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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
 Posted - 08/17/2005 : 07:00:23
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Hi Guys,
I have been doing web design stuff for about 5 years on and off but only ever really used drag and drop software that writes HTML coding for you.
Now I am thinking that I am going to make a big attempt to learn how to design websites professionally, so that I can finish teaching in a couple of years and maybe start up my own business.
I have DWMX2004, and have some manuals DWMX2004 Bible and DWMX2004 Missing Manual. Haven't looked at DW Bible but Missing Manual is pretty longwinded with explanations of CSS and HTML (big chapters full of descriptions which make me fall asleep after about 3 pages).
Does anyone out there have any recommendations as to how I can achieve my goals? Anyone know of any good books / manuals / free online tutorials etc etc? Any help will be much appreciated.
Cheers
Stu
This is a high class bureau de change, not some Punch & Judy show on the seafront at Margate! |
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Llamadance
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2543 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2005 : 07:06:02
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http://www.w3schools.com/
is that the kind of thing you're looking for?
No power in the 'verse can stop me
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2005 : 07:08:41
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Cheers Llama, I have bookmarked this page as it gives alot of free stuff.. I have started a tutorial on HTML from this website and its pretty good. Unfortunately this site doesn't give any DWMX2004 tutorials.
This is a high class bureau de change, not some Punch & Judy show on the seafront at Margate! |
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glacial906
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1738 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2005 : 18:49:34
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Man, good luck to you, I have just started learning HTML a little while back. I too have used Dreamweaver for some basic web design stuff, but once you start learning HTML and JavaScript (well, XHTML nowadays...) it opens up whole new doors for you. (Yeah, I know DW will generate all that stuff too, but it's still cool to know the basics.)
The O'Reilly books are always good for reference. If you learn the basics of something, then they can pretty much show you whatever you have the idea to do.
Signature censored by forum moderators. |
Edited by - glacial906 on 08/17/2005 18:52:12 |
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glacial906
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1738 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2005 : 18:50:35
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BTW, wouldn't DW be considered the "drag-and-drop" type program (WYSIWYG) you're talking about, Stuart?
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2005 : 21:18:08
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Cheers Glacial... Yeah, DW2004 is a drag and drop web application but it also focuses quite deeply on CSS and Html. I want to be able to understand these so that my designs become more professional.
I have alot of the O'Reilly books, which one did you find most helpful?
This is a high class bureau de change, not some Punch & Judy show on the seafront at Margate! |
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2005 : 21:32:33
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quote:
Originally posted by glacial906
Man, good luck to you, I have just started learning HTML a little while back. I too have used Dreamweaver for some basic web design stuff, but once you start learning HTML and JavaScript (well, XHTML nowadays...) it opens up whole new doors for you. (Yeah, I know DW will generate all that stuff too, but it's still cool to know the basics.)
The O'Reilly books are always good for reference. If you learn the basics of something, then they can pretty much show you whatever you have the idea to do.
Signature censored by forum moderators.
Hey Glacial, the problem that I am having is knowing where to start. I learnt how to use DW4 a year ago and have found that to be pretty good, but DWMX2004 seems much more challenging. What would you suggest first? Learn DWMX2004, then start studying HTML and then CSS? I keep meaning to sit down and have sat down but I am confused as to what to learn first.
That W3Schools website is cool though... I was thinking of paying for a years subscription to Macromedia University, which looks good.
This is a high class bureau de change, not some Punch & Judy show on the seafront at Margate! |
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glacial906
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1738 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2005 : 23:59:41
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I would say that your best bet is to learn some basic HTML first. You really don't have to become an expert at it, but at least learn the preliminary stuff, and then move on to Dreamweaver. In my opinion, you should use Dreamweaver to supplement what you know of HTML, or simplify tasks that would take longer writing out in a text editor, not take the place of knowing HTML. I have personally learned alot from Dreamweaver, seeing how it generates HTML for the stuff I want to do (like forms, tables, frames, etc.) but without a basic knowledge of HTML you won't get this understanding.
I wouldn't say that it matters too much what version of DW you're using, because I've noticed in MX it gives you the option to choose the DW4 setup in the initial options.
Since CSS is something of an extension of HTML, I would say to still stick with learning basic HTML first. I too am learning slowly about CSS, because the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) recommends the use of CSS rather than normal style-tags. I am trying to get a good underlying knowledge of the basic HTML first, because it seems to me that that's where it all starts.
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Stuart
- The Clopser -
China
2291 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2005 : 00:32:07
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Cool... I have a E Book called 'Creating Cool Websites using HTML, XTML and CSS.' This has been pretty good in giving me a basic understanding of HTML (afterall HTML is pretty easy). But I will hit www.W3Schools.com as that also gives some great tutorials whereby you can get your hands dirty right away (this is how you learn imo).
I find limewire is pretty good for picking up pdf's of E Books about web design etc etc.
Cheers for your help Glacial, its well appreciated.
This is a high class bureau de change, not some Punch & Judy show on the seafront at Margate! |
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zub_the_goat
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
639 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2005 : 10:23:08
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| while we're on the subject ive just designed my first website for my dads company, im trying to make it so that it can be found in search engines, but im not really sure how to work meta tagging in dreamweaver, has anybody got any suggestions....i think i know what html to put, im just not sure where to put it...i hope this makes more sense to you than me! |
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kathryn
~ Selkie Bride ~
Belgium
15320 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2005 : 11:21:47
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I think it's either Modify > Page Properties> Title
or
Insert > Head
Sorry. It's been a while. Try those two and let me know if neither works and I'll try to figure it out.
Sometimes, no matter how shitty things get, you have to just do a little dance. - Frank
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zub_the_goat
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
639 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2005 : 09:24:26
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| thanks, ive tried both of those, ive inserted all the meta tags within the 'head' bit of the html, but that doesnt seem to have worked, oh i dont really know what im talking about, im using a really old pirate copy that my dad bought, i swear that man would buy magic beans if someone gave them a flashy name....thanks for the hint though kathryn, i think i must be on the right lines |
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Homers_pet_monkey
= Official forum monkey =
United Kingdom
17125 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 10:12:55
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quote:
Originally posted by zub_the_goat
i swear that man would buy magic beans if someone gave them a flashy name
Does your dad want to buy some ecstasy?
 I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
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Web Design Help needed
