Dreamweaver MX: Building on Solid Foundations
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An E-Book +
Foundations is more than an E-Book. It comes with a complete archive of finished pages, style sheets, editable images, and extensions.
introduction
So, we're sitting around talking about writing a new Dreamweaver book and it occurs to us that the best way to teach somebody how to do something is to do it step by step... together. In a sense, "Foundations" is a collaborative project. We're going to work together as a team... building a solid foundation. It's an invitation to work with us as we plan and code Web pages, design images, grapple with cross-browser issues, and identify and solve any problem that stands between us and our goal.
what you can expect
You can expect to learn how to build structurally sound, efficient, accessible, and engaging Web pages. You'll start with a plan, erect an HTML structure, then style it with CSS... as you go. The approach is linear, with an emphasis on cause and effect. You'll learn by doing... and as you do, you'll learn both how and why things work.
You'll get up close and personal with the source code. You'll understand the pieces and parts that give shape to a Web page... to your page. You'll become CSS authors. You'll learn how to use every weapon in Dreamweaver's CSS arsenal, and you'll learn how CSS works in harmony with HTML.
You'll also learn how to separate a page's structure (HTML) from its presentation (CSS). If you think you don't need to know about HTML or CSS because you only make database-driven sites, think again. A data-driven site merely pours content into a page's structure that would otherwise be typed manually. If the underlying structure isn't sound, database technology offers no extra protection. Web browsing software neither knows nor cares whether you typed content on your keyboard or retrieved it from a database... but it does care if your markup is well-formed and correct.
Mastering the techniques in Foundations is all about your ability to follow steps... and has nothing to do with your current skill level. As you follow along, remember to keep your eyes open because there's lots going on between the lines... such as tips and notes. Pause and reflect as you go. Explore all the nuances and read each footnote.
why an e-book?
- Foundations is an E-Book + Source Files, Style Sheets, Extensions, and Editable Images.
- Foundations is hands-on material and works very well in electronic format.
- It's interactive. The Table of Contents is always available and clicking an entry takes you where you want to go... immediately. Likewise, clicking a hyperlink will transport you to your destination, be it within the document or on the Web.
- It gives you more flexibility. You can read it on your screen with either Acrobat Reader or Adobe E-Book Reader free software. You can even have it read aloud to you.
- You can zoom text to whatever size is most comfortable for you.
- It travels well. You can read it on your laptop while waiting for the train.
- It never gets dog ears. A fresh copy is always available.
- The dog can't eat it (or worse).
- You can print parts of it, or the whole thing on your desktop or office printer as needed.
- A small forest has been saved from the axe.
Reviews and Testimonials
From a Reader
"After the first 50 pages or so I could not believe the attention to detail and the depth of information, so I leafed through and scanned the remaining pages.
To me, this book is akin to having (the entire PVII Team) transfusing their knowledge and experience directly into my brain. I own a lot of Packs, but this one, to me, is the most important and valuable piece of Dreamweaver material that has ever been published... anywhere. If used as intended, the user's level of expertise should rise substantially. I would think this book could be turned into a text book as is and used in classes everywhere to get Dreamweaver students started on the right foot. The learning curve has been substantially reduced.
It's a great book, masterfully written and explained. I hope the next e-book is in the works soon. Thanks to all who made this book possible." -Ralf B.
From an Editor
"I approached this e-book with the attitude that I never met a Project Seven Design Pack I didn't like, but what will this new creature be? I was blown away. It starts you off in shallow water and in no time at all you are deep in CSS. Project Seven heard and answered its customers' call to teach them to build web pages from scratch, in a way that will amaze them. If this is Foundations I would be hard-pressed to envision what the next intermediate ebook might be."
-Corey Eiges, Tech Editor
From an Editor
"For web designers of all levels, Foundations gives CSS a whole new meaning - Clear, Simple, Sophisticated."
-David Powers, Tech Editor
From a Reader
"From the mid-80's to the mid-90's I used to teach part-time at the corporate level as a contract instructor for a software training company... Well, the company I worked for purchased commercially produced training manuals for use in its classes. Students yawned and fidgeted their way through the day. One day I began creating custom spreadsheets, one for each new function or concept that pertained to students' everyday work lives and where they'd learn how and why the functions were applied. Instead of always following a commercially printed book, students would instead load a series of custom-developed worksheets that made real sense to their everyday lives. They could see the formulas in action instead of merely reading about them on the printed page. They could try out their own values (e.g. in a mortgage amortization table) and then the "light would go on." In essence, they really began learning; and coincidentally my ratings as an instructor there went off the charts. PVII, I believe, has done this with Foundations. I bought the e-book for its applicability to DW MX, and within the first seven chapters I learned more about not only DW MX, but about concepts in Fireworks MX that I'd only wondered about but wanted to learn as well, that the value TO ME increased exponentially. It was like having my own personal instructor, answering questions about concepts that applied to me personally. That's learning in its best form. And that doesn't even begin to cover the new concepts I've learned after those chapters, about CSS, as I continue to work my way through the remaining pages. Great job, PVII." -Paul J.
From a Reader
"As a web designer and constant learner, I buy lots of books and other profession-related resources. Like many of you, I have had a few experiences where I was very disappointed with what I considered was a waste of time and money. "I did not hesitate to buy "Foundations." I bought it the day it was released. Why? Because I have personally benefitted from the purchase and use of many of the PVII products. I have received much more than I have paid for - without question.
In purchasing "Foundations," I bought a great web development resource. The pages (and I'm only on page 88 so far) are full of great tips and information about why things are done a certain way. I have already learned three (3) specific things that I did not know about DWMX and FWMX. But I also purchased a great news group - where I have in the past received FREE help on many issues. And I bought more. I only know of two other places on the web where I can E-mail the Author- and actually get a great response back more than once!
Kudos to the PVii staff and to all of the other many users who have helped me in the past - and will, I know, be there tomorrow when I need you! You are a great group of friends and associates." -Chuck P.
From a Reader
"Reading the TOC for Foundations is not unlike going to a restaurant and seeing a menu. Chicken Soup $4.99? Holy cow! You aren't sure if you should get it or not. You pretty much know what chicken soup is all about, but the menu doesn't really lay it out for you. You decide to put down your five bucks and wait with some trepidation for the bowl to arrive.
The server brings it to you and sets it in front of you. Hmm. Looks like chicken soup. But wait...look at this! Actual pieces of chicken. You then get a whiff of the broth. Immediately, you are filled with memories of staying home from school with a sore throat and your Mom makes her special soup and brings it to you in that grown-up coffee mug. You get to watch TV, all wrapped up in a nice, warm blanket as you sip the chicken soup. With each spoonful, your senses are treated to a new taste or texture. This is no ordinary chicken soup! Why didn't the menu tell me how wonderful it would be? Well, you can only put so much into a menu.
You discover something new and different with each taste. The next time you lunch there, you realise that there is a whole bevy of things that you don't remember from the first bowlful.
Never again will you look at chicken soup on the menu and assume that it's just the same canned stuff you can get anywhere. It's that good and there's plenty of value for the money (Plus you get to hang out in a cool restaurant with a great bunch of people)." -Craig H.