Dreamweaver 8[c] The Missing Manual

If you want a comprehensive overview of Dreamweaver 8's new features, select the "What's New in Dreamweaver 8" option from the Help menu. A categorized list of new features includes short descriptions and links to more detailed discussion in the electronic help system. Unfortunately, they neglected to put references to the appropriate pages in this Missing Manual .

A.2.1. Getting Started

If you're brand new to Dreamweaver, see the Getting Started with Dreamweaver materials (Help Getting Started with Dreamweaver) and follow the step-by-step tutorials that cover specific Web-creation tasks . These range from setting up a Web site to using Dreamweavers dynamic page-building tools. You'll find them fairly basic (this book's tutorials cover most of the same ground more thoroughly), but you can never have too much practice.

A.2.2. Detailed Assistance

For detailed information on specific features of the program, turn to the Using Dreamweaver reference. This electronic help system includes information on all the program's features, although its coverage, alas, can be spotty and lacking in detail. Choose Help Using Dreamweaver or press F1 to open this help system (the Dreamweaver Help option in the same menu opens the same help documents).

Macromedia has also introduced a new, more interactive version of their help system. Called LiveDocs, this Web-based reference includes much of the same content you'll find in the program's Using Dreamweaver reference, with one notable exception: the ability to leave comments. This feature's new, so you may not find much on the site yet, but it promises to be a great way for Dreamweaver users to point out problems in the documentation, clarify confusing explanations , and share undocumented tips and tricks. To get to this tool from within Dreamweaver, choose Help Dreamweaver LiveDocs. This action opens a browser window and connects to Macromedias Web site, so you need to be connected to the Internet to view the LiveDocs.

If you're interested in writing your own Web code, Dreamweaver's Reference window (select Help Reference or Window Reference, or press Shift-F1) provides in-depth information on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, ASP, JSP, ColdFusion, and Web accessibility.