From what I’ve heard, Dreamweaver doesn’t work for lots of folks, often due to producing invalid XHTML. While it may be a good starting point when you’re trying to mess around with layouts, I think you’re still gonna have to learn some XHTML and CSS and fine tune it using your favourite text editor and a decent validator.
ok then how do i edit my theme in the wordpress admin…becasue when i go to presentations>edit themes i see code for the page and on the right it gives me alot of options like stysheet, header, comments, the cde tho them and when i try to chage something in the code it wont let me and on the botom of the page is says “If this file were writable you could edit it.”…..how can i edit my theme to chage the header i amge and all?
Thank You
CHMOD all files in your theme folder to 666 to work with them in WP admin. When finished CHMOD back to 644 for security.
whoa im sorry but what are those? i never heard of those im kinda new to wordpress…can you explaing please?
Thank You
Read the stuff on file permissions.
ok but when i right clikc the index.php page in my theme in dreamweaver…it does not give me a file permissions option…im a little confused please help
Thank You
Might want to try using FileZilla to upload files and change file permissions.
I have found theme creation a complicated and rewarding process. Generally I work with a text editor, not a web authoring program such as FrontPage, Dreamweaver, or whatever. I will on occasion use FrontPage for some tasks that I am too lazy or dumb to perform otherwise.
My method is to start with an existing theme that generally has the layout I intend. I then edit the css and template pages, bending them to my will.
I never thought I would get the hang of css but over time I’ve managed to commit to memory quite a library of code.
Finally, use a good FTP program such as CuteFTP to move your files between your local computer and the server. This will give you the ability to chmod files, rename/create/delete files and folders. IMHO Dreamweaver will stunt your design and development growth.
My latest theme (just finishing up today):
http://flashhq.net
what do you mean by stunt my design?
ok i got the filezila running and i folowed the instructions on running it so now i have my wordpress in the local site file name and the remote site…..can someone tell me what i do now?
Might want to review the resources in Using_Themes.
“what do you mean by stunt my design?”
Design is much, much more than just “decoration” and making the layout look “nice”. It’s about usability, architecture, content quality and accessibility. And you’re not going to learn about these crucial aspects of web application design with Dreamweaver.
You’ll need to focus on getting a solid understanding of XHTML, CSS and WP itself.
It’s about usability, architecture, content quality and accessibility. And you’re not going to learn about these crucial aspects of web application design with Dreamweaver.
Pshaw. You won’t learn them via “your favorite text editor” either. There’s been plenty of bad xhtml written in Notepad.
Dreamweaver works just fine. I use it — mostly as a text editor and FTP client, it’s true, but it makes a handy place to put my “stuff” and some cool extensions are available that make coding easier. I built my theme in it.
Dreamweaver is a tool. Like any tool, it can be used well or misused.
“You won’t learn them via ‘your favorite text editor’ either. There’s been plenty of bad xhtml written in Notepad.”
That’s entirely true and to suggest otherwise would be very foolish, which I’m not. What I am suggesting though, from personal experience, is that Dreamweaver is a “decorating tool” in the sense that there’s too much focus on the less important aspects of design. Granted, you can use it as a text-only thingy but that’s not how beginners actually use it in a lot of cases.
It’s a good newbies tool, sure. But the overwhelming majority of the important elements of design are nothing to do with Dreamweaver. Or Frontpage or any other “drag-drop” graphical type tool.
I suppose what I’m saying is obvious to lots of folks but it’s what a lot of beginners don’t realise.
I agree with that. Over the long haul there is absolutely no substitute for hands on coding in a text editor.
