What can Macromedia Dreamweaver do for me?

NOTE: Macromedia Dream 

Macromedia Dreamweaver MX is a web editing tool that offers you the flexibility of 

weaver MX is almost identical for 

creating web pages in a WYSIWYG environment similar to a word processor, or by 

the Windows and Macintosh 

directly writing and editing the HTML.  With a great split screen approach, you can 

versions.

see both the graphical design area and the HTML code area so that you can learn 

HTML as you design your page.  Additionally, Dreamweaver MX provides an easy, 

one time FTP setup for transferring web files between your computer and the web 

server.  Once it's set up, you can transfer files with the click of a button.

Upon first seeing the program, you may feel a bit disoriented that it doesn't have the 

same familiar look that many of your Microsoft programs have.  However, after a 

quick introduction to the tools, features, and their uses, you'll feel comfortable and 

ready to design, in no time.

1.2 Overview of Local and Remote Sites

Most professional web designers have two copies of the website; one for editing and 

one that is the final version, seen by Internet users.  You shouldn't feel any different, 

and so you too will have two copies; one copy that exists on your computer's hard 

drive (or a network drive) and one copy that exists on the web server.

The copy of the website on your computer is referred to as the  local  copy.  This 

copy of your website files are only viewable on your computer and these are the files 

that you will create and edit with Macromedia Dreamweaver MX.  

The copy of the website on the web server is known as the  remote  copy.  These are 

the files that web viewers (users) see while on the Internet.  Files that do not exist in 

the remote site will not be visible to web viewers.  

The copies of these two websites are not linked, thus updating files in the local site 

will not automatically update files in the remote site.  Later you will learn how about 

the quick and easy process of updating the remote files.

1.3 Creating a Local Site Folder

For your local website, you will want to begin by creating a folder on your hard drive 

that is dedicated to the website you will be creating and/or maintaining.  It is recom 

mended, although not required that you name the local folder the same name as the 

associated folder on the web server.

For Windows users

1.

Right click any blank area on the Windows desktop.

2.

Choose New > Folder.

3.

Type a name for the folder.

4.

Press Enter.

4

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Introduction

Macromedia Dreamweaver MX