Dreamweaver - can i have some feedback?

Hi guys,

I am looking at buying dreamweaver CS4 and was wondering if any of you use it, how many of you have tried it? and what are your thoughts, obviously it is a lot of money and i want to make sure the investment is worth it.

The other program i was looking at was Adobe Flash as my previous site was made via flash, but on a demo of the program not the full version.

Any thoughts and opinions please, great fully appreciated!

Most web designers just use a text editor for their coding thesedays Sammy. However, Dreamweaver can be helpful for those just starting out. Why not download the 30 day trial and give the tutorials a go?

Re flash - if you want to do a flash site then yeah you will need to get flash

Have used Dreamweaver MX but not the new one, I have only rudimentary ability to work in code so have to use something. Think may be a trial version would give you your answer, it is not that helpful to rely on the views of others as how they find or use a programme depends on their level of ability or their desire to learn a new skill.

If developing web sites is not your main job then using a system that makes it possible for your average PC user to work is, I would think, the way to go. No one who is busy wants to take the time to learn new skills that will only be of use to then for short periods of time. So, if you are not wanting to learn to set up in code then Dreamweaver should prove a big help.

Thanks both,

I taught myself code when building Snowpaw store, so code is not the problem, as Snapper hit the nail on the head, i really don't have much time to teach myself a whole new program, i have downloaded the trail version of DWCS4 to give that a go so have 30 days. My friend has asked me to design a webpage so i guess this would be good to practice on.

I'll give my feedback once i have used it. So far, a few things are annoying me about it, but we'll see if I can overcome them

Sammy, is it a HTML site or a flash site your building?

I use trained in DW when it was owned by MacroMedia, I still use it as my first choice package when designing websites or even HTML editing, as does 85% of the professional web design fraternity.

DW is customisable in much the same way you can add plug-ins, extensions, etc.... and save workspace profiles in PS. If you put PS CS4 in front of someone unfamiliar with it, they would groan and revert to more basic methods.... give them training and time to apply it, and they will then acknowledge that it is the best thing since sliced bread - the same can be said about DW; I personally dont think it can be touched by other packages - once you have got past the fundamentals of 'customising' and setting it up, and then start to learn to use it to best effect.

I would say that DW will be a fantastic investment - if of course you gain a level of income to justify it.

Thanks JR,

It is HTML i am using, i taught myself HTML when building Snowpaws Site so i understand most of that and have a list of codes that has pretty much filled my notebook which i use as reference... i learn better from trial and error than i ever do from a book

Well i downloaded the trial and have been using it for 24 hours, and as JR said, once over the initial "omg i can't get anything to work" or "where is the button that makes that do that" now i know its layout and plaid about with it i have built my first site i have uploaded it to the server and just waiting for it to sort itself out and go live.

I have been asked to design 3 sites and i said to my clients that if they give me a couple of weeks to figure it out i will get back to them and they are happy to wait... i have already done the graphics for them all as they wanted to have a go themselves but have since come back to ask me to do it. So if i can figure everything out, then i can see it paying for itself soon if i did go ahead and buy it... still 29 days to go on the trial though

Ah if you have figured it out there is no need for this one then LOL I use SiteSpinner - Basically you drag and drop all your graphics over as JPEGS and it does all the coding for you - you can have a site set up in a day.

Might give that one a go too thanks KK... anything to make my life easier!!! you know some day i may even have time to do some photography!

hmm... maybe i wont be giving Site Spinner a go... i can't use it on Mac