AddIn Editor
The AddIn Editor is an integrated editor which offers many more options than those available through DHTML Menu Builder's user interface. Since DHTML Menu Builder generates code that is based on an editable template, you can modify the template to customize your menus even further than the program normally allows. These changes can also be reused in any DHTML Menu Builder project that you want.

You can add features, do real-time modifications to the menus, change standard settings, etc. You can even add variables (parameters), so they can be easily modified without having to re-run the AddIn Editor. All changes supported by AddIns are compiled into the JavaScript files ultimately generated by  DHTML Menu Builder. You do not have to concern yourself with any additional files on your web site.

Please note that the AddIn Editor is only intended for use by advanced users with a working knowledge of HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, CSS, and the DOM of the latest browsers. (If you are not familiar with any of these terms, you probably should not be using the AddIn Editor.)

The AddIn Editor Window

The AddIn Editor window is composed of five main sections:

  • The Section selector
    This list displays all the standard functions used by DHTML Menu Builder. Selecting a section from this list displays the contents of that section. The predefined functions can be modified but not deleted. Any functions you create will also be found in this list.
    In the DHTML Menu Builder code template, there is one special section which is not a function. It's called GLOBAL. This is where all the global variables used by the functions are defined.
  • The new code pane
    This pane shows the modified code.
  • The original code pane
    This pane shows the original code as found on the default template.
  • The functions variable bar
    This small bar shows all the variables defined on the selected section.
  • The description pane
    This pane will show a small description of what the selected function does.

Working with the AddIn Editor is very simple, and basic customizations to the default template are easily implemented.

Basic Operations

Starting the AddIn Editor

To start the editor, click AddIn Editor on the Tools menu.

Creating a New AddIn

The easiest way to create an AddIn is to click Properties on the File menu .
Type the name and the description of the new AddIn and click OK to save your changes.

Subsequent changes will be saved to a file under the name of the AddIn. All the AddIns are saved in the same place, a directory called AddIns under the folder where you installed DHTML Menu Builder.

Opening a previously saved AddIn

To open an AddIn click Open on the File menu.
Then select which AddIn to open from the displayed list.

Deleting a previously saved AddIn

To delete an AddIn click Open on the File menu to display the AddIn file dialog.
Then select which AddIn to delete and click Delete.

Note that you cannot undo this deletion.

Installing a new AddIn

Several AddIns are usually available for download on our web site. These typically offer support for some of the most requested features.
To install a new AddIn, double-click the (downloaded) AddIn file. It will be automatically installed into the correct folder.

Adding a new function

To add a function to the selected AddIn,  click Add on Function menu.

The function name should be made of alphanumeric characters only and the first character must be a letter. The naming conventions for the JavaScript functions applies. Note that you should not add the parameters declaration on the name.

Finally, if you wish, you can type a small description of what the function does.

Editing or removing a custom Function

Default functions cannot be deleted although they can be edited. To edit a function, select the function from the list and then click  Edit on the Function menu. To remove (delete) a custom function, select the function from the list and then click Delete on the Function menu.

Restoring the original code from a function

To restore the default code of the selected function, click Restore on the Function menu.

Parameters

The AddIn Editor supports inserting parameters in the code. This is useful if you want some values changed without having to re-edit the code in the AddIn Editor.

The Parameters menu offers options to Add, Edit, Remove and Insert parameters to your code.

Changing the compilation value of these parameters can be performed by clicking the Parameter Properties button , which is located in the Advanced tab of the Project Properties dialog.