Chapter 1: Extending Fireworks Overview; Prerequisites - MACROMEDIA FIREWORKS 8-EXTENDING FIREWORKS Manual

CHAPTER 1
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Extending Fireworks
Overview
To extend Macromedia Fireworks 8, you must write JavaScript code. You can use JavaScript to
write your own objects and commands that affect Fireworks documents and the elements
within them. To accomplish these tasks, you must be proficient in JavaScript and
in Fireworks.
This guide introduces the Fireworks Object Model, explains how to write cross-product
extensions (extensions written in, or for, other Macromedia applications), and discusses the
JavaScript Auto Shape construction. The final chapter is a reference to the Fireworks
JavaScript application programming interface (API)—the custom JavaScript functions that
are built into Fireworks.

Prerequisites

Because Fireworks extensions must be written in JavaScript, this guide assumes that readers
are familiar with JavaScript syntax and with basic programming concepts such as functions,
arguments, and data types. It also assumes that readers understand the concept of working
with objects and properties. This guide does not attempt to teach programming in general or
JavaScript in particular.
Anyone who wants to extend Fireworks should have a good JavaScript reference to help with
syntax questions (for example, is it or ?). Useful JavaScript
substring() subString()
references include JavaScript Bible by Danny Goodman (IDG), JavaScript: The Definitive
Guide by David Flanagan (O'Reilly), and Pure JavaScript by R. Allen Wyke, Jason D. Gilliam,
and Charlton Ting (Sams).
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