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Workflow: How the Dreamweaver Extension Version Works / Integrates with Dreamweaver

This topic only applies to the Dreamweaver extension version of the product.  If you're using the Standalone version, see this topic.

This topic explains how the extension integrates with Dreamweaver, giving a high-level overview of how the slideshow creation workflow functions.

Please Note: The actual process of completing each of these workflow steps is detailed in the subsequent topics; if you're a new user, you can probably skip this topic.

Behind the scenes, the process of creating a slideshow involves several steps:

  • If this is the first slideshow in the site, all necessary supporting files are copied into the site and placed in a designated folder
  • A new XML configuration file is created for the slideshow
  • All configuration information and image gallery information is written to this configuration file
  • A block of slideshow HTML is constructed; this contains all of the global configuration settings as well as the path to the XML configuration file
  • This slideshow HTML is inserted into your HTML page, where it will behave like any other page element (e.g. it can be dragged-and-dropped anywhere in the page)

The Insert Wizard handles all of these steps automatically for you.  To create a slideshow, you'll use the following workflow:

  • Open the page you want to insert a slideshow into (it should be prepared as explained in the Preparing to Insert a Slideshow topic).
  • Run the Insert Wizard
  • The Dreamweaver extension dialog will open.  It acts as the liason between the main slideshow creation wizard (the external wizard) and Dreamweaver.  It will only be visible for a moment, then the external wizard will open.
  • The external wizard will guide you through the creation process.  When you're finished, you'll save and exit the wizard.  To actually insert the slideshow and return to Dreamweaver, you must then click the Insert button in the Dreamweaver extension dialog.
  • The Slideshow HTML code block will be inserted into your HTML page and the XML configuration file created and placed in the supporting files directory.

Tip: To create additional slideshows, you'll just run the Insert Wizard again.

To edit a slideshow, you'll use a similar workflow:

  • In Design View, click the slideshow
  • In the Property Inspector (Window > Properties), you will see the Slideshow Inspector.  Click the Edit button to launch the Edit Wizard.
  • As when inserting the Dreamweaver extension dialog will momentarily appear, then the external wizard will launch and load in the slideshow in question, allowing you to make changes.
  • When you're finished, you'll save changes and exit the external wizard.  To actually update your slideshow HTML code and return to Dreamweaver, you must then click the Update button in the Dreamweaver extension dialog.
  • The Slideshow HTML and the XML configuration files will be updated based on any configuration changes you made