[SOLVED] Fundamental issue with coding in dreamweaver cs3

Hi guys,

I've being developing websites using xhtml and css before, and dreamweaver  cs3 was great for that, but when I'm now programming with php and mysql, I found it was nearly no better than notepad.

First, the auto-code completion when I enter </ for html doesn't work anymore as long as it's within the <?php ?> tags. It only shows the code hint, making it a lot longer to code if I want to include html stuff in there. eg. I enter <table></  inside <?php ?> tags and it doesn't automatically complete </table> for me anymore, like what it does when it's outside of <?php ?> tags.

Also there is no effective code hint for php as well. eg. When I start typing a function, it only gives me the format of the function and not the codes available in which I could choose from and then simply press enter (like how in normal html when I type < it gives me all the available tags like <p>, <h1>...) . This essentially means I have to type out every php function completely by hand! I thought dreamweaver was MADE FOR programming. What's the problem. Can the above be solved or what is it. Because it really annoys me that I have to remember or look up every function every time!

If dreamweaver cannot do some effective code hint, anyone know a better editor?

Thanks.

I'm used to dreamweaver right now so if possible I want to stick to it. For people programming in dreamweaver, how do you guys this with the problems I mentioned? Is there a way around that or is there something I didn't turn on? Or is it just that all programmers remember all their functions by heart?

I am still running DW MX. Auto code completion I find no help. Get used to writing code and not having an IDE do it for you. It will help you remember functions and how to use them correctly. As far as auto-completion of HTML open up a second page and create your HTML within, then copy into your code area. I prefer to use the smarty template engine to separate all presentation from logic. You will have no issues using tpl files in DW.

http://smarty.net

i agree that dreamweaver could be a much better code editor. but just a quick tip, if you start typing out a function, hit ctrl + space... that will bring up a window with a list of function beginning with what you typed...

if you want a more full blown ide, try eclipse for php... i use it once in a while, might be more of what you are looking for. and it's free.

http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/

Thanks for the help guys. really really appreicate it. Just one more dumb quesiton. For the crtl +space thing that you mentiond, it doesn't quite work for me.

I typed:  echo date(  within php tags and then pressed crtl +space, but nothing showed up. Any ideas?

You had too much of the function already (date() is the only one that matches... so it thinks you have already found the one you need)

Type d then hit control + space

because date is a function. It is for suggesting functions i.e type str then press CTRL+SPACE

ok got it, thanks a bunch