What s New in Dreamweaver MX

---

What's New in Dreamweaver MX

Macromedia Dreamweaver MX incorporates many new features and functionality that help users of all levels build static and dynamic sites that meet today's tough standards for accessibility, functionality, and fast-paced content management. Through its functional new workspace with integrated, all-in-one layout to new and reinvented panel groups, Dreamweaver MX brings a wide range of new features for site accessibility, efficient workflow, CSS development, and, most importantly, the tools and functions you'll need to build data-driven sites without ever hand-writing complex server-side logic.

Document Gallery

New and experienced users will appreciate the new Document Gallery — a gallery of prebuilt pages of all sorts, such as ASP, ASP.NET, JSP, and more. There are even style sheet and framed site templates to start with.

Site-Definition Wizard

The Site-Definition Wizard provides an easier method of defining a site for new users that features user-friendly questions that elicit the right info every time.

Code hints

For die-hard coders, Dreamweaver practically reads your mind, offering a complete menu of appropriate tag attributes as you type in Code view.

Snippets panel

You can now write your own code and store it for later reuse. Dreamweaver even ships with some snippets for you to use such as a meta snippet called, "Do Not Cache," accessibility code, header, navigation, and many more categories of code snippets are provided.

File Explorer

Integrated into the Site panel, the File Explorer enables you to browse for assets and files on the desktop and network volumes without having to leave Dreamweaver.

Answers panel

The Answers panel is a quick way to get current support answers. It connects directly with online resources from the Macromedia Support Center. You can retrieve new content at will from updates to the latest tips and tricks.

Server code libraries

You can now easily use all the leading server-side technologies, including ColdFusion, ASP, ASP.NET, JSP, and PHP, with most backend data sources. Dreamweaver supports coders who use Homesite as well as the visual designer, writing much of the code for you.

Insert bar

The Object panel from previous versions is now called the Insert bar and is by default docked above the Document window. The categories such as Tables, Templates, Forms, Layout, Text, and many more are all accessed by tabs. There are new objects in some of the categories as well. For instance, the Template category now has Optional or Repeating regions.

Enhanced CSS support

You can add new style sheets, embed style sheets and edit styles all in the CSS Styles panel. You can see all the CSS elements in your document, including redefined tags and CSS selectors. Classes can be applied via a drop-down menu or by right- (Control) clicking on a specific tag. Setting up CSS Style Sheets couldn't be easier.

Accessibility

Accessibility options are a great addition to Dreamweaver MX. You can choose which options to turn on. For instance, you can set up the preferences to open a dialog box for alternative text every time you insert an image (or tables or forms).

Added template functionality

You can now define one template based on another using template inheritance. You can also nest templates inside each other. New features, such as repeating regions, optional regions, and editable tag attributes, allow the user to edit the parameters of the tag while the tag itself is locked. The user can then do things such as change an image without affecting the locked tag.

Cloaking

A new feature of the Site panel is the ability to cloak file types or even folders when using put, get, or synchronization features. By cloaking certain files, they will not be uploaded or included in any synchronization actions you take. For instance, you may have Fireworks source files or templates within your root that you don't want to automatically upload to the server. You can cloak these files to prevent it.

Flash MX integration

You can launch and edit Flash files from within Dreamweaver, and edit the file in Flash. When you save and close it, a new SWF is generated and you are returned to Dreamweaver.

Fireworks MX integration

Along with the roundtrip editing of Fireworks MX from within Dreamweaver MX you can now add an image placeholder. This placeholder can be edited by clicking a Create button, which opens Fireworks with a document the size of the placeholder. There is also improved support for editing Fireworks HTML and updating it in Dreamweaver. You can also now edit Fireworks Pop-up menus in Dreamweaver.

Pop-up menus

Pop-up menus are new to Dreamweaver MX. The pop-up menus first appeared in Fireworks 4. The ones in Dreamweaver MX are similar to Fireworks MX except you don't have the option of using images for buttons, just HTML text.

Tag Chooser, editor, and library

The Tag Chooser opens the tag editor, enabling you to set general properties, browser attributes, and style sheet information for that tag. The tag library editor enables you to set the code formatting and syntax coloring for every tag.

XHTML code writing and validation

You can convert any HTML page into XHTML. The DocType will be added and nonpaired tags will be closed properly.

Dynamic data

All the database functions of UltraDev are now included in Dreamweaver. There is also improved support of ColdFusion and JSP as well as ASP.NET and PHP support. The Insert bar includes application objects categories and context-specific categories for JSP, ColdFusion, and more.

---