Note: The following tutorial is for users of Macromedia Dreamweaver version 4 or Dreamweaver Ultradev.

Page 2 of 2: Library Items

Library items are separate files which can be accessed or added to any number of pages. The individual files are editable, but when placed within a page they become locked (In the same way as dreamweaver templates)

They, like templates, are updateable site-wide. This makes them great for items such as navigation panels, or anything that will remain the same throughout a site.

(fig 1: Save a library item)

To access this library item for use - simply select the 'Library' option from the 'Window' menu (fig 2).

(fig 2: Selecting the library panel)

The assets panel shows a real-time preview of the content in the top pane - in the case of the illustration, its just some jumbled text but it will show any colours, formatting, styles, tables, images and more in this preview panel.

Then, simply drag the name of the library item into the wysiwyg area of your document, where you want it to be positioned. You will notice that the source is highlighted in yellow, and non-editable. It has to remain locked to be updateable site-wide. Remember that editing the specific library item file is how you can edit and maintain the content of the library item, not editing pages which include it.

(fig 3: Assets panel, showing library item(s))

The final thing you will need to know is how to update library items site-wide. Well, its pretty simple. Dreamweaver ought to prompt you on every save of a library item file with a dialog box which states "do you wish to update" and you can either update all pages which use the file, or select not to update.

Updates can also be performed manually by clicking in the wysiwyg area of dreamweaver and selecting Modify->Library->Update pages.

(fig 4: updating library items)

Dreamweaver makes templates and library items into a very useful part of static HTML pages. Used correctly this can be a very efficient way to promote consistency and update content site-wide without having to spend hours, days and perhaps weeks editing hundreds of documents.

That wraps up this tutorial.

Useful Links: (External links open in a new window)
dwfaq.com - Dreamweaver FAQ's - A resource for all things Dreamweaver related.
Macromedia - Creators of Dreamweaver

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