Dreamweaver CS3: the basics

Welcome to Adobe Dreamweaver CS3: introduction. You don't have to be an expert web designer to use professional tools like Adobe Dreamweaver CS3. In this class, you'll learn how to build web pages with Dreamweaver CS3 by using the software's features, wizards and options. You'll also discover helpful tips and techniques for using Dreamweaver CS3 to publish and manage your website, regardless of your experience level.

The examples in this class use Dreamweaver CS3. Now that Dreamweaver CS4 is available for download from Adobe.com, there may be some functionality differences between what's covered in this class and what's available in the new CS4 version. As you find these differences, feel free to consult the Adobe Help files or ask your instructor for further assistance.

Here's what to expect in the lessons:

• Lesson 1: Dreamweaver CS3: the basics explores the basics of Dreamweaver CS3. You'll tour the interface and get an overview of some of the important features and wizards that make designing your own custom web page simple.
• Lesson 2: The fundamentals of Dreamweaver website builder introduces you to basic concepts and ideals of good web design. You'll learn how to comply with current accessibility requirements, set up a web page, define a website and manage assets and libraries.
• Lesson 3: Teaching text features and working with images helps you understand the fundamentals of working with text and images. You'll discover which type of text to use for your website; change styles; add lists, tables and other enhancements; and use images.
• Lesson 4: Using cascading style sheets and XHTML with Dreamweaver CS3 dives into the world of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and other W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) specifications. You'll learn how to apply CSS styles, modify them and create your own.
• Lesson 5: Dreamweaver website builder: going beyond the basics moves you beyond the basics and shows you how to create links, add multimedia to a web page and add simple forms.
• Lesson 6: Publishing and managing your website with Dreamweaver software helps you publish your site to the World Wide Web. You'll learn how to make your site viewable in a number of web browsers, create a site map and manage your site over the long term.

Beyond the lessons, complete the assignments and quizzes. When you're done with those, visit the Message Board. It's the perfect place to discuss class topics and swap questions and comments with other students and your instructor.

Throughout this class, we provide Flash examples. To view these examples, you need the Adobe Flash Player. Keep an eye out for notes with links that say "See how to ____" or something similar. Some of these files are very large (10 MB or so) and may take a while to appear or download if you have a slow connection.

Let's get started with the topics in Lesson 1.