Macromedia Dreamweaver 4

Richard Price
March 2000

Since it first appeared Macromedia's Dreamweaver has been the weapon of choice for serious web designers. Version 4 builds on Macromedia's reputation and it is easy to see why Dreamweaver has become something of an industry standard.

Dreamweaver is a cross-platform solution that provides complete control over source code and layout with an easy-to-use interface. It is also an aesthete's nightmare as it is now simpler than ever for backyard enthusiasts without HTML knowledge to knock up web pages with more bells and whistles then you can poke a stick at --- although they may be put off by the price.

I have used Dreamweaver for some years, but was still impressed with the new features in this version. Macromedia has obviously been listening to their users.

It has always been easy to hand-code in Dreamweaver. Version 4 introduces a new integrated Text Editor, accessed through Code View which makes it possible to see the page layout while working on the code.

Those masochistic hand-coders will be pleased to know that the new Code View includes auto-indenting, live syntax colouring for HTML and JavaScript, as well as the ability to select and indent multiple lines. So code can look just as beautiful as the finished page. Allaire's Home Site is still there for those who want it.

JavaScript can now be debugged directly in the browser window. Users can watch JavaScript execute in Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer to get some idea of how each browser implements JavaScript.

Users unsure of that obscure HTML tag will find help in the Code Reference Panel. An exclusive deal with O'Reilly Publications ensures comprehensive reference material about HTML, CSS and JavaScript is close at hand.

Dreamweaver 4 also features a new way of working with tables. Users can draw cells directly on the page and drag and group them to create nested tables. At long last comma-delimited data files can now be imported into Dreamweaver.

Anyone who has exported a Microsoft Word file to HTML will be pleased with Dreamweaver's "Clean up Word HTML" command which removes Word's proprietary tags.

It is great that users no longer have to learn the complexities of the Flash program to add a bit of spice to their page. Just use the Flash Text or Flash Button command to create editable vector graphics within Dreamweaver. New button styles can be downloaded from Macromedia or could be whipped up by the company Flash guru.

The studio version of Dreamweaver comes with Fireworks, a complete graphics editing program that makes it easy to create web graphics.

To make Dreamweaver even easier to use, Macromedia has created Dreamweaver Extensions. These extensions, downloadable from the Macromedia site, include objects, behaviours and commands that enhance the way Dreamweaver works.

I found the new Asset panel in Dreamweaver 4 very useful. It is now possible to manage all your assets from various sources --- images, colours, scripts, external URLs, templates, library items, Flash or QuickTime --- in one central location.

Dreamweaver includes support for Microsoft Visual SourceSafe and WebDEV. Third-party version control and content management systems are also supported.

The new Site Reporting feature identifies common problems quickly. Double-click a report error and Dreamweaver opens the problem file and selects the error in the code. Web developers can also create custom reports depending on the project they are working on.

Developers working on database-driven sites are catered for with Dream-weaver Ultradev. Ultradev is a bit like Dreamweaver 4 on steroids and allows users to build ASP, JSP and ColdFusion while previewing the application data in the workspace. Everyday users should find Dreamweaver 4 more than adequate for most tasks.

Macromedia has been on top of the Web for some time. Their recent merger with Allaire is likely to ensure they stay there.

Dreamweaver 4 - AU$729; Dreamweaver 4/Fireworks 4 Studio - AU$1,095; Dreamweaver UltraDev 4 - AU$1,375
www.macromedia.com.au

By Richard Price, Editor, EnergyME.com

For information on getting a product reviewed email richard@energyme.com