Dreamweaver 3.0

On the surface, Dreamweaver is an easy-to-use Web-page editor and site design tool, supporting all basic page elements. However, it has enough depth to build sophisticated sites with features such as forms, Flash files, frames, cascading style sheets, and ActiveX and Java controls, just to name a few. It offers WYSIWYG editing as well as access to HTML source code.

In version 3.0, editing HTML files has been improved with added support for styles, and an HTML source code inspector, which can be docked (like a Window palette). HTML code can be block-edited in this window as well, by selecting entire lines and dragging them to a new destination.

URLs in imported Flash movie files can now be edited in Dreamweaver 3.0, making it easier for a site administrator to change links in Flash files. Synchronizing local and remote site files works in both directions, ensuring that the latest version of a file is saved on both local hard drives and remote servers.

A history palette has been added as well, and all file editing is recorded and listed. Actions can be undone (like multiple undo) and saved as an action for reuse on other files.

There are more changes and additions that let Dreamweaver work more closely with other Macromedia tools (Flash and Fireworks) and additional HTML-generation tools. We also noticed an improved handling of imported elements. Group-project manageability has been improved via the check-in/check-out file system, and most of Dreamweaver's menus and shortcuts are customizable, making for a better user experience. --Mike Caputo

Amazon.com Product Description
Dreamweaver 3 is the solution for professional Web site design and production. Develop groundbreaking sites, automate production, and enhance team efficiency. Control your code with Roundtrip HTML and the revolutionary Quick Tag Editor. Accelerate work flow through integration with Web applications, Microsoft Office, and leading e-commerce and application servers. Dreamweaver can be customized using HTML, JavaScript, and XML, giving you the power you need for rapid Web development. With Dreamweaver, you can build better Web sites faster.

The program is extremely user friendly and easy to learn. Always a good thing when you're dealing with a limited schedule. The FTP interface even makes sure your support files go with the html page. All in all, a must have for the web head in you.


Bugs, bugs, wonderful bugs...   June 26, 2000
 6 out of 10 found this review helpful

Dreamweaver is the most horrid, repulsive web design software ever written for the Mac. I am warning you, fellow Mac users. Macromedia must have bought a can of ladybugs and dropped them in the beta tester's brains-I can't believe that they missed some very important bugs-the site map doesn't work, and there is no cross-platform compatibility. Do not buy this. Please look into GoLive by Adobe.


Wow!   June 23, 2000
 3 out of 7 found this review helpful

I went to a camp and usd it. the minute i started i fell in love it is so easy to use. Iam only 11 and it ia breeze.I made a website and it looks awsome.Thank you macromedia, you did it again.


Sheer Brilliance   April 19, 2000
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Macromedia's Dreamweaver is the absolute best WYSIWIG web design program available. As with any program, however, you have to know what you're doing in the HTML edit mode... Until all browsers and platforms interpret code the same, we web designers will need to custom-tweak the HTML. (Problems with pages not being truly WYSIWYG when viewed are the result of design/coding errors or platform incompatibilities. Previewing work in multiple browsers/platforms allows you to fix any bugs before anyone ever sees them.)


excellent...but...   December 24, 1999
 18 out of 20 found this review helpful

Good old Macromedia, they've done it again! Created a brilliant program that does just about anything you could wish...and with the wealth of add-ons available (many are free!), it's just about perfect..BUT...make something on a mac that looks great, and be aware that when viewed on a PC it could very well look terrible ....text moved, way too large, spaces added, images with text over, etc etc...I say buy it and wait for this to be solved, it's still too good to miss.