Dreamweaver 2.0 Hands-On Training
by Lynda Weinman

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Book Reviews of Dreamweaver 2.0 Hands-On Training

Book Review: this book saved my hide
Summary: 4 Stars

I have a few compliants about the book, though. It doesn't let you know about how Dreamweaver can produce nonW3C-compliant code if you're not careful. DW can also create excessively bulky code, with many unneeded font tags. And the book doesn't mention that DW2 doesn't update JavaScript-coded links (DW3 does, thankfully).

So I ended up writing corrections all over the book before passing it on to another person so they could learn. It's still a very useful book--I wish there were more titles in the HOT format (Flash, Director, etc.).

Summary of Dreamweaver 2.0 Hands-On Training

The book is broken down into a series of exercises that explore Web design, site structure, style sheets, rollovers, dynamic content, and much more. You'll also get Lynda's expert tips, warnings, and background information about the techniques covered in each lesson. An accompanying CD-ROM includes source files for the exercises, as well as QuickTime movies that demonstrate key concepts.

Everything necessary to create a Web site is covered: image placement, color schemes, links, tables, frames, rollovers, cascading style sheets, DHTML, and more. Even complicated page structuring is made easy. For example, Dreamweaver uses layers for What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) layout, affording maximum flexibility in placing objects. These layers can be converted to tables for better browser compatibility or used as is in more complicated dynamic pages. Dreamweaver 2.0 HOT clearly explains the differences between layers and tables and shows how and when to convert between the two. The book also makes creating multiple swap rollovers and dynamic animated Web pages seem simple.

Dreamweaver 2.0 HOT shows how to take advantage of one of the greatest benefits of using Dreamweaver: the ability to create page templates and a library of frequently used objects (for example, images, navigational bars, and banners). Successfully using these features is key to getting the most out of the application. Also, the book repeatedly demonstrates the importance of working from within Dreamweaver's powerful site management window.

There are over 70 lessons here that are most effective if read while sitting at the computer. The accompanying CD-ROM contains all necessary files and images as well as a demo version of Dreamweaver 2.0, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Quicktime 4, and Netscape Communicator 4.6. An added bonus for beginners is the 12 Quicktime movies that go through various sequences from the lessons, some with a voice over by Weinman.

It's not easy to make step-by-step instructions work for users of many levels, but Dreamweaver 2.0 HOT succeeds. The steps in each lesson are succinct while still covering all the necessary commands. And many of these lessons and all of the chapters work independently of each other; an experienced Web developer can skim or even skip ahead without getting lost.

The tone of the book is casual and encouraging (e.g., "no more funky pixels, Mom!"), but not to the point where it slows down reading; it's peppy but not gabby. If it occasionally errs on the side of too many exclamation points, Dreamweaver 2.0 HOT makes up for it with the incredible achievement of rendering a complex and extremely powerful application manageable within hours. --Angelynn Grant

Topics covered: Creating, maintaining, and updating Web sites using Dreamweaver 2.0, including proper use of site management tools; use of Dreamweaver tools, menus, palettes, and commands; designing with layers, tables, frames, cascading style sheets, DHTML, and plug-ins; simple, animated, and pointer rollovers; use of templates and libraries in Dreamweaver; analyzing the HTML, including META tags and troubleshooting; and shortcuts and helpful tips. CD-ROM includes all files and images for lessons, tryout version of Dreamweaver 2.0, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Quicktime 4, and 12 Quicktime movies showing complex menus and actions.

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