Great Expectations

Hi Experts,
More than once in my do-it-myself learning process, I have started out with
stars in my eyes as to the possibilities of the software I was learning. I
have discovered that being an "expert" often means having ones expectations
dashed, and resigning oneself to muddling through with the software as it
actually works. This may be another instance of that syndrome.

I am learning to produce web pages in Dreamweaver, using css without tables.
With the help of various tutorials and models, I have succeeded in getting part
way through an experimental page (replicating a page I previously completed
with css and tables) that looks fine in the browsers. In Dreamweaver, however,
it appears as a collage of divs that overlap each other and are positioned
anywhere except where I want them.

Is this normal? Is the web design community just tolerating this situation?
Is it still too much to expect, given all the quirks of XHTML, CSS, industry
standards, Microsoft, etc. to be able to see what you're doing?

I am perfectly willing to carry on heroically, if I am simply suffering the
tribulations of frontier path breaking, but I do need to know whether or not I
have gotten myself off an unnecessarily dark path that finding a light switch
would clear up.

Many thanks for a little redirection, or reassurance, whichever is appropriate
Richard

In which DW?

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================

"RTalbott" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Hi Experts,
More than once in my do-it-myself learning process, I have started out
with
stars in my eyes as to the possibilities of the software I was learning.
I
have discovered that being an "expert" often means having ones
expectations
dashed, and resigning oneself to muddling through with the software as it
actually works. This may be another instance of that syndrome.

I am learning to produce web pages in Dreamweaver, using css without
tables.
With the help of various tutorials and models, I have succeeded in getting
part
way through an experimental page (replicating a page I previously
completed
with css and tables) that looks fine in the browsers. In Dreamweaver,
however,
it appears as a collage of divs that overlap each other and are
positioned
anywhere except where I want them.

Is this normal? Is the web design community just tolerating this
situation?
Is it still too much to expect, given all the quirks of XHTML, CSS,
industry
standards, Microsoft, etc. to be able to see what you're doing?

I am perfectly willing to carry on heroically, if I am simply suffering
the
tribulations of frontier path breaking, but I do need to know whether or
not I
have gotten myself off an unnecessarily dark path that finding a light
switch
would clear up.

Many thanks for a little redirection, or reassurance, whichever is
appropriate
Richard

My goodness, what a lot of dribble for such a small question.

I got the critique. Even a small answer would be helpful.
Richard

CSS rendering was a bit off in DMX2004 but not as bad as in earlier
versions. Nevertheless, you should see a usable display. Can you post a
link to the page in question?

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================


"RTalbott" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Dreamweaver MX 2004

Murray,
Thank you so much for your consideration and help, and mostly for the
essential information that I should be getting a better display from
Dreamweaver MX 1004.

I have uploaded an in-progress version of the page to

www.arrica.com/wbdtest

Can you replicate and diagnose the problem having only a link to the page? Do
need to see the css code?

Richard

I'm seeing some generally hinky CSS in use for that page, as well as XHTML
problems.

Validate your page, and fix the validation errors first. Then take a look
at your CSS and fix those problems. Then see how the page looks in DW.

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================


"RTalbott" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Murray,
Thank you so much for your consideration and help, and mostly for the
essential information that I should be getting a better display from
Dreamweaver MX 1004.

I have uploaded an in-progress version of the page to

www.arrica.com/wbdtest

Can you replicate and diagnose the problem having only a link to the page?
Do
need to see the css code?

Richard

You got it! Thanks so much for your help.

The problem was in the html code. Specifically, I had an image alignment
statement that was neither defined nor needed.

I have not used the validation process before, and didn't know how quick and
easy it is. So that was collateral help.

As you evidently understand, the first thing newbies need from experts is
information on how things SHOULD work, given the circumstances. Then focusing
on making it work that way becomes linear instead of flailing around in chaos.

Thanks again.
Richard

Yes - you're welcome.

We don't like chaos here - although we sure see alot of it! 8)

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================


"RTalbott" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

You got it! Thanks so much for your help.

The problem was in the html code. Specifically, I had an image alignment
statement that was neither defined nor needed.

I have not used the validation process before, and didn't know how quick
and
easy it is. So that was collateral help.

As you evidently understand, the first thing newbies need from experts is
information on how things SHOULD work, given the circumstances. Then
focusing
on making it work that way becomes linear instead of flailing around in
chaos.

Thanks again.
Richard