Managing custom dialogs

The Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions allows you to manage custom dialogs, within extensions that are created by you or by other users. Custom dialogs must be installed before they can be used.

Note: If you are working in compatibility mode, then see the topic Managing custom dialogs in compatibility mode.

Opening an extension that contains custom dialogs

You can open an extension bundle file (*.spe or *.spxt) that contains the specifications for one or more custom dialogs or you can open an installed extension. You can modify any of the enhanced dialogs in the extension and save or install the extension. Installing the extension installs the dialogs that are contained in the extension. Saving the extension saves changes that were made to any of the dialogs in the extension.

To open an extension bundle file, from the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions choose:

File > Open

To open an installed extension, from the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions choose:

File > Open Installed

Note: If you are opening an installed extension to modify it, choosing File > Install reinstalls it, replacing the existing version.

Saving to an extension bundle file

Saving the extension that is open in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions also saves the custom dialogs that are contained in the extension. Extensions are saved to an extension bundle file (*.spe or *.spxt).

From the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions, choose:

File > Save

Installing an extension

Installing the extension that is open in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions also installs the custom dialogs that are contained in the extension. Installing an existing extension replaces the existing version, which includes replacing all custom dialogs in the extension that were already installed.

To install the currently open extension, from the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions choose:

File > Install

By default, extensions are installed to a general user-writable location for your operating system. For more information, see the topic Installation locations for extensions.

Uninstalling an extension

From the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions, choose:

File > Uninstall

Uninstalling an extension uninstalls all custom dialogs that are contained in the extension. You can also uninstall extensions from the Extension Hub.

Converting a compatible custom dialog to an enhanced custom dialog

If the currently open extension contains a compatible custom dialog (.spd) file, you can convert the compatible dialog to an enhanced dialog. The original compatible version of the custom dialog is retained in the extension.

From the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions, choose:

Extension > Convert Compatible Dialog

Adding a custom dialog to an extension

You can add a new enhanced custom dialog to an extension.

From the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions, choose:

Extension > New Dialog

Switching between multiple custom dialogs in an extension

If the current extension contains multiple custom dialogs, you can switch between them.

From the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions, choose:

Extension > Edit Dialog and select the custom dialog that you want to work with.

Note: You cannot edit compatible custom dialog (.spd) files in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions. To modify a compatible custom dialog, you must use the Custom Dialog Builder in Compatibility mode. If you do not have a separate copy of the compatible custom dialog, you can extract it using the Extension Properties dialog, which is accessed from Extension>Properties within the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions.

Creating a new extension

When you create a new extension in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions, a new empty custom dialog is added to the extension.

To create a new extension, from the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder for Extensions choose:

File > New