Editing a WordPress using Dreamweaver

I’ve only been using WordPress for a couple of months having come from the Dreamweaver world – used DW for YEARS. Let me try to detail what I’ve found out/figured out.

In DW the content and format of the page is all in one document. In a multi-page website, you can create a format for the page and keep duplicating that format, but basically the CONTENT that is on the page is folding in with the DESIGN of the page. Each and every DW-based page stands alone from every other page that makes up your website.

In WP the content is separate from the design (in WordPress speak that is also call the ‘theme’) and stored in a MySQL database. Everything you do in WP is done via the dashboard.

You can create a totally original theme, import one you found/ purchased from someone or design one you acquired from one of the many theme-design services (some free, some at a cost). Many of these can be modified to suit your needs/preferences.

After you have your theme, you create a page (from the dashboard) and add your content, either text you type or that you copy and paste from some source (I’ve copied content from an html based page and pasted in into a WP page) and added tags for color, emphasis, whatever. You will find a world of widgets available (paid and free) that you can incorporate into you theme fast and painlessly.

I would suggest you switch from thinking ‘Dreamweaver’ and shift to thinking ‘WordPress’. I will agree that it is a complete shift in thinking, but well worth the small amount of time it takes you.

You can (fairly) change the logo and whatever other changes you need within WP.

I would suggest your invest a few dollars and check out crashcoursetraining.com and their WordPress short course. Well worth the investment. At the end of the course they will talk about Artisteer for creating/editing WP themes. That also, is worth the cost.

Good luck.