Hello,
I Just finished a hobby site using DW MX2004 and Firework MX2004. I would like
now to make a more professional site, and wonder if I should upgarade to CS3
versions?
1) Is it possible that installing them will cause problems with the existing
files, htm pages?
2) Did anybody have any problem with backward comparability?
3) Would it involve a steep learning curve to use the new versions or are they
somewhat intuitive?
4) What are the best books available on Amazon.com to learn DW CS3 from?
Thank you for your
Marianna

What do you mean by "more professional" ?

Any version of Dreamweaver, or any other web developement tool, is just
that... a tool

The design of the site is from the user, not the tool... you need to figure
out what you want to do, then select a tool to do that task

You need to understand web development, and what it is you want to do, before
you rush out to buy a new tool

There are many online tutorials to ... some links below

As well as the links below - another way to learn (including anyone else's bad
habits) is to find a page you like, and then tell your web browser to show you
the code view for the page and/or do a "Save As" and save the page to your
computer to then copy & paste code segments into your file (in IE click View at
the top, select Source from the options)

HTML and/or DW Tutorials
http://validator.w3.org/
http://www.w3schools.com/
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/
http://www.scriptarchive.com/
http://www.htmldog.com/guides/
http://www.htmlcodetutorial.com/
http://alistapart.com/topics/code
Download User Guide PDF for easy search
http://www.adobe.com/support/documentation
http://lynda.com/ Hours of videos. (must pay)
http://www.projectseven.com/tutorials/index.htm
If not PDF (link above) an online guide to read
http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/Dreamweaver/9.0/
Customizing the layouts that come with CS3 (VIDEO)
http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/vi...op/?id=vid0155
For those using MySQL - Installing PHP and MySQL on Windows XP
http://www.webassist.com/professiona...ionrecipes.asp
Community MX lessons http://www.communitymx.com/abstract.cfm?cid=3D074
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/designc...amweaver&go=Go

John is absolutely right - if your skill with HTML and CSS is at a
professional level then you will make a 'professional' site with Notepad.
If it's not, then even with CS3, your site will look like it was
designed/built by someone with limited skills.

> 1) Is it possible that installing them will cause problems with the
> existing
> files, htm pages?

No.

> 2) Did anybody have any problem with backward comparability?

Backwards compatability? Only when the original pages were so poorly built
that they were loaded with coding errors. DWCS3 is much less tolerant of
these than was MX2004.

> 3) Would it involve a steep learning curve to use the new versions or are
> they
> somewhat intuitive?

Using DW involves a steep learning curve. Once you have overcome that, on
any version, you will be fine.

> 4) What are the best books available on Amazon.com to learn DW CS3 from?

Actually, forget "learning DW". Focus on HTML and CSS. John gave you the
links for that.

For DW books at the beginning/intermediate level, I really like the "Missing
Manual" series by David McFarland.

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
==================


"mariannd" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:g2ullh$3db$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Hello,
> I Just finished a hobby site using DW MX2004 and Firework MX2004. I would
> like
> now to make a more professional site, and wonder if I should upgarade to
> CS3
> versions?
> 1) Is it possible that installing them will cause problems with the
> existing
> files, htm pages?
> 2) Did anybody have any problem with backward comparability?
> 3) Would it involve a steep learning curve to use the new versions or are
> they
> somewhat intuitive?
> 4) What are the best books available on Amazon.com to learn DW CS3 from?
> Thank you for your
> Marianna
>

Thank you John and thank you Murry!
I appreciate the many links, I am going to go to each one and learn from each
as much as I can.
I apologize for not being clear with my questions. I am OK with the design
part, it is the "tool" I wanted to ask about, and Murry answered those
questions.
You can tell that I am not doing this for a living. Actually I am a
"senior+5", but I enjoy exercising my brain and this is more interesting than
crossword puzzles. And so, I shouldn't worry about learning curvesI
Thank you again
Marianne

Sudoku is a nice alternative. By the way, I'll bet your walker doesn't have
a Clarabell horn on it like mine does.... 8)

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
==================


"mariannd" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:g2upcp$7cn$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Thank you John and thank you Murry!
> I appreciate the many links, I am going to go to each one and learn from
> each
> as much as I can.
> I apologize for not being clear with my questions. I am OK with the design
> part, it is the "tool" I wanted to ask about, and Murry answered those
> questions.
> You can tell that I am not doing this for a living. Actually I am a
> "senior+5", but I enjoy exercising my brain and this is more interesting
> than
> crossword puzzles. And so, I shouldn't worry about learning curvesI
> Thank you again
> Marianne
>
>

Good for you Murray!!!
And if I would have a wheelchair I would love to race yours!!!
m.

<honk><honk> 8)

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
==================


"mariannd" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:g2v70j$kfm$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Good for you Murray!!!
> And if I would have a wheelchair I would love to race yours!!!
> m.