How to customize the Components panel

The Dreamweaver Components panel lets users load and work with components. It lists all the available component types that are compatible with each enabled server model. For instance, because JavaBeans can work only on a JavaServer Page (JSP), JavaBeans components appear only in the JSP server model within the Components panel. Likewise, because CFCs can work only on a ColdFusion page, they appear only in the ColdFusion server model within the Components panel.

Extensibility lets you add new component types to the panel. There are several general steps that you need to follow when adding a new component type to the Components panel:

1.	Add the component to the list of available component types for the appropriate server model(s).
2.	Add instructions, known as setup steps, which appear as interactive numbered steps, for setting up the component in the Components panel or in a dialog box (depending on the extension for which the steps are implemented). Make sure check marks appear next to any steps the user has completed.
3.	List the components of the component type that exist either on the user's computer or in the current site only.
4.	Create a new component when the user clicks the Plus (+) button in the Components panel.

In addition, you will probably want to give the user the ability to edit an existing component and delete a component.