Learning HTML and CSS for DWCS3

Question

How do I determine what Page type and Layout to use for each
webpage, as I do not have the trial and error experience with being
a web designer?
I'm reading "The Missing Manual" and HTML books. I've also
been learning a lot from these forums... what to do and what not to
do. I've started our new website with a blank HTML template in DW,
though the more I read - the more I realize I am not informed. Like
one of the Newsgroup Pros (Murray) on this site has indicated about
his scheme for laying out a website, I now know that I need a
layout plan for this website. Since I used to create databases, I
know the questions to ask to layout the relational tables for the
optimal result and making the front end easy enough for a Monkey to
use. However, this is my first website ever and with a new
employer. I've already loaded our products in the purchased
shopping cart and I have a mock up for the website Home page. There
will be an additional 6 webpages. Any suggestions are greatly
appreciated.

Answer 1

> >What page type? Not sure what you mean here.
> The Page type is within DW new document selection. I
selected Page type -
> HTML
> template for building my webpage.
That's OK. You could also select Blank HTML, build your page,
and then use
FILE | Save As Template. Either path will get you a DW
Template at the end.
If you would be using server scripting on the child pages,
then you would
want to use FILE | New > whatever scripting model is
appropriate, and then
the latter method when you are ready to save the page as a
Template (FILE |
Save as Template....) so that DW can set the appropriate
extension
(*.dwt.php for a PHP template, for example).
> Our current website does not track browsing habits of
our users, so I do
> not
> have this info.
You would get this information by watching a typical user's
screen.
> The only probable info I have is our users use IE or
another
> browser compatible with Windows.
That's no help. You may be able to guess by evaluating the
technical
inclination of your typical user. People who are less familar
with
computers will likely not know that they can maximize their
browser to fill
the entire screen. You would also want to know how old the
typical computer
being used in your demographic is. Older computers tend to
have smaller and
lower resolution screens, therefore narrower browser
viewports.
> My choice without knowing how much trouble I will cause
myself or the pros
> and
> cons of each that you indicated, I would select "d.
Flexible (within
> limits)
> and left aligned"
Actually, I think the better choice would be fixed width and
centered, but
since that's my personal preference I'm likely biased.
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
==================
"HappinessGrows" <[email protected]> wrote
in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thanks for the reply Murray. My answers here will
definitely show you that
> ~I'm
> dancing on the border line of clueless with I know a
little about HTML and
> DW
> to get me started and not enough to keep me out of
trouble~.
>
> >What page type? Not sure what you mean here.
> The Page type is within DW new document selection. I
selected Page type -
> HTML
> template for building my webpage.
>
> >1. What is the primary target demographic for this
site?
> We sell wholesale to Dealers and Distributors.
Additional website users
> will
> be Sales team, CCTV techs and new potential customers.
>
> >2. What are the browsing habits of that demographic?
Do they normally
> > >have
> their browser window maximized on the screen?
> >3. If they usually have their browser maximized,
what is the typical
> > >screen
> width?
> >4. If they usually do NOT have their browser
maximized, what is the
> > >MINIMUM
> screen width in that demographic.
> Our current website does not track browsing habits of
our users, so I do
> not
> have this info. The only probable info I have is our
users use IE or
> another
> browser compatible with Windows.
>
> >As you can see, this decision is probably much more
complex than you
> >thought, and will require that you know quite a bit
about your intended
> >target visitor and their browsing habits.
> Yes, what I've been reading the choice is much more
complex and I'm asking
> many more questions to piece together the website that
will load quickly
> on a
> browser and be effective for our customer.
>
> >So - which is it? 8)
> My choice without knowing how much trouble I will cause
myself or the pros
> and
> cons of each that you indicated, I would select "d.
Flexible (within
> limits)
> and left aligned"
>
>