Dreamweaver 4 Overview
Page 8 — Hits and Misses
After dissecting this program from end-to-end, I have no problem recommending Dreamweaver 4 as the main tool in your battery of feature-rich Web development applications. I wouldn't say, however, that it should be the only tool you use.
If you're a diehard hand-coder like me, you'll still need a text editor that can live up to your agonizingly high standards. Of course, you will also need a good image handling program, and you won't be able to integrate anything other than Fireworks 4 (which, incidentally, is still sold separately, which means forking over additional dough). Fireworks is great and all, but Photoshop, the granddaddy of imaging apps, has a staggering array of features that few Web designers can live without.
For site management, ease of use and more-than-good-enough-to-get-you-there code features, however, Dreamweaver 4 is the top dog by a longshot.
In conclusion, here's a list of the good points about the latest Dreamweaver release that you can print out, laminate and hang in your shower:
- All-around cozy user interface is the best in the field.
- Page layouts, especially tables, are easy to manipulate and use.
- The searchable O'Reilly code reference library is extensive and convenient.
- The new Code View window features are numerous and useful.
- JavaScript debugger eliminates the need for a third-party debugging app.
- New Asset panel gathers all site media in a single library.
- Flash buttons and text features make adding multimedia to your site totally painless.
- Round-trip graphics editing simplifies the process of making changes after graphics are placed on the page.
- New site management tools encourage seamless communication with development team members.
And the not-so-good points:
- New graphics features encourage a proprietary environment with limited alternatives.
- HTML editing greatly improved, but still not robust enough to replace more feature-rich text editors.
- Flash elements bloat file size and page-load time.
Now that I've given you the rundown on Dreamweaver 4, it's up to you to decide whether or not it's for you. Download a trial version. Give it a test drive and try out those new features. As far as solid, easy-to-use professional Web development tools go, Dreamweaver 4 is tough to beat.
