frustrated youth... help w/ info

[sevr_one]

I will try to keep this concise...
I am diving into web design. I have knowlege of AutoCAD and hoping that will help (maybe along with that internet bible?:p ) But I'm having trouble deciphering all the info I'm getting.
I feel stupid, but here it goes.....
1.)I know web sites need hosts.
2.)I know web developing programs are for shortcutting html code into a simple (ie drag & drop) format.
3.)I know you can add video and animations, and just about whatever else you want.
I also know all the best sites I've seen use flash (for adding animated menus and video). Flash has it's own web developement program.
So my questions are...
-Can I add animated menus without flash? Is it a good idea?
and the big...
-If I had to pick software to write a web page that was easy to use, and looked really good, what would it be?

Basically, HOW DO ALL THE PROGRAMS FIT TOGETHER?
What's the difference between flash and graphics like maya and softimage? Adobes creative suite and apples web designer? Is there a standard among high end web sites (i know 90-95% of people use flash on websites. do 90-95% of developers?) What package of software will i need to design and run a flash involved website? Does the industry have a basic package of programs already (ie photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver, and flash?) that is considered the norm?

And lastly, what do you run to create???

Thank you for all your posts beforehand. I will be ba....umm....I will return later.

[sharkey]

Firstly get this under your best how to write valid semantic xhtml/html and css. From www.w3schools.com

I personally write my own code with notepad becuase programs called What you see is what you get editors usually write bad code for you. So if you do use one i recommend code view.

I also know all the best sites I've seen use flash

That may be all good but if its a buisness site and the average joe blog doesnt have the flash plugin you've just lost a client havent you. And no you cant add animated menus unless you have an animation package but you can do rollovers which you give it a normal state and an hover state so when the mouse hovers over it changes.You will need macromedia flash to do animations.

Same goes with javascript never rely on it and it can be disabled and if you use it to write your menu then a user has it disabled they cant navigate.

[rhsunderground]

moved to general.

[sevr_one]

thank you for responding so fast, and moving it to the appropriate place.

yes, you are right about the animated menu. it seems it can only be done in flash or java. i like the sites with a flash/html option on the start page.
My next question is what macromedia product do i need to do animated menu bars?????


Then the big one. What html editor do you webdevs prefer?
apple; adobe.... is there an industry standard or a few that covers the field?

And im still not getting the difference between programs.

Step by step,what software do i need?
(photo editor/text-->document/video editor-->html/java/flash editor???)is that how it goes? from picture to website, what is the KIND of software i need?

Again, thank you from the depths of my being. I love this s%*t man.

[rhsunderground]

to edit, i use http://syn.sourceforge.net/ (Syn Text Editor). animated menu bars are done in Flash, which can be used with Fireworks to edit images, and Dreamweaver will package the whole shabang into a web page.

[sevr_one]

do you have to use dreamweaver to have a site in flash?
how easy are the macromedia programs to use?

can i use a different fairly high end html editor that is still easy to use?

OH OH AND ONE MORE!!!
if i had video editing sotware and animation software, could i make them into flash files and use them with still a different html editor?

thanks everybody!!!!!!!!!!

[rhsunderground]

dreamweaver is by no means a prerequesite for using flash. it just has built in features to incorporate it easier.

[spufi]

Originally posted by sevr_one
-Can I add animated menus without flash? Is it a good idea?

Yes, but an animated Flash menu is going to be many times easier to create and pull off since it's designed for that kind of thing.

and the big...
-If I had to pick software to write a web page that was easy to use, and looked really good, what would it be?

As long has you know how to code, the program you use is meaningless. One person could use Dreamweaver and make a crappy site and another person use Notepad and make a great looking one. A number of programs have trial periods where you can try things out. I suggest trying things out and seeing what you like. I put down hundreds of bucks for Dreamweaver 4. It's sits around collectting dust right now as I use a $30 program called EditPlus. EP is not a WYSIWYG drag and drop type of tool. You actually have to put the code in yourself.

Basically, HOW DO ALL THE PROGRAMS FIT TOGETHER?

Certain compaines have packaged deals like Macromedia. Dreamweaver for markup. Flash for Flash. Fireworks for graphics and Coldfusion for server related stuff.

Is there a standard among high end web sites (i know 90-95% of people use flash on websites. do 90-95% of developers?)

90%-95% of web desingers at least use Flash. Developers, ie more of the code geek type(waves), proabably hardly use Flash at all. Flash has a purpose. It is great for that purpose. That purpose is not, however, to be used in everything. :D

What package of software will i need to design and run a flash involved website? Does the industry have a basic package of programs already (ie photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver, and flash?) that is considered the norm?

Well, the obvious choice is going with Macromedia since all of their stuff is going to work well together. I'm not saying you have to use that option, but it's there. Besides me skipping on Dreamweaver, I personally use Photoshop 7 and I don't see a need(for me at least) to use Fireworks.

[davidbrent]

I use Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 for my coding and FTPing. For my graphics i use Adobe Photoshop and Image Ready CS. I do have Macromedia Studio MX which included Flash MX, Freehand MX, Fireworks MX and extension manager. But the first two programs i have mentioned are my priority software.

I have had no real problems using these and i find the results are better than NotePad.