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tomrabbit
Participant
September 7, 2009
Question

Fireworks vs Dreamweaver

  • September 7, 2009
  • 1 reply
  • 30796 views

Just trying to get my head round the point at which you should leave Fireworks to develop in Dreamweaver (sorry, I'm a newbie).

I'm working on a flowchart type diagram, where the various boxes will trigger swap images or hyperlinks to other pages.  I am drawing the chart in Fireworks, because it is clearly a lot easier to position things exactly where you want them.  As far as I am concerned, I can achieve all the functionality I need via Fireworks using hotspots and slices, but I keep reading that FW is more of a web prototyping tool, and the code it exports to DW isn't the most robust.

I want to use a page layout with a top title, and a left hand nav bar, with changing page content in the remaining space.  I planned to set up the actual site with its page layout in DW, but to export the flowchart, which will be the content of the index page, from FW.  Could someone please explain to me the best practice for moving from prototyping in FW to developing in DW?   What I mean is, what bits do you do in FW, and what bits should you do in DW?  Is it better to create the hotspots and slices in DW after export?  Sorry if this is too vague a question.  Any hints, or pointers to where it has already been answered appreciated.

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    1 reply

    Nadia-P
    Nadia-P
    Inspiring
    September 7, 2009

    Yes, it's true, it's always best to create the comp in Fireworks and then build the site in Dreamweaver.

    If you are going to be using hotspots, again, apply them in Dreamweaver - it does have a hotspot tool.

    This may help in the understanding of taking a FWs or PS comp to Dreamweaver.

    TAKING FIREWORKS COMP TO DREAMWEAVER:

    http://www.adobe.com/devnet/dreamweaver/articles/dw_fw_css_pt1.html

    B
    bikeman01
    Inspiring
    September 8, 2009

    I design in FW.

    Then I get the design agreed with a flat jpg or occasionally a html export (prototyping in Adobe speak).

    Then I sliceup main elements and export as jpgs/gifs.

    DW is only then used to build html/css webpage.

    I never use FW html export.

    BTW I am glad to see another FW user. Adobe's repositioning of it as a prototyping tool is confusing and overlooks FWs main strength which is web page design. It is way better for the job than PS and it is such a shame more designers don't use it.

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