Dreamweaver MX

[Dark Dragon]

I am looking into the prospect of getting the Dreamweaver/Flash package but I have yet to really understand how it differs from Dreamweaver 4 and Flash 5.

Does anyone have Dreamweaver MX? What does it offer that the others did not?

Thanks.

Whoo-hoo..I just made it to Supreme Master of the Web

[PeOfEo]

I have some version of dreamweaver mx but I do not have an older version to compare it to. I only use it for my vb stuff though... I could not tell you the php and cgi scripts and all of that but it has a bunch of html temps and it has other stuff to. I just like dreamweaver for the intellitext.

[hastx]

havnt played with it too much but the thing i noticed about the mx stuff is a cleaner layout. Theres some new features too but the interface seems to be the big thing especially on flash

[Dark Dragon]

Well..does it offer better scripting tools?
What about Javascripting tools or something? That is an important issue for me.

What about Flash MX...what is so different about that too?

Thanks

[jeffmott]

I don't think there was anything so different to warrent it's purchase (priced at $400). If it's JavaScript you want, your time (and money) might be better spent learning the language for yourself so what you can do with it is never restricted by what version of a program you have. Try the Core JavaScript Guide (http://devedge.netscape.com/library/manuals/2000/javascript/1.5/guide/). It seems to do a good job of assuming no prior knowledge of JavaScript, though it does appear to assume that you have some prior knowledge of programming in general or at least can pick up on certain points quickly.

[khaki]

hey Jeff...

you show-up in bold now...
so you must be a Moderator now?

C :) :) L

(although it must be in one of the forums that I am utterly clueless about.... cause I didn't notice until now :rolleyes: )

well... congratulations to you!!! :)
You're a knowledgable guy... so the forum was smart to nab you.

way to go!
(it's always great to see a NY boy do good!!!)

still waiting for the "smiley" forum to take notice of my skills....
;) k

[Dark Dragon]

Hmmm...I see. Well, I still have to research this further before I make a decision either way...thanks.

[khaki]

sorry D's...

I didn't mean to step on your thread :rolleyes:

I have Flash... and I have Dreamweaver/UltraDev 4.

Flash gathers thick dust :rolleyes: and Dreamweaver/UltraDev 4 is back in mothballs now that my Visual InterDev is working again.

All I can say is that some of these bundled apps are not all that they are cracked-up to be.... so do some research (anywhere and everywhere) before commiting to the purchase.

Javascript .... on the other hand ... is serious programming. So I wouldn't expect much from an app to provide much help there.
It's a "mind thing"... lots of logic and creativity.
I struggle with it too... but it's "in the head".
Until you can "think" in Javascript... it will always be a toughie.
Just don't lay your hopes on an app to make it simple for you (or else you will be sadly disappointed... and lighter of cash :rolleyes: )

sorry... but that's all I can offer on the subject :)

;) k

[PeOfEo]

dark dragon, it has intellitext! Thats all I ever need, If you are leaven something of or doing something wrong the problem area changes colors... thats awesome!

[khaki]

REAL intellitext...
or just yellow error stuff?

REAL intellitext offers the next word/property/etc (like Visual InterDev does)

so.... ?

[PeOfEo]

its real its just like vb enterprise cause I use dreamweaver for my asp.net and it will give me a drop down box when I put runat=" and junk like that. Its nice.

[khaki]

cool

[IrDa]

I think the most stand out features of dwmx is the php support and the testing server. I can create mySQL driven site, test it locally* before publish them. It's really nice.

*php and mySQL must be installed locally.

[pyro]

Originally posted by IrDa
I think the most stand out features of dwmx is the php support and the testing serverYep, I use Dreamweaver MX for all my PHP coding. I love it...

[Khalid Ali]

Hey DD,
If you want to develop pages using HTML/CSS/JSP/ASP, and you do not want your code to be crummy as Dreamweavers's is,and along the way you want to learn allot more then the best choice out there is
"Homesite"
It was by Allaire,before Macrofreakia bought the guys.....

I'd suggest download the trial version,you will fall in love with this util...and its prety darn cheap too (US$99).

Or just visit the link and you'll know what I am talking about.
http://www.macromedia.com/software/homesite/productinfo/features/

The best thing is
"It does not add any IE or Dreamweaver specific code"

[IrDa]

yes, having <!--DWLayoutTable--> all over your site, is annoying

[pyro]

One reason I use DW over HomeSite is because of it's better support for PHP (ie, the intellitext, mostly)... ;)

[Khalid Ali]

Macrofreakia is Corporate giant man..they acan adopt whatever functionality they want.....they have the $'s and developers..
Damn..I feel like picking a fight with a friend today..:-)

[pyro]

lol... Don't worry about it... :)

Anyway, I do really like HomeSite, as well (better in most ways, save the PHP) and may well get that one of these days.

[Dark Dragon]

Okay...what about Adobe GoLIve then? I have FrontPage 2003 and it sucks real bad too....I like DW because it is easy to use and I don't have to sift through countless menus, like I do with FrontPage, to get what I need.

Actually I guess I should be asking what program is better for not using browser specific codes but is still easy to use?

[pyro]

I've never used GoLive, but I agree with you that FP is about the worst you could use...

As far as WYSIWYG's go, I'd say that DW is about the best, but none of them are great. If you are looking to hand code your sites, look into HomeSite or if you have DW, just use the code view.

[DaveSW]

DD You could download the trials of Dreamweaver and Flash MX yourself... and decide yourself!

[Dark Dragon]

Yeah? I thought I was just an idiot or something...I made a earnest effort to leant FrontPage but was quickly frustrated at having to sift through several menus and submenus just to make simple alterations to text like color changes. :mad:

Secondly I couldn't figure out where the images were stored as there was no readily accessible image folder or root folder...at least for me I like being able to have my own root folder and subfolders and have my stuff readily accessible.

Well...as it stands I have Dreamweaver 4 but I want to eventually get something that has better and more stable coding as well as better tools and so forth. I did at one time have Adobe PageMaker (now known as GoLive) and that was easy to use too.

So my choices are narrowing down then...either GoLive or Homesite....

[Dark Dragon]

DaveSW

The reason why I am even inquiring is because I assume some have had personal experience in using it...so this is another way to get info on the subject

[Khalid Ali]

Originally posted by Dark Dragon

.......................Actually I guess I should be asking what program is better for not using browser specific codes but is still easy to use?

I guess you missed my post earlier...

this is what I had to say..

Hey DD,
If you want to develop pages using HTML/CSS/JSP/ASP, and you do not want your code to be crummy as Dreamweavers's is,and along the way you want to learn allot more then the best choice out there is
"Homesite"
It was by Allaire,before Macrofreakia bought the guys.....

I'd suggest download the trial version,you will fall in love with this util...and its prety darn cheap too (US$99).

Or just visit the link and you'll know what I am talking about.
http://www.macromedia.com/software/...tinfo/features/

The best thing is
"It does not add any IE or Dreamweaver specific code"

__________________
Cheers

Khalid

[Dark Dragon]

So my choices are narrowing down then...either GoLive or Homesite....

No..I didn't miss it ;)

Hence the reference to Homesite...I did check out the link you gave me and I admit I am intruigued by it...if it is as easy to use as DW then I may order it someday.:)

[Khalid Ali]

Originally posted by Dark Dragon
No..I didn't miss it ;)

if it is as easy to use as DW then I may order it someday.[/COLOR]:)

Believe me when I say this( I have been using Homesite for last gosh more then 5 yrs...
Homesite is faaaaaaaaaar more simple from Dreamweaver in complexity.
The best part of it is that it "Does not add any crappy IE or Dreamweaver specific" code.

You write your own code.(of course that could be a problem if you don't know any..*_*..)...I'd say download all of the ones that are being recomedded including Homesite and see it for your self..

[Dark Dragon]

Wow Khalid Ali...you practically have me sold on this:)

It's sounding better and better all the time!

Oh wait a sec..Homesite doesn't generate its own code?

[Khalid Ali]

It does if you really want to.....and eventhat is not like any other machine generated code..it will be just like you have writtenit all by ur self...

Hey..if you do end up buying that....tell the damn macrofreakia that I convinced you to buy an excellent product..:D

You can probably tell that I still am not over the fact that macromedia bought allaire few years ago..

[Dark Dragon]

Whew....for a second I was dissappointed because I know precious little code. But if it generates it like DW then I may have made my decision, thanks for the info Khalid Ali! :D

Oh...your're bitter?? It was SO hard to detect.;)

[Robert Wellock]

Dreamweaver MX is a reasonable program; although it has its limitations and there are far less expensive programmes like TopStyle Pro that would suite a lot of people.

I am still quite happy with notepad and 99% of my PHP, CSS and markup is done in notepad.

[Khalid Ali]

Originally posted by Dark Dragon
[COLOR=indigo]Whew

Oh...your're bitter?? It was SO hard to detect.;)


....sarcasm eh,..?

:D

[khaki]

I am still quite happy with notepad and 99% of my PHP, CSS and markup is done in notepad. ... and as everybody knows....
the chicks dig guys who can hard-code in Notepad ;)

I have to say that I love my Visual InterDev for ASP...
but I became quite fond of Dreamweaver for regular mark-up when my Visual InterDev crapped-out for a couple of months.

I do my own coding... but I really came to love Dreamweavers ability to spot my errors (and I really wish that Visual InterDev would do that for me too :( ).

anyway...
I've seen Dreamweaver WYSIWYG code.... and it's better than most (but that's still not saying much).

I'd trust Khalid on this...
so if he says that Homesite is good...
it's probably good
(and besides.... he said earlier that he wanted to pick a fight with a friend today... and I ain't in the mood for that! ;) )

whatever way you choose to go D...
just try to learn how to code... even if it's a little at a time (don't rely on WYSIWYG for everything)

codes in Notepad when necessary...
;) k

[Dark Dragon]

Well...to tell you the truth, even though I cannot readily write my own code without a guide to help me I have been able to look at the generated code and detect and correct some basic errors.

Not impressive I admit but it is a start I suppose

[khaki]

that's exactly how I learned to program in Excel
(by modifying recorded macros)

just keep dipping into the WYSIWYG generated code...
and eventually you'll just start writing more and more of your own code...
and before you know it...
you'll be writing all of it :)

...and then you can maybe start to cozy-up to Notepad...
and feel some real horsepower under you :)

;) k

[Dark Dragon]

you can maybe start to cozy-up to Notepad...

Umm...not very likely:)