How I got Dreamweaver 8 + Fireworks 8 to work!

[LetsLinux]

I'm fairly new to linux - and as I am in the middle of switching completely from Windows XP to Ubuntu, there are some programs that I simply can't live without. "Sure" you might say, "There are alternatives!" True there are some alternatives - but they simply aren't good enough, at least not compared to Fireworks and Dreamweaver to some extend. So I started snooping around, since I wanted these to work in Linux - but obviously they do not work using Wine I found out. It wouldn't even begin to install.

However there is a way - it's long, tough and diehard - but I actually managed to have both programs work like a charm. This is how I did it.

I first ran through this post here at UbuntuForums.org. When I was done here, I found a great website telling exactly how to do it. I will link to it later - but I will take bit's an pieces from it - since there was a lille overkill when speaking of information.

Anyway - here I go. (Make sure Wine is installed and working. The .wine directory has to be there)

1. Make a proper installation of Dreamweaver and Fireworks in Windows XP (I know it sucks - but that's the way it is. )
2. Return to Linux (yeehaa)
3. Copy the Macromedia-folder from the c:\program files to /home/<name>/.wine/drive_c/Program Files
4. Copy the Macromed-folder from c:\windows\system32 to /home/<name>/.wine/drive_c/window/system32 (yes it's called Macromed without the ia-part)
5. Copy the Macromedia-folder from c:\documents and settings\all users\application data to /home/<name>/.wine/drive_c/Window/profile/all users/
6. Copy the Macromedia-folder from c:\program files\common files to /home/<name>/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/Common Files/

The cherry on the top of it all is the gdiplus.dll file, which you have to download from here and copy to /home/<name>/.wine/drive_c/window/system32

I did this - and it worked the first time. However, if you experience problems - you might read the whole article on how to do it. It might be as helpful to you as it was to me.

Good luck with the installation.

Jonas

[ethan@xmlstandards.org]

I realise your desire to continue using the same tools you have become accustomed to on the Windows platform, and that some of the alternatives for Linux are not as polished or perhaps as complete as the Windows options, however if you really are committed to migrating desktops (I have just done this recently) then you really should reconsider looking at other alternatives that might provide what you are looking for (don't just limit yourself to what the default repositories provide - try GnomeFiles.org).

For myself I have moved my office workstation to Ubuntu, running only what I need for web application development. I have a really well customized setup now and probably only miss Microsoft Outlook, but since I can always use webmail (Exchange) then I can still stay up to date. I don't really like OpenOffice so I choose Gnumeric and AbiWord instead, also look at Google Spreadsheet and Google Wrtitely as online alternatives.

Listen dude, Dreamweaver really sucks (been using it since version 3.0), have you tried Eclipse yet? Try out the Web Tools Platform. As for Fireworks, I love that tool too, however I have yet to come across a task I cannot complete using the GIMP. Give them a try if you can.

Please ignore my comments if they don't really apply to your particualar needs, ultimately you'll use what you find to be most productive, just give all of Linux a chance. It took me nearly six months to migrate fully from Windows.

At first I had to run Windows with VMware installed and start up a virtual machine from within Windows, then I learned how to perform a proper dual boot setup that enabled me to boot into Linux and still access "My Documents" from Ubuntu (same disk right?) then I realised that I hadn't booted into Windows for over a month. So I took the leap and have now only Linux installed on my machine and never want for Microsoft. Hopefully never again.

Very seriously. Linux makes you a better person.

Good luck

Ethan Cane

[LetsLinux]

Hi Ethan,

Thank you for your comments. It's always good that not everybody agrees on everything - it would be way to dull - and never expans ones horizon.

I for one loves the simple setup in OpenOffice and I believe their spreadsheets to be very suitable for my needs. Next edition might be able to beat Excel I hope. It runs faster than MS Office. I haven't tried Gnumeric but AbiWord reminds be too much of WordPro, which I grew to dislike a lot.

Talking about mailing programmes, well Outlook was good for me (personally) however I never used the calendar tool - as my cellular did that for me as well as my time-manager. Thunderbird suits my needs with reading and writing mails - as I don't spend much time with that when I'm off work - but I haven't tried Evolution. Is that something you can recommend?

I have found software outside the standard repository that comes with Ubuntu. But I must confess, GIMP simply doend't do it for me. I have been working with Fireworks since number 4 - and simply got the hang of it and right now, I don't want to change that. However GIMP seems to be updated frequently, so I can't say that I don't want to switch to that yet. However, I need to feel good around it before I switch. And having bought Fireworks - I might just want to have my moneys worth!

I understand what you say about Windows and the My Documents thing. Using NTFS-3g for Linux I managed to be access (read and write) my Windows partition as well. I hardly use Windows anymore, I guess it's only there by habit.

You're right, using Linux makes things a bit easier and more bright!

[Josh1]

Actually dreamweaver does not "suck", its the industry standard, and everyone uses it.
By the way, nice guide, though I could swear i've seen it around somewhere, since this is the way I did it .

[LetsLinux]

I also like Dreamweaver

By the way, yes I got the link from here as well - but it was do difficult to find. Now at least I got "Dreamweaver" "How" and "Fireworks" so it would be easier to find by doing a seach!

[Josh1]

Uploaded a screenshot to my site:
http://josh.bur.st/ubuntu/images/dreamweaver.png

edit:
By the way i had to import the regkey for dreamweaver.

[MKR.]

Actually dreamweaver does not "suck", its the industry standard, and everyone uses it.
By the way, nice guide, though I could swear i've seen it around somewhere, since this is the way I did it .

It's a matter of taste.

Industry standard doesn't equate to "best for everyone". Maya and 3dsmax are industry standard for CGI, but I find them to be painful to use, and stick to blender + wings.

Dreamweaver's functionality is mirrored in the form of several applications, but the convergence that comes from Dreamweaver is nice.

If I hadn't already become accustomed to all the editors I use, I would definately use this guide to get Dreamweaver working.

[ethan@xmlstandards.org]

Just pitching back in for five minutes.

I work in the industry, for a top 10 agency in fact in the heart of London, and in my experience Dreamweaver is far from being an industry standard. It is just the best tool around with which we have been lumbered by Macromedia/Adobe.

Honestly, not wishing to get off topic here, but sit down and try to install Eclipse (preferably the Web Tools) and get it setup correctly.

Depeding upon your needs (I am a ColdFusion/XML/XSLT/Oracle developer) install the plugins you need to be productive. There are hundreds available.

Give it a whirl and you'll honestly see why it beats Dreamweaver hands down. I know where you are coming from with your responses. I too used and swore by Dreamweaver until I found Eclispe (just like finding Jesus - -). My main gripe is down to all the little wizards and stuff it throws at you to code applications. I mean learn how to do that stuff by hand. This is my whole point about Linux making you a better person. You are truly exposed to your environment and have to learn how to do low level tasks.

Tools like Dreamweaver and Windows in general hide that sort of stuff from you, keeping you dumb and constrained to their way of doing things.

Long story short...

Install Eclipse, (do not take my word for it - ask a friend or someone you work alongside), and then create a simple project, move around the workspace and take a look at all the options it provides. It really is a powerhouse IDE, and here to stay.

Ethan Cane

PS.

If you feel like following up this discussion then I'll send you my address and we can step outside and do this thing. Biatch!

[jcrnan]

letslinux: If I were gay I would marry you

This is so awsome, I love dreamweaver and now I actualy can run it properly ^^ weeeeeeeeee

[Josh1]

Just pitching back in for five minutes.

I work in the industry, for a top 10 agency in fact in the heart of London, and in my experience Dreamweaver is far from being an industry standard. It is just the best tool around with which we have been lumbered by Macromedia/Adobe.

Honestly, not wishing to get off topic here, but sit down and try to install Eclipse (preferably the Web Tools) and get it setup correctly.

Depeding upon your needs (I am a ColdFusion/XML/XSLT/Oracle developer) install the plugins you need to be productive. There are hundreds available.

Give it a whirl and you'll honestly see why it beats Dreamweaver hands down. I know where you are coming from with your responses. I too used and swore by Dreamweaver until I found Eclispe (just like finding Jesus - -). My main gripe is down to all the little wizards and stuff it throws at you to code applications. I mean learn how to do that stuff by hand. This is my whole point about Linux making you a better person. You are truly exposed to your environment and have to learn how to do low level tasks.

Tools like Dreamweaver and Windows in general hide that sort of stuff from you, keeping you dumb and constrained to their way of doing things.

Long story short...

Install Eclipse, (do not take my word for it - ask a friend or someone you work alongside), and then create a simple project, move around the workspace and take a look at all the options it provides. It really is a powerhouse IDE, and here to stay.

Ethan Cane

PS.

If you feel like following up this discussion then I'll send you my address and we can step outside and do this thing. Biatch!

OK, I installed it by synaptic and all the other needed things to run it, but Now I can't find it in Applications.. Any idea on where it is ?
P.S:
It seems that eclipse is really good in your point of view, and before bashing a product I like to use it for a bit and see how well it performs.