MMString: My greatest problem to personalize DreamWeaver

Report · Dec 21, 2010

Hi people.

I am trying to make some personalizations to DreamWeaver, but it is being a nightmare, because the 'Extending Dreamweaver' manual is completely outdated and lacks a lot of information. It would be unpractical to list all its problems here, so I will limit myself to greater one for me : the use of MMString. Maybe I will accomplish my goals resolving it.

Many personalizations of DreamWeaver involve changes to a 'mmstring:..xxx..' attribute that, the 'Extending Dreamweaver' manual explains, at pages 80-81, are placeholders for texts displayed at the screen (tooltips, menu names, menu item names, etc), that allow easier translations to different languages. The texts to be displayed should be in a xml file, at the Dreamweaver Configuration/Strings folder. But simply there isn't such folder (that should be, for the original DreamWeaver texts displayed). Even so, I made a try: I created this folder and a .xml file inside it, with one personalized text for one menuitem, but, as expected, it didn't work. I also tried to locate the real file where the original DreamWeaver texts displayed are, using 'Google Desktop' and the search feature of Windows, without success.

So, I ask: Can anyone tell me where is the file that stores the texts displayed by DreamWeaver, that replace the placeholders created with the MMString:...xxx... attributes ?

Thanks a lot.

Marcos

Report · Dec 23, 2010

Marcos,

Many personalizations of DreamWeaver involve changes to a 'mmstring:..xxx..' attribute that, the 'Extending Dreamweaver' manual explains, at pages 80-81, are placeholders for texts displayed at the screen (tooltips, menu names, menu item names, etc), that allow easier translations to different languages. The texts to be displayed should be in a xml file, at the Dreamweaver Configuration/Strings folder. But simply there isn't such folder (that should be, for the original DreamWeaver texts displayed). Even so, I made a try: I created this folder and a .xml file inside it, with one personalized text for one menuitem, but, as expected, it didn't work. I also tried to locate the real file where the original DreamWeaver texts displayed are, using 'Google Desktop' and the search feature of Windows, without success.

DW places strings in XML files so that there can be a single reference in the HTML, but a different XML file for each language. You don't need to do that if you are only supporting 1 language. You can simply provide the literal string. For example, instead of this:

Just use something like:

<label for="option1">My Label</label>

Also, instead of this:

Just use something like:

If you don't use any MMString references in your document, then you can simplify this:

to simply be:

<html>

If you want to provide multi-language support, then you will need to manually add the Configuration/Strings folder for your XML file(s). The reason it doesn't exist anymore is because DW now uses a more efficient internal format, but the old format is still supported for extensions. The format is:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<strings>
<string id="[string-id]" value="[string-value]" />

</strings>

HTH,

Randy

Report · Dec 30, 2010

Hi Randy,

Thanks for your answer, but my doubts remain.

As I wrote in my original question, I tried to personalize the text of one menuitem. It was the very 1st one : 'File => New'. I made 2 trys:

1) At the menus.xml file, in the Dreamweaver Configuration/Menus folder, I replaced

with

<menuitem name="_Novo" key="Cmd+N" command="dw.newDocument()" enabled="true" domRequired="false" id="DWMenu_File_New" />.

This is very similar to what you wrote at:

"instead of this:

Just use something like:

But it doesn't work. The first menuitem remained being displayed as 'New', not as 'Novo'.

2) I created the strings folder at the Dreamweaver Configuration folder and, inside it, the MCR_DreamWeaver_Strings.xml file. At this file, I wrote :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

I believe this is exactly what you wrote at the end of your answer. But it also doesn't work. The first menuitem remained being displayed as 'New', not as 'Novo'.

Could you give me a solution for this specific personalization, the display of the menu commands ?

Thanks.

Marcos

Report · Dec 31, 2010

Marcos,

2) I created the strings folder at the Dreamweaver Configuration folder
and, inside it, the MCR_DreamWeaver_Strings.xml file. At this file, I
wrote :
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<strings>

<string id="menus/DWMenu_File_New" value="_Novo"/>
</strings>
I believe this is exactly what you wrote at the end of your answer. But
it also doesn't work. The first menuitem remained being displayed as
'New', not as 'Novo'.

The id "menus/DWMenu_File_New" is already being used, so make sure you use a unique id.

Also, make sure that you are editing the correct menus.xml file. Which operating systems and version are you using?

If you are using WinXP, then do not edit the one in the Program files folder. You should be editing the one here:

C:\Documents and Settings\[name]\Application Data\Adobe\Dreamweaver CS5\[lang]\Configuration\Menus

Also not that the "Application Data" folder is hidden by default, so you may need to un-hide system folders.

HTH,

Randy

Report · Jan 04, 2011

Hi Randy.

I wish you a 2011 with many realizations and proportional compensations !

If you are using WinXP, then do not edit the one in the Program files folder. You should be editing the one here:
C:\Documents and Settings\[name]\Application Data\Adobe\Dreamweaver CS5\[lang]\Configuration\Menus

This was the solution. I had edited the one at the Program folder.

By the way, is there a criteria that let us know in advance in what folder we should edit the files ? (I had already made some personalizations at the 'code view' toolbar editing the 'C:\Dreamweaver\Adobe Dreamweaver CS4\configuration\Toolbars\toolbars.xml' file, so I supposed the menus would be personalized at a file in a neighboring folder.)

Thanks.

Marcos

Report · Jan 04, 2011

By the way, is there a criteria that let us know in advance in what
folder we should edit the files ? (I had already made some
personalizations at the 'code view' toolbar editing the
'C:\Dreamweaver\Adobe Dreamweaver
CS4\configuration\Toolbars\toolbars.xml' file, so I supposed the menus
would be personalized at a file in a neighboring folder.)

In general, you should never edit files in the Application Configuration folder and always edit file in the User Configuration folder. This way, you can always delete (partially or entirely) the User Configuration folder and reset to the original files.

DW automatically copies some commonly edited files (such as menus.xml) to the User Config folder, so that's why this files was overriding your App Config folder changes. For other files (such as toolbars.xml), you should manually copy them to the User Config folder first, and then edit.

Regards,

Randy

Report · Jan 04, 2011

OK ! Thank you very much for your clear answer. The best for you.

Marcos