When it comes to building professional websites, Dreamweaver CS4 is capable of doing more than any other web design program -- including previous versions of Dreamweaver. But the software's sophisticated features aren't simple. Dreamweaver CS4: The Missing Manual will help you master this program quickly, so you can bring stunning, interactive websites to life. Under the expert guidance of bestselling author and teacher David McFarland, you'll learn how to build professional-looking websites quickly and painlessly. McFarland has loaded the book with over 150 pages of hands-on tutorials to help you create database-enabled PHP pages, use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for cutting-edge design, add XML-based news feeds, include dynamic effects with JavaScript and AJAX, and more. This witty and objective book offers jargon-free language and clear descriptions that will help you:

• Learn how to control the appearance of your web pages with CSS, from the basics to advanced techniques

• Design dynamic database-driven websites, from blogs to product catalogs, and from shopping carts to newsletter signup forms

• Add interactivity to your website with ready-to-use JavaScript programs from Adobe's Spry Framework

• Effortlessly control the many helper files that power your website and manage thousands of pages

• Examine web-page components and Dreamweaver's capabilities with the book's "live examples"

Perfect for beginners who need step-by-step guidance, and for longtime Dreamweaver designers who need a handy reference to the new version, this thoroughly updated edition of our bestselling Missing Manual is your complete guide to designing, organizing, building, and deploying websites. It's the ultimate atlas for Dreamweaver CS4.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 31 Ratings

Don't bother - 2009-09-28
Reviewer Rating:
Very complicated way to jump into dreamweaver, the book is heavy the pictures are light, and the Adobe "Classroom Series" is much better.

It is not a good introductory book.

Initial reaction favorable - 2009-09-03
Reviewer Rating:
The manual seems comprehensive and is written simply and clearly. Since I use it as a reference, it would be helpful to have a much more detailed index. I am working on a site created with Expression Web. It would be helpful to have some information about how the two programs differ in their treatment of Templates, etc.

This book is a "Must Have" - 2009-10-28
Reviewer Rating:
This book is an incredible resource. It provides all the information and instruction for using Dreamweaver CS4 as well as a great deal of information on website development, PHP server set-up, and a host of information on the internet in general. This is one of the most referenced books in my collection. I can not recommend it highly enough, its worth 10 stars.

Doesnt miss a thing! - 2009-10-03
Reviewer Rating:
A step by step, almost idiot proof way to learn website design.

You get tutorials that take you by the hand and then show you what you should have. Then, if you don't - well you can go back and find out where you went wrong and make it right.

Website design by numbers and are not talking cheap and nasty - good quality designs.

I am going to get the next ones - Photoshop and fireworks and totally blow my senses.

Must read book and tutorial - 2009-09-24
Reviewer Rating:
Not only is this a well written book, but the tutorials are a great companion to the content of the chapter. You download the tutorial files off the internet and work on them with the book. While it seems overwhelming at 1065 pages (Yikes!) it has great information and written in a way that is clear and understandable. If it makes you feel better, the first 400 pages will get you more than started with a nicely working web site. I did each tutorial and then applied it to my site which works great. The book will get you up and running with understanding of both Dreamweaver (not the most intuitive program in the world) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) which is a must know.

As the book says, the book that should have been in the box. I now use it for reference it has so much information. Just as a note, I am a 20+year IT veteran and know good technical books when I see one. This is definitely one of them and if I continue with this website, I will get his other book on CSS as well.

Bob A

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