Getting Started with Dreamweaver Extensions

Over the past few years, Macromedia Dreamweaver has become the visual editor of choice for web developers. It has proven to be a very solid program that appeals to both designers and programmers alike. Dreamweaver has caused designers to be more code conscious, and Programmers to be more design conscious. Each version that is released continues to improve upon the last, and the feature set is simply outstanding.

One of the most overlooked and underappreciated features of Dreamweaver is the ability to use application Extensions. Dreamweaver Extensions have the ability to add functionality, efficiency, and more power to your websites.

This article will review what is required to use extensions, the different types of extensions, how they are used, and even how to develop your own.

What is required to use Extensions?

Dreamweaver has supported the use of Extensions since version 1.0. If you are up to date, you will be running Dreamweaver MX at the time of this writing. First, you will need to visit the Macromedia Exchange Website. This website is the best source of information for downloading, using, and supporting Dreamweaver Extensions. It offers information about version compatibility, reviews, links, and everything you need to get started.

You will need to install the Extension Manager which is available to download for free from Macromedia.

The Exchange offers extensions that are organized into categories. Here is a list of categories with descriptions of each.

· Accessibility.
Check or enhance the accessibility of your web pages to users of assistive devices, including those with disabilities
· App Server.
These extensions aid in the connection, querying, viewing, and formatting of dynamic content from popular Web application servers such as Allaire Cold Fusion, Microsoft's Active Server Pages and Java Server Pages.
· Browser compatibility.
These extensions assist with browser detection and redirection.
· DHTML.
Add DHTML objects and behaviors to a Web page.
· E-commerce.
Perform transactional processing, shopping assistance, and catalog creation.
· Fireworks.
Focus on Dreamweaver UltraDev and Fireworks integration.
· Learning.
Extensions that provide educational or instructional value either to your site, or to Dreamweaver UltraDev itself.
· Navigation.
Aid in the development, storage, and updating of the navigation elements of a Web site.
· Productivity.
Increase Dreamweaver UltraDev's ease-of-use or streamline UltraDev's integration with other products.
· Rich media.
Support third-party multimedia effects or control Macromedia Players.
· Scripting.
Tools to help in writing extensions for Dreamweaver UltraDev or scripts for the browser
· Security.
Add security elements to the pages you build in Dreamweaver UltraDev.
· Style and format.
Add custom styles and formatting to content within Dreamweaver UltraDev.
· Tables.
Speed up and ease the creation, manipulation, and formatting of HTML tables in Dreamweaver UltraDev.
· Text.
Enable advanced text editing, formatting, and creation within Dreamweaver UltraDev or the browser.

Types of Extensions and how they are used:

Here is a list of all of the types of Dreamweaver Extensions:

· Behaviors
· Objects
· Commands
· Data Sources
· Server Behaviors
· Browser Profiles
· Floaters
· Property Inspectors
· Menus
· Server Models
· Third-Party Tags
· Translators
· Reports
· References

Basically, every feature in Dreamweaver is an Extension. All of them are completely customizable. Along with that, new extensions can be created and installed into the program. Each type is slightly different, and is accessible in various locations within the Dreamweaver interface.

Now let's examine some of the more popular extensions that you will most likely be using:

Objects: Objects are pieces of code that you can drag and drop in your page with options that can often be customized. They are extremely useful for re-using code. Many common objects are pre-programmed into Dreamweaver, and are found in the "Objects Toolbar".

There are a lot of great Objects available to download. Custom Scrollbars for IE 5.5+ in an Extension that allows you to easily insert the style tags that customize the look of your scrollbars in Internet Explorer.

Click to Download Custom Scrollbars Extension by Paul R. Boon

Behaviors: Behaviors are probably the most popular type of Extension. They are mostly JavaScript features that can be used to produce effects, enhance elements, and perform other automated tasks. They can be accessed by clicking View, Behaviors, and selecting from the behaviors menu.

What kinds of behaviors are available? Well, I'm sure you've heard of animated Gif's, but what about animated Jpegs? Yaromat's Animate Image Extension does just that.

There are also great behaviors for Forms. Everything from form validation, credit card validation, and even form calculations.

Server Behaviors: These are just like behaviors, only that they allow you to access dynamic server side scripting and can also integrate with databases. These are primarily used with Dreamweaver UltraDev. Dreamweaver UltraDev ships with support for ASP, JSP, & Coldfusion. Recently, an extension has been released to also integrate PHP support as well. This gives UltraDev support for the top 4 middleware languages.

Commands: These are useful Extensions that allow you automate code creating & editing. Commands are very similar to Macros, or other types of batch processing that can automate a series of commands to repeat over and over. To use them, just click on the Commands menu bar.

I use a lot of commands on a daily basis. Auto-Alt from Yaromat adds Alt tags to all your images automatically using the file name. It custom formats the tags as well, it can take out the extension, capitalize words, etc. It also allows you to give blank alt tags for shims or spacer images.

Great Links to Dreamweaver Extension sites:

Rabi's Dreamweaver Extensions
http://www.dreamweaver-extensions.com/

DWFile.com
http://www.dwfile.com/

Yaromat- Dreamweaver Extensions
http://www.yaromat.com/dw/

UltraDev Zone
http://www.udzone.com/

Kaosweaver.com
http://www.kaosweaver.com/

Dreamweaver Depot
http://www.andrewwooldridge.com/dreamweaver/commands.html

How to Develop Your Own Extensions:

This is where you can really have some fun. Developing your own extensions requires a bit more knowledge than simply downloading and using them. Extensions are built in their simplest form using HTML and JavaScript. Knowledge of Regular Expressions (RegExps) in either VB script or Java Script is also a big help. Some more advanced Extensions can require knowledge of XML, C, DLL's and other programming methods. Here are some great links if you're thinking about developing your own custom Extensions.

Online Tutorial:

WebMonkey: "Extending Dreamweaver"

Book:

Dreamweaver MX Extensions
by Laura Gutman