Dreamweaver: Defining A Site
Dreamweaver relies on you to create a site for each and every
project you work on within Dreamweaver. This ensures all files
and links are properly defined. If you don't define the site
ahead of time Dreamweaver will give you warnings about nearly
everything. It's fast, it's easy and it's integral to
Dreamweaver.
Step 1: Define a Site
- Go to Site>New.. to open the Site Definition dialog
window.
- You can now begin entering your site information.
Step 2: Enter a site name
You can use any name here. This is for organizational
purposes and won't display in the browser.
Step 3: Define the Local Root
Folder
This is where the site files for this particular site will be
kept. I generally keep a site development folder with client and
project sites inside that. Click the Browse button to either
navigate to an existing folder or to create a new folder.
Once you've selected or created the folder, click Choose
(Mac) or Select (windows). You can also type in the path to the
folder but for accuracy it's always best to browse to it.
Step 4: Select "Refresh Local
File List Automatically
I always check this so you should too. J/K. But this ensures
your any changes you make are reflected immediately.
For example, if you added some new images or other media to
your site folder you would need to manually refresh the site
list each time if you didn't have this option selected.
Step 5: HTTP Address
Enter the URL that you're using for this site. It will enable
Dreamweaver to check links in your site that use Absolute URLs
Step 6: Select the Cache
option
This will greatly increase Dreamweaver's speed in checking
links.
You may get a box telling you about how Dreamweaver needs to
create the site cache. You don't need and most likely won't want
to continue seeing this box so you can select for it not to
display again.
Click Create
Step 7: Click Done
You will need to do this with EVERY site you work with from
within Dreamweaver. |
