How Object Files Work - MACROMEDIA DREAMWEAVER 8-EXTENDING DREAMWEAVER Manual

How object files work

Objects have the following components:
The HTML file that defines what is inserted into a document
The section of an Object file contains JavaScript functions (or references external
HEAD
JavaScript files) that process form input from the
added to the user's document.The
accepts parameters for the object (for example, the number of rows and columns to insert
in a table) and activates a dialog box for users to input attributes.
The simplest objects contain only the HTML to insert, without a BODY and HEAD tag.
For more information, see "Customizing Dreamweaver" on the Macromedia Support
Center.
The 18 x 18 pixel image that appears on the Insert bar
Additions to the insertbar.xml file. The insertbar.xml file defines where the object appears
on the Insert bar.
When a user selects an object by clicking an icon on the Insert bar or by selecting an item on
the Insert menu, the following events occur:
1. Dreamweaver calls the
dialog box.
2. The Object file is scanned for a
When Inserting Objects option in the General Preferences dialog box, Dreamweaver calls
the
windowDimensions()
which to display the form. If no form exists in the Object file, Dreamweaver does not
display a dialog box, and skips step 2.
3.
If Dreamweaver displays a dialog box in step 1, the user enters parameters for the object
(such as the number of rows and columns in a table) in the dialog box text fields and clicks
OK.
4. Dreamweaver calls the
after the current selection. (It does not replace the current selection.)
5. If Dreamweaver does not find the
function and calls that function instead.
140 Insert Bar Objects
of an Object file can contain an HTML form that
BODY
canInsertObject()
tag. If a form exists and you select the Show Dialog
FORM
function, if defined, to determine the size of the dialog box in
function and inserts its return value in the document
objectTag()
objectTag()
section and control what content is
BODY
function to determine whether to show a
function, it looks for an
insertObject()