Specifications

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CHAPTER 18
Server Models
Server models are the technologies that run scripts on a server. When users define a new site, they
can identify the server model that they want to use at the site level and at the individual document
level. This server model is used to handle any dynamic elements that the user adds to the document.
Server model configuration files are stored in the Configuration/ServerModels folder. Within
that folder, each server model has its own HTML file that implements a set of functions that are
required by the server model.
The Server Model API
You can customize some features of a server model using the functions that are available in the
Server Model API.
Dreamweaver MX asks new users to identify server models when they first start Dreamweaver.
For cases when the user does not identify a server model, you can create a dynamic dialog box that
prompts the user to complete the necessary steps. This dialog box appears when the user attempts
to insert a server object. For information on creating such a dialog box, refer to the functions
“getSetupSteps()” on page 212 and “setupStepsCompleted()” on page 213.
You might want to create a specialized server model. Macromedia suggests that you create a new
server model rather than editing any of the ones that come with Dreamweaver MX. (For
information regarding creating new document types that are supported by your server model,
refer to “Extensible document types in Dreamweaver” on page 22.)
When creating a new server model, you need to include an implementation of the
canRecognizeDocument() function in your server model file. This function tells Dreamweaver
the level of preference that it should give to your server model for handling that file extension
when multiple server models claim a particular file extension.
canRecognizeDocument()
Availability
Dreamweaver MX
Description
When opening a document (and when more than one server model claims a file extension),
Dreamweaver MX calls this function for each of the extension-associated server models to see
whether any of the functions can identify whether the document is their file. If more than one
server model claims the file extension, Dreamweaver gives priority to the server model that
returns the highest integer.