I'm getting dream weaver for free

[PJdreams]

Is dreamweaver really worth it?

Anyone know if there's a trial area for dreamweaver? I want something that's open, but closed in a sense. Allows me to do some open area tasks like working with javascript, but at the same time it will structure it in a closed area making them combine and run well together.

Open as in open source all work done by yourself
Closed as in closed source where the editor only does the work

I want a 80% open area and a 20% closed area and only want the closed area to cement the website together pretty well.

[c2uk]

I've got no idea what you're on about with regards to open and closed source* and open and closed area.

*might be worth to read up on Wikipedia as to what open source actually means.

[PJdreams]

I know that open source is something a bit different, but it refers to coding, programming, and websites.

I mean like I want to build a website around wordpress.org that would allow me to do a nice amount of the code, but I want it to be simplified for the most part. Dreamweaver would allow me to work with php, javascript, html, and css on my own and would guide me along the way?

I could enter the code, but dream weaver cs5 would put it together for me in the sense that it would create the website after I'm done editing the code. I don't know maybe I just need to buy it, but I don't want a ****** editor that just does html/css for $425.

I want wordpress compitability which they have for the most part, but I want reviews from people who use it. I want a php - wordpress.org blog. I would play around with it for a while.

[c2uk]

I'm still not 100% certain we're on the same page.

- wordpress.org is a blogging software
- it has a theme engine that is pretty easy to use and uses html/css/php and co - not all CMS system do it this way.
- Dreamweaver can be a code editor, providing you with syntax highlighting, auto suggestion, etc. even a FTP client is included

but Dreamweaver won't put the website together for you when you're done with editing the code. No editor can do this for you. You've got to code it so that wordpress can use it as a theme and ouput it as html/css. Dreamweaver can't even tell you whether you're using proper Wordpress functions (there might be a plugin for this, though).

There are plenty of free alternatives available to use, notepad++ together with a nice FTP client might be all you need. For something more powerful, you could look at some of the IDE professionals use, some of which are free like Netbeans or Eclipse - though these are slightly more complicated to use than Dreamweaver.

as you can see, there's no closed source or area in Wordpress or Dreamweaver - and only the wordpress.org software is open source software, which has nothing to with "all work done by yourself" and not even really with "coding, programming, and websites". open source refers to the licence of the product and what you can do with it, there's even beer and cola that's open source.

[PJdreams]

I've been trying to figure out the steps for a couple months now.

Lets run this down really quick.

All I need is a host, editor, and a domain name to start a site is what I got first.

Editor = Dreamweaver, but it doesn't work like other blog software like quick blogcast and post it when you click post? It just creates the """"LAYOUT""""? I then upload it somehow from dreamweaver to my host? Is it better to just play around with it for the time being?

Host = none currently - need simple 10 gb-100 gb currently since my traffic is lower even on my largest blog.

Domain = example.com

I want to create CSS pages where I can have css pages that are advertisment pages, terms of service etc (no advertisement pages), and a login page php area without advertisements on that as well. I'm looking for something that will allow me to start out with just CSS pages (no php) that allows me to just upload a page without worrying about advertisements on a certain page and makes it easier where I don't have to put anymore code. I can just copy and paste the code into a new page and type between the text lines like a blog editor kind of does.

[c2uk]

Let's make a few more things clear:

What you need to get started is all relative these days, you can sign up with an account at Wordpress.com, get your domain name there and build your site there. Or you can get a separate host and domain, download the Wordpress software from wordpress.org, upload it to your host via an FTP client (even if your host offers a one-click installation of software, don't ever use this!) and you don't ever have to touch an editor - unless you want to customise the layout and functionality provided by Wordpress.

Dreamweaver is no CMS or blogging software, so of course it works differently than those, how it works I'll tell you later on.

There is no such thing as CSS pages. CSS is used to style pages, as there is no alternative all pages use CSS and so all pages could be considered CSS pages. What I think you are referring to is static vs. dynamic pages. dynamic pages use a server side programming language, such as php and normally a database to populate the site with content. They still use html&css to output and style the content - and this is important, as pages that appear to be static, can also be php driven. Wordpress prior to 3.0 came with two content types, post and page, and page referring to such a static page.

If you really intend to stick with pure static pages, pure html&css, and no blog or other dynamic pages - this'll make things more difficult if you indeed want to add a login area (for what, you didn't tell us), as these html&css pages won't be able to interact with whatever you do there, then Dreamweaver can be used as a content editor for those pages and yes, at the press of a button can save the content and upload it to the host using a file name such as terms-conditions.html and this page can then be accessed through www.example.com/terms-conditions.html (or if you place the file in a folder, then of course, that folder in between).

My advice to you is two-fold:

- sign up with Wordpress.com for the moment and learn what it means to use Wordpress - just to get a feeling
- then download the software from Wordpress.org, search for a nice theme, customise it, and then get started

I wouldn't suggest Dreamweaver as you seem to be not having the skills needed at this moment, and it'd be a waste of your money, money that you can use to pay somebody for a decent design.

[AlexDawson]

It also sounds to me like you want something to magically produce a layout for you (the HTML and CSS) without having to spend much time hand coding (but want the option to do it if you so wish). While Dreamweaver does support a wide range of languages, no single editor is able to produce quality code on it's own (automatically). If you want something that will allow you to produce HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP by hand (without being locked into using a particular method) you are better off just using something like Wordpress's default installation and configuring the code using a simple text editor like Notepad++. Dreamweaver is not worth the price tag if you're looking for something "open and free" that will cement everything together without issue. Dreamweaver is not a blogging platform, and it's not a replacement for common sense, if you're not sure... don't bother with it. It feels to me that you're trying to swat a fly with a nuclear warhead!

[PJdreams]

I can't quote either of you guys due to my slow connection, but I can see where I'm headed in my search.

That seems like a better idea with the wordpress. It's all very confusing how everything works together currently, but now I understand that a blog that rotate the links for you isn't a html/css set up it's a form of a static set up which is harder than what I can do currently. I get by using html/css when I have a code presented like a script kiddy kind of deal.

Thanks for being so patient. I really respect even though this might be a duplicate post kind of responding to my first one. This whole coding thing is a nightmare when you've only been around for for 1-2 years off and on.

Now I need to figure out the way to transfer to wordpress.org. That's another nightmare in itself since you guys have already told me that quick blogcast can't do this.