Review of Macromedia Studio MX Bible (Paperback)

Samuel Johnson remarked once that learning in Scotland was like bread in a siege town.Everyone got some but none got enough to make a meal.His quip could equally apply to this book.It touches on everything, but doesn't cover anything in sufficient depth.In fact I would tend to view the book as really centered around bringing Fireworks and Freehand into play (contra Illustrator and Photoshop). Freehand and Fireworks get 200 pages each, while Flash gets 90 pages. Dreamweaver gets just under 300 pages, and the surface of many features is revealed. However, there isn't a lot of depth throughout and elaborate examples are avoided.The rest of the book is focused on Cold Fusion (which was not of interest to me).

My personal recommendation is to look at specific books for specific components. Compendium type books, often suggest more than they can deliver.

Product Description
* Provides everything Web designers need to build cutting-edge applications with Macromedia's new tool suite, which includes Dreamweaver MX, Flash MX, ColdFusion MX, Fireworks MX, and Freehand
* Covers building data-enabled sites with Dreamweaver MX, creating Flash MX animations, working with ActionScript, creating Web graphics and animations with Fireworks MX, building interactive ColdFusion MX applications, integrating Flash and ColdFusion, and drawing vector art with Freehand
* Major changes in the Macromedia MX tool suite mean even veteran developers and programmers are looking for the updates this book provides
* CD-ROM includes trial versions of the software, extensions, sample databases, images and applications

From the Back Cover
"If you are a developer using Macromedia MX technology, this is THE book to own."
-Brad Halstead, author of Dreamweaver MX Magic

If Macromedia Studio MX can do it, you can do it too . . .

If you want to develop Web sites that stop traffic on the Internet, this definitive guide to Macromedia Studio MX is essential. Aided by expert tutorials from some of the nation's top Macromedia developers, Web design guru Joyce Evans gives you an in-depth course in each application - Freehand MX, Flash MX, Dreamweaver MX, Fireworks MX, and ColdFusion MX - plus tutorials and detailed instructions for integrating their capabilities. Whether you're creating static HTML pages or interactive Flash animations and data-driven Web applications, this book will become your constant companion.

Inside, you'll find complete coverage of Macromedia Studio MX

• Use Fireworks MX to create and optimize images
• Create Web and vector graphics with Freehand MX
• Construct interactive ColdFusion MX applications and integrate ColdFusion with Flash MX
• Animate sites using Flash and work with ActionScript and Flash Remoting MX
• Develop data-enabled sites with Dreamweaver MX
• Understand how ColdFusion's programming language works behind the scenes in an application
• Integrate Flash movies and multimedia objects into Dreamweaver MX
• Apply client-side scripting and code, and use tables, snippets, and cascading style sheets

Bonus CD-ROM

• Author-created tutorials and movies
• Trial versions of Alien Skin Software's Eye Candy 4000, Splat! and Image Doctor
• Extensions, sample databases, images, and applications

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