What (and Whom) This Book Is For

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According to the blurb on the back cover, this book is for the intermediate Dreamweaver user. What does that mean? That's a good question. We assume you've opened up Dreamweaver at least a few times already. You've gone through the beginning tutorials, or you just plowed right in and started using it when you got that new assignment at work. But beyond that? Every intermediate user is a beginner at some things and is advanced at others. Consequently, for every topic, we begin with a quick trip through the basics before exploring more advanced issues and techniques.

Dreamweaver in the Larger Scheme of Things

Working with web-development software isn't like working with any other kind of program. Before you can use Dreamweaver effectively, you need to know how browsers work and how HTML, JavaScript, and other web technologies function within the browser to create web experiences. One of our goals in this book is to help you look beyond the software, to start thinking about what's possible on the web and how Dreamweaver can help you accomplish that.

To that end, this book examines every topic as it relates to browsers and W3C standards, as well as how it's implemented in Dreamweaver. Instead of just learning how to format type in Dreamweaver, you want to know what all the possibilities are for type formatting in HTML, how they work, and what their relative advantages are. Then you want to know how to use Dreamweaver to make that formatting happen. That's the emphasis throughout this book.

Dreamweaver in the Real World

We also know that no one becomes a pro by memorizing program features. To really master any software, you have to know not only what the program can do, but also how to use its capabilities to solve real problems and build real projects. This book teaches you how to use various program features. However, it also explains why to use themand how to use them well. Each chapter includes professional tips and strategies, as well as exercises showing you how to apply the program features covered in that chapter.

New Features

Dreamweaver is always evolving. The new Dreamweaver X offers the Selection Inspector; a revised Insert bar; improved CSS handling; more powerful tools for working with PHP, ASP.NET, and ColdFusion; and more. Throughout the book, keep your eye out for the special New Features icon. Wherever we show off a new feature, you'll see that icon in the margin.

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