Hello,

I'm new to coffeecup software. I've only purchased the RED designer. What is the difference between the Layout and the site designer?

Thanks

With the layout maker (RLM) you can build the 'skeleton' of your website, with the site designer (RSD) you can build the skeleton plus add the actual contents. They both work similarly to RED, but you have a number of more options.

Since we have received this question a few times now Suzanne started writing a more elaborate explanation about Responsive Design Workflow and how Responsive Layout Maker & Designer complement each other.

I'm using Site Designer to create basic structures, but occasionally find the need to edit the HTML/CSS directly. Any way to get manual changes back into the .rsd?

Any changes made outside of RSD or RLM will be lost the next time you make any modifications. If you find you need to edit the CSS, you should create a custom.css file and link that into the software. This way all you need to make changes to is that single CSS file.

I only use VSD and am not familiar with RED but I want and have to, go responsive. In the most simplistic view of this, is RSD essentially VSD with responsive functionality?

Yes

And after you get used to that part RSD will offer a lot of additional powers to create stellar design. We've been mentioning 'the stellar parts' mostly up to now, but started a tutorial that shows how a static/VSD site can be transformed to a responsive design with just a few additional things to take into account. Not too bad to wrap your head around by yourself either, but the tutorial should be up there in a few days.