Dreamweaver CS3 for Windows and Macintosh:Visual QuickStart Guide [Paperback]

I read the other reviews and had to comment.

This book is NOT a technical manual, nor a step-by-step on how to design websites. Rather, it is a COMPANION book on how to use DreamWeaver. If you are familiar with other Adobe products, then you will appreciate that DreamWeaver maintains many similarities. If you are NOT familiar with Adobe products, then you are in for a major learning experience!

Let's get one thing straight right off the bat ... DreamWeaver is a highly complex program that is NOT meant for just any [dingbat] one to pick up on a whim and design the "perfect" website. You actually have to know how to read and understand (X)HTML, you can't just plop a site together without knowing this. Just because you CAN use the WYSIWYG interface doesn't mean you can do that exclusively.

If you are used to using FrontPage, then you have a RUDE awakening when it comes to the difference between that and DreamWeaver.

This book was the required book for the class in Web Design with DreamWeaver that I enrolled in (at an actual school) and completed very successfully.

This book is EXACTLY what the title states: a "quick start". It in no way ever implies that it is anything other than that! It is there as a gentle nudge. It is NOT there as a guided class!

AND, it NEVER EVER states that it teaches CSS ... NEVER!! Maybe you thought that "CS3" was the same as "CSS"??

If you are looking for an entire "class in a book" strictly on DreamWeaver, then I recommend the "Missing Manual" by O'Reilly and/or the "Classroom in A Book" series from Adobe Press.

If you are looking for a book on CSS (cascading style sheets), then you want the "Head First" series entitled "HTML with CSS & XHTML", or the Visual Quick Start book entitled "HTML, XHTML & CSS" ... DUH!! I mean, really - make sure you buy the correct book for what you want to learn! If you don't, then DON'T BLAME THE BOOK!!

I use this book as a reference quite often, and to remind myself how to do certain functions in DreamWeaver. It has a great index, and the appendices are very informative.

Also, the website is as complete as it can be. They give you the links for the resources in the book. There is only one "errata" that relates to using a Mac, and it's listed on the site.

About emailing ... they specifically say to READ THE FAQ'S FIRST. There is a disclaimer about them NOT being able to answer each and every email on page xiv of the book - so quit griping about that! Read the FAQ's, or get a teacher! [such a freakin' whiner you are M.F.Summy.]

I wish people would THINK before posting a negative review. There is value in every book. Before you buy it, look through it either online or in a book store! Whether you bought the proper one for your needs is NOT the book's fault! Grow up!

I am really quite surprised by those who are down on this quickstart book. I think it holds up just as well if not even better then some of the previous Dreamweaver books in the series.

The great thing about the book is that it works so well as a quick reference guide in which it was meant to be used as , amongst other uses that it will meet your needs for.

So if its just having to quickly do some basic tasks with the program like adding links, pictures or frames to a page it will quickly guide through that. But it will dive into the newer aspects of the program like Spry and CSS and teach it in an easy to use and understand manner.

I was a little rusty with the program, not having used Dreamweaver for a few years since I finished my college classes and I was able to jump right back into the program mostly due to this book. Almost any basic question I had it was easily answered mostly due to this book.

Its very informative and will explain clearly what every menu, option and set up situation does so you can get the most out of the Dreamweaver CS3 program.

As great as the book is, and it really is, there are some downsides to the book I do have to admit. One is its really just for the beginner to intermediate skilled person. So you won't be able to build a site like, say Amazon.com with this book. You will need a more advanced oriented book for that task. And you may even wish there was more to offer in the book then just the quick step by step process that guides you through each skill you are trying to learn at the given moment.

But for me, this fit the needs I had just fine . I won't use this program without this quickstart reference book at my side. I highly and greatly recommend this book to any who are using this program. Its ok to forget a few basic things every now and then, this book will easily give you that refreser you needed. Not to mention it will also teach you some ways to do things that you may not have realized you could, making your life that much easier.

Whether its template set ups, setting up the ftp for your site through Dreamweaver, how to fix broken links, checking browser compatibilities or anything else that you want to set up on your newly created page, this book will guide you to an easy and effective path to do so.

Its really the greatest purchase I have made book wise in a long time. Even if you are looking for something more advanced, this book is still must have. It also serves as a great compilation to other more advanced books when you just want to quickly look up something that you wanted to implement.

Bottom line, if you are using Dreamweaver CS3 and need a book to help you get through some of the more confusing elements and menus of it, look no further. You will want to have this book handy at all times and be glad that you have it there. Its saved me many a times from moments of confusion or question and its always lead me to finishing a site successfully.

Get this book. Even if you get others, this is one you don't want to be without.

This is the book for my advanced dreamweaver course. It's not a bad book however it is definitely a beginning book. I have already taken a beginning class with a different book and I feel that this book is a review. It's very easy to read and written well and not in a technical manner that's hard to understand. Great buy for anyone just starting out with Dreamweaver.