I am a web designer based in Cheltenham, UK. I am in a long-term relationship with my beautiful girl...
I am a web designer based in Cheltenham, UK. I am in a long-term relationship with my beautiful girlfriend Sophie. We own a small 1 bed house...
Member since:06.03.2002
Reviews:11
Members who trust:1
Macromedia Dreamweaver MX – the 5th release of Dreamweaver in as many years. Released just 14 months after its predecessor, is Dreamweaver MX a vast improvement on Dreamweaver 4 or just a nice pocket liner for Macromedia? I will take a close look at some of its newest tools and features, to see how justified the release of Dreamweaver MX is.
On first impressions, Dreamweaver MX ‘welcomes you with open arms’ to a new, yet recognisable user interface. Things have clearly been updated, but the similarity to previous versions means there isn’t much to relearn. Everything has been tidied up and given a more useable and manageable feel, especially in the way that the free-floating tool panels have been conveniently replaced by docking panels. A feature adopted from the likes of AdobePhotoShop.
However, as the saying goes, “it’s what’s inside that counts” and underneath the skin of Dreamweaver MX lie many significant and major updates. What was found in Dreamweaver 4 is still here but it has been seamlessly incorporated with Dreamweaver Ultradev and HomeSite into one package. This has created an extremely powerful product, with what seems like an endless list of supported web formats. These include the likes of ASP, .NET, XHTML, CFML, PHP, JSP, XML, RDS and not to mention the formerly ColdFusion 5.
The most improved format support found in Dreamweaver MX, is that for PHP. Think of predictive-text in mobile phones for text messaging. You input one letter and a list of possible words beginning with that letter is defined. Then as you input the next letter, the same list is further redefined. This is continued as you input more, until your desired word is displayed – saving many keystrokes and time. Advanced? Compared to the very similar PHP support system found in Dreamweaver MX, no!
What Macromedia have done, is include predictive-coding for PHP. Type the first letter of the PHP function, and a full list of possible PHP functions are displayed. Either select the desired function from the list, or continue and enter more of the function itself - identical to the predictive-text found in mobilephones, but a lot more advanced. Could this addition make Dreamweaver MX the chosen and favourable editor for PHP developers? Without a doubt.
Obviously, I could look at each new format supported by Dreamweaver MX, along with all the new features, but to be frank this review would grow to become a replica of the manual, due to the complexity of the software. Instead, I have just touched on the very surface of Dreamweaver MX. Full product information can be found on the Macromedia website at www.macromedia.com.
Macromedia has truly pushed all the barriers of web technology in Dreamweaver MX and has produced a truly powerful and essential web-developing product. The basics and fundamentals of Dreamweaver 4 are still here, but Dreamweaver MX resembles a completely new product - there are so many new features and updates. Even though Dreamweaver MX comes only 14 months after Dreamweaver 4 was released, Macromedia have made a justified update. For all web developers, this is a must buy.
Dreamweaver MX has a RRP of £299 for the full version or £149 for the upgrade (from version 4). A fantastic product at a fantastic price!
I said 'can it get any better'.... it has with Dreamweaver MX 2004! Review to follow
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I had a trial of this and absolutely loved it!! Just put off by the high price:) -Jon
djohan 13.02.2003 12:22
You must be very good at utilizing Macromedia's product. Now I am learning Macromedia Flash by myself, without a tutor, and certainly I find it very difficult though very interesting (LOL). I am going to get in touch with Dreamweaver MX if I have finished learning the Macromedia Flash. By the way, what do you think of Macromedia Flash? Cheers, Djohan.
steveuk 13.02.2003 12:11
Dreamweaver MX is brilliant, little confusing to the new user but that's because it is so feature rich. The price is very good for someone using it for a professional site, or a lot of webpages, but is a bit too expensive for someone doing their first webpage and do not intend to update it very often.
Feb 13th, 2003
(Dec 17th, 2003)
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