Hello,

I agree Aldor. I remember way way back when I first started to get intrested in websites; how they worked, how you went about creating them and so forth. It sure helps if you know the the root of how something is created. Learn HTML, XHMTL, XML, CSS and more the hard way first. Then programs such as Dreamweaver or dare I say it FrontPage will make your life easier. Anyone can point and insert the coding. But, understanding how it fully works and operates in a website takes time, skill and patients. Great topic.

It's interesting reading the sentiments in this thread...I've been using Dreamweaver so far (with only beginner level knowledge of coding) and it has worked out. But now I'm wondering if the code is not as great quality when using the Dreamweaver interface for building.

I agree that having the knowledge of how the code works is important, but I guess I thought I could short cut all that hard work and still have a decent looking web site.

i started off designing myspace layouts before i got into doing website designs. myspace layout coding really helped me to learn a lot about css and html. so when it was time for me to start my own site, i had to use DW or else i would be looking at the page like it was deranged. now that i'm trying to learn JS and PHP and all of those other scripts, i'm still looking at my monitor like it's deranged. i really hope coming on this site more will really help me.

as for DW, its a great tool but it can be a pain sometimes when it doesn't do what you want it to do.

I started out using Notepad2, and that's the way to go (for me)

Though I have seen DW, and use it- for now, as i'm still learning the ins and outs of PHP; I use DW as a learning tool. It enables me to see certain things about the code i'm working with in notepad that I couldn't see (due to my inexperience)

I'd ultimately like to just ditch that DW altogether and handle everything without it.

Like many here have said, the best way to learn it: is to DO IT!

It's true that newbies should be focused on learning HTML and CSS, but often times it seems the temptation of throwing everything into Dreamweaver is just too high. People are too concerned with the end product and don't really question how to get there. Dreamweaver is essentially a waste of cash without attaining the knowledge necessary to fully use it. It's like starting out playing guitar with a distorted electric, without first learning the nuances your touch has on tone with an acoustic.

I started learning html when I was nine with a book and good ol' notepad

Good thread and definitely a good argument. I maintained a website in notepad for ages whilst mastering HTML and now think it has paid off a hundred times over. I only really use Dreamweaver for its work flow benefits, such as colouring code in, built in FTP etc... Most of the time (for me), the graphical editor shows a heap of rubbish anyway, with CSS floats etc...not being reflected accurately. I also think CSS is so great and combined with hand-written code you can get some nice and slick sites that are easy to update and edit - especially important when clients change their minds on things.

I come from a difference of opinion from what I have gathered on previous posts. I have never liked using Notepad. At times, I have depended on forums to lead the way, because how can find a solution if you dont know what its called or how to begin coding it.

I started making sites, with photoshop and Frontpage (wysiwyg) and once I really saw the value of hand coding moved to Dreamweaver. But I dont use the wysiwyg part, I hand code everything. I love the intellisense, code highlighting and that is why I even bother using the bloated, ram hogging software.

But, people believe Dreamweaver will solve their problems because people are stuck with the notion that using what the professionals use will solve their problems.

And thats where the problem lies for some people. I rely on forums to give me a heads up to a method and then try and often fail, then return to redirect my attempt.

But as someone said before, they make life interesting! So keep em coming!

I learnt html from a book.
its called html in easy steps and then the sequel
html4 in easy steps
hope it helps

Mah I don't even see the uses of Dreamweaver.

I do all my coding in Notepad++ it highlights everything and has tons of different things that it can do. Even for coding in PHP I always use Notepad++ I just see no benefit of using Dreamweaver, it probably wouldn't make me faster since i have macros set on my keyboard for code snippets.

Now things might have changed, the last version of Dreamweaver that I used was MX Dreamweaver 2004 or whatever it was.

y'know you could do it the cheesy way and use photoshop, create a picture for each page and then make hotspots in publisher makes it look quite nice aswell

Originally Posted by rezzy

But, people believe Dreamweaver will solve their problems because people are stuck with the notion that using what the professionals use will solve their problems.

The reason I'm using Dreamweaver is because it was in my opinion, the best of the few programs I had available, so I thought, why not go with the best, and it was free for me since a family member owned it already.

I don't go to it to fix my problems, and I don't think it will. To better fix my problems, I need to have solid coding skills, which this thread has only made more clear to me.

It all comes down to one thing. A page of code simply tells the browser what to do. Would you want that code written clearly or sloppy?

I keep reading about people asking "how do you do this or that in Dreamweaver?" (or some other editor). In the amount of time they research this, they could have went to w3schools and learned how to accomplish the same thing faster and through validating code.

Use notepad to learn and you will be so happy! Start with xhtml and CSS. It's a cut and paste world from there until you learn the other languages.

Clean written code makes changes and updates so much easier, otherwise it can take twice as long to do something simple

Lesley
<link drop removed >

If your are new to web design and plan to start web design there are some few points to start web design.CSS, table-less design, JavaScript,php etc, if would take a bit longer. Also if you are creating your own graphics you will have to use photoshop, flash to create the graphics that make up the page.

But I am not agree with you .I think mostly designers first try themselves and search first in Google and other search engines after that they post problems in forums. And here also provide one facility we know other opinion our good thing and bad things and many experts helps to solve complex coding.
And the Second one is dream weaver is not for beginner. First you start with Photoshop and other related software and if you become perfectionist than start dream weaver.

My opinion: Dreamweaver was a trap i fall about 10 years ago with version 2.0. I just didn't know what a was doing so i was following the "find an extension and do it" or "use the visual wizard for stuf" and that was a dead end. No understanding of html, css or anything.

So hand coding was the only option to master html, css and javascript. Now i am still using Dreamweaver not for it's visual goodies, i am just used to its coding interface that's all.

What really bothers me in forums is when people are not trying at all and they just ask for a "just give me a full answer to my problem, it just needs to be done, i don't care how" type of question.