Macromedia  Fireworks MX 2004 Syllabus and Assignment Sheet
 

Texts:	Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004 Training from the Source Author: Patti Schulze Cost:  $46.00 ISBN:  0-321-21340-8
Hours:	An estimated 90 hours depending on computer experience, knowledge of Windows 2000, and data entry speed.
	Macromedia Project (Includes Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Flash)

Required textbooks are available in class or you can purchase from http://www.amazon.com or http://www.bookpool.com.  It is recommended that you purchase additional text/reference books on each subject to further enhance your knowledge and meet your individual learning style.  

General Directions:

Files

The files that you need for this book are located on the CD in the back of of the  book in a folder called Lessons. I recommend that you create a folder in your network directory (PM folder) called fireworksmx.  Copy the Lessons folders on the CD into the fireworksmx folder in your user directory.  If you need a brush up on file management, review the tutorials that I've listed here http://www.tinkertech.net/octWeb03.htm#file.   Please do not copy  software folder to your user directory, this folder consumes a lot of space on our server. 

If necessary, ask an instructor to assist you in copying the student files to your network folder. You will save and open files to the network folder always. The book indicates that you should work from the Desktop, please ignore this direction and work only from the fireworksmx folder you created in your PM directory. 

When you copy files from a CD they will be marked as "Read Only".  This means that you cannot make changes to the file.  You can turn off the read only attributes in Windows Explorer or My Computer.  In either of those applications, right click the folder that contains read only files (this would be the Lessons folder) and select Properties.  Uncheck the Read-only attribute and click Apply. At the Confirm Attribute Changes dialog box select Apply changes to this folder, subfolder and files and click OK. 

Save your files in the corresponding lesson folder with the exact name that the manual indicates. 

Complete each exercise in the book unless otherwise noted.  Save your completed work with whatever filename you like.

Backing up Your Student Files:

You should periodically back up your student files to CD.  Instructions for creating a data CD are here (Word document format).

Tutorial CDs:

We have tutorial CDs available for your use in the classroom for Dreamweaver, Fireworks, & Flash.  I highly recommend completing the tutorial CDs prior to starting the books.  To use a CD you must sit along the side "window wall" or in the back row in front of the instructor area.  Ask your instructor for the CDs when you need them.   Videos are also available for Flash and Fireworks.

Review the Firewoks MX tutorial in the program.  Start Fireworks, click Help > Welcome. Complete both the Graphic Design and Web Design tutorials. 

Starting the Program

To launch Fireworks MX 2004 click Start > Programs > Web Design > Macromedia > Macromedia Fireworks MX 2004

Additional Resources:

Studio MX Resources - http://www.tinkertech.net/cbea
http://www.putertutor.net
http://www.tinkertech.net 
http://www.macromedia.com/support/fireworks/tutorial_index.html

It is highly recommended that you purchase additional textbooks for the Macromedia Suite.  See http://pclab.cccoe.k12.ca.us/Webdes/wdresour.htm  information for additional textbook resources.

Errors/Issues:

Lesson 9

Page 223 Note Section - You may have a problem trying to click preview in browser in the classroom.  This has to do with our network rights.  If you save the file as a gif then you will be able to preview the file in the browser.

Lesson 10

Page 246 - When you import the clipboard file and then rotate it the image may become distorted.  Instead of importing the image, open the clipboard file and select the entire image (CTRL+A) and copy it.  Switch to the facts.png file and select Edit > Page.   Group the image and then apply the rotation.

Additional Tutorials:

Review the following tutorials before you begin your final project:

SmartWebby - http://www.smartWebby.com/Web_site_design/fireworks_tutorial.asp
http://www.smartWebby.com/Web_site_design/fireworks_tips.asp
Slicing Tutorial - http://www.wise-women.org/tutorials/fwmx/
Building an Interface in Fireworks - http://www.ultraweaver.com/tutorials/interface/index.htm
Creative Masking Techniques in Fireworks MX - http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/studio/articles/fwmx_masking.html
Create a Collage - http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1050/1
Gizmo Interface Tutorial - http://www.acraigie.com/gizmo_tutorial/default.htm
MX Community - http://www.communitymx.com/category.cfm?catid=3
informIT - Article
Using Fireworks with Flash - http://www.sitepoint.com/blog-post-view.php?id=160328&ct=1
Fireworks MX Tutorial - http://tac.nvcc.edu/fireworksMX/Index.html
Creating a Layout with Fireworks MX 2004 and Dreamweaver MX 2004 - http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/fireworks/articles/layout_editing_print.html
Ultraweaver - http://www.ultraweaver.com/
Creating a Collage with Fireworks - http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/fireworks/articles/collage_print.html
Working with Fireworks MX buttons and navigation bars - http://www.macromedia.com/support/fireworks/buttons/working_fw_bttn_nav_bars/
Macromedia Fireworks Developer's Center - http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/fireworks/ - Be sure to check the tutorial index here http://www.macromedia.com/support/fireworks/tutorial_index.html
Using Fireworks Navigation in Dreamweaver - http://www.joycejevans.com/tutorials/DWtutorials/Fw_nav/fw_nav.htm

Macromedia Project (Includes Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Flash)