Dreamweaver 4 Magic

Dreamweaver 4 Magic is the book for the intermediate to advanced user of Dreamweaver (and Fireworks) who wants to take their design skills to the next level! Chock full of tips, techniques, extensions, and more, DW4 Magic will teach you how to take the skills you've already developed and expand them in ways that you never knew were possible.Written by many of the world's leading experts on Dreamweaver, the authors of this book are not only proficient in the use of the software, but also in explaining the advanced techniques they've mastered in a thoughtful and well-organized manner. What's more, they are also some of the most dedicated "evangelists" for the web design products from Macromedia anywhere, as you'll often find many of them in the Dreamweaver news group explaining techniques, and working with users of the software.On top of all that, the layout is gorgeous, the photography is stunning, and the CD has enough Dreamweaver extensions and resources to make the book well worth the money all by itself!Highly recommended!

Dreamweaver Magic is by far the best reference manual I've purchased. It is step-by-step and although I've been using Dreamweaver for some time, I think this book would be helpful to new users as well as intermediate. There are 12 projects throughout the book and none of them leave you wondering what steps were left out... it's all there, in black and white (and color photos to boot!!).Not only is the book a must-have reference for all Dreamweaver users, it also comes with a CD chock-full of the most awesome extensions and behaviors I've seen made for Dreamweaver. If you're looking to add a little pizzazz to your navigation, Dreamweaver Magic is the answer. Add DHTML and javascripting without knowing a thing about them... too cool.I highly recommend this book...

With no previous experience in using Dreamweaver(DW) and some knowledge of HTML, I went out to look for some DW books. After reading several pages of this book, I discovered that the results you can produce and the skills you can gain was simply AMAZING. I was able to create, modify & design, really, really brilliant and professional web designs by the time I completed the first 2 chapters. This book gives you:-Step-by-step instructions-Screenshots of almost every step-Tutorial in easy-to-follow beginner language-Professional design techniques: like how to optimize webpage design, how to make websites easy to navigate, etc.-Professional editable graphics: the CD contains editable image files you can either use for your own websites or for you to learn how to create similarly optimized images that's small in size so that they load faster.-Links to websites that exploit DW's tools to create cutting-edge web designs which can help/inspire you as you go on to design your own websites. Some of the sites recommended have free tutorials.-An extremely good book. I was turned non-user/beginner to advanced in 12 projects for about [price]. Some people pay thousands for web design training and still cannot come close to producing professional looking sites like the ones I was able to create JUST by reading this book. It's worth every penny.And if you think you need to learn CascadingStyleSheets(CSS), DynamicHTML(DHTML) or Javascript before reading this book, let me tell you that you'll be wasting time and money. With HTML knowledge, I was able to pick up knowledge in CSS on my own through the Hands-On projects of this book. And because you'll be using Macromedia's DW & Fireworks software, you don't need to know Javascript/DHTML at all to be able to create high-impact websites.The CD does NOT contain Dreamweaver4 30-day-trial software.

Resisting all temptation to simply rip the CD from its plastic prison I instead sat down and read the introduction to Dreamweaver 4 Magic.Having already had some exposure to the Author Al Sparber and his work, my expectations were high. I hadn't even finished the introduction and it was plain to see this was someone who not only enjoyed what they did but also was very proud of what they had produced and had pulled together a team that felt the same way. If you are looking for a book that offers advanced and intermediate level then this is the one for you. The projects aren't going to be over the heads of a beginner either. The way the projects are laid out and the step-by-step instructions and screen shots make it easy to check you are on the right track as you progress through the projects.It is hard to convey in brief the quality, attention to detail and thoroughness that has been put into this book. There are 12 projects in the book, each covering a different design and navigation feature. From the start, each project lays out good work practices for you to follow and rather than just spoon feeding you, the information leads the reader intuitively through each process. The text explains the reason why each step done a certain way then encourages you to go on and make modifications to the project so they reflect your own style.The projects themselves are supported with a library of the images and style sheets required to create them. These are provided on the CD supplied with the text.Incorporated into the projects are some great new behaviours making it possible to incorporate complex java scripting and Dynamic HTML (DHTML) into pages without the need to understand the java code or DHTML. These behaviors are included on the CD that accompanies the book.This book would have to get a 10 out of 10 from me. It will serve as a very valuable learning tool and a must have for any one that wants to design dynamic web sites with Macromedia Dreamweaver.

Having heard of Studio VII's work, I was eager to get a copy of this book. Well, to be more acccurate, I made a flying tackle for the UPS man before he even got out of his truck. And I wasn't disappointed...despite knowing of their work, I simply didn't expect the book to be this good. Aside from the book's rich production quality--lots of white space, easy-to-read screen captures, informative sidebar "watch-out's"--the content is simply stupendous, the writing precise, economical, and witty. Each complex task is approached in a linear fashion with, as Bill Murray says, "baby steps." At no point does the book "hurry" the reader through a given process. Moreover, not only does the book tell users what to do, but it also points out, just as importantly, what to avoid. And here's the kicker: where else can you get this information? Nowhere else. No other book that I've ever seen. As the authors patiently escort the reader through the processes of constructing a vast array of cutting-edge digital structures, Al Sparber and Gerry Jacobsen use--or, more accurately, twist, bend, and manipulate--Dreamweaver as effortlessly as if it were an erector set. Appearances notwithstanding, Dreamweaver 4 Magic is not a book...it's a tour de force software kit.