- Introduction
- Understanding HTML
- Using the Reference Panel
- Using Code View
- Using Code Live View
- Setting Code View Options
- Entering HTML Code
- Using Code Hints
- Working with HTML Head Tags
- Inserting HTML Comments
- Using the Coding Toolbar
- Using Quick Tag Editor
- Using the Tag Inspector
- Using the Tag Chooser
- Opening Related Files
- Navigating to Related Code
- Setting Site Specific Code Hints
- Setting Code Hint Preferences
- Setting Code Format Preferences
- Setting Code Rewriting Preferences
- Setting Code Color Preferences
Using the Reference Panel
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an experienced Web designer, or a newcomer to the field. Sooner or later you’re going to need a bit of help, in the form of reference material. I’ll admit that I’m a big reader... I love to read. I have a library full of books on creativity and design. Unfortunately, I can’t carry all those books with me when I’m on a lecture tour. That’s why one of my favorite features in Dreamweaver is the Reference panel. The Reference panel gives you instant (on screen) access to 10 O’Reilly reference manuals, 2 Adobe manuals, and a UseableNet Accessibility Reference. Now that’s a lot of reading material, and instant information at your fingertips. For example, you’re coding a page, and you need a bit more information on the HTML body tag... it’s there, or you need a bit of help with the new syntax of XHTML... it’s there. As a matter of fact, when you first open the Reference panel, the information displayed is based on the selected element on the active Web page.
Access the Reference Panel
- Open Dreamweaver (do not open a document).
- Click the Window menu, point to Results, and then click Reference.
- Select information based on the following options:
- Click the Select Book list arrow to select from the list of available reference manuals.
- Click the Select Tag list arrow to select from a list of available HTML tags.
- Click the Select Attribute icon to choose from a list of available attributes for the selected tag.
The reader window displays the information based on your selections.
Access Specific Information
- Open the Web page you want to access specific information.
- Perform one of the following:
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Code View. Select a specific HTML tag, CSS style rule, or other HTML text.
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Split View. Select an item in the Code pane or select an object or text in the Design pane.
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Design View. Select an object, graphic, or portion of text.
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- Select the element for which you want specific information.
- Press Shift+F1 (Shortcut for accessing the Reference panel).
The panel opens and displays information about the selected page element.