When I preview my files locally, I get an error that the file or image cannot be found.

This is one of the most common problems beginners encounter when creating links in Dreamweaver MX 2004. This almost always occurs when you create a link that is Site Root relative instead of Document relative. Creating a Site Root relative link will cause a / character to appear at the beginning of the path to the file. This will cause images to disappear, frames to not function properly, and file links to break when previewed locally. You can correct this problem by re-linking the file/image and making sure you are using the Document relative option.

I can't find a feature that existed in previous versions of Dreamweaver. What happened?

Some features found in previous versions of Dreamweaver have been removed from Dreamweaver MX 2004. This was done because these features were obsolete and/or recommended a workflow that is no longer current with modern Web practices. You can find a complete list of which features have been removed at http://www.macromedia.com/support/dreamweaver/ts/documents/ features_removed_2004.htm.

How do I call up the Property inspector?

If you can't see the Property inspector or, for that matter, any of Dreamweaver's panels, pull down the Window menu and click on the one you want to open. A list of shortcut keys that will help you quickly access all of Dreamweaver's panels can be found at the end of Chapter 2, “Interface.”

I defined my site for a chapter, but files that are listed in the exercises aren't there. What happened?

This could be because when you were defining the site you specified a folder that was inside the chapter folder, instead of the chapter folder itself. Go ahead and redefine the site. (If you need to revisit these steps, visit Exercise 1 in Chapter 3, “Site Control.”)

Note: Selecting the correct folder is done differently on Mac and Windows, as shown here:

• Windows: When you're browsing to define the chapter folder, and the Choose Local Folder dialog box pops up, select the chapter folder. First, click Open. After the folder is opened, click Select. This is opposite to the way Macintosh users define their sites.
• Mac: When you're browsing to define the chapter folder, and the Choose Local Folder dialog box opens, highlight the chapter folder and click Choose.

Where's the Color panel?

Because it's context-sensitive, the Color panel appears only when you click in one of Dreamweaver MX 2004's color wells. Color wells appear inside the Property inspector and the Page Properties dialog box.

I put one layer on top of another! How do I delete it?

To delete a layer, select it by the handle at its top and press Delete. You can also use the Layers panel to select the layer, which might be easier in some cases where they overlap. Of course, there's always the universal undo command, Ctrl+Z(Windows) or Cmd+Z(Mac).

I just specified a tracing image in my Page Properties window, but I can't see it when I preview the page in my browser. Panic is starting to set in!

The tracing image is a template to be used for layout in Dreamweaver. It is invisible in the browser window, so if you don't see it, that's the whole point! It's there for your reference only, and your end users will never see it.

Why do I get the message, “To make a document-relative path, your document should be saved first”? I can't figure out what this gibberish means!

Hey, I'm with you. It would be nice if the dialog box simply stated, “Save your file now, or Dreamweaver can't keep track of your files,” because that's all it's asking you to do. Sigh. If only developers knew how to speak in non-technical terms at times, eh? All you need to do is click OK and save your file (inside the defined site), and Dreamweaver MX 2004 won't bark any more.

Why do I get the message that my file is located outside of the root folder?

Dreamweaver MX 2004 is asking you to move the file into the root folder that you've defined as your site. If you work with files outside your defined root folder, Dreamweaver MX 2004 cannot keep track of your links or manage your site, which is counter productive to the way the program is structured and to your workflow. Though this message is annoying, it is actually helping you maintain a healthy site without experiencing broken links and problems uploading your files when you publish it.

Note: There are different ways to handle this message, depending on the system you are running.

• Windows: You should click Yes, and Dreamweaver MX 2004 will automatically pop you into the correct folder. Click Save, and the file will be moved.
• Mac: You should click Yes, and then browse to the correct folder. At that point you will be prompted to save, which you should do.

Why aren't my templates working?

If you leave a template file open and work on another site (such as another chapter in this book that you've defined as a different site), Dreamweaver MX 2004 can't keep track of your templates. It's best to work on a single site at a time, and not flip between sites while leaving files open from another defined site. This is true with all Dreamweaver MX 2004 documents, although templates and libraries are particularly sensitive to site-definition confusion.

When I try to locate class files, why can't I see the file extensions at the end of file names, such as .gif, .jpg, and .html?

On Windows, you will need to change your Preferences to view file name extensions. Instructions to do this are inside the “Introduction” at the beginning of this book.