Dreamweaver MX: The Missing Manual

Setting Up Dreamweaver for Dynamic Web Sites

Now that your head is spinning, and you’re considering some noble career alternative like farmer, firefighter, or carpenter, it’s time to set up Dreamweaver to work with an application server and database.

One approach involves using what Dreamweaver calls a testing server. Do you remember how you can create a Web site on your own computer (the local site) before posting it online for all to see (the remote site)? Here, the concept is similar. While your site is still a work in progress, you can create a testing server for storing and previewing dynamic pages in progress: a real Web server, application server, and database running on your computer.

Then, when you’ve finished the site, you can transfer the pages to the remote site using Dreamweaver’s FTP feature (page 478). If you’re working with other Web developers, the testing server can be on a machine that’s part of your group’s local network. Each developer can then connect to the testing server and retrieve files to work on. (Using the Check In/Check Out feature [page 494] is a good idea here.)

Note

You can always use your remote site as a testing server, as long as it has one of the application servers and databases that Dreamweaver offers. While this is an easy way to get started, contact your Web host to see what application server it uses and whether it can handle databases. You also need a fast Internet connection to the server; otherwise, testing your dynamic pages may just test ...