comes time to choose a web-hosting service. How to Read This Book Much like taking a class, the modules in this book build on the knowledge you gain as you work through the projects. For the true beginner, the best approach is to work through the modules and projects in order so that you can gain an understanding of the underlying concepts as they are applied to the Web, and how Dreamweaver and Fireworks put theory into practice. For more advanced users, the information in each module can be easily accessed as a reference based on the primary tools and ideas covered in each. If, for instance, you only want to brush up on the new features of the software, you can read only those sections that contain the information you need. Special Features As with the other books in the Osborne/McGraw-Hill Beginner's Guide series, this book contains a number of special features that assist your learning. Throughout each module you will find Tips, Notes, and "Ask the Expert" sections that take you beyond simply understanding how the software works. In all of those special inserts, I have tried to anticipate your questions and provide answers for problems that often puzzle beginners. Additionally, "1-Minute Drills" are used to emphasize the important concepts covered in each section of the book, and "Mastery Checks" are included at the end of each module as a way to ensure that you understand the most important elements covered. (The answers for the "Mastery Checks" are found in the appendix at the end of the book.) Almost all of the modules in this book are supported by free files that you can download from www.osborne.com. These files include not only basic HTML files for use with Dreamweaver, but also templates, graphics, and photographs that support your learning as you move through the book. To access those files simply navigate to the link for this book and download the free files that you will find there. Because the files are in the ZIP format, you will need an unzipping utility such as WinZip for Windows or Stuffit for the Mac. Clear instructions for how files are downloaded and uncompressed are included along with the files themselves. You can also find these project files, plus on-line resources, frequently asked questions, and a forum for making suggestions on how to improve this book at my own web site-www.dw-fw-beginners.com. If you are a teacher or instructor using this book as a resource, you will also find at this site lesson plans and ideas for using the book in your courses. A Note for Macintosh Users As a long-time fan of Apple products and the Macintosh OS, I appreciate how loyal Mac users often feel a little left out by books that seem to be targeted only for the PC world. Although all of the illustrations in this book were captured from a PC, each and every project that was developed was simultaneously tested on a Mac. In fact, many of the graphics and web pages were developed on a Mac and then transferred to a PC. Significant differences (and there are very few) that were found between the two operating systems are noted in the text. However, so as not to clutter the book unnecessarily with hundreds of "right-click-command-click" notations, it is assumed that Macintosh users know that their computer thinks differently and will be able to make the necessary adjustments as they work through the projects.