Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 Win/Mac Review

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(More customer reviews)Dreamweaver consistently ranks high in the field of WYSIWYG web site editors. This release does not stray from this position. Considering GoLive and FrontPage are the current competition, it is not hard to see why (will be interesting to see what comes out with Microsoft Expressions Quartz).
As with previous versions, Dreamweaver 8 has the standard Dreamweaver interface. When you install, you have the option of setting up like a developer or setting up like a designer. It is not as easy to change the scheme (or not as evident), but this is not a major deal as a single developer rarely changes the setup of his development environment.
Dreamweaver 8 touts itself as the king of CSS and it has certainly made some wonderful inroads. By default, you can create styles in a page or in a stylesheet. Unfortunately, it falls a little short in allowing you to change your mind in this place, as well. It would be nice, for example, to drag tested styles from a test page up to the stylesheet. Instead, I have to manually cut and paste or recreate styles. Yes, this is minor, but can't someone make a tool that does this? I would also love to see a tool that recognizes I have already created a style with the same feature or allows me to use the standard font and paragraph changes and automatically create a style. But, I digress, there is no tool that does that ... yet.
The CSS Styles tab gives you a great way of getting down to the properties of a particular CSS style. If you do not want to bring up the designer, which is how you normally create your style, you simply add properties to the style in the CSS Styles tab. Very nice feature. A little different than the properties view in MS products, but much more compact.
Dreamweaver 8 is better at .NET development than FrontPage. It also allows a variety of other development paradigms: ASP (either VBScript or JavaScript), ASP.NET (C# or VB.NET), ColdFusion, JSP and PHP (with MySQL). This makes it a good all around tool for development. I would still not trade my Visual Studio, but Dreamweaver gives me a lot of bang for my buck and Visual Studio has a horrible design surface (at least in the latest implementation - VS 2005).
Dreamweaver still has the best behaviors (client side scripting), but they have not made any real inroads to new functionality in this regard. This has been a major selling point to me in the past and I wish they would have included something to help with AJAX (Asynch JavaScript and XML).
Of the new features, I find the CSS most compelling (mentioned above) and also very aggrevating (Macromedia did not take them far enough for my likings). You also have the ability to zoom on design and use guides (good for CSS layouts). There is also a better Flash integration and collapsable code regions. None of these are grand enough for me to personally take the upgrade plunge.
Down to the nitty gritty. Here are the questions you are probably wanting to know the answer to.
1. Should you buy Dreamweaver (assuming you do not already own a previous version)? It really depends. If you do not have a tool, this is still the best on the market. If you have FrontPage, you might get Dreamweaver if you need the flexibility of working outside of the Microsoft world, otherwise I would say no. The same is true if you have GoLive, as it has many similar features.
2. Should you upgrade? This really comes down to a few features and how important they are to you.
A) If you are heavy on CSS, you might want to upgrade, although I am not sure that this is the best option unless Macromedia really fills in this area. It was not quite enough for me to feel compelled to move on right now.
B) Use a lot of flash? The time savings might be a good reason to move to this version.
C) Need productivity helps, like code collapse, guides and the ability to zoom in on your design? This is the only tool I know of currently that has these features.
Dreamweaver 8 is a good product. If I did not have a previous version, I would seriously consider the cost and bite the bullet, as I feel it is worth the price ($399 street). But, I do not see it worth the $199 street price for the upgrade, aty least not for me. The additional CSS is nice, but it is not enough of a productivity change for me to justify the cost, esp. when I am fairly fast at working with CSS without the additional features.

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Dreamweaver 8 is the industry-leading web development tool, enabling users to efficiently design, develop and maintain standards-based websites and applications. With Dreamweaver 8, web developers go from start to finish, creating and maintaining basic websites to advanced applications that support best practices and the latest technologies. Get more done with Dreamweaver 8. New features and optimized workflows reduce the time required to complete common tasks. Integrate XML data with a powerful drag and drop workflow. Zoom in to get control over design and stay focused on the code with Code Collapse. Add Flash Video in five clicks of a mouse.

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Microsoft Expression Web Upgrade from FrontPage Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are using a Microsoft Web-building product for the first time and are going to use Expression Web to create new web sites that meet current Web standards and will display well in a most browsers, you will probably like this program--with its Dream Weaver-type interface and on-the-fly CSS--as much, if not better, than the competitors' programs. However, if you are upgrading from Front Page and are creating thousands of pages of computer-based training material for use on IE7 only (as we are at our company), you will miss a number of very handy features that were present in Front Page 2003. While, on the one hand, the Expression Web interface incorporates the excellent file management features from Front Page (much better than in Dream Weaver) and adds tremendous functionality, there are a number of omissions and quirks that can be extremely frustrating. Here are just a few of them:
1) Front Page provided menu commands for inserting video clips and Flash animations; Expression Web does not. All links to these items must be inserted in the code. Furthermore, there is no mention of this omission by Microsoft either in the help system or on line. The program does, however, include an easy-to-use Snippets tool where, with a little effort, you could store the code for these functions.
2) When you open Expression Web, the Folders view does not include a Title column, and there is no way to access it. I found out by accident that if you open a page in a new window, the Title column magically appears.
3) Microsoft still does not include the Paragraph command on the right-click button. This is one of the most useful commands. The keyboard shortcut + O + P can be used to expedite access to the Paragraph command.
4) When you choose to code CSS manually, the Format Painter is disabled. Sometimes I just want to avoid the extra styles Expression Web generates when in Automatic mode, but I want to be able to copy code using the Format Painter.
5) There is no longer a Preview mode. This isn't a big deal because I prefer to view my work in the browser.
6) The shortcut key for previewing in the browser is , which in almost every other program is reserved for the Save As function. What was Microsoft thinking?
7) If I manually change a link color, the underline shows in the correct color in Expression Web, but not in the browser (it adopts the default link color). This was not a problem in Front Page.
There is more, but you get the idea. This is typical Microsoft development: two steps forward, one step back!

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Item #: 44923G. Microsoft Expression Web gives you all the tools you'll need to produce high-quality, standards-based Web sites the way you want them. Take advantage of the best of dynamic Web site design, enabling you to design, develop, and maintain exceptional standards-based Web sites.Unleash your creativity and bring your Web sites to life with sophisticated CSS design features including visual designers, specialized task panes, and tool bars that give you precise control of page layout and formatting.Reduce complexity and ease integration of data by using powerful task panes and design tools, which allow quick incorporation of XML data. Seamlessly integrate Web design and development teams with Expression Web and Microsoft Visual Studio, by taking advantage of superior support for XML, ASP.NET and XHTML.Create dynamic, interactive pages and sites that leverage the power of the Web to deliver compelling user experiences. Easily design to standards and optimize your sites for accessibility and cross-browser compatibility with built-in support and validation for Web standards.
Product DescriptionMicrosoft Expression Web - upgrade packageCategory: Creativity applicationSubcategory: Creativity - web design / publishingLicense Type: Upgrade packageLicense Pricing: StandardLanguage(s): EnglishPlatform: WindowsDistribution Media: CD-ROMOS Required: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP1 or later Customers also search for: Discount Microsoft Expression Web - Upgrade Package - CD - Win - English, Buy Microsoft Expression Web - Upgrade Package - CD - Win - English Wholesale Microsoft Expression Web - Upgrade Package - CD - Win - English, 0882224498005, UCQ-00475, Software Suites

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Microsoft FrontPage 2003 Review

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(More customer reviews)I have worked with FrontPage since version 97, which was, overall, a real stinker. I have also worked with Dreamweaver since its earliest versions. In times past, FrontPage has largely been the site management and application development leader of the two, while Dreamweaver was much better at templating and all of the eye candy, like mouseover images, that we have become so fond of using in our sites.
Having said that, FrontPage 2003 is a great step in the right direction. Here are my feelings, broken down:
Site Management
Site Management has improved in FrontPage 2003, although the most bang for the buck will be Enterprise users who have decided to use SharePoint Portal Server in their organization. Much of the new data functionality relies on SharePoint. What this means is FrontPage 2003 gives a lot more power for those in the Microsoft world. Note that it is still backwards compatible with frontPage 2002 extensions, for those without SharePoint.
Behaviors
Much of the work in this area is like Dreamweaver and it is a mixed bag. On the positive side, behaviors are more flexible in FrontPage; on the negative, there are still many missing from FrontPage. The major behaviors are there, however, so I would give FrontPage a plus here.
Intellisense and coding
Microsoft has always lead the charge in this area and FrontPage is no exception. The Intellisense in FrontPage 2003 extends into ASP and ASP.NET code. For developers interested in altering the code created, everything is accessible. The death of FrontPage extensions are the reason, so those with backward compatible sites will have to deprecate some features if they use webbots. The small price is well worth the gain.
CSS
FrontPage has much greater support for CSS than previous versions, and is especially useful for those who like to work with graphical tools or those who like to work with code. The tag explorer, in Dreamweaver, wins for those who sit in the middle, however.
HTML Editing
The ability to go back and forth from code to design and retain positioning is a real godsend. This feature exists in Dreamweaver, as well, so it is not as stellar as some of the other tools. One of the nicest tools is the tag explorer, that allows you to see the nesting of your currently selected tag and easily navigate up and down the tree. In addition, there is a code editor that lets you isolate on a specific tag and use Intellisense to code its attributes. There is also a tool that allows you to quickly find a closing tag, which is a godsend for any developer working with nested HTML tables.
Themes and templates
Themes are much more easily edited in FrontPage 2003, which allows designers to alter templated sites to make nice looking custom built sites very quickly. FrontPage also has the ability to create "master page" style templates which are, possibly a surprise, fully compatible with Dreamweaver MX.
That pretty much covers the major features. Overall, I like the FrontPage methodology of using a side pane that focuses on the task at hand over Dreamweavers sliding tool palette, although I know people that are more fond of the Dreamweaver IDE.
One of the biggest benefits I have seen of FrontPage 2003, in the FrontPage/Dreamweaver battle, is Dreamweaver's tendency to lock up the OS when working on files on a shoddy network connection. As this does not apply to as many users, it is not reason enough to shy away from Dreamweaver. As I use both, I do not want to shy away from either, but here is how I would stack it up.
FrontPage wins with its table designer, Intellisense, coding aids (esp. ASP.NET) and flexibility in behaviors. Dreamweaver still wins with the number of eye candy features, strength of its added CSS tools and its flexibility in coding models (nice for developers who work in more than one language - Java, ColdFusion, ASP and ASP.NET included).

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FrontPage 2003 delivers the features, flexibility, and functionality to help you build superior Web sites. It includes the professional design, authoring, data and publishing tools you need to create dynamic and sophisticated sites.Build data-driven Web sites, enables by Windows SharePoint servicesMove files easily between local and remote locations, and publish in both directions

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Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using the Dreamweaver CS4 beta for almost 5 months now and find that it fits my work style very nicely. There are some obvious changes like that it now looks more like Adobe's other programs. It's not so much the similarity of looks in the interface that helps as that the working panes and panels have been integrated into a working whole on the Mac in the same way as Windows. Since I use both platforms that's nice. Since the workspace is pretty customizable and since you can save your workspaces, I can imagine that experienced developers will end up having some pretty individualized views. I originally thought that it might take some time to learn the new workspace but it's so logically designed that it seems natural.
If you hand code at all you'll really appreciate the new features. Most of my design work now is focused around building themes and templates for Wordpress and Drupal. Before CS 4 I was hand coding the sites and only used Dreamweaver as a site management tool for static sites. That is to say, not that much. There are a few new features that have changed Dreamweaver from just another arrow in my quiver to my main go to program, Live View and Related files are the two that are getting the most press. They're great but there are some others.
Live View displays a real time look at how the page displays in a WebKit browser. Since Dreamweaver now supports side by side views, on a 20" or larger monitor that allows for simultaneous windows showing the code and the results. I love that.
What makes it even more useful is the Related Files feature. Click on a server side page, like a main CMS template file and Dreamweaver will automatically offer a set of tabs for related server side files, CSS or JavaScript. Click on the sidebar or footer files and the code view shows up. Make a change and Live View updates the preview. This works really well for multi file templates on blogs or content management systems. On the down side, Dreamweaver does not support Ruby or Python so you can't use it for frameworks like Ruby on Rails or Django. Though it does work with Cakewalk, a PHP framework. I don't use ASP or ASP.net so can't comment on those or on ColdFusion.
Dreamweaver also now supports syntax highlighting for major JavaScript frameworks. I mostly use jQuery, but MooTools, Scriptaculous and others are supported too. There are some more widgets for Adobe's framework, Spry if you want some built in Ajax.
The last feature that makes a difference for me is Code Navigator. Click on a page element and you can have the associated CSS rules pop up for editing. Brilliant. And the CSS wizards seem to have been updated, too. I find even the best wizard is slower than direct coding so haven't really given that part of the program a good look.
I've also found CS4 to be both a little faster and more stable than CS3 and that's in beta. Hopefully, when I get the boxed copy, I'll experience the same results.
If you use Dreamweaver for designing visually and stay away from working in code you may or may not find the new features quite as exciting as I do, though they aren't trivial. Live View is certainly nice and the improved CSS handling should make it easy to not design with tables. The expanded Spry functionality will make it easier to add Ajax widgets to a page.

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Build world-class websites and applications with one of the industry's leading web authoring tools. Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 software is ideal for web designers, web developers, and visual designers. Manipulate pixel-level designs in Design view, or craft complex code in Code view while working in the real browser environment of Live View.

Design, develop, and maintain standards-based websites and applications
An industry-leading tool Build world-class websites with one of the industry's leading web authoring tools. Manipulate pixel-level designs or craft complex code. Work the way you work best in the real-world environment of Live View.
Cross-product integration Leverage the intelligent integration and power of Dreamweaver CS4 and other Adobe tools, including Adobe Flash CS4 Professional, Fireworks CS4, Photoshop CS4, and Device Central CS4 software, through direct communication and interaction across the product line.
Comprehensive CSS support Style your sites with the enhanced CSS implementation tools in Dreamweaver CS4. Define and modify CSS rules instantly in the Properties panel. Use the Related Files and Code Navigator features tofind specific CSS rules.
Integrated coding Tap the power of built-in code hints for faster and cleaner coding in HTML; JavaScript; Ajax frameworks such as Spry, jQuery, and Prototype; and several server languages.
Support for leading technologies Design and code in a tool that supports most of the leading web development technologies, including HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML, JavaScript, Ajax, PHP, Adobe ColdFusion software, and ASP.
FLV support Integrate FLV files into any web page with point-and-click ease and standards-compliant coding. Design with your FLV movies playing in the new Live View.
Learning resources Master web building with the comprehensive in-product tutorials in Dreamweaver CS4. Keep current with the latest web technologies through the community-driven help system.
Extended Dreamweaver community Reap the benefits of the extensive Dreamweaver community, including the online Adobe Design Center and Adobe Developer Connection, training and seminars, developer certification programs, and user forums.
Cross-platform support Work the way you want to work: Dreamweaver CS4 is available for Intel or PowerPC based Macs as well as Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista systems. Design in your preferred system, and deliver across platforms.
Advanced JavaScript functionality Put the extended coding functionality of Dreamweaver CS4 to work by incorporating popular JavaScript frameworks, including jQuery, Prototype, and Spry. Simply attach the appropriate JavaScript external files, and Dreamweaver automatically displays code hints.
Top new features of Dreamweaver CS4Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 extends the reach of professional coders, designers, and developers with a full complement of new features.
Live ViewView your web pages under real-world browser conditions with the new Live View--while still retaining direct access to the code. This new rendering mode, which uses the open source rendering engine WebKit, displays your designs like a standards-based browser. Changes to the code are immediately reflected in the rendered display.
However, Live View is no ordinary static viewport. Trigger your CSS-based navigation to view hover states or pull-down submenus, and freeze your page at any point to review the generated code. Dreamweaver CS4 combines the beauty of real-world rendering with the brains of interactive coding.
Related Files and Code NavigatorDreamweaver CS4 introduces two new features that will help you more efficiently manage the various files that make up the modern web page. The Related Files feature displays all the documents associated with your current page--whether CSS, JavaScript, PHP or XML--in a bar along the top of your primary document. Click any related file to edit its source in Code View while viewing the parent page in Design View. Changes made to the related file code are immediately reflected in Design View.
Prefer to work at the code level? The new Code Navigator pop-up window shows you links to all the code sources that affect your current selection. A click in either Code or Design View brings up the Code Navigator, which displays CSS rules, server-side includes, external JavaScript functions, Dreamweaver templates, Library files, iframe source files, and more.
CSS best practicesImplement CSS best practices without writing code. The new CSS tab in the Properties panel shows the styles for the current selection as well as all the applicable CSS rules. Hover over any property to view a tool tip with no-jargon English explanations of CSS principles. New CSS rules can be created and applied in the Properties panel and stored in the same document or an external style sheet. Dreamweaver CS4 even gives you control over the specificity of your rule: Just click Less Specific or More Specific in the updated New CSS Rule dialog box to target your style precisely.
Code hinting for Ajax and JavaScript frameworksWrite JavaScript more quickly and accurately with improved support for JavaScript core objects and primitive data types. Advanced code-hinting functionality helps you power through your code, whether you're adding functions to defined primitive data types (including Object, Array, Number, RegExp, or String) or DOM objects such as Window, Screen, Document, or Event. Dreamweaver CS4 also extends code-hinting muscle to your most advanced custom functions with support for parameters, class constructors, and nested objects, updated in real time as you modify your related JavaScript files.
Put the extended coding functionality of Dreamweaver CS4 to work by incorporating popular JavaScript frameworks including jQuery, Prototype, and Spry. Simply attach the appropriate external JavaScript files, and Dreamweaver automatically displays code hints on demand. Built-in syntax error detection helps you craft the bulletproof code you need--the first time, and every time.
Adobe InContext EditingEnable content authors to edit their own web pages without additional software installations--and, at the same time, free yourself up to design more. The new online InContext Editing service from Adobe lets anyone who can use a browser update content quickly and easily. Design your editable pages in Dreamweaver CS4 to retain total control over the look and feel of your sites. Then, simply designate the parts of the page you want your clients to be able to change; all other sections of the page are locked, and editable only by you. Easily set CSS styles to ensure entered content is properly and consistently formatted. Dreamweaver gives you the tools to create the perfect website, and hosted InContext Editing lets your clients keep that site up-to-date. (InContext Editing is one of several online services available from Dreamweaver CS4. For more information, see Creative Pro Online Services on page 7.)
HTML data setsThe lure of dynamic data is strong, but learning to use databases or XML can be daunting. Dreamweaver CS4 combines accessibility with ease of use in the new HTML data sets feature. With HTML data sets functionality, you create your data in a standard HTML table, a series of div tags, or even an unordered list, and then choose Insert > Spry > Spry Data Set to integrate that data into a dynamic table on the page, complete with sortable columns, a master-detail layout, or other sophisticated displays. It's easier than ever, with real-time previews of your data--both for selection and results. Spry Data Set also works with XML files to render information from RSS feeds and other sources.
Photoshop Smart ObjectsIntegration between Photoshop and Dreamweaver has evolved to the next level of compatibility and functionality. Simply drag and drop a Photoshop PSD file into a Dreamweaver CS4 page to create an image Smart Object. Unlike standard web-page graphics, a Smart Object is tightly linked to its source file. A small indicator on the Smart Object in Dreamweaver CS4 shows when the source and instance are in sync. When you make any changes to the source image, Dreamweaver notes that the files are out of sync; just click the Update from Original icon in the Properties panel to immediately update your image without opening Photoshop.
But Smart Objects are more clever still. Let's say you have a logo placed throughout your site in a variety of sizes as Smart Objects. Any updates made to the Photoshop file can be applied individually to the associated Smart Objects on a page-by-page basis, or to all of them at once through the Assets panel. Unique sizes are maintained while the image itself is faithfully resampled. Best of all, the Smart Object evolution is built on top of current Photoshop and Dreamweaver integration, so you can still copy image selections from Photoshop and paste them in Dreamweaver for an easy comp-to-layout workflow. Moreover, you're free to rescale Photoshop images in Dreamweaver to fine-tune your design with no image degradation or revisits to Photoshop.
Subversion integrationWhen a collaborative project requires a team of designers and developers, open-source Subversion software is often used to handle version control. Dreamweaver CS4 integrates Subversion for a more robust check-in/check-out experience with file versioning, rollback, and more. Once you've defined Subversion as your version-control system, you can update your site to get the latest versions of its pages. Modified pages can be checked into a Subversion repository directly from within Dreamweaver--no third-party utility or command line interface is required. Dreamweaver can also revert checked-out files or mark conflicts as resolved to complete the team site-building experience.
Adobe AIR authoring supportCreate multi-platform desktop applications from your Dreamweaver HTML and JavaScript sites with new Adobe AIR authoring support. Download and install the latest version of the Adobe AIR Extension for Dreamweaver to begin creating engaging, branded applications that run on all major desktop operating systems using your existing web development resources with Adobe AIR. For a streamlined workflow, you can repurpose your existing assets into Adobe AIR desktop applications without leaving Dreamweaver. Preview your Adobe AIR applications within Dreamweaver CS4 to make sure everything is working as designed. When you're ready, prepare your application for deployment with Adobe AIR packaging and code-signing features. Dreamweaver also serves as an Adobe AIR development platform for custom applications. Adobe AIR applications run online or off--they can even be used to access a persistent data source populated from your database.
New user interfaceWork faster and smarter across Dreamweaver CS4 and other components of Creative Suite 4, thanks to a new level of integration and common user-interface elements. A common interface means a more natural process as you move from Photoshop or Fireworks to Flash to Dreamweaver. Stack or minimize your docked panels to maximize your visual or coding environment; click once to pull out a panel and expose desired properties, and then click again to put it away. Work in new Split Code View to display your code in two different sections simultaneously, or choose the new Horizontal Split View option for a different perspective. Quickly move from one layout organization to another with the Workspace pull-down list. You can choose from a series of predesigned layouts--like those for application coders or designers--or create your own custom work environments for the ultimate in personalized workspaces.
Creative Pro Online ServicesConnect to the power of the online community through your creative desktop. New online services accessed from within Dreamweaver CS4 let you search for help from the online community; share your screen with colleagues or clients in a few quick clicks; more easily and efficiently manage day-to-day web content updates; and more. With new online services in Creative Suite 4, you can take your ideas to the next level.
Adobe Community Help Get the power of an online search engine within your Creative Suite 4 software, but with more targeted results thanks to Adobe Community Help. Searchable content includes the in-depth product-specific Help that Adobe has always delivered, plus additional Adobe and third-party content chosen by experts at Adobe and in the design and production communities. With Adobe Community Help, you can find the focused answers you need, fast. (Internet connection required for extended content.)
Acrobat.com Acrobat.com is a set of online services--file sharing and storage, PDF converter, online word processor, and web conferencing--that you can use to create and share documents, communicate in real time, and simplify working with others. Thanks to the connection between one of the Acrobat.com services, Adobe ConnectNow, and Dreamweaver CS4, you can meet live over the web to share your screen, present creative concepts and ideas, and brainstorm with up to two online guests for no additional service charge. To share your screen with colleagues and clients, choose File > Share My Screen. Guests can then see your desktop on their screens as you work. You can exchange ideas using the chat pod, add a live video or audio feed, or use the Whiteboard feature to enable guests to comment on content. You can even temporarily hand over control of the screen to a guest to collaborate on a file. Additional Acrobat.com services, such as Share, Create PDF, My Files, and Adobe Buzzword, are accessible via your web browser. (Internet connection required.)
InContext Editing Make your web page content available for online editing by others when you use InContext Editing. Offer your colleagues, clients or end users an easier way to make simple edits without impacting the design integrity of your web pages--and without help from you or additional software on their computers. Use the InContext Editing toolbar in Dreamweaver to set up your web pages, and then use the preview of this online service to enable content changes by others. (This service will be available as a preview technology, and accessible from within Adobe Dreamworks CS4. During this preview, you can use it at no additional charge. Further availability information will be posted to www.adobe.com/dreamweaver when appropriate. Internet connection required).
Adobe Bridge Home Visit Adobe Bridge Home--an online channel available in Adobe Bridge CS4--and stay up to date with what's new from Adobe and the design, web development, and video and audio production communities at large. Watch the latest video tutorials for your Creative Suite 4 software, listen to a podcast interview with a leading designer, or learn about the next training event in your community. Discover tips and resources that can help you work smarter and faster, making the most of Dreamweaver CS4. (Internet connection required.)
Part of the Adobe Creative Suite 4 familyAdobe tightly integrates Dreamweaver into the full range of Creative Suite 4 solutions for print, production and, of course, web. Shared user-interface elements like collapsible panels facilitate moving from one Creative Suite component to another.
For a complete Dreamweaver web-centric solution, turn to Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web Premium or Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web Standard software. Web Standard brings you the basic functionality you'll need to produce exemplary websites, while Web Premium adds Photoshop CS4 Extended, Illustrator CS4, and Acrobat 9 Pro software to further fuel your creative ambitions. If you're looking for a a full cross-media solution to take content fromprint to web to device, get Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium, which features InDesign CS4 in addition to Photoshop CS4 Extended, Illustrator CS4 and Dreamweaver CS4 among other components. Dreamweaver is also a component of Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection software--the ultimate bundle of creative tools.

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Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been designing with DW for a while now. The 2004 upgrade remains essentially the same, except for a few changes:
[1] The default is now CSS. If you want a tables based layout, you can still work with it but a change needs to be made in the preferences.
[2] The previous Dreamweaver MX supported CSS-P to a degree but editing it wasn't always easy. MM were obviously aware of Dreamweaver's rendering problems and for the new version, have borrowed upon Opera's rendering engine to do some of the hard work and it's now several magnitudes better.
[3] Secure FTP built in
[4] Microsoft Word and Excel copy and paste. Earlier version would lose the formatting when text was pasted inside DW. In this sense, DW now equals Frontpage
[5] On-the-fly cross-browser compatibility checking
[6] Some simple image editing like cropping and tonal adjustments without leaving the program
All this is fine and dandy, some of these features are also a god-send, but the CSS handling is a bit quirky yet. Surely, there must be a simpler and more intuitive way to do all this? There's far too much jumping around the interface required. Instead of providing one really inspired WYSIWYG way to do things, it seems to offer a multiplicity of mediocre alternatives, almost as if the programmers couldn't make their minds up and say, 'Hell, we'll put it all in'. That is a recipe for camels, not thoroughbred racehorses.
If you know your way around Dreamweaver already, you might welcome the new CSS editing facilities but 50% of the full price for an upgrade seems grossly excessive. I'm a bit disappointed that after all this time, Macromedia have produced something that is okay, but not great.
Besides, in the rush for an upgrade (now that GoLive is getting its own feet too) MM seems to have settled for some degree of bloat. My DW updated to 2004 MX is even more of a RAM hog than before.
Net net: I'd wait for the next version upgrade, by when hopefully MM would have tied in all these loose ends.

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Dreamweaver MX 2004 is the professional choice for building web sites and applications. It provides a powerful combination of visual layout tools, application development features, and code editing support, enabling developers and designers at every skill level to create visually appealing, standards-based sites and applications quickly. From leading support for CSS-based design to hand-coding features, Dreamweaver provides the tools professionals need in an integrated, streamlined environment. Developers can use Dreamweaver with the server technology of their choice to build powerful Internet applications that connect users to databases, web services, and legacy systems.

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Microsoft Expression Web 2 Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am a VERY basic web designer. I've modified my web site, designed by a professional 10 years ago. I decided I could now redesign my site with the modern tools available today, and I chose Expression Web because I had heard FrontPage was fairly simple. Expression Web does just that, and the price was just right. It has several nice templates you can use to create your modern "standards-based" site. The one big disappointment was the utter lack of any useful help. The online help is extremely basic without any explanation of features or description of dialog boxes. You have to buy some book that does this. I have found the "Visual Quickstart Guide" by Nolan Hester to be extremely useful, and inexpensive. It will at least get you started and explain some basic features of Expression Web. So, for a real neophyte, the product is very good, and does everything, and more, that I will need, and with outside books, will be just right for the price.
One thing that wasn't clear to me when purchasing this product. You only need "any version" of MS Office to install this "upgrade". The strip on the outside of the box says, "Microsoft Office (any version)". I did not have Front Page, I did not have Expression Web v. 1. I only have MS Office Home and Student 2007, and the product installed fine. So, for all practical purposes, if you have any previous MS Office, you get the full product at the reduced "upgrade" price.


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Item #: Q80515. Microsoft Expression Web gives you all the tools you'll need to produce high-quality, standards-based Web sites the way you want them. Take advantage of the best of dynamic Web site design, enabling you to design, develop, and maintain exceptional standards-based Web sites.Unleash your creativity and bring your Web sites to life with sophisticated CSS design features including visual designers, specialized task panes, and tool bars that give you precise control of page layout and formatting.Reduce complexity and ease integration of data by using powerful task panes and design tools, which allow quick incorporation of XML data. Seamlessly integrate Web design and development teams with Expression Web and Microsoft Visual Studio, by taking advantage of superior support for XML, ASP.NET and XHTML.Create dynamic, interactive pages and sites that leverage the power of the Web to deliver compelling user experiences. Easily design to standards and optimize your sites for accessibility and cross-browser compatibility with built-in support and validation for Web standards. Product Description: Microsoft Expression Web - ( v. 2.0 ) - upgrade packageCategory: Creativity applicationSubcategory: Creativity - web design / publishingVersion: 2.0License Type: Upgrade packageLicense Qty: 1 workstationLicense Pricing: StandardLanguage(s): EnglishPlatform: WindowsDistribution Media: DVD-ROMPackage Type: Retail Customers also search for: Technology\Software\Developer Software Discount Microsoft Expression Web - ( V. 2.0 ) - Upgrade Package, Buy Microsoft Expression Web - ( V. 2.0 ) - Upgrade Package, Wholesale Microsoft Expression Web - ( V. 2.0 ) - Upgrade Package, 0882224660655, UCQ-00602, Developer Software

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Microsoft Expression Web Upgrade Review

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(More customer reviews)Expression Web is a great product that competes very favorably with professional web design tools such as Dream Weaver
However, FrontPage up-graders need to be aware that web component wizards, form designer or like conveniences are gone in Expression Web
FrontPage users should expect a significant learning curve if they are not familiar with designing cascading style sheets (CSS), creating web databases and the like. Plan to use FrontPage for your published sites until your skill sets have been upgraded too.

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Build Dynamic Web SitesProduct InformationExpression Web is a professional design tool to create modernstandards-based sites which deliver superior quality on the Web.Easilyintegrate XML data and take advantage of superior support for Microsoft ASP.NETand XHTML. Bring your Web sites to life with sophisticated CSS designfeatures and tools that give you precise control of page layout andformatting. Create standards-based CSS and XHTML-compliant Web sites thatdeliver compelling user experiences.Realize greater productivity with Microsoft Expression Web. Explore newcreative possibilities and deliver superior quality.Product HighlightsCSS Based LayoutCreate CSS-based XHTML 1.0 Transitional-conforming Web sites by default. Workbetter across browsers simplifying deployment and maintenance. Configureflexible schema settings to support all combinations of HTML XHTML StrictTransitional Frameset and CSS 1.0 2.0 and 2.1 plus browser-specific schemas.Validate your site with compatibility and accessibility reporting and againstSection 508 and W3C Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). CSS Layout Generate elegant modern CSS layouts with state-of-the-art surface design tools. Directly manipulate positioning sizing margins and padding. A sophisticated CSS rendering engine inside gives you the confidence to make design decisions on the fly. Try out CSS styles on the page with drag-and-drop style management and migrate them to a central repository. Typing aids and IntelliSense in the Code View make your process efficient and fast. Rich Data Presentation Build and format views of industry-standard XML data using drag-and drop tools for quick visualization. An XPath Expression Builder allows you to create complex queries and XSL Transform (XSLT) support gives you the flexibility to present data any way you want. XML dat

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Microsoft Expression Web 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been using both Dreamweaver and Frontpage for a long time and have watched both grow. With Expression 1.0 Frontpage grew up and became a serious web tool, with Expression Web 2.0 it leaves Adobe playing catch up. There is simply no better tool out there that will help you create and manage your sites. Perhaps Adobe will make Dreamweaver CS4 better but for now this is the new leader in WYSIWYG web design

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MicrosoftExpression Web 2 English DVD

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Web Easy 7.0 Professional Review

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(More customer reviews)I used Web Easy 7 Professional to make a very professional-looking web site, equal to sites created by much more expensive software. Web Easy did almost everything I required. I created my own page style and format, inserted text and hypertext links, and imported graphics and photos. Pages within a site can be different lengths, but if you start with a supplied template of a certain width, you apparently can't change it.
It's easy to preview the site you create, and what you see is really what you get. You can include meta tags on your site, but it seems that all pages of your site will have the same meta tags. You can insert a visitor counter, but you may need assistance from your ISP to have it count correctly. Many feedback form styles are available, but I haven't yet figured out how to make them send all of the information entered in the fields. The tables I could make in Web Easy were not satisfactory for a catalog with more than 50 items. You could divide your catalog up into several web pages, or use a link to open an Excel spreadsheet or Word document. Also, I couldn't paste a whole Excel or Word table into a Web Easy table.
Learning to use Web Easy took some effort, particularly because I wanted to create my own web site from scratch rather than using one of the templates supplied. The user's manual is pretty elementary, but the help menu is detailed, searchable, and generally helpful. Uploading my site to the web was frustrating. You need to enter host information into the Publish Assistant without many clues from the manual or the help menu. When I finally entered the right information, I got the cryptic error message "The web site package is older than the web site document", and only one page of my site uploaded, even though the site looked fine with the preview function. The error message should have described how to fix the problem. Eventually I figured out that it could easily be fixed by clicking Build / Web Site. You can visit my site at www.KeySynthesis.com


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Create a great website has never been easier. WebEasy includes everything you need in a one box to create your ideal website with built-in templates and e-commerce tools. Drag-and-drop simplicity and automatically HTML code generation, create the website you want without any programming or technical skills required.

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WebEasy 8 Professional Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this software after reading product reviews as I currently use an online WYSIWYG web company that I'm not happy with and I wanted to have more control over my site design. Having now worked with WebEasy Pro 8 over the past two weeks here are my observations:
1. The manual is useless, so unless you're already familiar with graphics programs you will probably find the product frustrating -- I AM graphics savvy and I'm finding I have to dig and dig around the program to achieve what I want (I`m designing from scratch, not using a template). However, if you stick to the templates you'll probably have an easier time of it.
2. When using a Flash video, unless you have it set to looping, it will not freeze on your final frame; it switches to some god-awful image from one of the software's videos. This is a bug in the WebEasy software as this does not happen with a Windows Media File (but that had others issues).
3. The company's email help is slow and WAAAAY longer than their stated time of a 48-hour turnaround (if they answer at all: easy questions are answered promptly, more complicated ones appear to be ignored). It's better to phone BUT they don't publish the number on their website; you have to call their sales department first and then the number is given in their automated answer.
4. There is no easy and immediate way to replicate items from page to page except by copying and pasting. For example, if you create a website header with a website menu, it would be great if you could simply tell the program to repeat the items, including their links, on all pages or selected pages. No can do. I suspect you have to create your own style sheet to do that, which just complicates what really should be an obvious option.
5. The program does not distinguish between website background and page background. This distinction is important: the website background is an image or color which tiles to fill the viewer`s web browser, regardless of size; page background is fixed. So one way of eliminating that annoying box around your webpage is to have the website background and page background the same color BUT this only works in WebEasy if you use solid colors: if you set your background to a gradient or one of their stock patterns, it only fills the webpage: it doesn`t tile. This also means that you can`t create your own cool website background on which your page will sit. So if that is your wish, look elsewhere.
6. Despite their marketing suggestion to the contrary, you CAN NOT embed photo galleries in your webpage. What the program does is create separate webpages of galleries which you must then link to your site by creating a folder in your index. And how do you do that? The manual doesn't tell you and neither does their help file; you'll have to call them and hope they can explain it, or have someone who knows CSS adjust the code for you (which is possible in WebEasy if you know how). Also note that their web gallery is really AWFUL: it looks terrible and all the thumbnails are squished into the same TINY square format which renders them useless and ugly, and many of the thumbnails were corrupted, presenting as pixellated garbage. So if web galleries are your aim, you will need to look elsewhere, like Photoshop or Lightroom or Flash, or even something like Firestarter by Coffee Cup, or look into WebPlus X4 which may have a better web gallery module and the linking code already embedded (I can't speak directly to the latter; I'm simply reiterating what I've read). Note that ALL these web gallery modules and programs create Flash-style galleries that must be linked, not embedded, to your webpage; AND Flash galleries cannot be "read" by search engines. So if you want your pictures to be searchable by title or content, Flash is not an option. Also, the fight between Apple and Adobe over Flash abilities may result in your galleries (or any Flash content) being unreadable on an iPhone or iPad (though in my opinion Apple is unlikely to win this since so many existing websites use Flash modules and Apple may simply lose their customers over the frustration).
7. Another bug in the software is that Jpegs, when reduced in size to around 150 pixels or smaller, sometimes don't present properly when you check the page in your web browser. I found that I had to switch those images to the PNG format to fix the problem.
8. Another bug is that your page size sometimes arbitrarily changes. Meaning, for example, that I set the page size to 1500 pixels long but every once in awhile the program cuts off the bottom. I check my page size, it still says I have 1500 pixels, but I have to reset it to get my pixels back. Not sure if that's going to happen once the site is live. I hope not or I'm going to be seriously, seriously annoyed.
In summary, the program is "buggy," I`m not entirely happy, and the product is certainly not as easy as they make out: you will need to make good use of the Help tabs to get into the deeper details, you will need to play around A LOT before you`ll feel comfortable with the program, and you will have to be savvy enough to work around the bugs if you encounter them.

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Web Easy Professional 8
Top-Selling Web Design Software for Windows
Free! 3 months of hosting included
Create a Web site with drag-and-drop simplicity
Choose from hundreds of professionally designed Web site templates
No programming required with automatically generating HTML code
Easy-to-use tools for Search Engine Optimization
Free! $50 Google AdWords credit for new accounts

Why choose WebEasy Professional? Build a great website in one hour with WebEasy. WebEasy guides you step-by-step with built-in templates and e-commerce tools--no programming or HTML knowledge are needed. Everything you need to create an impactful website is included in every WebEasy package. In just one click, WebEasy publishes your website in minutes for the world to see.

Features
Select from 500+ Detailed Website Templates
Choose from over 500+ professionally designed website templates for business, club, team, organization, school and home use or create your own completely unique look.
Templates for business Web sites.

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Microsoft Expression Web 3.0 Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)In a nut shell, it's very intuitive and easy to use. You don't have to know an ounce of code to make great websites. The program also makes writing and understanding HTML code a much easier task than it has been in the past. It's easy to find the answers and explanations you want and need while you create your website. Also, the FTP funtion is rock solid and makes it super easy to manage and upload you websites.
It's a good program and I'd certainly recommend it.

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Deliver visually compelling, standards-compliant Web experiences with Expression Web 3. Whether you're an expert or just getting started, building standards-based Web sites is faster and easier.


Upgrade to Expression Web 3 Upgrade to Expression version 3 today. If you are a registered owner of Expression product or even many third party tools, you are eligible to upgrade to Expression version 3 at a significantly reduced cost.
You must be a licensed user of one of the following products to be eligible for the upgrade versions:
Any Microsoft Expression product
Any Adobe Creative Suite product
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or later

Buy Microsoft® Expression® Web 3 now* and upgrade to Expression Web 4 for free when it becomes available. Once available, simply go to www.microsoft.com/expression and download version 4. * You must be a licensed user of one of the following products (excluding free trials) to be eligible for the upgrade versions.
Any Microsoft® Expression product
Any Adobe Creative Suite product
Any Microsoft Office product
Create compelling Web sites visually If you think and create visually, use the state-of-the-art design surface to layout your Web page. You can make design decisions on the fly, knowing that you're seeing a faithful representation of the final browser-rendered page.
Drag and drop controls simplify adding rich media, such as Silverlight from Microsoft Expression Blend, Silverlight video, Adobe Flash, and Windows Media. And advanced Adobe Photoshop file import gives you complete control over imported layers and transparency.
Create standards-based Web sites more quickly and easily If you think and breathe code, Expression Web has you covered there too with flexible support for a wide range of essential technologies: PHP, HTML/XHTML, XML/XSLT, CSS, JavaScript, ASP.NET and ASP.NET AJAX, Silverlight, Flash, Photoshop files, and video/audio for webcasting.
Expression Web speeds the essential task of cross-browser debugging. With SuperPreview, you don't need a Web service to debug your pages on the same machine that you use for development. SuperPreview not only shows a high-fidelity rendering of how pages will look on different browsers, but it also identifies the element's tag, size and position, applied styles, and location in the DOM (Document Object Model) tree so you can quickly fix the error.
Once you've identified an error, Snapshot Preview helps you fix it faster. By displaying a high-fidelity browser rendering that updates as you edit your code, Snapshot Preview saves you the time and effort of loading the page in a browser for each code change.
If you're a designer or developer, use Expression Web to do what you do best. And if you're part of a diverse team, sharing an Expression Web project has never been easier thanks to seamless integration with Expression Studio and Visual Studio.
Expression Web 3 also includes the following full applications:
Microsoft Expression Design 3 is the perfect companion to Expression Web. Leverage existing artwork, or use intuitive drawing tools to quickly build sophisticated vector assets. Seamlessly transfer them to your Expression Web projects knowing that their fidelity will be maintained throughout the entire designer-developer workflow. For more information about Expression Design 3, click here.
Microsoft Expression Encoder 3 encodes a wide array of video file formats so you can stream live video from webcams and camcorders or screen capture your PC. Make simple edits to video files and enhance your media with overlays and advertising. Choose encoding settings, choose from a range of player templates and publish rich media experiences with Microsoft Silverlight.


Deliver visually compelling, standards-compliant Web experiences
Professional Code Editor IntelliSense and color-coding for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP make your editing and debugging more productive. And, real-time standards validation provides instant feedback on standards violations so you can make corrections as you code.
Professional Design Surface Generate elegant, modern CSS layouts with state-of-the-art design surface and the ability to directly manipulate positioning, sizing, margins and padding. With Expression Web's sophisticated CSS rendering engine, you can make design decisions on the fly and see a faithful representation of the final browser-rendered page.
Visual Diagnostics Debug your pages in multiple browsers on the same machine that you use for development with SuperPreview. And Snapshot Preview provides a high-fidelity browser preview that updates live as you edit your code, saving you the time and effort of loading the page in a browser for each code change. The CSS properties palette visually displays the CSS cascade, enabling you to quickly see all of the styles that the current selection in your web page uses, the order of precedence of those styles, and all of the properties and values of those styles.
Broad support for Industry-Standard Technologies With support for a broad range of scripting and server-side technologies, Expression Web provides the flexibility you need. Expression Web supports PHP, HTML/XHTML, XML/XSLT, CSS, JavaScript, ASP.NET or ASP.NET AJAX, Silverlight, Flash, Windows Media, and Photoshop as well as integration with Microsoft Visual Studio and Expression Studio.
Broad Web Standards Support Built-in support for today's modern Web standards makes it easy to optimize your sites for accessibility and cross-browser compatibility. Choose any schema you want - HTML, XHTML, Strict/Transitional/Frameset and CSS 1.0, 2.0, or 2.1--Expression Web 3 will help you build appropriate code with a compatibility checker that highlights non-conforming elements.
Build Dynamic Interactive Sites Whether you're building a site rich with video, audio, or animation, Expression Web makes it easy. You can easily add Silverlight, Flash, Deep Zoom or Windows Media files with drag-and-drop controls.
Create Professional Graphics for Your Site Powerful vector drawing and editing tools in the included copy of Expression Design let you explore new artistic possibilities and create compelling graphic designs and illustrations. Integrate vector artwork and bitmap images in the same document to create hybrid compositions that you can import in part or in whole into Expression Web. Use Expression Design's sophisticated slicing capabilities to create web-ready graphics.
Encode Silverlight video for Web streaming Quickly encode and insert high-quality WMV, VC-1 and H.264 Silverlight video into your Web site with a wide range of encoding and transcoding features with the included copy of Expression Encoder.
Publishing Flexibility Choose the FTP method for publishing your site, whether FTP, SFTP, or FTPS, depending on what your Web server requires. When you click Publish, Expression Web automatically transfers several files at a time, instead of transferring them one by one, and it transfers them faster. You can easily manage multiple sites and remote locations and you can publish a site to multiple destinations. Also, Expression Web can do "live" on-server edits via FTP, which saves time and cost, while also reducing errors.
Import Photoshop files Expression Web can import Photoshop files directly with complete control over transparency, the layers imported and the converted image format (PNG, GIF, and JPEG). Expression Web remembers your layer and format settings so that you can quickly reimport to reflect any changes to the Photoshop original.

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Total Training for Microsoft Expression Web Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using FrontPage 2000 and 2002 since 1999, using very simple stuff like shared borders and themes. When FrontPage 2003 came out, it worked just different enough to totally confuse me. I never did figure it out and simply went back to 2002. Since Microsoft has now dropped FrontPage, I figured I needed to evaluate Expression Web. Again, it was baffling. It looked somewhat like FrontPage, but I didn't have a clue how to use the package. Finally, I purchased the Total Training for Microsoft Expression Web DVD training course. Wow! Instructor Janine Warner clearly and logically showed me how to actually use the package, including things I had never tried like CSS. Without Janine's training, I never would have figured out what to do with EW. The Total Training package is excellent, and Janine did a super job.

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Create web pages that are beautiful inside and out with Expression Web Build dynamic, interactive pages without having to learn programming! Your host, Janine Warner, is a best-selling author of more than a dozen books about the Internet and web design. Watch and learn as Janine shows you how to design elegant, modern CSS layouts with state-of-the-art design tools and the ability to directly manipulate positioning, sizing, margins, and padding. You'll get up to speed in a hurry with Janine blazing the path

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Microsoft Expression Web 3.0 Review

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(More customer reviews)For the cost of this package, you get Expression Web 3, Expression Design 3 and Expression Encoder. You simply can't get this kind of value anywhere else. This is especially true if you want to create asp(.)net pages because you can also download the free Visual Web Developer Express program that will make it easier for you to code your back end code.
Expression web 3 has a great design preview compared to Dreamweaver CS3 (the version I currently use). In Dreamweaver CS3, css layouts look horrible, whereas in EW3, you get a pretty accurate representation of what your page will look like. When you want to take a good look at the way your page will appear, you can use EW3's Super Preview, which will show you what your site will look like in different browsers (inluding IE6).
Admittedly, I still prefer Dreamweaver's property box and CSS editing tools over EW3, but this is what I have been using for years. Now I have to use Expression Web 3 because I am transitioning from classic ASP to asp(.)net which Dreamweaver CS3 doesn't really support and CS4 doesn't support at all. The advantage to my switching is that the design view in EW3 is superior and it supports master pages which is so absolutely superior to dreamweaver templates it is not even funny. Finally, I can make a change to the template (i.e. master page) and the changes will automatically appear on ever page without me having to update and upload all child pages. I know that doesn't make a lot of sense if you've never used master pages or dreamweaver templates, but the difference is with asp(.)net master pages you can change a template and upload 1 new file. With Dreamweaver templates, you have to upload ever page that was tied to that template every time you make a change. If you have 100 pages tied to a template, you can see the hassle.
In this package you also get Expression Design which is a program for graphic editing and supports vector and raster editing. I suppose it is similar to Adobe Fireworks (which I really like). If you don't already have Fireworks, then I am sure Design is great. I like Fireworks and already own it so I am not bothering too much with EW Design.
For full disclosure I think Adobe's web products are great, but they are expensive and dreamweaver doesn't support the advanced features of asp(.)net so Expression Web is where it is at if you do asp(.)net (EW3 also supports php).
For the price, you can't get a better web development package. Make sure you download Visual Web Developer Express edition along with all the cool tools that go with it and it makes an excellent compliment to everything in EW3.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Expression Web 3.0

Deliver visually compelling, standards-compliant Web experiences with Expression Web 3. Whether you're an expert or just getting started, building standards-based Web sites is faster and easier.

Buy Microsoft® Expression® Web 3 now* and upgrade to Expression Web 4 for free when it becomes available. Once available, simply go to www.microsoft.com/expression and download version 4. * You must be a licensed user of one of the following products (excluding free trials) to be eligible for the upgrade versions.
Any Microsoft® Expression product
Any Adobe Creative Suite product
Any Microsoft Office product
Create compelling Web sites visually If you think and create visually, use the state-of-the-art design surface to layout your Web page. You can make design decisions on the fly, knowing that you're seeing a faithful representation of the final browser-rendered page.
Drag and drop controls simplify adding rich media, such as Silverlight from Microsoft Expression Blend, Silverlight video, Adobe Flash, and Windows Media. And advanced Adobe Photoshop file import gives you complete control over imported layers and transparency.
Create standards-based Web sites more quickly and easily If you think and breathe code, Expression Web has you covered there too with flexible support for a wide range of essential technologies: PHP, HTML/XHTML, XML/XSLT, CSS, JavaScript, ASP.NET and ASP.NET AJAX, Silverlight, Flash, Photoshop files, and video/audio for webcasting.
Expression Web speeds the essential task of cross-browser debugging. With SuperPreview, you don't need a Web service to debug your pages on the same machine that you use for development. SuperPreview not only shows a high-fidelity rendering of how pages will look on different browsers, but it also identifies the element's tag, size and position, applied styles, and location in the DOM (Document Object Model) tree so you can quickly fix the error.
Once you've identified an error, Snapshot Preview helps you fix it faster. By displaying a high-fidelity browser rendering that updates as you edit your code, Snapshot Preview saves you the time and effort of loading the page in a browser for each code change.
If you're a designer or developer, use Expression Web to do what you do best. And if you're part of a diverse team, sharing an Expression Web project has never been easier thanks to seamless integration with Expression Studio and Visual Studio.
Expression Web 3 also includes the following full applications:
Microsoft Expression Design 3 is the perfect companion to Expression Web. Leverage existing artwork, or use intuitive drawing tools to quickly build sophisticated vector assets. Seamlessly transfer them to your Expression Web projects knowing that their fidelity will be maintained throughout the entire designer-developer workflow. For more information about Expression Design 3, click here.
Microsoft Expression Encoder 3 encodes a wide array of video file formats so you can stream live video from webcams and camcorders or screen capture your PC. Make simple edits to video files and enhance your media with overlays and advertising. Choose encoding settings, choose from a range of player templates and publish rich media experiences with Microsoft Silverlight.


Deliver visually compelling, standards-compliant Web experiences
Professional Code Editor IntelliSense and color-coding for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP make your editing and debugging more productive. And, real-time standards validation provides instant feedback on standards violations so you can make corrections as you code.
Professional Design Surface Generate elegant, modern CSS layouts with state-of-the-art design surface and the ability to directly manipulate positioning, sizing, margins and padding. With Expression Web's sophisticated CSS rendering engine, you can make design decisions on the fly and see a faithful representation of the final browser-rendered page.
Visual Diagnostics Debug your pages in multiple browsers on the same machine that you use for development with SuperPreview. And Snapshot Preview provides a high-fidelity browser preview that updates live as you edit your code, saving you the time and effort of loading the page in a browser for each code change. The CSS properties palette visually displays the CSS cascade, enabling you to quickly see all of the styles that the current selection in your web page uses, the order of precedence of those styles, and all of the properties and values of those styles.
Broad support for Industry-Standard Technologies With support for a broad range of scripting and server-side technologies, Expression Web provides the flexibility you need. Expression Web supports PHP, HTML/XHTML, XML/XSLT, CSS, JavaScript, ASP.NET or ASP.NET AJAX, Silverlight, Flash, Windows Media, and Photoshop as well as integration with Microsoft Visual Studio and Expression Studio.
Broad Web Standards Support Built-in support for today's modern Web standards makes it easy to optimize your sites for accessibility and cross-browser compatibility. Choose any schema you want - HTML, XHTML, Strict/Transitional/Frameset and CSS 1.0, 2.0, or 2.1--Expression Web 3 will help you build appropriate code with a compatibility checker that highlights non-conforming elements.
Build Dynamic Interactive Sites Whether you're building a site rich with video, audio, or animation, Expression Web makes it easy. You can easily add Silverlight, Flash, Deep Zoom or Windows Media files with drag-and-drop controls.
Create Professional Graphics for Your Site Powerful vector drawing and editing tools in the included copy of Expression Design let you explore new artistic possibilities and create compelling graphic designs and illustrations. Integrate vector artwork and bitmap images in the same document to create hybrid compositions that you can import in part or in whole into Expression Web. Use Expression Design's sophisticated slicing capabilities to create web-ready graphics.
Encode Silverlight video for Web streaming Quickly encode and insert high-quality WMV, VC-1 and H.264 Silverlight video into your Web site with a wide range of encoding and transcoding features with the included copy of Expression Encoder.
Publishing Flexibility Choose the FTP method for publishing your site, whether FTP, SFTP, or FTPS, depending on what your Web server requires. When you click Publish, Expression Web automatically transfers several files at a time, instead of transferring them one by one, and it transfers them faster. You can easily manage multiple sites and remote locations and you can publish a site to multiple destinations. Also, Expression Web can do "live" on-server edits via FTP, which saves time and cost, while also reducing errors.
Import Photoshop files Expression Web can import Photoshop files directly with complete control over transparency, the layers imported and the converted image format (PNG, GIF, and JPEG). Expression Web remembers your layer and format settings so that you can quickly reimport to reflect any changes to the Photoshop original.

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Adobe Photoshop CS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I totally agree that Photoshop is an excellent software to use in editing images and making original art from scratch. This version of Photoshop, CS, brought with it many new improvements and enhancements that have already been taken up by previous reviewers. What I don't agree with is that most people say it is difficult to learn when in fact, it isn't! Those of you who wanted to own Photoshop and not afraid of experimenting, this is the perfect time to buy Photoshop and be counted as one image editing savvy person!
For newcomers and prospective buyers, don't let the "steep learning curve" routine preached by other folks discourage you. Photoshop is no more difficult to learn than any other software like Paintshop or PhotoImpact. I have tried all three and settled on Photoshop as THE EASIEST! All you need to have to learn it is a desire to improve your digital images, the knack to experiment, and a good book to guide you along (if you're learning on your own, like myself.)
Open Photoshop and you will see an almost unremarkable, unassuming interface which belies its true power. But this is a good thing because Photoshop functions can be simple or sophisticated as you like. It has a much neater interface compared to the above other softwares which means you can open functions only when you need them.
Get a good book that starts with simple concepts and go one step at a time. The beauty of going from simple tasks first (like how adjustment layers work) to more complicated ones (like layer mask compositing) is that you gradually develop your confidence. Pretty soon you will begin to discover on your own! Practice with you own photos and see the results immediately! Who said you have to be a professional to use a professional caliber software?
I agree on the saying that Photoshop is difficult to learn BUT only on the concept of making art. Not everybody have that eye. If you want to create works of art, then it only follows that you invest time in learning how, steep learning curve or otherwise. But this applies not only to Photoshop but to other softwares you might be using!
Now if most of your editing consists of uploading your digital images from camera to PC, enhancing exposure, cropping, framing, optimizing for email, boosting resolution to uncover detail for printing, how difficult can Photoshop be? It's easy! It's specifically designed for these tasks! Of course, other software can do this too at a much lesser price but I am assuming you want the top gun. With Photoshop, you can totally, CLEARLY do loads of other things. Because when you're ready to do more elaborate compositions, Photoshop will be there with even more specialized tools at your disposal.
If you like all the good things that you've heard about Photoshop, if you want a totally flexible, CLEAR tool to use in editing your images where all the non-destructive adjustments are right there at your fingertips CLEARLY laid out for you to turn on or off or adjust so you can instantly see how they affect your image, then do yourself a favor and buy a copy.
Just about the only reason I would recommend Paintshop or PhotoImpact (respectfully capable softwares, too) over Photoshop is the high price of Photoshop. On the other hand I understand you can take Photoshop classes and get BIG student discounts on Photoshop saving you hundreds of dollars. Read the reviews on beginning books on Photoshop and select one you believe will suit your taste. I strongly suggest one with practice images on CD and color pictures in the book itself.
Good luck and have fun!

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Photoshop CS combines the professional standard in desktop image production with new features for Web designers and video professionals.Design your own typography by placing text on a path or within a shape Customize keyboard shortcuts to keep your favorite features at your fingertips Full support for Flash(.swf) files -- create them in ImageReady, along with vector art & variable text

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Serif WebPlus X4 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I always dreamed of having my own website but never had the courage to start learning how to do this.
One day i bought an excellent learning video on DVD about creating websites using Adobe Dreamweaver CS4.
After 12 hours of listening to these learning sessions i asked myself if there is no other way than programming houndreds of html-tags and css style sheets and making more cryptic manupulations only to get a first homepage.
I asked myself how long it would take to build a complete site using these tools ...
I decided to look a little bit around and i found Serif webplus x4, an all in one package for a very cheap price.
After running webplus x4 and reading some small online tutorials about it i told myself that this is the way i want to build my website by using this fantastic graphical toolkit.
The whole website was finished in only one day !
With webplus x4 you can now also insert html ond javascript code on your pages.
What is also very important is that you can have "Master pages" as a basic layout for the rest of the pages.
Publishing your site via ftp to the hosting server is also completely handled in a differential way by webplus x4.
Integration into the most popular search engines can also be done with some clicks and by inserting some authentification html code on the homepage.
If you want to build easily a website where graphical design is your focus and not spending days of coding html and css styles then this is your product.
I cannot imagine using another tool than webplus x4 in the future and therefore i give 5 stars.


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WebPlus X4 is Serif's amazing website creation software that combines power, flexibility, and intuitive ease of use, so you can create attractive, engaging websites--with no HTML or prior experience. Perfect for businesses, organizations, clubs, schools, and personal sites, WebPlus X4 includes everything needed for professional-quality results. This release brings together an easy visual page designer, forms, free online tools and services, PayPal and other e-commerce, search engine optimization, graphics tools, photo editing, analytics, publishing, maintenance, and tutorial videos.

Everything You Need
NEW! Photo Editing Edit photos for your website without leaving WebPlus X4 using the new PhotoLab. Remove backgrounds using the Image Cutout Studio or enhance images by adding one or more of over 70 effects and adjustments.
Professionally adjust and correct photos
Easily add amazing effects
Quickly remove blemishes and scratches
Apply adjustments with single clicks
Edit or undo changes at any time

IMPROVED! Site Navigation Use one of the customisable Flash navigation bars and impress visitors with the look of your website.
IMPROVED! Graphic design Create tailored graphics for your website with the built-in drawing tools, shapes, effects, styles, and more.
IMPROVED! Word Processing Not only can you create and edit text just like a word processor but you can now import Word documents too!
Incredibly Easy to Use
NEW! QuickBuilder Bar It's now even quicker and easier to build websites with the new QuickBuilder Bar. Easily drag and drop a text frame, image, Flash photo gallery, and more from the QuickBuilder Bar onto your page for fast website design.
Easy as 1-2-3!
Create websites from professional templates
Design and edit with the QuickBuilder Bar
Publish pages instantly with Quick Publish

No HTML or other programming required The desktop publishing-style approach allows you to design your website to look exactly how you want it. All the coding is done for you behind the scenes!
IMPROVED! Video tutorials and learning Get support easily. Videos, PDF tutorials, our online knowledge base, and active community forums can all be accessed from the new Learning Zone.
Powerful Web Gadgets
Forums, Blogs, Forms & More Make engaging and interactive websites by adding forums, blogs, polls, online forms and more--all provided and hosted for free by Serif.
NEW! Online bookings Your customers can book rooms, tables, sporting facilities, services, or anything you can think of using the new interactive Resource Booker.
NEW! Google Maps Put your business on the map--literally--with Google Maps. Ideal for Find us or Contact us pages.
NEW! Content management Edit the content of your site from any computer with an internet connection. Fantastic for quick updates and news.
Secure members' areas Create individual login details for selected users and grant them access to specific areas on your site.
Secure e-Commerce Stores
IMPROVED! Sell securely online Using e-commerce to sell online has never been easier. Not only can it display an unlimited amount of products but now you can have up to 10 options (like size, colour, etc.) for each item. We've also teamed up with the top shopping cart providers so you can be sure that all your transactions are 100% secure.
Easy wizard to setup your online store
Choice of providers including PayPal
Security for you and your customers

NEW! Google AdSense Increase your revenue by placing targeted ads by Google on your website, earning you money whenever your visitors click on them
$50 Google AdWords included Attract new customers using our free gift to you--$50 of free Google advertising. Promote your business and reach potential customers. Terms and conditions apply.
Media-Rich Websites
IMPROVED! Animated photo galleries Show off you pictures in all their glory in one of the 36 highly customisable animated photo galleries. There are 12 new Flash galleries plus all the old favourites so there will always be one that's perfect for your pictures.
The photo galleries in WebPlus X4 can now handle 1000s of images, multiple albums, and link to RSS image feeds (from sites like Flickr) so your latest photos can appear online without updating your site.
IMPROVED! YouTube videos Your friends, family, and customers can now enjoy high definition YouTube videos on your website--now with extra features like autoplay for instant viewing.
Audio & podcasts Host or stream music on your website and get your fans to subscribe to your podcast updates via iTunes so they never miss out on what's new.
News feeds Create your own RSS feed for people to subscribe to or show feeds from other sites and make your website a place with up-to-the-minute news.
Flash animations Easily add Flash animations to your website to engage visitors and give your site a more professional look.
Perfect Websites--Fast
IMPROVED! Professional templates With over 40 professionally-designed, fully-customisable templates and themed layouts included, there's plenty to choose from to create your perfect website.
NEW! Quick publishing Make updates to individual sites pages with just one click thanks to the new Quick Publish option. It's great for speedy updates and adding news to your site
NEW! Google Analytics Discover who your customers are, and a whole lot more, with Google Analytics. WebPlus X4 makes it easy to integrate this industry-standard tool into your website.
Search Engine Optimisation Make sure your site can be easily found by popular search engines like Google and Yahoo! by taking advantage of the simple SEO tools in WebPlus X4.
New Feature Highlights
QuickBuilder Bar The QuickBuilder Bar makes creating websites faster by providing commonly used web elements.
Photo Editing Now you don't need a separate photo editing program thanks to the powerful photo editing features.
Online Bookings Take customer bookings for rooms, tables, events and more with the new Resource Booker.
Google Gadgets Add cool Google gadgets including Maps, Adsense and Analytics to any site with just a few clicks.
Flash Navbars Navigate around your website in style with one of the new animated Flash navigation bars.
Pro Photo Galleries Your pictures will be beautifully displayed in one of the high-quality Flash photo galleries.
Quick Publish Update sites instantly! It only takes one click to update a page with the new Quick Publish feature.
New Learning Zone Watch video tutorials, print PDF guides, or view the knowledge base from the new Learning Zone.
Colour Scheme Designer Create a unique colour scheme for your website to make it stand out from the crowd.
Content Management System Make quick edits and updates to your website content from any PC with an internet connection.

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Do It Yourself Website Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a good starter guide for the do-it-yourselfer. While it's aimed at the web newbie, it's also an easy tool for more experienced web masters to use to easily get sites online. I'd also recommend "The Complete Web Hosting Kit" as a companion, because it gives you the software you need to actually host a web site on your home or office computer for free.

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To create a website has never been easier!Make your own website. Intellyweb is a fast and easy-to-use tool for creating and maintaining websites. With its easy to use interface it makes it possible for anyone to create and maintain a professionally looking website.The program includes more than 100 ready to use templates. The number of templates is constantly increasing and the program can automatically download new templates with the built in auto update functionality. The program includes more than 100 ready to use templates. The number of templates is constantly increasing and the program can automatically download new templates with the built in auto update functionality. The complete wysiwyg interface allows you to create your own website without any prior experience of website publishing. For your convenience we have developed extencive help material to help you get started with the easiest website builder on the market.WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get.This is a well known method of computer editing. Now, Intellyweb combines this with predefined templates which make it easier than ever to create and maintain a professionally looking website.The very easy-to-use interface combined with the use of templates makes it possible for anyone to create a website. Despite the intuitive dialogs and guides, Intellyweb comes with an extensive help section. This includes watch-and-follow tutorials covering all aspects of maintaining your website. Publishing images on the web requires special file formats and often results in long download times. Intellyweb can resize and optimize your images automatically. If you have experience of image handling - you may do all the editing yourself. But Intellyweb will always do it faster for you.

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