Ive never made a website before and want to be able to make my own and manage it. Is dreamweaver a good way to go or will it be a little much for the noobie?

As a noobie to website making myself I did find dreamweaver a bit much and I have moved over to expression web which is just an updated version of Microsoft frontpage.

I guess it depends on what type of site you wish to build personal or professional. If it is a professional site you wish to build Dreamweaver may be the software to use.

I am sure the guys on here will put you in the right direction though :-)

Thanks for your input. Im after a personal site but i want it to look the biz and id also like to be able to play a piece of music when you open the webpage.

Dreamweaver is by far the most popular tool for web designers. I found it quite easy to pick up especially using something like Dreamweaver 4 the Missing Manual published by O'Reilly. However, I did have some other IT skills before so perhaps I found it easier to pick up. Another thing is, it isn't cheap so again it depends what you are hoping to acheive.

There's plenty of other cheaper packages available.

Posts crossed. Why don't you use something like myspace?

As a noobie to website making myself I did find dreamweaver a bit much and I have moved over to expression web which is just an updated version of Microsoft frontpage.

I guess it depends on what type of site you wish to build personal or professional. If it is a professional site you wish to build Dreamweaver may be the software to use.

I am sure the guys on here will put you in the right direction though :-)

Personal or professional it's all just xHTML and CSS. Dreamweaver or notepad will do the same job. It's how you write the code and markup that's important.

WYSIWYG editors are all well and good if you like that kind of thing, but they're also a recipe for shoddy sites as you make something without understanding why it works.

But then I'm a bit old school about the whole process....

Dreamweaver is MADE for noobs.

Thats why I use it :)

I'd personally start with a good book and a text editor. Knowledge and understanding will vastly improve the quality of you'd produce with Dreamweaver. I had to use Dreamweaver back in 2000, until I showed my boss how much gumph was left if every time you made a change or used a table.

Then learn the difference between serverside and clientside.

Dreamweaver will be fine for your needs.

You can switch the view to "CODE AND DESIGN" if you want to see what happens to the code if you press the button to make your text bold.

Nobody needs to learn raw HTML. We don't use raw XML for Office 2007 documents, so for a basic personal web page, a simple WYSIWYG system is fine, especially if it's just a site with a bit of text, pictures and colour. Typing it all out "longhand" in notepad is just silly and time consuming.

Nobody needs to learn raw HTML.

So when i'm coding using PHP, C, Python, etc and dumping out formatted data within HTML, XHTML, XML, what should I use to do it for me. With what I do I need to know most of the specifics of the languages and the nuances of the versions, and by doing so I can improve not only the stability of the design but also the efficiency, whilst adhering to the W3C specifications.

Duncan I think we've veered off topic here a bit, this is all more complex than it sounds like you are going to need. I learnt using a text editor first but I prefer using dreamweaver most of the time and then I can manually edit the code afterwards. However many people use dreamweaver without ever looking at the code.

Just make a website already! Even if its the biggest pile of noob ever, you will learn enough to redo it again, twice as good and in half the time :thumbsup:

If you want a website that you can manage your self I can offer you a Content managed site that allows you to log in and edit the site direct from your browser... just give me a shout at www.newcreative.co.uk

Dreamweaver is MADE for noobs.

Thats why I use it :)I disagree, to be able to use/understand DW, you really need to know a fair amount of web design basics beforehand as DW has a very steep learning curve otherwise.

Notepad++ for the win :) Dreamweaver is a good place to start out but I really think you take the time learning to hand code xhtml and css; all pretty straight forward. And learn to use something like fireworks to do your website graphics.

Dreamweaver is simple to use, try downloading a sample web template from the web and take it from there.

Uploading your files to your web host is easier than ever before.

It's easy to use if you already know what you are doing maybe. It's a complete sod otherwise.
Web Design is anything but simple, as lots of tedious technical knowledge needs to be learned, as well as having good design skills. Plus it is rare that people are good at both the coding and design sides.
Not to mention the ever increasing number of browsers which make life even harder as you have to learn work arounds for each one's quirks and uyou need todothis stuff full time to keep up with the ever changing goalposts.

It's easy to use if you already know what you are doing maybe. It's a complete sod otherwise.
Web Design is anything but simple, as lots of tedious technical knowledge needs to be learned, as well as having good design skills. Plus it is rare that people are good at both the coding and design sides.
Not to mention the ever increasing number of browsers which make life even harder as you have to learn work arounds for each one's quirks and uyou need todothis stuff full time to keep up with the ever changing goalposts.

That's why your better off with a text editor. Only learn what you need to, the code. At the end of the day that's what it comes down to. As for design, form follows function. By knowing what you can do enables one to do it!

Spoken like a true coder! :D Both Design and code are equally important. You need to know both or know someone with the complementary skill to work with. And you can easily design a nice looking site and get it coded well, once look and feel are done. How you actually do that depends on many factors and if you use for example Photoshop/InDesign/Flash/SiteGrinder, very little HTML code will be needed to be written.
No point having tidy code with a hideous site that people click past,which is usually the result of those sites done by those who swear by text editors. :gag: :P

The main problem with web design is that a fair bit of knowledge is needed to do a decent job and most people are not prepared to put in the hard work learning all the ins and outs. For them a template site they can customise without touching code is the best bet. Heck I used to work in a web design studio, but now I simply cannot afford the time to keep up to date with browsers and tweaking of code to make stuff work consistently as it's a full time job.

I started off in a drawing office, have various graphical qualifications and am a self taught programmer after getting annoyed with the inadequacies of DW. To date i've also totally avoided CSS3 and only add javascript as an afterthought, but if you stick to the strict DTD's then you won't be far wrong as compliance goes... http://www.w3schools.com/default.asp

But this is always the problem with web type design, there's no compliers, so it's so lax... many people don't even realise there's standards and actual language specifications.

At the end of the day DW is just a very good WYSIWYG, but so is Word and various other office type applications.

Notepad? Pah you want vi!

Probably, but I use gedit or nano... dependant if in gui or not.

I use different pieces of software from Coffee Cup. It doest the job. Quicker then hand coding and cheaper then dreamweaver.

I might at some point get dreamweaver but I don’t really know what's so great about it.

I agree with what other people are saying, learn to hand code first. Doesn't really take that long and will make life SO much easier

I've always wanted to have a go at makin a website, so I had a go today, nothin special but for my first time I feel happy with the result, I did it in frontpage took about an hour see what ya think http://www.brunosentertainments.co.uk

Not as bad as it could be... hmmm, not bad, especially for front page! LOL

I've always wanted to have a go at makin a website, so I had a go today, nothin special but for my first time I feel happy with the result, I did it in frontpage took about an hour see what ya think http://www.brunosentertainments.co.ukAs an observation, You mention several times on your site about being professional and not using rubbish as sold in Argos/Maplins [which is not a very professional thing to do BTW], but you have a site which is anything but.
You say you wouldn't use cheap+ nasty microphones, yet you have cheap and nasty website. First impressions are very important. The website looks amateurish, so people will assume everything else is. I never understand why people think they can do design just because they have some software. People don't assume a brush makes them an artist,software is no different,you still need skill and knowledge to do a good job. I doubt you'd be impressed if someone said they were a DJ, just because they got a copy of Traktor Pro.

I've always wanted to have a go at makin a website, so I had a go today, nothin special but for my first time I feel happy with the result, I did it in frontpage took about an hour see what ya think http://www.brunosentertainments.co.uk

I didn't like seeing DISCO'S on your site. What belongs to Disco exactly? :)

The white on cyan also hurts my eyes.

I find alot of people think of design as the 'look' of something. And then they go all artistic on it and make a colourfull, quirky and often useless at what they need to achive. In reality design is how somethign works based on its look, that is - making text easily readable (by making it look a surtain way), making menu's easily navigable (again by making it look a surtain way) etc.
So when designing a site, think of its function first - what does it need to achive? This will determine what it looks like.
On Bruno's site - why is it baby blue? Why do you need to tell people to use the menu for more info, is it too hard to figure out on its own? etc. But hey, you have a site up and live - keep looking at it and tweaking it!

Dreamweaver does take some getting into. Luckily I had a few days training to begin with using Dreamweaver 2, along time ago now.

I could help you for an hour to explain the basics about the site panel on the right and the main design/code panel and how to use the object tabs.

Im just about ready now for my Adobe Certified Dreamweaver Instructors Exam.

Red Tape

Have an excellent novice to advance web design course available.

Also Photoshop courses for using graphics with your websites.

office

As an observation, You mention several times on your site about being professional and not using rubbish as sold in Argos/Maplins [which is not a very professional thing to do BTW], but you have a site which is anything but.
You say you wouldn't use cheap+ nasty microphones, yet you have cheap and nasty website. First impressions are very important. The website looks amateurish, so people will assume everything else is. I never understand why people think they can do design just because they have some software. People don't assume a brush makes them an artist,software is no different,you still need skill and knowledge to do a good job. I doubt you'd be impressed if someone said they were a DJ, just because they got a copy of Traktor Pro.

Thank you for your input and the constructive critism, but as I said it was my first attempt, took me an hour that included tryin to figure out how frontpage worked, so did not have much thinking time on the input and it was the only bit of software i got on pc to try with, I agree about the not professional slating(now removed), but you went on to say why do people think they can do web design, my post was aimed at the OP wanting to make a personal website he can manage himself, me presuming he just wanting to get information across, however no way did I call myself a web designer or offer to build a website for people, but im sure there is people out there who would have charged a few quid to create my cheap ameturish looking website (which as you say is) oh and you would be amazed how many people do say they are a DJ because they got the likes of Traktor Pro lol, I have a nice Cannon 40D takes lovely pictures but I'm NOT a photographer and would never claim to be, but it won't stop me being creative with my shots:thumbsup: nice pics on your site btw

At the end of the day you've made a start by doing it yourself, that can only lead to the next step and by the time you get it up to scratch it'll be a lot more interesting and relevant because it's your site... keep up the good work, but I do agree about the baby blue!

At the end of the day you've made a start by doing it yourself, that can only lead to the next step and by the time you get it up to scratch it'll be a lot more interesting and relevant because it's your site... keep up the good work, but I do agree about the baby blue!

Well what colour would ya like lol:hihi:

Actually I'm doing a bit more reading into it, shall prob have a look at dreamweaver, supose its like anything you need to research and learn, but im sure I will have somethin new in the next few weeks of which I'g gladly welcome comments, I am a big boy and can take critism lol

70% of my sites have a white background, some more graphic ones use black (but text needs special consideration), otherwise I use various coloured greys.

These two sites have both changed and are now very flash based, but the older versions which I have in my reference book in my opinion are better (and pure html / css).
http://heftyrecords.com/hefty.php?in_artistid=
http://www.atlanticrecords.com/

This site has a lot of examples, not all are relevant to anything but it's still inspiring...
http://www.mezzoblue.com/zengarden/alldesigns/
This is the one I sort of emulated, even though it took on my own style and ended up looking nothing like it... http://www.csszengarden.com/?cssfile=025/025.css

Thanks for that just words, think it will take some time to get to those standards I'm just reading up about css at min getting a understanding.

As always with programming (and markup), it's always simpler than you think. Just do it, it's all about trial and error when learning...

Thank you for your input and the constructive critism, but as I said it was my first attempt, took me an hour that included tryin to figure out how frontpage worked, so did not have much thinking time on the input and it was the only bit of software i got on pc to try with, I agree about the not professional slating(now removed), but you went on to say why do people think they can do web design, my post was aimed at the OP wanting to make a personal website he can manage himself, me presuming he just wanting to get information across, however no way did I call myself a web designer or offer to build a website for people, but im sure there is people out there who would have charged a few quid to create my cheap ameturish looking website (which as you say is) But why not get someone who is good at Web Design to do a really good job to show off your business better. A poor website is no different from crappy mikes, possibly worse as many people use websites to check others out now. None of us are good at everything and a good website will pay for itself, just like a good accountant will save you more than you pay him.

oh and you would be amazed how many people do say they are a DJ because they got the likes of Traktor Pro lol, Not at all. That's why I said it. Even worse with photography.
Drifting OT a bit - Just been playing with Traktor and Ableton actually as I need a way to DJ without using physical decks on occasions. They're OK but I really dislike not using physical controls, so need to find a good midi controller as trackpads are not reliable enough for accurate triggering and EQing is a simply impossible to do well.

70% of my sites have a white background, some more graphic ones use black (but text needs special consideration), otherwise I use various coloured greys. I hate sites with reverse text, particularly if there's a lot to read, very hard on the eyes - so as you say, text needs careful handling. Sadly rarely done.

These two sites have both changed and are now very flash based, but the older versions which I have in my reference book in my opinion are better (and pure html / css).
http://heftyrecords.com/hefty.php?in_artistid=
http://www.atlanticrecords.com/ Very nice looking, I'd be very interested to see the prior 'better' versions. Do you do flash work as well, or are you a HTML/CSS kind of guy?

I find alot of people think of design as the 'look' of something. And then they go all artistic on it and make a colourfull, quirky and often useless at what they need to achive. In reality design is how somethign works based on its look, that is - making text easily readable (by making it look a surtain way), making menu's easily navigable (again by making it look a surtain way) etc.
So when designing a site, think of its function first - what does it need to achive? This will determine what it looks like.
On Bruno's site - why is it baby blue? Why do you need to tell people to use the menu for more info, is it too hard to figure out on its own? etc. But hey, you have a site up and live - keep looking at it and tweaking it!Good points. Site design can be broken into two parts. How it works [structure + navigation] and and how it looks. Now you can build a site with content and structure and have the look of site completely independent of that side.
CSS Zen Garden (http://www.csszengarden.com/) as mentioned above, illustrates this beautifully.

Do you do flash work as well, or are you a HTML/CSS kind of guy?

C, but when doing web stuff PHP and I just use XHTML & CSS for formatting. Form follows function in my book.

I did flash many years ago, well more shockwave, but haven't for quite a while, and rarely allow it when I visit a site because i'm generally searching for content rather than distraction, but then again i'm generally called the exception to the rule.

If the function you require is identical look + behaviour in Web Browsers, then Flash is an excellent solution or form. It just gets associated with err flashy designs as it's easier to do such things with Flash. Form follows funtionality in those cases.
I've noticed Flash is used for a very high percentage of photographer's and Agent's site as it very good for minimal + consistent interfaces, that are also stylish.

http://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/dreamweaver-cs4-tutorial-1.shtml

this was a great tutorial for the basics of dreamweaver. I have my website up and running-time to make it look pretty