How to Copy a Web Page Into Dreamweaver (3 Steps)

By Elif Bayrasli

i Christopher Robbins/Photodisc/Getty Images

Designing a website can be difficult task when you are uncertain about what it will look like. Perusing different websites that you like can be a good idea when thinking about the look of your own website. However, there is a way to create a website similar to one that you admire. You can use the HTML source code of the webpage you like as a template for your own website. Using Adobe Dreamweaver, you can customize that template into the website you want.

Step 1

Open the browser of your choice and go to the website you would like to emulate. Find the source code for the website and copy it. Depending on which browser you are using, you will find the source code in different places.

Mozilla Firefox: Click the tab on top of the browser that says "View." From the list of drop-down options, click the second-to-last option, "Page Source." Another window will pop open containing the HTML source code. Go to the "Edit" tab, choose "Select All," and then choose "Copy" from the same drop-down list.

Internet Explorer: Find the "View" tab at the top of the browser and then select "Source" near the bottom of the list. A separate window will pop up displaying the HTML source code. Go to "Edit," choose “Select All,” and then choose "Copy" from the same drop-down list.

Step 2

Open Adobe Dreamweaver to a blank HTML page. Make sure the page is shown under the "Code" display and not under the "Design" display. You can view the three display options above the blank page: "Code," "Split" and "Design." Click the "Code" option and you will see an HTML skeleton.

Step 3

Highlight the entire page and delete the HTML skeleton. Go to "Edit" and select "Paste" to paste the HTML source code into Adobe Dreamweaver. Next, select the "Design" display, and you will see the web site design. You are now free to customize the source code or use it as a template for future website projects.

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