Dreamweaver
What is Adobe Dreamweaver? It is an easy to use application which always you to make simple or complex websites. How does it do this? Magic! No, really it is by having a design view so you may edit your website without knowing any code! All you have to do is link two pages together and you have a working website.
Most important question to an SVSU student is how to set up your website on SVSU's FREE network. Here are directions on how to do that in Dreamweaver 8 and Dreamweaver CS5.
Dreamweaver 8
* Open DreamWeaver, click on the Site menu -- choose Define Sites
* Click on the New button, then enter a site name for this session of reference
* Then provide a local directory/folder for your web files to be saved locally (directory must exist on your hard drive prior to typing it in).
* Click on Remote Info.
* Access: FTP
* FTP host: netstorage.svsu.edu
* Host Directory: public_html
* Username: SVSU username
* Password: SVSU password
* Check Use Secure FTP (SFTP)
* Click on Test to make sure it successfully connects to the server
* Click Okay
Dreamweaver CS5
* Open DreamWeaver, click on the Site menu -- choose Manage Sites
* Click on the New button, then enter a site name for this session of reference
* Then provide a local directory/folder for your web files to be saved locally (directory must exist on your hard drive prior to typing it in).
*Click on Servers on the left hand side
*Click on the + sign under the box
*Server Name: Name of Site
*Connect using: FTP
*FTP Address: netstorage.svsu.edu
*Username: SVSU username
*Password: SVSU Password
*Click on Test to make sure it successfully connects to the server
*Root Directory: public_html
This is the Document Toolbar
This will determine what view you are in while using Dreamwever. Dreamweaver makes making web pages easy for beginners by having a design view. You do not have to know any coding in order to make a decent looking web page. But for people who do know coding, then there is that option as well.
These boxes are more for advanced/ coding users. As I do not know coding well/ am not going over that on this website... I wouldn't worry about them.
When you think your website is ready to be viewed, just click this little box and choose the browser you prefer. A save box will come up when you go to preview in browser, if you do not save, it will show your last save point. Get in the habit of always clicking save, or save it before you preview it with a quick [ctrl S] [cmd S].
The Visual Aids box is used to help you see things in the design view that you would otherwise not see. I usually work with most of them check marked because it is default, but sometimes you may want to uncheck them if they get in the way.
This is the Properties Panel
These two little buttons will get you between HTML and CSS real fast. Most work will be done in HTML, while fine tuning will be done in CSS. Which I will talk about later
A class is special CSS rules you make so you may have different things on your page than default color, size, transparency, etc. CSS rules make your page POP!
Pretty simple I thought about not having it, Bold and Italicize your font. You can also add bullet-ed or numbered lists with these buttons.
This is the most important part of your page. This is where you are able to link pages together. Every page on your website must have it's own file/page. To get back and forth between them you add links to words, pictures, lists, menus, etc.
Insert/ File Panels
The Insert Toolbar has all the CSS styles that you create in a list. You can then go into that list and fine tune them to your desired output. These toolbars may also be dragged out for easier use. I always drag the insert one out for easy access.
The File Toolbar is used to open up other files, you can easily get to linked files this way instead of having to find them individually. Picture be inserted into your document this way.
Tutorials
Very good video tutorial on how to make a basic website.
