Coding html without and with Dreamweaver DX

html coding

[avenir]

Hello!

How long one usually has to code html "by hand" so to speak before being good enough to start to use Dreamweaver DX?

One thing that I am sure though, is that one has to code html by hand long enough to know well.

And when one is ready to use Dreamweaver DX, is the tutorials in its help section the best to learn how to use it?

Thank you!

avenir

[robert adams]

Actually, you shouldn't have to know any code to use Dreamweaver. It is supposed to be somewhat of a WYSIWYG editor I thought.

robert

[thehittmann]

if you know basic html you can make pages in dreamweaver mx. No prior knowledge is needed if you work soley in the design window and do not care about html standards.

[balinor]

You can definitely use Dreamweaver without knowing HTML, but I would HIGHLY recommend you learn HTML/CSS anyway. Not only will you understand what Dreamweaver is doing, but you will be able to correct the code when it does something you don't want it to do!

[robert adams]

Not only will you understand what Dreamweaver is doing, but you will be able to correct the code when it does something you don't want it to do!

I agree with this but I can't imagine paying that much money for something I have to edit because it did something I didn't want it to do.
NS Composer will do that and it is free.

luck,
robert

[piskie]

I learnt HTML by using DW2 when that was the current Macromedia offering.
I knew effectively no HTML but was able to create pages that worked and looked OK.

By the time DW3 was released, I had become prety good with HTML purely by using DW2 and switching between the design view and code view.

DW MX is a far cleaner coder than previous versions and in your position I don't think a lack of HTML knowledge should stop you following the same route that I did.

[caine]

I have to agree with all the guys who suggest a basic understanding of HTML is a good thing for a webmaster.

Certainly with DW, using the code / design and code+design screen it is very useful to understand the interaction of the structural code and the design realised. Furthermore, DW's design page, is not capable of accurately displaying all browser/res configs out their at the moment, though with an understanding of HTML, and with a good collection of cross-broswer compatibility issues and solutions, then HTML and Dreamweaver become quite a effective team, of which i have been a convert for over 3+ years.

[balinor]

NS Composer will do that and it is free.

I'm sure there are times when editing the code is still necessary, even with Composer. There is no substitute for knowing HTML.

[robert adams]

Well I wouldn't say there is no substitute for knowing HTML.
When you are just starting out, you don't need to know any HTML to create websites with Composer or Front Page , etc.

If you are going to be serious about it, then yes you will need to at least learn the basics. You need to be able to fix what the WYSIWYGs mess up. For instance, in Composer it will put the paths to your links as on your hard drive. For some of them you have to edit the code before upload, if you open the page in Composer again, it resets them. Strange little bug.

I use Composer and 1stPage, mostly 1stPage. It is not WYSIWYG but has lots of features.

luck,
robert