Style Sheet preferences control how Dreamweaver writes the code that defines styles. Styles can be written in a shorthand form that some people find easier to work with. Some older versions of browsers do not correctly interpret the shorthand. Unless you want Dreamweaver to write styles in shorthand, there is no reason to change any of the Style Sheet preference.

Choose Edit > Preferences and click Style Sheets to display Style Sheet preferences. See also Style sheets overview.

Use Shorthand For determines which style attributes Dreamweaver writes in shorthand.

When Editing Existing Styles controls whether Dreamweaver rewrites existing styles in shorthand. Choose If Original Uses Shorthand to make Dreamweaver leave all styles as they are. Choose According to Checkboxes Above to make Dreamweaver rewrite styles shorthand according to the attributes specified in the Use Shorthand For checkboxes.