The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Dreamweaver I
Learn to build Websites using the premiere design tool.

Macromedia's Dreamweaver is the preferred HTML editor of professional Web designers - and not just because it has a cool name. Dreamweaver integrates a host of design tools in one easy-to-use application. Without any advanced HTML knowledge, you can design sophisticated sites, creating advanced layouts by using tables, colors, style sheets, frames, and more. This intensive 6-lesson training course guides you through Macromedia's leading-edge Web editor, taking you from absolute beginner to intermediate level. You'll be weaving dreams on the Web before you know it!

Objectives:

Students can expect to learn how to:

  · Develop and submit for feedback six Web pages or sites demonstrating specific Dreamweaver technologies.
  · Navigate the Dreamweaver interface and access the full range of tools, panels, and commands.
  · Publish a Web page to a Web server using Dreamweaver FTP and accurate link paths.
  · Present text and images on a Web page using layout tables, nested tables, and image slices.
  · Create working navigation bars using hyperlinks and JavaScript image rollovers.
  · Format text, links, and page backgrounds consistently and creatively using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
  · Use basic Web design guidelines to create attractive Web layouts and color schemes.
  · Use layers as a layout alternative to tables and use overlapping and nested layer features.
  · Add Flash, basic DHTML behaviors, and other multimedia components to Web pages.
  · Develop frame-based Web site layouts and apply them in appropriate situations.
  · Troubleshoot and repair broken links and other basic Web site flaws.

LESSON 1 Intro to Dreamweaver
Lesson One kicks off with a training introduction to Dreamweaver's flexible toolkit. You'll learn to customize, create, and save an HTML page, how to define a site and make it talk to your Web server, and how to manage files. You'll explore how HTML and CSS code is generated in Dreamweaver's WYSIWYG interface and learn how to use the Properties Inspector. In the training exercise, you'll create a "favorite links" page, hooking up Web links, formatting text, adding images, and more.

LESSON 2 All About Tables Training
Lesson Two explores how to use tables as a layout and organization tool. You'll look at a "best practice" table design on the Web, then find out how easy Dreamweaver makes it. You'll learn how to create tables, add content, adjust and nest tables, and explore design options using table borders, background colors, and patterns. In the training exercise, you'll use tables to design an e-commerce home page using a cool rollover navigation bar.

LESSON 3 Cascading Style Sheets
Ready to create pages with some real style? Training Lesson Three introduces you to a key Web technology: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). With CSS you can refine the look of text and other features on your Web pages, training you to make global site design changes in a snap. You'll learn how to create internal and external style sheets using Dreamweaver's CSS Styles panel that will make your styles look great. In the exercise, it's off to camp-you'll design a Web site for an arts and crafts camp using CSS for text and background formatting.

LESSON 4 Design Tools and Strategies
Now that you're familiar with Dreamweaver's essential tools, you're ready to really design. Lesson Four focuses training on the program's layout and advanced table design options. You'll look at how to create complex designs using both Standard and Layout Views. You'll pick up training tips on optimizing your design for a variety of screen widths and get familiar with the mechanics of picking colors inside Dreamweaver. Want to emulate the masters? We'll show you how to take a screen capture and use it as a tracing image. In the training exercise, you'll create a Web site from scratch, coming up with your own high-end layout.

LESSON 5 Layers and Multimedia
In Web design, it's all about staying on top of current technology and trends. Training Lesson Five introduces you to Dreamweaver Layers-a technology that allows you to create pixel-perfect layouts instead of relying on restrictive HTML tables. You'll see how easy and fun it is to create a layered Web site, and you'll explore popular media effects like Flash and DHTML. You'll turn your tabled layout from Training Exercise Four into a layered masterpiece in Training Exercise Five, and taking it to the next level with a Flash navigation bar.

LESSON 6 Special Effects & Troubleshooting Training
Lesson Six starts off by taking the mystery out of frames, a feature that designers either love or hate. You'll learn how framed sites are constructed and what some of their downsides are. Then, to make sure your sites function when they go live, you'll run through our top troubleshooting tips. In the final project, you'll apply all your training skills learned by debugging a mini-site, adding JavaScript behaviors, fixing up frames, and more. For extra credit, offer your own redesign of the site's home page.