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The release of a new version of Dreamweaver should be a great day for intranet developers, like a designer exploring a new version of Photoshop or a writer trying out a new version of Word. You get to see what features your favorite tool has added, and experiment with them in your work.

Adobe Dreamweaver mastered the basics of intuitive site construction long ago, when it was still Macromedia Dreamweaver, so the updates now focus on adding advanced functionality and interactivity.

Get Spry

Many of the improvements to Dreamweaver CS3 allow you to use the Spry framework for creating interactive pages. Spry, for those who don't know, is a framework for Ajax, a Web development technique for creating rich database-driven pages that require fewer server calls. Dreamweaver's support of Spry lets you add interactivity to Ajax pages and infuse your own HTML with Ajax coding. You can add Spry effects quickly by grabbing pre-made Spry widgets from Dreamweaver's Insert Bar, then use the Property Inspector to customize them. Dreamweaver even makes it easy to view the code for Spry widgets, so that you can edit them, if need be.

If Spry is new to you and you're not sure how to start, don't worry: just run the video tutorials that come with the Dreamweaver standalone application or Dreamweaver in any of the CS3 bundles. You'll find simple lessons that cover inserting Spry effects.

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The Photoshop Connection

One of the advantages of Dreamweaver and Photoshop being owned by the same company is that exchanging files between the two is now far simpler. Most site designs begin as Photoshop mock-ups, so it makes sense that users can now easily pass designs from Photoshop to Dreamweaver. If you need to edit an image on your site, you can also pass it back and work in Photoshop.

Compatibility Check

If you've got a large user-base logging onto your intranet with a variety of Web browsers, you'll appreciate the new compatibility system in Dreamweaver CS3. It lets you check pages for browser issues, then helps you fix them. When you've found a CSS issue you want to correct, Dreamweaver will connect you to a known CSS issue database on the Adobe site that lists both the problems and their solutions.

Easier CSS

The Dreamweaver developers have noticed that many people aren't using the full potential of cascading style sheets (CSS) -- they're useful for more than just styling text -- and they want to help out. Dreamweaver CS3 adds a page of CSS starter layouts, so you can easily get started with CSS. Comments built into the layouts help people who are new to CSS get started. Plus, the starter pages are unstyled, so that you're free to unleash your creative powers.

Mobile Impressions

If you've got a mobile group of workers using your intranet, you'll appreciate the new Device Central, which lets you view exactly how your pages will look on a variety of mobile devices. The device definitions will constantly be updated, so that you can preview your pages on even the newest devices.

Dreamweaver CS3 offers features for both new and advanced users. Pick it up and see what you can add to your intranet.

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