Dreamweaver UltraDev Software Review

"Macromedia introduces Dreamweaver UltraDev as a professional visual editor for building Web applications." That, it is! I speak of a Web application as several pages that interact with each other and with various resources on a Web server, including databases. "UltraDev is also a professional editor for creating and managing Web sites and pages. UltraDev makes it easy to create, manage, edit cross-platform, cross-browser Web pages." There is a lot more to say about this product.

UltraDev combines Dreamweaver with the database connectivity program Macromedia Drumbeat. See the Reviews Page at www.cfcs.org for a review of Drumbeat.

Reviewing UltraDev could not be done without learning/reviewing Dreamweaver 3. Having used a couple other well-known editors, I thought I was ready for Dreamweaver. Well, I must say, I was not. I dug into the Dreamweaver tutorial and book to find the location of what I needed. I soon learned that the Windows drop-downs carried all the functions. I checked out the objects palette and was amazed that, with a click of the button, you could insert Java and Flash movies. I will admit, at first, all was foreign, but soon I found the dynamics of this program.

UltraDev had it all: my frames capabilities, forms, trademark codings, and much more.

When I finished setting my preferences with color-coding for easy editing, HTML could be done in a flash, but then I found the HTML checker. Chilling, when I think of the hand-coding hours I could have saved in the past with this little goodie.

With the root folder in place, and my site planned and defined, my decision now was whether to go with a template, bring in a former page, or create away.

I came to love the library, as it had my most recent change in any particular object, and any use was changed cross-site.

There are guided tour "show me" movies, and the tutorials work you through Dreamweaver to UltraDev:

1. Organizing your files, creating folders and site folders on your disk drive.
2. Defining a local site, naming it, and specifying the server technology for that site.
3. Defining a remote site and configuring the live data window/bindings (creating the database connections).

To work with UltraDev, you need to be familiar with database, recordsets and these terms:

1. Database -- a collection of records made of bits of information stored in fields.
2. Dynamic pages -- a page modified by the Web server before it is sent to the browser (i.e., a search page text or image/objects can be dynamic).
3. Server technology (ASP, JSP, Cold Fusion -- gives you the ability to modify a page at run time).
4. Server behavior -- instructions inserted in a Web page at time of design that the server executes at run time.

You will need a way to store and retrieve data on the server. UltraDev is compatible with some low cost applications like MS Access, Lotus Approach and even spreadsheets Lotus or Excel. Larger business-critical applications compatible with UltraDev are Microsoft SQL or Oracle 8i.

OK, the database is ready and connected. You build a master page to allow the view of summaries and a detail page to allow the user to choose. Interactive Pages! For example, my use of the application could be a summary of all CFCS Reviews (stored in the database) with the user choosing one to view, or one written by a certain author, or all on a certain subject.

When finished with creating, binding data and adding server behavior, you can make sure it looks as you planned. Ultra Dev supplies several ways for editing and debugging dynamic pages:

1. Traditional Document Window View Editing (Ok for pages with no dynamic content).
2. Live Data Window -- Displays live data, dynamic content. You can preview in the browser and interact. (Links don't work here; test with the Preview in Browser feature.)
3. Edit HTML Source code in the HTML Source Inspector or Quick Tag Editor, either in the document or live window.
4. Edit data formats or create new ones.

You can make basic changes in a page in the Data Window or Live Data Window. You can change the content of recordsets, and even add fields or change the number of recordsets. After adding dynamic content, you may replace your data source, which provides that content.

You say, why do I need UltraDev?

Well, do you need database search capabilities?
Do you need dynamic HTML?
Do you need to integrate content from Microsoft Office, Macromedia Fireworks, Flash, Shockwave, and other leading applications?
Do you need dynamic content (content modified at run time by the server before it hits the requested browser; hence, database-driven pages)?
Do you want to see your dynamic data?
If so, UltraDev allows you to perform these tasks and more. Display sample data in Live Data Window and design around it. Test the interactions using the Preview in Browser feature.

Drumbeat's Smart Pages (a re-direct to users for the appropriate browser) are not called that here, but UltraDev takes you one step further. Do you need reporting that tests your site against specific browsers? This UltraDev feature will help you design separate pages for different browsers or satisfy requirements for more than one browser. You are not limited to just four browser types.

Now, with the knowledge of the program's interface and capabilities, created pages will be more professional in less time. These pages will also contain more detailed information and options for the user, thus promoting increased knowledge to those visiting my site. In my opinion, this program would be of great benefit and program of choice in creating E-Commerce Sites, Medical Search/Research Sites, Interactive Educational and Game Sites, and more!

Reviewed by: B. Travis

System Requirements for PC are:

• Intel 166 or higher
• Windows 95-98 NT 4.0 with Service Pak 5 or WIN 2000
• 48 MB RAM 30 MB available disk space
• If Office 2000 not installed, Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.1
• If using JDBC to connect to the database, Sun's Java Development Kit 1.1.8
• Macromedia Shockwave 8 to view movies and guided tours.
  

To run dynamic pages you need an application server.

These server examples will run pages created in UltraDev:

• Microsoft Active Server (ASP),
• Sun Java Server Pages (JSP v 1.1), or
• Allaires Cold Fusion.

Server Supporting List:

1. ASP -

• Microsoft Informational Services (IIS)
• Microsoft Personal Web Server (PWS)
• Any server with latest version Chili!Soft ASP

2. JSP

• IBM Web Sphere
• Allaire J Run 2.3.3
• Any server that supports JSP 1.0

3. Cold Fusion -- any server with Allaire Cold Fusion 4.0 or later

Attn: Drumbeat Users!

For you Drumbeat users, UltraDev has many new features to aid you.

You can quickly build tables with predefined and editable formats, and include color and layouts that are browser-safe.

You can easily connect to any ODBC, JDBC, ADO databases; connect, browse and test against industry-standard databases (i.e., Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle8i).

Edit, as well as preview, live server-side data in workspace.

You can work with existing HTML and ASP sites with UltraDev's site map, allowing connection to any directory structure to manage your files.

Check out the rest for yourself. Former users will find most familiar features in the UltraDev, but in different locations. A table is supplied for easy access/comparison.

You have choices concerning your old Drumbeat pages:

1. You may convert then to UltraDev design.
2. You may rebuild then from scratch using the design tools.
3. Keep the pages with code intact and add them to your site map. You would then, on new pages, set up links. You cannot use the live data window to preview dynamic data, but UltraDev can transfer them to the server.

The choice would depend on how many changes you need to make. Converting may take several steps, depending on how complex or customized your pages, etc. Again, the manual walks you through, step by step.

Macromedia UltraDev packages can be purchased through: www.macromedia.com.

 Prices range $599.00 - $699.00 (packaged with Fireworks Studio).