The Dreamweaver CS4 Web Design Software from Adobe is a powerful web development tool that allows you to work with HTML, XML, and CSS data in either a code-based or a powerful visual-based interface. The software features tools that help you better develop "best practices" web sites that are compliant with web standards. Dreamweaver seamlessly integrates with Fireworks, Flash, Photoshop, and Illustrator, making it a crucial component for a powerfully streamlined web development workflow.
CSS Layouts and Management
Dreamweaver includes an impressive array of tools for working with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Dozens of professional CSS layout templates are included, complete with instructions on how to modify them to suit your needs. The software allows you to work with CSS code snippets that can be shared among different projects.
CSS Advisor
The CSS Advisor analyzes your code to identify common issues with how certain web browsers render CSS pages. The Advisor links to an online development community hosted by Adobe. Not only does this ensure that CSS bugs are up to date, the Advisor community offers fixes and workarounds to help you get your page working correctly in all web browsers.
Spry Framework for Ajax
Dreamweaver's Spry widgets put the power of Ajax coding in your hands; without the need for extensive programming knowledge. You'll be add interactive features to your Web 2.0 applications and pages. Spry features widgets for tabbed panels, menu bars, accordions, collapsible panels, and more.
Visual XML Authoring
Dreamweaver features a visual interface for working with XML data, including RSS web page feeds. This allows you to more easily see how your XML code will appear on the web. You can even jump back and forth between the visual editing of XML and code-based editing, giving you extreme flexibility in the way you work.
Background File Transfer
The background file transfer feature allows you to synchronize the web site you are working on with the live copy on your server while you work. This allows you to continue to make changes and enhancements to your site even as files upload.
Powerful User Interface
Dreamweaver features a powerful user interface that allows you to zoom in and out of your web page to get a better idea of how it will operate in a live environment. Layout guides are also available to help you make your web site design more visually appealing. A coding toolbar helps you add common code snippets to your design and you can even visually expand and collapse code blocks to help you concentrate on the task at hand. All this is brought together in a workspace that features completely customizable layouts, letting you configure the software to best suit your preferences.
Device Central
Device Central is designed to help developers create applications for display on mobile phones, PDAs, and other portable devices. Device emulators will show you exactly what your project will look like on a specific mobile device, going so far as to emulate its processing power and memory. You'll be able to control the application using a clickable interface that reproduces buttons and controls on emulated device. The included library of devices is limited to those that support Flash Lite.