Libraries in Dreamweaver

 
Developed by Craig A. Cunningham
 

Agenda

Goal for this lesson

  • Create a new template and apply to to one page
  • Download one library item and include it in one page
  • Create a new library item and include it in one or two pages

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Libraries

  • Any part of a page can be saved as a library item and reused:
    • Select portion of the page
    • Choose Modify, then Library, then Add Object to Library
    • The Library in DW 4 is in the "Assets" tab of the Reference window. Click on the orange folder (Assets) and then the open book:
    • To add the item to a page, choose Window, then Library, then drag item onto page.
  • For example, the following table is a library item:
This table is an...    
  ...example of a....  
    ...library item.

 

  • Library items are stored in a special folder inside your local root directory, called Library. All library items have the extension *.lbi.

Activity 1: Download the example.lbi library item, and add it to your site Library, and put it on one of your pages. Then edit the library item and watch it be updated in your page.

  • To add the above library item to your site, create a folder in your local root directory called Library. Then save the following file there, by right-clicking (control-clicking on a Mac) this link and choosing Save Link As...: example.lbi and then choosing the Library folder you just created.
  • Once you do that, if you open your Assets/Library, the item should be there. If not, right click and choose Recreate Site List.
  • Once a selection is a library item, it cannot be edited except in the library. (If you try to edit it, it will turn grey and your property inspector will indicate it is a library item.
  • Double-click on the listing in the Library window. (Or right-click and use Edit.)
  • Edit. Notice certain functions are not enabled (such a page properties). When you exit the window it will ask if you want to save; then it will ask you if you want to update the item in all its locations. Generally, you will say Yes. (Even "open" files will be updated.)
  • You can only include elements in libraries that would go between a page's <body> and </body> tags.

Activity 2: Create your own library item. Place it onto another page within your site.

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Assets

  • Every image, color, link (URL), Flash movie, Shockwave movie, MPEG or Quicktime movie, Script, Template, Library Item is listed in the Assets panel:

  • If you recently added things to the site, they may not show up on the Assets panel. Click the Refresh Site List button (on the lower right of the Assets panel) to see an updated list.
  • You can create your own sub-list of things (Favorites). To add things to the Favorites list, click the "Add to Favorites" button on the Assets panel. Or, right-click and choose Add to Favorites. For most categories, you can switch between Favorites and Site (which includes everything in the site)
  • You can create folders in the Favorites list, using the New Favorites Folder button or right clicking in the list.
  • You can drag any asset onto the Page Design View to insert it in the page. Or, click the Asset and click the Insert button on the lower right of the Assets panel, or right-click and choose Insert.. (Colors apply to everything that is typed AFTER the insertion point.)
  • You can create new colors, URLs, or templates in the Assets panel, by clicking the New.. button in the appropriate categories.

Activity: Open your assets panel. See what's in there. Add a few of the assets to your Favorites. Create a new Favorites folder and put some things into it (click and drag). Use the Favorites list to put an image or Link somewhere else in your site.

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Developed by Craig A. Cunningham

 
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