Adobe Dreamweaver is a multi-purpose web development tool aimed at inexperienced and experienced developers alike. It uses standards-compliant web technologies such as XHTML and CSS. Web content can be imported into the Dreamweaver at any time without the danger of the program modifying your code. In the same way, pages created in Dreamweaver can be taken out of the Dreamweaver environment and used elsewhere. The program does not rely on its own unique solutions which will only work in the Dreamweaver environment.

Although Dreamweaver is not necessarily the best environment for creating all types of website, it is not an environment which one easily outgrows. It can be used both for creating basic, static content consisting of client side pages as well as more sophisticated dynamic content including server-side pages. In other words, it is suitable for developing the content found on the vast majority of websites.

Dreamweaver has a comprehensive range of tools which enable users to create, manage and update a web site. Web sites can either be created from scratch or, if they already exist, pages, subdirectories and images can be imported and converted into a Dreamweaver site. Even if you have no knowledge of the underlying web technologies, Dreamweaver allows you to become productive in the web site creation process.

Beyond the basics, Dreamweaver boasts an impressive array of, easy-to-use commands for adding interactivity to your web pages. Dynamic effects like rollovers, pop-up windows and the showing and hiding of page content can be achieved without any programming. Dreamweaver automatically generates the necessary JavaScript for you. Similarly, Adobe’s Spry technology, based on CSS and JavaScript, provides easy access to complex, interactive functionality. Using Spry, you can easily create interactive, drop-down menus, advanced layout elements like tabbed panels and add sophisticated form validation to prevent visitors to your site from submitting forms inappropriate data.

Dreamweaver allows developers to create both client-side and server-side pages, boasting powerful code-generation facilities for connecting to databases and database servers, for creating search and results pages and for setting up user authentication.

Dreamweaver also includes sophisticated site management tools. Unless you are mainly concerned with creating email newsletters and similar promotional material, your web development will consist of building and editing pages that work together to form part of a web site. You may also need to work on several such sites simultaneously.

There are also Dreamweaver’s powerful tools for maintaining consistency across your pages and for modifying and updating elements across the entire site. As your site progresses, the program allows you to preview and test your pages, to synchronise local and live versions of a site, to check links and browser compatibility and, naturally, it incorporates FTP client software.

Mastering Adobe Dreamweaver is a good move for any IT specialist. Need to learn Adobe Dreamweaver CS4? We offer Adobe Dreamweaver training in London and all over the UK.