How to start from Scratch ?

[eluser]PhilTem[/eluser]
The use of any framework is providing tools that you will most likely need during every project's development like a database class, a security class, a form-helper, a html-table class, and stuff like that.
You can see Codeigniter any a lot of other frameworks maybe like a toolbox which has a power extension cord, hammers, nails, screws, and other tools. That way you can use your knowledge of building a table and the provided tools to quickly build the table.
If you hadn't have a framework/toolbox, you would have to first create the tools you need. For every project. Every time.

Using Dreamweaver for developing a CI-based app is quite easy. Just navigate to the folder of your codeigniter installation and start coding in the respective folders - controllers in controllers, models in models, libraries in libraries, and so on and so forth.