Rookie needs HELP!

Hello! I am a rookie Designer tring to design my first site for a REAL
customer! I have the Studio MX series. My problem is that I'm not sure which
program to start in to build the majority of the site? Can someone please tell
me what each program is used for? For example, I've started to build the
layout in Fireworks, (background, buttons, some graphics) but I think I should
be doing that in Dreamweaver instead?! I'm confused about how to use tables,
etc for layout purposes?! I have experience using Adobe products such as
Illustrator and Photoshop, so I understand the "layer" concept, but the "table"
thing??? I need a starting point/program, and then a path to follow from
there! Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

"ms_lvr_dg420" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Hello! I am a rookie Designer tring to design my first site for a REAL
customer! I have the Studio MX series. My problem is that I'm not sure
which
program to start in to build the majority of the site? Can someone please
tell
me what each program is used for? For example, I've started to build the
layout in Fireworks, (background, buttons, some graphics) but I think I
should
be doing that in Dreamweaver instead?! I'm confused about how to use
tables,
etc for layout purposes?! I have experience using Adobe products such as
Illustrator and Photoshop, so I understand the "layer" concept, but the
"table"
thing??? I need a starting point/program, and then a path to follow from
there! Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

Buy a beginners book. Reading your paragraph makes me think you have no
experience whatsoever - you need a book to get you going.

ms_lvr_dg420 wrote:

Hello! I am a rookie Designer tring to design my first site for a REAL
customer! I have the Studio MX series. My problem is that I'm not sure which
program to start in to build the majority of the site? Can someone please tell
me what each program is used for? For example, I've started to build the
layout in Fireworks, (background, buttons, some graphics) but I think I should
be doing that in Dreamweaver instead?! I'm confused about how to use tables,
etc for layout purposes?! I have experience using Adobe products such as
Illustrator and Photoshop, so I understand the "layer" concept, but the "table"
thing??? I need a starting point/program, and then a path to follow from
there! Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

Wow....you are biting off a chunk that you won't be able to chew.
There's no way you can sit down without any prior knowledge of html,
Dreamweaver or general "common sense" about web publishing and create
anything worth paying for. If you have made you customer believe that
you know the business and that you're able to build a proper website,
you will both be in for a very unpleasant surprise.

Unless you have an IQ above 180 and some supernatural skills, the only
chance you have to pull this off is to tell your client that you need at
least 3-4 months (use whatever reason, true or false) under which you
need to:

1. Get a book about html and CSS in general. Visit you library and
borrow one, go to your local book store, amazon.com or ebay.com and buy
one or two. STUDY THEM CAREFULLY!!!
2. Read through the DW help files (press F1). STUDY THEM CAREFULLY!!!
3. Go here:
http://www.macromedia.com/support/dr...ial_index.html STUDY
THEM CAREFULLY!!!
4. Sign up for a local web design and/or DW night class or find some
local guy who knows the trade and that will agree to help you. STUDY
CAREFULLY!!!
5. Macromedia is arranging courses here and there.
6. Find material and tutorials on-line.

--
Dan Vendel - *GOF*
Contact: http://www.proformica.com/en/contact.shtml
Formmail tutorial: http://www.proformica.com/en/formmail_tutorial.shtml
Nested tables: http://www.proformica.com/en/nested_table_demo.shtml
SEO: http://www.proformica.com/en/search_...mization.shtml
SE Utility: http://www.proformica.com/en/advanced_web_ranking.shtml
Search Dreamweaver newsgroup: http://www.proformica.com/google.html

On Fri, 1 Oct 2004 05:26:38 +0000 (UTC), ms_lvr_dg420 <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote:

Hello! I am a rookie Designer tring to design my first site for a REAL
customer! I have the Studio MX series. My problem is that I'm not sure which
program to start in to build the majority of the site? Can someone please tell
me what each program is used for? For example, I've started to build the
layout in Fireworks, (background, buttons, some graphics) but I think I should
be doing that in Dreamweaver instead?! I'm confused about how to use tables,
etc for layout purposes?! I have experience using Adobe products such as
Illustrator and Photoshop, so I understand the "layer" concept, but the "table"
thing??? I need a starting point/program, and then a path to follow from
there! Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

Well the Net has plenty of resources, you can get your way around. However a great reasources are in the Macromedia Website. This links might be useful to understand how the products work together.

http://www.macromedia.com/software/d...ettingstarted/


--
Alexandro Colorado
------------------------------
Support Engineer
InterAKT Online
http://www.interaktonline.com
Tel: 40(21) 312.5312

Hire a professional. I think you are over your head just now. And I am
worried for your client.

Really.

But if you want a great book, then check this out:

Dreamweaver MX 2004: The Missing Manual - by David Sawyer McFarland
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

--
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
==================

"ms_lvr_dg420" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Hello! I am a rookie Designer tring to design my first site for a REAL
customer! I have the Studio MX series. My problem is that I'm not sure
which
program to start in to build the majority of the site? Can someone please
tell
me what each program is used for? For example, I've started to build the
layout in Fireworks, (background, buttons, some graphics) but I think I
should
be doing that in Dreamweaver instead?! I'm confused about how to use
tables,
etc for layout purposes?! I have experience using Adobe products such as
Illustrator and Photoshop, so I understand the "layer" concept, but the
"table"
thing??? I need a starting point/program, and then a path to follow from
there! Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

Interesting - that's exactly where I am. But I have 3 sites I'm working on for
practice only - but the client may buy once designed. Your on the right track.
Fireworks is great for page layout, but you must know the contraints of
Dreamweaver. I'm a long time Adobe Pagemaker/designer - so what you imagine in
your minds eye cannot always be translated that way on a web page. Try this -
take a tour in Dreamweaver - then start with a template - I think that's the
way to make the transition to DW. That way you'll see some of the constraints.
I don't understand columns either - but once you get it - you've got it. I
talked with a developer the other day and he told me to design everything in
FLASH - that way you can do just about everything - but that's another bag.
Books - I've found Fireworks MX complete reference a great resource. Large
type and instructs well how to make your FW objects, buttons, menu's etc - fit
into a DW format.

By the way - once you get the columns thing - teach it to me.

Bill

Sorry - did I say columns - I meant "Tables" sorry ... dah ... and why so many
tables?.. it's a loading trick.. every table has to load before it is seen in a
browser. A modular design loads faster, on table at a time. The perception of
loading faster is there. Use CSS styles for all text, padding and background
images.......... - and the writer of the book I mentioned is Doug Sahlin - love
is writing. The book YOU NEED RIGHT NOW is - "Dreamweaver MX 2004 Complete
Course" book by Joyce - see
http://www.joycejevans.com. Reasonably priced (at least in US $) and easy to
understand.

Bill Wood
Programming
CJVR Radio, Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada

Have you checked out this basic table tutorial - you can't go wrong
following these steps.
http://www.dwfaq.com/Tutorials/Table...ble_tables.asp

There is nothing wrong with buildig your page with tables, but not if you
are using layout mode!
You are correct, learn to use CSS to style everything on your page.

--
Nadia
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver
---------------
Free Templates | Free Nav Bar Sets
http://www.DreamweaverResources.com
Dropdown Menu Designs | CSS Layouts
Ecommerce - YVStore | SEO Articles
Table Tutorials | Background image Tutorials
------------------------------------------------
MM Dreamweaver Tutorials
http://macromedia.com/devnet/mx/dreamweaver/
------------------------------------------------




"Bill Wood" <webforumsuser (AT) macromedia (DOT) com> wrote

Sorry - did I say columns - I meant "Tables" sorry ... dah ... and why so
many
tables?.. it's a loading trick.. every table has to load before it is seen
in a
browser. A modular design loads faster, on table at a time. The
perception of
loading faster is there. Use CSS styles for all text, padding and
background
images.......... - and the writer of the book I mentioned is Doug Sahlin -
love
is writing. The book YOU NEED RIGHT NOW is - "Dreamweaver MX 2004
Complete
Course" book by Joyce - see
http://www.joycejevans.com. Reasonably priced (at least in US $) and easy
to
understand.

Bill Wood
Programming
CJVR Radio, Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada

Thanks for your reply! So basically what your saying is that I can safely
build/create the majority of the site in FW and then import it to DW? Buttons,
nav bars, and everything? What about the text on the buttons? Should I wait
and do the text only in DW? Text is a sticky subject in DW!! Size, font,
etc.! As for the table thing....as far as I can tell, they are like "place
holders" on the page in DW. The only problem that I've found (so far!) is that
you need to know the size of each individual "piece" of you page BEFORE you
start making the tables in DW! Once you have that, then it's a matter of
placing the tables on the page and importing! (I think??!!) Don't foget the
part about not overlaping images! Still working on the layout in FW! As for
Flash...love it!! I need more time and practice, though! I'm not sure about
using it to design the entire site?? I've used it for buttons and basic banner
ads only! It's a little more complicated than the other two! Thanks again!Text

Most experienced developers create their graphics in Fireworks, and build their
page in Dreamweaver. But you can do it however your needs and your expertise
demand.

Be aware that creating the page completely in Fireworks and just exporting
slices can lead to heavyweight pages. The target weight for your finished page
is 40-45K total, including all code, all graphics (and rollovers), and all
externally linked files.