I had a site that I let go a few years ago and about 4 months ago set up a new one with just a front page created in VSD. I have been intending on working on the site and then received an email about RSD. Considering the new technology available I think it would be best to leave VSD behind and try RSD, but frankly I am a bit nervous. I have been playing with the RSD and looking at some tutorials. It says no HTML required and although I do tinker with it I don't have extensive knowledge. RSD seems to have a pretty big learning curve but I think I can manage it. After looking through the forums and playing with RSD I have some questions. I read a thread about RLM vs RSD and wonder if I have to have both. It seems that RLM is part of RSD or have I misunderstood? I should be able to build a site start to finish with just RSD, correct?

As an overwhelmed newcomer to RSD, I should be able to use the a template and make adjustments to personalize it to my liking pretty easily, correct? I am hoping that I can start with a template and learn from there. Many of my past site designs started as templates and then took on a life of their own as I learned how to get around the software. I assume the same would be true with RSD. I have the trial as stated earlier, but can't find any template to play with. It would be nice if there was something available even the most basic template just to play with the software and see a working design and how it is arranged.

I also see that RSD has a publish button but that only publishes to SDrive. Is there no built in FTP like the old VSD? I can't seem to find much on the publishing side of RSD.
Thanks in advance for the help!

Responsive Layout Maker is great if you're the kind of designer who likes to get "under the hood" and work with code. RLM solves one of the biggest challenges in responsive design, having a flexible core which can adapt based on the viewer’s screen size. In a nutshell, Responsive Layout Maker creates a responsive prototype website (called a layout). You build the structure of your website in Responsive Layout Maker and then export to any code editor to add your final content and design styles.

Responsive Site Designer on the other hand, allows you to add the design layer visually without having to dive into the code. These design tools allow you to add background images, gradients, shadow, radius, and set state functionality (hover, active, visited). There's more cool stuff like a web inspector tool, adding meta data and footer code, integrating and customizing font icons (1200+ icons come with the app) and more.

Get more details on the comparison here: http://www.coffeecup.com/help/articles/1423




Learning responsive design can take a little time to master. But we have a bunch of articles on RSD to help you get more familiar with how this app works. Our Quick Start Guide is very helpful when getting started. We also have a new step-by-step tutorial which will walk you through transforming a static site to a responsive one that is perfect when you are just starting out. http://www.coffeecup.com/help/articles/1430

If you are a visual based learner, a new tutorial has been posted that breaks down the creation of a responsive page in just 5 steps. This article is unique as it includes 8 instructional videos. Check it out at: http://www.coffeecup.com/help/articles/1449



Currently, we only allow direct publishing to S-Drive. However, you can export your website using any FTP program; such as Places or Direct FTP. To do this, click the Export button on the toolbar and export the project to your desired location. Now, use any FTP program to upload your website to your server and you should be good to go!

If you find this process difficult, you will find using the one-click publishing feature in the program very easy! Simply setup a Sdrive account, and in RSD go to Settings > Publish, enter your CoffeeCup username and password, choose the address you wish to publish to and click publish! Yes, it is that easy.

There are a few themes available for the RSD. I think that there is a theme pack that you can purchase. I had the RLMP pre release so I had made my layout for my site before and imported it into the RSD, but you can do it all from scratch with the RSD if you want. The having the RLMP then was mainly to get a head start on the learning curve for the
RSD. You do need to buy the menu builder and button maker. Is nice to have the image mapper and the sitemapper too. My site is hosted on S-drive so I do not need the FTP but I have it anyway and use it sometimes. I used it to make some changes to my old VSD site because I had lost the .vnu record file and so I could not update it or make changes to the site except manually with the FTP. You will probably want to get the forms app too. Then there is the new responsive content slider. I find that you pretty much really need all of the apps that I have mentioned. It is nice to have the website insight and responsive email designer. You get the best deal with the super pack. Wonder when the new content slider is going to make it to that?
I had bought the super pack a little over 3 years ago for making my sight with the VSD. Most of them are now free and most of them i did not use and I have had to buy lots of new ones as they have been coming out. That is just the nature of this internet it is constantly evolving.
I am a painting contractor who makes his own web site and have been able to do it with this software and some help from the forums and some help from trouble reports. But you do have to read a lot of information. do many google searches. Read much google tech stuff. spend hours and hours and hours working on the site. If you want to do your own site and put in the time and effort, you will most likely be able to do it. The fact that you had made a VSD site means that you can do it again with the new software.

I'm looking at the trial version. Is there a place to set up the site? I followed the file structure and it took me way deep into Library/Application something. Dreamweaver let me have the site files in a specified "documents" folder. (I'm using Mac). Can I do the same thing here?

Disappointed that I cannot upload to my ISP directly through your program. Now I have to get more software for FTP. REALLY??? This is uncool, guys. I will give your fabulous software a good try-out, but I would truly prefer to have just one package that does it all.

AND no manual??? yikes

They do have a free ftp app.
http://www.coffeecup.com/free-ftp/

You can save your project in any folder you like. We provide no limitations or restrictions in RSD that would prevent you from choosing your own path. As to uploading, we actually provide you with more control by allowing you to upload your website with any program. Simply export your website and upload it with whatever FTP program you prefer to use. If you don't have an FTP program, we offer a free one or you can find countless ones to choose from by search Google.

As to a manual, of course there is a manual. Did you go to the Help Menu?

Learning responsive design can take a little time to master. But we have a bunch of articles on RSD to help you get more familiar with how this app works. Our Quick Start Guide is very helpful when getting started. We also have a new step-by-step tutorial which will walk you through transforming a static site to a responsive one that is perfect when you are just starting out. http://www.coffeecup.com/help/articles/1430

If you are a visual based learner, a new tutorial has been posted that breaks down the creation of a responsive page in just 5 steps. This article is unique as it includes 8 instructional videos. Check it out at: http://www.coffeecup.com/help/articles/1449

Thanks, Scott for your input. I have found everything you've mentioned, altho the "manual" I'm guessing would be the series of articles and the Quick Start Guide and the videos. I'm working my way thru all of that. Which I'm finding is very difficult because there are so many links going to other stuff, and after awhile it just gets diskombobulating. Please tell me if there is an actual intact pdf manual that i can put on my ipad and study when I'm away from this computer. It would be a big help. I'm a fan of Dreamweaver but not their subscriptions, and I cannot believe that A. there i s not DW substitute out there, and B. there is so much crap in the form of website software- and I know this from personal experience. So I would like very much to find something that is powerful, intelligible to a non-nerd, and and that I can work with creatively and that will produce a beautiful site. I hope that is your software because I'm really tired of this shopping experience. !

Hi, I retired and stopped creating sites full time in 1999. CSS was really new at that time. Ever since when ever a friend asks me to do a site for them I have always used your HTML Editor, unfortunately each time I have to almost start all over with CSS, so some terms in RSD aren't at first glance familiar to me. As I start my newest web site venture using HTML Editor, can I at sometime when I feel comfortable with what I am doing again be able to open the project with RSD and make any adjustments to ensure it works well under all circumstances?
Thanks

Hi Dom,
You can alter a RSD page with the HTML Editor but you can't open a HTML page made with another Editor with RSD.

I have seen similar questions pop up a few times and I am not understanding why.

We have a link to the (frequently updated) help guide right under the help menu in the app. This also links to an index with a list of about 30 topics, including a bunch of video tutorials, so people can find what they are looking for fast.

Should we add a link from the product page as well maybe?