Macromedia Dreamweaver MX: Training from the Source [Paperback]

For those users looking to start a static website (v. dynamic...do a simple websearch if you don't know the difference) this book is a GREAT starting point. Taking your site to the dynamic level will require - prepare yourself for this - the "DYNAMIC Applications" edition (book 2 of this series). I could not help but pick this book up as well.

For intermediate users, expect the "time approximation" for each section to be a conservative measure. I find that if it says it will take an hour, I usually get through it in 30-45 minutes, pending restroom breaks.

One word of advice: the entire project may seem overwhelming looking at its entirety. However, breaking it down lesson by lesson, you will find that the piecemeal approach avoids the intimidation factor associated with the overall project. It's quite impressive to finish the series and look back to from where you started!

Recently, I've been asked to redesign our company's website and decided it would be a good time to finally dive in and learn MX (I have used Dreamweaver 3 exclusively since 1999 and never upgraded to version 4). So far, I have found this book to be very helpful and have gone though most of the lessons in 3 days!!

I picked up lots of great tips and new ways to use the software that I did not originally anticipate. The chapter on Cascading Style Sheets was especially informative and clear, and I no longer feel intimidated about using them in a website (and now feel silly that I never did...).

Overall, the book is an excellent resource if you have the patience to read LOTS of copy, but all the essential features of the software are thoroughly covered. The book provided a solid foundation for learning the basics and I found it to be a good review. The chapters could have used a few more illustrations, but were packed with lots of substance.

Is this book for advanced users? Probably not -- but for the rest of us, it's a useful guide to MX.

Training From The Source guides you through creating a web site about light houses called "Lights of the Coast". Although I never want to see another light house after completing the lessons, it was an excellent way of applying what I was learning. I also liked the list of "What You Will Learn" at the start of each chapter, and "What You Have Learned" at the end of each chapter, to keep me on track. The illustrations are numerous and just what I needed back when I was afraid to touch anything.

There is a huge amount of information throughout the book I previously knew nothing about. Reading and working through it saved me from a lot of headaches when I set off on my own. Good book!