Welcome to Dreamweaver MX Basics. This tutorial will cover the basics of site creation, web page development, and the transfer of your work to the server for viewing on the web. It’s important to note that in this tutorial, I am using Dreamweaver MX on a PC with the Dreamweaver 4 workspace view. This view allows us the same functionality as the Dreamweaver MX workspace, but also more control over our desktop windows and the ability to reduce clutter and perhaps confusion.

To begin, we must open Dreamweaver. To do this, go to the start menu and click all programs, then Macromedia, and choose Dreamweaver MX. As I mentioned earlier, we will be using the Dreamweaver 4 workspace. Now we’re ready to create a site.

From the main toolbar, choose site, then new site. A wizard will appear to guide you through the rest of the process.

The name you give your site here will distinguish it from other sites you are or will be working on. It is for organizational purposes only, it will not be seen on the Web. I will type “tutorial” in the field. When you are finished, click next.

Server technologies offer far too much power and functionality than the typical web page or site needs, so we will opt not to use a server technology. Click next.

This page of the wizard queries the method we would like to use for maintaining files during development. Choose the first option, which is also the recommended option, “edit local copies on my machine, then upload to server when ready.” This function allows you to create and edit off-line, so you only upload the finished product. It may save you a costly error like deleting a page or replacing a finished page with a work in progress.

Before leaving this page, you must choose a folder to store your files locally. Click on the folder icon to browse for an existing folder or to create a new one. I will choose to create a new folder on the desktop called “tutorial”. After you have chosen this folder, click next.

The first field asks, ” How do you connect to your remote server?” This is where we choose the means to gain access to our public_html folder and on-line publications. We will always use FTP for ischool purposes.

The “FTP address” is the network path to your server space. In our case, ftp.ischool.utexas.edu.

The only folder in your server space that allows you to publish media on the Web is your public_html folder. Most likely, you created a public_html folder when you first set up your ischool account. If you are encountering difficulties at this point return to the unix tutorial or ask a purpleshirt for assistance.

Your “FTP login” and “FTP Password” are your ischool login and password. The same ones you use in the IT lab.

Test the connection before you continue to ensure you entered all the information correctly. Everything looks good, click next.

Check in / Check out is a function for large web sites that multiple people may be working on simultaneously. It ensures only the most recent versions of files and images may be edited. If you are the only person working on your web site, you do not need this functionality. Click next.

This is the final page of the wizard. It displays a summary of your choices, check that they are correct. Click done.

Now your site window should appear. Click the icon that shows two electrical plugs to connect to your server space. The left half of the window shows any directories or files you may already have in your public_html folder on the server. I have no files, but one image directory. The right half of the window shows the files stored in your local folder, which is the folder you chose previously in the site wizard. In my case, the folder is called “tutorial” and it is saved on the desktop. There are no files in it yet.

Any html files or images you wish to use must be saved in this local folder for the Dreamweaver site management tool to see it. I will clarify this topic after we have created a web page. For now, you can minimize the site window.