Datasheet

20
Part I: Creating Great Web Sites
Understanding Browser Differences
Before you start creating Web pages, know that no matter how carefully you
create your designs, your pages will never look exactly the same to every
possible visitor to your site. That’s because one of the greatest advantages
of the Web is also one of the biggest challenges. HTML was created to share
information in a way that could be displayed on every computer on the
planet. Unfortunately, not all those computers use the same browsers, the
same fonts, or the same-sized monitors. On top of that, a lot of older Web
browsers are still in use out there, and they can’t display the latest Web
features. Even all the newer browsers don’t display the latest Web design
options the same way.
Because of these browser differences, you have more design control today
than ever before and the capability to create more interesting Web sites, but
you also have more challenges if you want your pages to look good to every-
one who might visit your site. My best advice is to test, test, test, and then ask
your friends to test your pages some more. If you want to play it safe, the sim-
pler your page design, the more likely it will look the same, or at least similar,
to all your visitors.
If you want to create more interesting designs and you want to reach the
broadest possible audience, pay special attention to Dreamweaver’s browser
preview and compatibility features and be prepared to look for more
advanced books and training programs when you finish with this book. Entire
books and Web sites are dedicated to creating highly complex CSS layouts
that display well on a variety of computers and browsers.
In Chapter 4, you find more information about Web browser differences, as
well as Dreamweaver’s testing and compatibility features, which can help
ensure your pages work well for a broad audience.
Introducing the Workspace
in Dreamweaver CS4
Dreamweaver can seem a bit overwhelming at first — it has so many features,
spread among so many panels, toolbars, and dialog boxes that you can easily
get lost. If you prefer to understand by poking around, have at it (and feel
free to skip ahead to Chapter 2, where you start building your first Web page
right away). If you want a tour before you get started, the last few sections
of this chapter introduce you to the interface and are designed to give you a
quick overview of the features in this powerful program.
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