Must Have for Developers Using Dreamweaver MX
Just about every time I need a technical manual, especially software based, I head for the 'Bible' series. I've yet to be disappointed. I'm sure every web developer knows that Macromedia is "the" software to use. I've been a professional web developer since '96, and though I know Dreamweaver inside & out, I always buy the 'Bible' when a new version of the software is released. This book helps me to get to know the latest version of the software even better, and it also acts as a reference manual. I post-it flag the parts of the book that I regularly refer back to, which is quite often!
If you're dabbling in creating a personal website, this software and book are not for you. It would really be like an 80 year old grandma buying a Ferrari to drive 2 miles to church on Sunday at 30 mph. Try using free stuff like coffee cup or even template sites. Like granny in a ferrari, it would be a waste of your money if you're not already experienced and learning Dreamweaver for a career in web development.
Comprehensive Technical Manual for DWMX
Agreed, this is not a book for people starting out designing their first ever website. That's true and a very important point. However, it shouldn't result in a low star rating - the book is not aimed at beginners!This book is aimed at the professional user of DWMX, and as such, it does a great job. DWMX has become a huge product - the tool of choice for large web projects. Therefore, a book which details all of DWMX's commercial features will NECESSARILY be overcomplex and confusing for a beginner.
This book will not spoon-feed you with a 'Hello World' project-based introduction to web page building. It WILL help you organize code versioning within your project or plan for a more easily maintainable web project etc etc.
As a web-development professional currently working alone, I find the book very useful.
Learning Dreamweaver
If you are new to Dreamweaver and web page designing, you would be makng a mistake if you purchase this book. The book is designed for an experienced individual in computer applications and unless you devote a large percentage of your time on web page design, it is not recommended. The author should split the book in, perhaps, four different sections beginning with a simple web page design. The first section should contain no more than 25 pages to allow beginners to experiment on one page design. The second section should deal with multiple page design. The other sections should relate to more complex designs used by professional users. Nowadays, many people are purchasing web sites and, because they cannot design pages and are not prepared to pay high prices for web page design, the sites are not being used. It is my firm opinion the the layout of this 1000 page book should be changed.
The wrong place to start..
Unfortunately, I did not read the reviews on this site before waisting my money on this book. Professionals praise this book, beginners curse it. For a reason.
If you are new to Dreamweaver MX and want to learn it, buy another book. This is the wrong place to start.
THINK YOU REALLY KNOW DM? - THIS BOOKS 4 U!
I had no idea there was still so much more to learn after using DW MX every day for a year now! This book has me constantly asking "WHO KNEW"? I've read all the source books, the H.O.T. and Teach yourself in 24 hr's, trained one on one with peers, and developed over 20 sites with this program and still this book (in the short 24 hours I've had it) HAS BLOWN ME AWAY! It has filled in some blanks that have irked me; issues that other books, training, websites, & experience just didn't cover. Especially with regard to the wonderful intergration between fireworks & DM. If you are ready to move on to mastery - this book is a must. IT IS NOT a step-by-step training guide, BUT when you think you have a solid foundation in DreamWeaver move on this this baby & test your knowledge. This book has already paid for itself in the time I have already learned to save. I feel like I found a goal mine - dig & you shall find!PS: I looked at this book a few times but whenever I skimmed through it - it seemed to cover things I was certain I knew thoroughly. So finally I borrowed it from the library - I'm glad I took a closer look and have just ordered a copy of my own as this is one for the reference shelf if ever there was one!
(22 reviews)
