Adobe Dreamweaver is one of the most widely used and one of the best visual web development tools around. It allows both experienced and inexperienced developers to build standards-compliant web sites without having to become fully conversant with all of the underlying technologies. On the client-side, it contains tools for adding sophisticated JavaScript and Ajax functionality. On the server-side, it allows for easy connection to data sources and has visual tools for creating data-driven search and results pages.
Dreamweaver offers the developer a choice of five scripting languages: ASP, ASP.NET, PHP, JSP and ColdFusion. This is specified as part of the site definition process: in the "Testing Server" category, the user must enter the parameters which will enable Dreamweaver to connect to a server which has the necessary scripting software. Either a local or remote server can be used.
Dreamweaver offers the same dynamic server-side features, regardless of the scripting language chosen. First, you are able to connect to a data source which can be a database server such as Microsoft SQL Server or MySQL, or a desktop database file such as an Access database.
Having connected to your data source, you can retrieve a set of data, using a SQL command. Dreamweaver offers a limited amount of help in building the SQL statement but the developer will need to acquire a basic knowledge of SQL syntax in order to retrieve the required data.
Dynamic elements from the dataset can be used to populate the page via simple drag and drop and other visual techniques. A number of useful "server behaviors" are also available to add functionality to the page. For example, the "Repeat Region" server behavior will automatically repeat a given page item (such as a DIV or table row) as many times as there are records in a dataset.
Dreamweaver's "Recordset Navigation Bar" widget can be automatically inserted which will contain link to the first, last, next and previous pages of search results. The code generated by the server behavior will also cause the correct links to be visible or hidden; thus, for example, the first and previous links will not be visible when the first page of results is being displayed.
Because Dreamweaver's legendary ease of use applies equally to client-side and server-side development, making the transition to building dynamic, data-driven web sites can be a fairly painless process, even for inexperienced web developers.
Dreamweaver offers the developer a choice of five scripting languages: ASP, ASP.NET, PHP, JSP and ColdFusion. This is specified as part of the site definition process: in the "Testing Server" category, the user must enter the parameters which will enable Dreamweaver to connect to a server which has the necessary scripting software. Either a local or remote server can be used.
Dreamweaver offers the same dynamic server-side features, regardless of the scripting language chosen. First, you are able to connect to a data source which can be a database server such as Microsoft SQL Server or MySQL, or a desktop database file such as an Access database.
Having connected to your data source, you can retrieve a set of data, using a SQL command. Dreamweaver offers a limited amount of help in building the SQL statement but the developer will need to acquire a basic knowledge of SQL syntax in order to retrieve the required data.
Dynamic elements from the dataset can be used to populate the page via simple drag and drop and other visual techniques. A number of useful "server behaviors" are also available to add functionality to the page. For example, the "Repeat Region" server behavior will automatically repeat a given page item (such as a DIV or table row) as many times as there are records in a dataset.
Dreamweaver's "Recordset Navigation Bar" widget can be automatically inserted which will contain link to the first, last, next and previous pages of search results. The code generated by the server behavior will also cause the correct links to be visible or hidden; thus, for example, the first and previous links will not be visible when the first page of results is being displayed.
Because Dreamweaver's legendary ease of use applies equally to client-side and server-side development, making the transition to building dynamic, data-driven web sites can be a fairly painless process, even for inexperienced web developers.
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For more information on Dreamweaver training courses, visit Macresource Computer Training, a UK IT training company offering Dreamweaver training courses in London and throughout the UK.
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