- 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.