Difference Between MX Flash & Dreamweaver
Web developers have utilized the Flash and Dreamweaver applications for years in the creation of cutting-edge and interactive websites. From their origins as offerings from the now-defunct company Macromedia to their current status as key products in Adobe's suite of applications, Flash and Dreamweaver have played a large role in the way the World Wide Web looks, feels and works today. But what is precisely the difference between these two programs?
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Web Development Basics
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HTML, which stands for hypertext markup language, constitutes the computer code that controls all aspects of the World Wide Web. It also serves as the foundation for other computer languages and technologies related to the Web. A key feature of HTML, for instance, is the ability to place connections between pages via hypertext links. Despite its power, HTML has limitations, according to the book "HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide" (See Reference 1), so new technologies were developed to expand the scope of HTML. These include XHTML, a more standardized extension of HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), to better control the web page's style and appearance, and Javascript, which enables interactivity within the web page. Database-driven dynamic websites also rely on other script languages like .NET or PHP.
Flash Sites
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The aforementioned technologies enable any developer to produce quality professional websites. However, for that little bit of pizazz like the ability to play video and deploy high-end visual presentations, many developers rely on Flash technology. The difference between a HTML-based website and a purely Flash-based website is readily apparent. You can tell if a website is purely Flash-based if you right click on any element in the page and see just a couple of commands like "Zoom In". In a HTML-based web page, you would have the option of saving an image, for example, or copying a piece of text. Elaborate Flash websites also tend to require loading times as soon as you enter. To see all Flash content, you need to first install a plug-in, or an application that complements your web browser. Many websites combine elements of both technologies, mostly serving content through HTML and advertisements with Flash. In all, whenever you see video or animation in a web page, it's probably Flash-based.
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Dreamweaver
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Dreamweaver essentially lets users and developers produce and manage a website from the ground up. It works directly with HTML and Web technologies that use HTML as a foundation. According to Adobe, the program lets users design the webpage visually or by code. Dreamweaver leans heavily on CSS-based web design while also maintaining strict HTML standards. A common layout for the application consists of three windows: a code window on the upper left side of the screen, a visual representation of the page below it and a list of commands, hierarchies and linked files on the right side of the screen (this layout can change to the user's desire). The application also lets you ensure your baby website will be compatible with every web browser out there.
Flash
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Flash began primarily as a tool for Web animation and complex visual interaction, according to the Flash CS3 Professional Bible (See Reference 2). Over time, Flash also became a programming platform with the development of Actionscript, a language that allows for deeper interactivity with Flash-based objects, like for example games. Through Actionscript, Flash also enables the creation of so-called rich Internet applications, which are nothing more than webpages that work uncannily like desktop programs (for example, a word processor). The typical layout of a Flash project differs from that of Dreamweaver, resembling more like a video editing application. Common elements include a timeline on which you can manipulate objects frame by frame, as well as a viewer and a list of commands, files and properties.
Distinctions
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Dreamweaver and Flash closely relate in the terms of the end results. Both programs generate content for the Web, while features like the ability to import Flash files into Dreamweaver further blur the line between the two. However, Flash has also been used to generate animation for different types of media apart from the Web, such as television. Flash-produced content also sets itself apart from the HTML-based projects from Dreamweaver, particularly in terms of visual presentation. Think of Flash as a tool that leans more towards media production for the Web, while Dreamweaver tends to take care of the logistics aspects of a website, its internal code and its adherence to standards. Lastly, consider that Flash files need to reside inside an HTML file in order to show on a web browser, so aspiring developers still need to learn to use applications like Dreamweaver if they want to produce Flash content for the Web.
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