Dreamweaver Review

Before we get into the CS4 Dreamweaver review, let’s take a look at the background behind CS4. CS4 is the newer version of CS3, software developed by Macromedia. It can be used by both Windows ad Mac Users. This software was acquired by Adobe in 2005. CS4 is a more evolved vision and it brings the software more closely to Adobe’s creative Suite Creative Products.

In the end of 2008, Adobe came out with an all new and improvised Dreamweaver Package – the CS4. The first impressive feature about it is its looks. The usual User Interface in now modified to include features that make it look very similar to Illustrator, Flash and Photoshop. The new version enables you to set up custom panels and move windows to create a working environment that is just right for your working needs.

This version of Dreamweaver support Photoshop’s Smart Objects. You can insert and optimize PSD files in it directly. Changes done to your current file can also be updated to the original file should you so desire because of the live-link functionality that is now available.

Working with CSS and JavaScript files using CS4 is definitely much easier than its previous version. You can quickly access such files and edit them. There is a tool in the Code Navigator by which you can check how different styles change your current selection. The Code Navigator also enables you to view how different sources of codes affect your current page.

You will find many new Dreamweaver CS4 features more conducive for people who are totally new to JavaScript, CSS or HTML. This is because CS4 has functionalities by which, it is difficult for beginners to create bad CSS. Tool tip pop up windows can be quickly applied by non-programmers. There are hints available for JavaScript and Ajax programmers, which is really helpful for those just beginning to working with these languages. These features certainly give more flexibility in creating interactive web pages, while enabling work to complete faster.

One thing that most users felt about CS3 was that it took considerable time to load files. CS4 shows a definite improvement on this factor. Files load a bit sooner than CS3 and the FTP tool has been improvised to run faster. It’s also noticed that issues like crashes and hang-ups are much less in CS4, making it a more stable than previous version of the software.

Interactivity is pretty high in this version because now you get to preview your web pages in ‘Live Mode’. You can see how dynamic elements works, load data sources and see what they bring about and you can go through JavaScript easily and actually stop it just where you want to work further in a particular designs element. These features give you more room over how you wish to display and show your design elements.

When you work with a large site, the thing that you have to keep tabs on is the other files that are related to it. In CS4, this is simplified through the bar on top of the document. This bar displays all the files that are related to the current one that you are working with. You can see JS files and files of other script languages that are connected to your current working page. This makes access to such files easy, as you don’t have to sift through a large section of files and folders to do this.

The SWF inserting feature in CS4 has now been enhanced. This means when you add a SWF file, the software automatically creates two external dependant files as well as in-page ode. This ensures that your file is detected and when required it is installed in a seamless way. Through the software’s HTML Data sets, you are able to create data in the unusual standard HTML table. Using a wizard you can couple this data into a dynamic table. This feature gives you plenty flexibility as you can do so many different things such as create a display through the Spry framework, develop a master-detail layout and much more.

Dreamweaver CS4, does bring in a definite change from its predecessor. It makes your web designing tasks’ simpler and easy to carry out. In all this enhance version makes it an ideal candidate for those seeking n upgrade and who have to work a lot with Java sites.