Core Computer: Dreamweaver Notes

Setting up your site in Dreamweaver

With Dreamweaver you need to define a local site for each Web site you create.

To do this

Have a folder created for your site in that have a folder for your images. Have all your images prepared and saved for the web in either GIF or JPEG file format. Have these prepared image files saved in this folder.

As a tip do not have other images in this folder. Keep images that are still under preparation in another folder separately from your site and name the folder such.

Also when you first launched Dreamweaver you should have saved an index.html document. If you have not the notes are here.

Choose Site > New Site. A site Definition assistant appears.

In the name field type the name of your site. This name is for your own reference. It is not a public name in other words it won't appear on the web.

In fact I suggest that you get into the habit of naming everything associated with your web work because as you develop your skills you will work with more and more aspects of web design which require some form of identification so get into the habit of naming. In this case your site needs to be named for you and for Dreamweaver only.

Move to the next page of the assistant and check “No, I do not want to use server technology”

Move to the next page of the assistant and check “Edit local copies on my machine”

This is because you will be working on what is referred to as a local site. Normally you have a local site on your hard drive (or in the case of your student work here on the Users server) on which you work. Then when all is ready you you put it online. This is referred to as a remote site. There are ways to work directly online with a live version of the site. The problem here is that visitor sees your work as you work. Every spelling error before it is corrected, half completed pages and the site half built. You would not open an exhibition with paintings half finished I suggest that working live is the same thing. Work on your site off line and then publish it.

Click the folder icon next to the label “ Where on your computer do you want to store your files? ” You are then asked to choose a Local Root Site Folder. This is the folder you created right at the start of the process so it should be on your users. Navigate to that folder select it and click Choose. Click OK.

Dreamweaver will now ask you about your remote server have the “I'll set this up later” option selected and click next. A summary of the settings appears. Click Done.

A dialogue box will pop up to say that Dreamweaver is creating a cache. Caching the files creates a record of existing files so Dreamweaver can track and update links, images and other components of your site. It is where the site management takes place. dreamweaver will track when you move, rename, or delete a file and will warn you if you are breaking any links and if you want Dreamweaver to fix it. It is a very useful feature.

A site window appears which will display a list of all the folders and files in the site. As you add more files and folders this list updates itself. This window also acts as a file manager, allowing you to double click to open files, delete, and move files, as you would in the finder on the computer.On the right hand side of the window is a site map.

Leave the Site window open.

Click the Document window to make it active.

Now go to Setting up your page in Dreamweaver to start building your page.

These notes are written for students who undertake the Core Computer course at School of Art, Australian National University. Students of the course should feel free to contact any member of staff with comments questions and general suggestions..

< Home Index > < Staff Contact > < Class groups > < Assessment >

< Basics Module > < Photoshop 1 Module> < Photoshop 2 Module> < Illustrator Module > <3D Module > < Web Design Module >

< Terms and Jargon > < Online Resources >