How to Learn Dreamweaver

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April 07, 2005

Introduction to Server Languages

This week we covered the following topics:

In Dreamweaver:

• CSS - postition: absolute
• Really undoing html.css
• Overriding via !important
• Linking vs. embedding CSS
• Name your layers
• Virtual includes
• Application servers and .htaccess

On the Mac:

• xScope

Regarding Design:

• Two modes of design: Prototyping, Deconstructing
• Lipsum.org
• Prototyping technique: design in graphics tool, then try to reproduce in HTML and CSS

Homework:

1. Draw a design on paper, or use another design tool to prototype it first.
2. Layout your design using tables and/or layers
3. Extract all CSS to another file (use File > Export)
4. Carve up your design into reusable elements. Break these elements out into separate files.
5. Re-include these elements into your files using virtual includes:
   <!--#include virtual="/[foldername]/[filename]" -->
6. If possible, put the resulting code to your server.
7. Email your page URLs (and if necessary, the elements) to the group.

Next week: Using Application Servers!

Posted by at April 7, 2005 12:18 AM