Extending C-Level Libraries
All programs have their limits. Most limitations are intentional and serve to focus the tool for a particular
use. Some limitations are accepted because of programming budgets??”for both money and time??”with
the hope that the boundaries can be exceeded in the next version. With Dreamweaver, one small section of
those high, sharply defined walls has been replaced with a doorway: C-level extensions. With the proper
programming acumen, you can customize Dreamweaver to add the capabilities you need.
As with most modern computer programs, the core of Dreamweaver is coded in C and C++, both low-level
languages that execute much faster than any noncompiled language, such as JavaScript. Because C is a compiled
language, you can??™t just drop in a function with a few lines of code and expect it to work??”it has to
be integrated into the program. The only possible way to add significant functionality is through another
compiled component called a library. With the C-level extensions capability, Dreamweaver enables the
incorporation of these libraries, known as DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries) on Windows systems and as
CFMs (Code Fragment Managers) on Macintosh systems.
One excellent example of the extended library is DWfile. This C-level extension is used by several
Dreamweaver partners, including RealNetworks and iCat, to perform tasks outside the capabilities of
JavaScript??”namely, reading and writing external text files.
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