You can create new extensions and submit them to Macromedia for distribution on the Macromedia Exchange Web site. Here are some helpful resources for creating extensions:
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For information on the API and Document Object Model (DOM) used by Dreamweaver and UltraDev, see Extending Dreamweaver in the Dreamweaver Help menu, or Extending Dreamweaver in the UltraDev Help menu. |
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For information on making your extension's user interface compatible with Macromedia's UIs, see the Exchange Site Help > Macromedia Approved Extensions. For Flash, you can view a copy of the style guidelines, "Style Guidelines for Developers." For Dreamweaver and UltraDev, you can view a copy of the "User interface guidelines". |
If you want to distribute an extension you've created, you should use Extension Manager to package it. After you've packaged it, test it by using the Extension Manager to install it locally. Then you can submit the extension to Macromedia for distribution on the Macromedia Exchange site.
To package an extension:
| 1 | If you haven't already done so, install the Extension Manager. |
| 2 |
Test your extension thoroughly. See the Exchange Site Help > Macromedia Approved Extensions where you can view the test plan for information on how to test extensions. |
| 3 | Copy all of the files for your extension to a "staging" area for ease of packaging. The files don't need to be all at the same level of the folder hierarchy (you can specify a path to each file, relative to the installation file, using the <file> tag), but it's easier to keep track of all the files if you don't try to package them directly from their Configuration-folder installed locations. |
| 4 | Create an extension installation file (with a file name ending in .mxi) for your Exchange package. See "The Macromedia Extension Installation File Format", the sample extension installation file (Samples/Dreamweaver/Sample.mxi in the Extension Manager folder), and the blank extension installation file (Samples/Dreamweaver/Blank.mxi in the Extension Manager folder) for details. You can download this file from the Exchange. |
| 5 | In Extension Manager, choose File > Package Extension. |
| 6 | In the file-selection dialog box that appears, browse to your extension's installation file and select it. Click OK. |
| 7 | Choose a location for the extension package file and provide a name for it (ending in .mxp). Click Save. |
| Note: The extension package file's name must not contain spaces. It should be a file name that's valid on both Windows and Macintosh. | |
| The packager software creates an extension package file containing compressed versions of all the files used by your extension, including the installation file. | |
| 8 | Test the extension package by installing it using the Extension Manager. Once it's installed, try the extension and make sure everything works. |
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To submit an extension:
In the Extension Manager, choose File > Submit Extension.
The Macromedia Exchange submission page opens in your browser. Follow the instructions on that page.