Using Dynamic HTML and Layers

The three main components of DHTML are

• layers
• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and
• JavaScript

"Layers" is a Dreamweaver term. Layers are implemented via <div> tags, which logically divide a web page into sections.  Layers have two interesting attributes:

• Visibility: this property allows you to hide the content of a layer and then trigger its appearance ehen the user performs an action on the screen.
• Z-index: layers can be stacked.

The simplest way to create a layer in Dreamweaver is to use Draw Layer from the Layout menu.

Dreamweaver can animate with Timelines.  Images cannot move around the screen unless they are contained in a layer.  To record an animation path:

• Turn off Prevent Overlaps in the Layers panel if you want images to be able to move over other layers.
• Select the layer you want to animate.  A layer must be selected for the Record Path of Layer command to be active.
• Select the Record Path of Layer command under Modify | Timeline.
• Make sure the playback head in the Timelines panel is on frame one.
• Pick up the layer's move handle and drag the layer on the path you want.  A dotted line marks the path.
• When you release the mouse button the path becomes a solid line.

Turn on cog_layer visibility | Turn off cog_layer visibility | Pop-up message |