Lesson 2: Dreamweaver Site – start by defining a site

In these lessons, we're going to be using Dreamweaver CS3. CS3 is very much like version 8, and to be honest, it's that much different from dreamweaver MX and older versions too.

Why Dreamweaver

Codey people like to write in notepad, or text editers, and will say 'don't use dreamweaver'. Although it's not perfect, it's benefits outweigh it's problems a thousand to one when it comes to the needs of the tyipical designers trying to build a website.

Defining a Site

Before we start constructing out website, we have to define a 'site' within dreamweaver. This defines where the files are saved, which website they belong to, and where you are going to upload the page to.

  1. If you haven't already, create a folder for your new site, using the standard windows or Mac file browsers.
  2. Open Dreamweaver
  3. Find the Files Window (F8 will open it if you can't see it)
  4. In the dropdown menu on the left of this panel, choose 'Manage Sites....'
  5. In the window that comes up, press New
  6. Then choose 'Site'
 Manage Sites

There are loads of options here, but only a handfull are really useful

  1. Make sure 'Local Info' in selected in the left side the window
  2. Enter a name for your website, eg 'Happy Tutorial Lessons'
  3. Click the folder icon by the 'Local root folder' box, find and select the folder you created for this website.

 

 New Site

Linking your Local Site to your Remote Web Host

If you have purchased web hosting, and this is all set up, you can define the 'Remote Info' for this website. This tells dreamweaver where to upload the files to.

If you don't have web hosting ready, don't worry, you can still carry on creating your website, you just can't put it online.

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Local: Your computer. Eg, files saved on your computer, which you can open, edit and look at.

Remote: The web host. You upload your files here for the world to see - via your website.

  1. Click on Manage Sites
  2. Choose your website, and click 'edit'
  3. Select 'Remote Info'
  4. Choose 'FTP' from the dropdown

Your web host will give you the FTP settings when you set up your hosting company.

The 'Test' button is useful to check you've got all the information correct. If you are having problems, try ticking 'Use Passive FTP', and if all else fails, I suggest you contact your web hosting company - they should help you out here.

 FTP Settings
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Once that is done, your site is defined, and you can start creating pages, and templates.

Comments?

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