Datasheet

Out-of-the-box Expression Web displays the Folder List Task Pane in the upper left, the Tag and CSS
Properties Task Panes in the lower left, the Toolbox Task Pane in the upper right, and the CSS Styles Task
Panes in the lower right. Of course, you’re not limited to this set of Task Panes. As touched on earlier in
the chapter, Expression Web includes a collection of Task Panes all conveniently located under the Task
Panes menu item. In all, there are 18 Task Panes making up functionality that ranges from CSS property
modification to an integrated compatibility check Task Pane. The following table briefly outlines the
purpose of each Task Pane included with Expression Web.
Task Pane Purpose
Folder List Launches the Folder List Task Pane. Use this Task Pane to conveniently display
a list of files and folders within your Web site. The files and folders within this
list can be cut, copied, renamed, and deleted just as if you were working within
Windows Explorer.
Tag Properties As you’ll see throughout the book, every selectable element within the devel-
opment area has a set of modifiable properties. These properties are centrally
listed within the Tag Properties Task Pane.
CSS Properties When working with CSS, the CSS Properties Task Pane can be used to quickly
manipulate properties for a class, ID, or tag redefinition quickly without hav-
ing to launch the Modify Style dialog box each and every time.
Layout Tables In addition to inserting and drawing tables within the development area,
Expression Web supports a Layout Tables mode, which provides developers
with a handy set of visual aids that make designing and working with tables
easier and more efficient.
Apply Styles Launches the Apply Styles Task Pane. When working with Cascading Style
Sheets (CSS), the Apply Styles Task Pane is where you’ll create new styles and
apply existing ones to elements within your Web pages.
Manage Styles Once you’ve added and applied styles to elements within your Web pages,
you need some way to manage them. The Manage Styles Task Pane does just
that. It provides a central interface for viewing a list of and modifying the
styles within your Web sites.
Behaviors Launches the Behaviors Task Pane. As you’ll see in Chapter 8, “Adding
Interactivity with Behaviors,” behaviors are Expression Webs’ alternative to
writing JavaScript by hand. By simply inserting a behavior, functionality such
as browser and plug-in checks, jump menus, pop-up messages, pop-up win-
dows, and more become available to you.
Layers Launches the Layers Task Pane. Use this Task Pane as a visual way to manage
Layers within Expression Web. As you’ll see in later chapters, Layers are a for-
ward thinking alternative to structuring Web pages using CSS.
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