Dreamweaver, How to best Set it up?

While I know not everyone likes dreamweaver, it is a common tool that a lot of people use.

I am going through a class on php right now were we use dreamweaver to edit php and such.

I want to get a guide going here to how to setup zen-cart on dreamweaver 8 as it seems to be a bit more complex than the one we are going through on my class.

I do love how you can switch to design and edit the layout of the php code, but when I load up zen cart in the Site section of Dreamweaver and then switch to design tab, I just get outlines of boxes and such.

Maybe this is the case and thats the best it gets, but if I can make it to where I can pull in some data and such, that would be great.

I am just learning and starting to really get into the code so any tip on this would be great.

If you don't like dreamweaver thats fine, but post it somewhere else please.

godspeed27:

While I know not everyone likes dreamweaver, it is a common tool that a lot of people use.

I am going through a class on php right now were we use dreamweaver to edit php and such.

I want to get a guide going here to how to setup zen-cart on dreamweaver 8 as it seems to be a bit more complex than the one we are going through on my class.

I do love how you can switch to design and edit the layout of the php code, but when I load up zen cart in the Site section of Dreamweaver and then switch to design tab, I just get outlines of boxes and such.

Maybe this is the case and thats the best it gets, but if I can make it to where I can pull in some data and such, that would be great.

I am just learning and starting to really get into the code so any tip on this would be great.

If you don't like dreamweaver thats fine, but post it somewhere else please.

Dreamweaver is not designed to parse php on its own, that's what your webserver is for. There may be some complicated set up to get it to do so (try google) but I doubt it would be very helpful. Especially since the stylesheets aren't inline, and dreamweaver (as far as I know) won't apply non-inline stylesheets to the code view.

I use dreamweaver mx almost exclusively when working with zen cart, and I love, but I've just got used to uploading and refreshing. :D

Is there an editor out there that takes into account all the css, php, html and puts it all up to edit...I doubt that, I have been looking at phped but have no idea yet how to set it up.

godspeed27:

Is there an editor out there that takes into account all the css, php, html and puts it all up to edit...I doubt that, I have been looking at phped but have no idea yet how to set it up.

I don't think so. When I'm trying to make quick test changes with css and html, I use the firefox web developer extension, and it allows me to see changes on the fly.

I also guess I should say, that this would be running off a local server like in the manual.

My site is using ZC 1.3.8

I'd like to know since these posts were made...If the newer Dreamweaver CS4 is Zen Cart compatible, or if there are some other programs that work like the Nvu/Kompozer for editing your sites?

Zencart can't be styled in a WYSIWYG editor of any kind, since the pages are built on the fly from PHP files.

A good FTP program, a good text editor, and a willingness to learn a new way of doing things is all you need.