Background; Installing An Extension; Additional Resources For Extension Writers - MACROMEDIA DREAMWEAVER MX 2004-EXTENDING DREAMWEAVER Manual

Background

Most Dreamweaver extensions are written in HTML and JavaScript. This book assumes that you
are familiar with Dreamweaver, HTML, XML, and JavaScript programming. If you are
implementing C extensions, the book assumes that you know how to create and use C dynamic
linked libraries (DLLs). If you are writing extensions for building web applications, you should
also be familiar with server-side scripting on at least one platform, such as Active Server Pages
(ASP), ASP.net, PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), ColdFusion, or Java Server Pages (JSP).

Installing an extension

As you become familiar with the process of writing extensions, you might want to explore the
extensions and resources that are available through the Macromedia Exchange website
(www.macromedia.com/exchange). Installing an existing extension introduces you to some of the
tools that you need to work with in your own extensions.
To install an extension, use the following procedure:
Download and install the Extension Manager, which is available on the Macromedia
1
Downloads website (www.macromedia.com/software/downloads).
Log on to the Macromedia Exchange website (www.macromedia.com/exchange).
2
From the available extensions, select one that you want to use. Click the Download link to
3
download the extension package.
Save the extension package in the Dreamweaver MX 2004/Downloaded Extensions folder of
4
your installed Dreamweaver folder.
In the Extension Manager, select File > Install Extension. In Dreamweaver, select
5
Commands > Manage Extensions to start the Extension Manager.
The Extension Manager automatically installs the extension from the Downloaded Extension
folder into Dreamweaver.
Some extensions need Dreamweaver to restart before you can use them. If you are running
Dreamweaver when you install the extension, you might be prompted to quit and restart
the application.
To view basic information on the extension after its installation, go to the Extension Manager
(Commands > Manage Extensions) in Dreamweaver.

Additional resources for extension writers

To communicate with other developers who are involved in writing extensions, you might want
to join the Dreamweaver extensibility newsgroup. You can access the website for this newsgroup
at www.macromedia.com/go/extending_newsgrp/.
14 Chapter 1: Introduction