Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 Classroom in a Book

Dreamweaver CS4, now included as part of Adobe's Creative Suite 4, is the leading professional Web design and development application in the market, and is a must-have tool for any Web designer or developer. Dreamweaver CS4 Classroom in a Book offers readers the opportunity to learn to use CSS layouts, a unified CSS panel, and CSS visualization tools that let users create interactive Web sites without having to delve into code. Each chapter in this full-color book contains a project that builds upon the reader's growing knowledge of Dreamweaver, while review questions at the end of each chapter reinforce the most important skills. Dreamweaver CS4 provides Live View, a working browser rendering right in Dreamweaver. Dreamweaver users can now create dynamic interfaces using the Spry framework for Ajax. Spry widgets (pre-built user interface components) let users quickly add common user interface components to Web pages. Readers will learn how to customize a Dreamweaver workspace, apply cascading style sheets, enter text in headings, paragraphs, lists, and tables, insert graphics and Photoshop Smart Objects, and add links to a page. They'll also learn how to add interactive elements to their site, such as effects, and Flash video; add new code or code snippets; use time-saving Dreamweaver tools for productivity; and publish a finished site to the Web.

Customer Reviews:

Good book if you already are familar with the program

By Gwenley - December 26, 2008

This is one of those books that can be very useful for some readers and over the heads of others. I had a little (very little) knowledge of HTML, nothing of CSS and some experience with amateur-level web design programs when I got this book.
While the lessons were well-planned and informative, they did not feature the depth of information that a beginner like me needed. I learned features and techniques but not what made them work. Also, many of the more basic program features are vaguely mentioned in passing. Other information was simply over my head as a newcomer to the program.

I can see that this book would be extremely valuable to someone who has used Dreamweaver before and wants to get up to date on the latest changes in the program. I think that someone with HTML and CSS experience under his or her belt could also get a lot of good information.

As for me, I bought Head First HTML with... read more

Well written, not for a beginner

By JewelryCollector - January 12, 2009

This book teaches a lot, but if you are coming into dreamweaver with no background in web design, or dreamweaver's specific tools, it is very hard to use. He teaches you HOW to use things but not WHY and what they are. Its very hard to apply the lessons elsewhere. On the other hand, I used the CS4 Dummies book which explained why of everything, and then went back into this book to go further.

Assumes too much knowledge for begginer

By C. Clark "bookworm" - January 5, 2009

I have a background in design for print and thought it was time to venture out and learn web design. I purchased Dreamweaver CS4 and was ready to go! I excitedly opened this book, anticipating some great revelation to the secrets of Dreamweaver CS4, CSS and HTML. I am very disappointed. I can easily follow along the book and click the buttons requested. But there is little or no explanation as to why. If you are looking for a book to tell you to "click here, change this, click OK" then you have it. If you want a book that tells you why you are doing each step, or a book that explains CSS or HTML this is not it! Look elsewhere.