TechNote (Archived)

Customizing Dreamweaver MX on a multiuser platform

Dreamweaver MX users in a multiuser environment (Windows XP, 2000 and NT, or Macintosh OS X) can customize Dreamweaver uniquely. Each user can customize Dreamweaver MX to his liking without overwriting the other users' settings. Each user can have his own set of extensions installed, custom keyboard shortcuts and interface layout.

In order to enable this ability, Dreamweaver organizes and writes these files differently than in other versions. This TechNote will discuss those changes and how to further customize Dreamweaver.

Note: In older operating systems (Windows 98, Windows ME, and Macintosh OS 9.x), a single set of Dreamweaver configuration files is shared by all users, even if the operating system is configured to support multiple users.

Customizing Dreamweaver MX for individual users

Customizing Dreamweaver in previous versions meant editing files found in the application's Configuration folder. This folder contains many files that Dreamweaver uses to function. Many of these files can be edited to customize menus, store custom commands and extensions and edit specific functionality.

To enable unique configurations on the same operating system, Dreamweaver copies many of the commonly edited Configuration files and stores them in a subfolder of the user's profile folder.

The location of the user-specific Configuration folder

Windows XP and Windows 2000:
c:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Macromedia\Dreamweaver MX\Configuration (In Windows XP, this folder may be inside a hidden folder).
Windows NT:
c:\WinNT\Profiles\username\Application Data\Macromedia\Dreamweaver MX\Configuration
Macintosh OS X:
Hard disk:Users:username:Library:Application Support:Macromedia:Dreamweaver MX:Configuration

Files copied to the user Configuration folder by default

ActiveXName.txt
Configuration_ReadMe.htm
Extensions.txt
FTPExtensionMap.txt (on Windows operating systems) or FTPExtensionMapMac.txt (on Macintosh OS X)
version.xml
CodeColoring folder, containing ASP JavaScript.xml, ASP VBScript.xml, ASP.NET CSharp.xml, ASP.NET VB.xml, CodeColoring.xml and Colors.xml.
Menus/Custom Sets/active set.txt
Flash Player folder

Other files and folders may be added when a user installs extensions.

These files can be edited by the user and saved to these user-specific folders. Any changes made to Dreamweaver when a user is logged in will not be available when other users are logged in and using Dreamweaver.

Adding to the user profile Configuration folder

If users want to customize Dreamweaver further, the folder that is going to be customized should be copied to the user profile configuration folder. These files will then be customizable for just that user.

For instance, if a user wants to customize the Insert bar, the Objects folder should be copied to the user profile's Configuration folder. The specific files can be edited and customized without affecting other users' Insert bars.

It should be noted that when Dreamweaver starts, it checks the user' Configuration folder against the application's Configuration folder and will always use the copy in the user's Configuration folder, even if the application's Configuration folder contains a newer version of the file. This emphasizes the importance of editing the user's configuration folder.

Customizing Dreamweaver MX for all users

If a user wishes to customize Dreamweaver MX for all users on the same machine, the customization must be enabled by an extension, and the extension must be installed while the Administrator (Windows) or root user (Macintosh OS X) is logged in to the computer. Extensions installed by the Administrator or root user will be available to all users of Dreamweaver. Resources for learning how to install extensions or to write extensions are in the Additional information section.

Adding to the application Configuration folder

This is not a recommended procedure. Changing a file in the application Configuration folder will work for all users, but can be overwritten by users who add and/or edit that file in their user profile Configuration folder. If the user profile folder and the application Configuration folder contain the same file, the user profile file will be used, regardless of modification date.

Note: Extensions can be installed by users if they do not write outside the Dreamweaver Configuration folder. If an extension has to modify a file outside of the Application Configuration folder, the admin will have to install it.

Additional information

Customizing Macromedia Dreamweaver MX provides a downloadable PDF that covers Customizing Dreamweaver MX in more detail.
For information about adding or modifying file types, seeChanging and adding file extensions recognized by Dreamweaver MX (TechNote 16410).

Extensibility in Dreamweaver MX

To learn what extensions are already available for Dreamweaver MX, visit the Macromedia Exchange.
To troubleshoot difficulties while installing extensions, seeTrouble installing extensions for Dreamweaver (TechNote 15134).
The article New features and interfaces for extending Macromedia Dreamweaver MX describes new features in Dreamweaver MX for extension developers.