Dreamweaver CS4 ACE Objectives

Creating a web site today requires some expertise in a variety of different technologies: xhtml, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), javascript, application servers, ajax...

Adobe Dreamweaver is the leading software product on the market which allows you to meld all or some of these technologies together to create a static or dyanmic web site. (See our blog post on "Dreamweaver Training Tips" to learn the difference between static and dynamic web sites.)

Becoming an Adobe Certified Expert in Dreamweaver is a powerful credential to have and a great way to synthesize and process the essential information you need to create web sites using an industry-leading product.

To the best of our knowledge, these are the ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) Objectives for Dreamweaver CS4. Use them as a guide to study for the test. Our Dreamweaver class ()http://www.multigroup.com) covers these objectives during the course of the class. Call us (408-315-8720) in regard to taking the class and receive a discount by telling us you read about it here.

1.0 Understanding Web technologies

1.1 List and describe the infrastructure required to implement and deploy Web sites.

1.2 Given a scenario, explain the requirements for supporting video, PDF documents,

and SWF.

1.3 Explain how to mitigate page weight.

1.4 Given a scenario, describe the infrastructure required to support application servers.

(Scenarios include: ColdFusion, ASP, JSP)

1.5 List and describe the difference between client-side and server-side scripting.

1.6 Describe techniques for making pages accessible.

2.0 Managing sites

2.1 Given a scenario, create a site. (Scenarios include: using the Site menu bar and Files

panel)

2.2 Locate files associated with a Dreamweaver site.

2.3 Manage files associated with a Dreamweaver site. (Including: moving, deleting,

renaming, copying, associating)

3.0 Remote connectivity

3.1 List and describe the methods available for connecting to a remote server. (Methods

include: ftp, sftp, WebDAV, and network file share)

3.2 Synchronize files. (Methods include: Using the Files panel, Site menu, cloaking)

3.3 Use get, put, check-in, and check-out to transfer files.

3.4 Configure local, testing, and remote servers.

4.0 Working in Design view

4.1 Describe options available for positioning objects. (Options include: AP DIV, CSS

and tables)

4.2 Design a page by using a tracing image.

4.3 Given a visual aid, explain the purpose of and/or when that visual aid. (Visual aids

include: Layers, tables, CSS, invisible elements)

4.4 Work with the Properties panel and Tag bar.

4.5 Explain the benefits of using Live View and Live Data.

5.0 Working in Code view

5.1 Configure preferences for Code view.

5.2 Manage code by using Code view. (Options include: Collapsing, word wrap, highlighting

invalid code, and formatting)

5.3 Explain how to get information about tags. (Options include: Properties Inspector

and Tag Editor)

5.4 Find and replace code in Code view. (Options include: entire site and current page)

5.5 Explain how to select blocks of code in Code view.

6.0 Working with templates

6.1 Create editable areas in templates.

6.2 Apply a template to a page.

6.3 Create and use template variables.

6.4 Create and use editable attributes.

6.5 Explain the process of and issues associated with distributing template changes to pages.

6.6 Create and use library items.

7.0 Working with assets

7.1 Manage assets by using the Assets panel.

7.2 Given a media type, insert and deploy that media type into a page. (Media types

include: SWF, FLV, Flash Paper, images)

8.0 Designing pages with CSS

8.1 Create and work with AP elements.

8.2 Create styles for typography and positioning by using the CSS and properties panels.

8.3 Describe the Box model.

8.4 Create and attach style sheets to pages.

8.5 Explain the behavior of inheritance with respect to styles and style sheets.

9.0 Testing Web pages and sites

9.1 Validate that pages and sites conform to accessibility standards.

9.2 Describe the HTML reports that are available for testing.

9.3 Identify and fix broken links.

10.0 Application development

10.1 Create forms and use data sets by using Spry.

10.2 Describe the functionality provided by the Behaviors panel and the Server Behaviors panel.

10.3 Describe the role of an application server.

Adobe Product Glossary


As the principal of the Multimedia Resource Group (http://www.multigroup.com) an Adobe Authorized Training provider in Silicon consequently, we often get questions from people about which product they should buy and use.

We put together this Adobe Product Directory and Glossary together to give people
a simple overview of Adobe Products.

This list is still a work in progress. Note this glossary is not complete but it does list most major Adobe products; all definitions are our interpretation of the major features and purpose of each product.
Adob

Adobe Flash

Adobe Flash is a program for creating animations, presentations and interactive productions for the web.It can be used for everything from animated banners, to online training, to interactive games, to creating entire web sites and more. Flash files (.swf) can contain graphics, sounds, videos, interactivity (buttons that do something when clicked using Actionscript, the scripting language built in Flash.). A very popular technology on the web today. Flash files are played back though the "Flash Player" a browser plug in that most people already have.

Flash can also be used to encode and playback video files. All "YouTube" videos are encoded as Flash video files.

Adobe Flex

An application or framework that allows you to output swf files that are played back using the Flash Player. Flex is available as an application from Adobe: Flex Builder, or an open source application Flex 3 SDK. Much of the functionality of Flex is typically implemented using componenents (pre-build "widgets" that come with Flex). Actionscript 3.0 is also used in Flex as its scripting language (as it is in Flash). Flex also uses mxml, a custom mark-up language similiar to xml.

Flex files are used to create web applications that playback using the Flash Player, as does Flash. Flex has no animation capability but swf files created in Flash can be used in Flex. Typicallly, Flex files tend to be highly interactive web applications. Both Flash and Flex can be used to create web applications, though some applications may be more expediantly created in Flex.

Adobe AIR

Adobe Integrated Run time (AIR): desktop applications (doesn't play on the web) created in either Flex or Flash. Twitter Deck and Thwirl are AIR applications.

Adobe Dreamweaver

Adobe Dreamweaver is the industry-leading professional product for creating, maintaining and deploying web sites.

Adobe InDesign

InDesign is the industry leading product for producing page layouts for print: everything from a one page flyer, newsletter, magazine or book. InDesign files can be displayed on the web when output as .pdf files.

Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop is the industry leading product for creating and working with bitmap graphics for print or web.

Adobe Illustrator

Illustrator is the industry leading product for creating and editing graphics using vector shapes for output to print or web.

Adobe Fireworks

A product Adobe acquired from Macromedia created specifically to create graphics and related resources for the web.

Adobe Captivate

Captivate is an eLearning tool allowing you to create online present ions, as well as software demonstrations and simulations with or without interactivity.

Adobe Contribute

A product that allows people with no knowledge of the tools and techniques needed to create web pages to manage and update web sites.

Adobe Acrobat

An application that allows you to create pdf files from various sources for print or web. The resulting files may include forms, interactivivity and a variety of different media.

Adobe FrameMaker

An application typically used to create and mange long documents such as books.

Adobe Cold Fusion

A server technology and scripting language (Cold Fusion Markup Language; cfml) used for the creation and support of dynamic web sites.


Training, Consulting and Development

The Multimedia Resource Group offers training, consulting and development services using all of these products, call or email us for more information: training@multigroup.com; 408-315-8720.

If there is an Adobe product that you need more information about, whether it's on this list or not, feel free to email us with your question: training@multigroup.com

Flash CS4 Top New Features

If you're still deciding whether to upgrade or not, or just perversely curious: A list of major new features in Flash CS4. Keep in mind the Flash CS4 is the first version of Flash to be retooled under the Adobe umbrealla. (Flash CS3 was released as an Adobe product but was designed at Macromedia.) In my opinion it represents the most significant change in Flash since it was released. For many people the first three features listed below will be reason enough to upgrade.

Inverse kinematics with the Bones tool
Perhaps the coolest new feature in Flash: Create chain-like animation effects with a series of linked objects, or quickly link a single vector shape into interconnected "bones" that swivel and move using the new Bones tool. This is a boon for creating all kinds of animations from "character" animations (think cartoons) to scientific simulations. Here's an example: http://www.onemotion.com/flash/spider/ Be sure to click on the spider and drag him around.

Motion editor
Allows you to precisely control numerous parameters of an animated object including rotation, size, scale, position, filters, and more. Refine easing control with graphical displays. Again another major improvement for designer and animators as Flash begins to add some sophisticated animated controls a la After Effects.

Motion presets
Allow you to jump-start tart your project with sophisticated prebuilt animations that can be applied to any object. Essentially Motion Presets are a a library of various animated effects you can apply to an object (symbol) to animate it. Even if you don't use it on a regular basis it can safely stimulate your own creative animation juices. Select from dozens of presets or create and save your own animated effects that you may have created or tweaked with the Motion Editor as presets. These are easy to use and you can also share presets with others.

Object-based animation
This is the new way to tween (animate various properties of an object): applies tweens directly to objects (symbols) instead of to keyframes. Automatically generates an animation path and allows you to modify the path. This is the new look of “tweening” in Flash, quicker then the previous version; automatically changes the object into a Movie Clip symbol and extends the timeline 24 frames; it also automatically produces the second keyframe for you. Cool new feature, and if you want to revert to the "classic style" of tweening, you can.

3D transformation
Animate 2D objects through 3D space with new 3D translation and rotation tools, which allow you to animate along the x, y, and z axes. Apply local or global transformation to any object.

Authoring for Adobe AIR (Adobe Integrated RunTime)
Deliver interactive experiences to the desktop with new integrated capability to publish to the Adobe® AIR™ runtime. http://www.adobe.com/products/air/
If you use Twitter, you probably know TweetDeck, and TweetDeck is an Adobe Air application. Flash CS4 allows you to create AIR applications as does Adobe Flex. More on Tweetdeck: http://www.tweetdeck.com/beta/

XFL support
No, Flash is not supporting some renegade offshoot of the National Football League. XFL support however is aiding and abetting incestuous relations among the Adobe clan (gasp!) allowing you to take content from Adobe InDesign, or After Effects, save it as an .xfl file and import it in Flash and retain "file integrity". Will try to come up with some examples of this and will post more info...later. In the meantime: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/InDesign/6.0/WS2DECDF40-B6DA-40b6-804F-2703D6C6A460.html


Procedural modeling with Deco and Spray Brush new
Turn symbols into instant design tools. Apply symbols in a variety of ways: Quickly create kaleidoscope-like effects and apply fills using the Deco tool, or randomly spray symbols across any defined area using the Spray Brush. This is beefs up the designer tool chest in Flash, similar in functionality to the symbol sprayer tool in Adobe Illustrator.

Metadata (XMP) support
Add metadata to SWF files using the new XMP panel. Quickly assign tags for enhanced collaboration and better mobile experiences. (XMP is an RDF-based framework of Adobe Systems Incorporated that supports the embedding of metadata in application files.
More information on XMP is available here: http://www.adobe.com/products/xmp/overview.html

H.264 support
Flash now allows you to create and playback High Definition video, in addition to the other video formats previously supported.This is a big deal if you're a video geek, and with the cost of HD camcorders dropping we'll all soon be video geeks.