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As mentioned in the previous section, Dreamweaver MX offers ease of use and flexibility. It does not require any knowledge of HTML. In fact, you can gradually pick up some of the lingo as you work with the program, building greater control and ability to customize. Like FlashMX, it offers the ability to build links to sound, navigate between pages, and import images, except within a tree heirarchy format.
It is comparable to a filing system, in which folders become nested within folders, helping the user to visualize the structure of the site. Once you assign an index page (the opening page of your site), the placement of new pages and links are organized from this starting point. The application builds the site map for you as you design the site. It is a beneficial planning tool that enables you to identify the user paths that are possible.
The site builder is reminded to store the added media within the same folder during the building process. When a project is complete, all media (images, sound files) and linked pages need to be "wrapped up" with software such as ZipIt for Macintosh (http://www.maczipit.com). This affordable (only $20) application literally "zips" the contents into a neat package that is unfolded when launched on the web. In this way, the necessary elements remain accessible to the site user. Files that are packaged using this program can be unpackaged within the Blackboard environment used at many universities, or within any web site.
The word processing skills you already have are the entry point to this program. Once you've set up the home, or index page of your site (see the application manual), the great part about DreamweaverMX is that you can begin making a page of your website by simply typing text in the document window. As you get used to the environment, you can begin to insert images within your text, just as you do within any word processing program. This page is an example of that level of page building. As you build confidence, you can view the HTML code as you design, and begin to take a look "under the hood" as a means to understanding the underlying structure.
In time, you may even begin to edit this code -- but this is NOT an essential part of the building process.
So far this page includes visual information in the form of word processing and inserted screen shots. Linking sound files to your page is just as simple. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Example 1: Sound linked to graphics - the user clicks on the graphic of the music (which is a screen shot from a notation program)
Example 2: Sound File Linked to Text in a Table - the user clicks on the highlighted text
Example 3: Sound Linked to a Button - the user clicks on a button (graphic)
Now that you have an overview of Dreamweaver, you are ready to begin building your page. Begin by defining your site (refer to your application manual), and then go to the Dreamweaver Tutorials page which will guide you through the basics of text, tables, graphics and sound.