18.1 General Preferences

The Preferences dialog box's General category configures the following preferences:

Show Only Site Window on Startup

Determines whether Dreamweaver opens the Site window or a Document window on startup.

Open Files in New Window

Determines whether the File Open command replaces the current document or creates a new Document window. The File New command always creates a new Document window. This option is available under Windows only; on the Macintosh, Dreamweaver always opens a new Document window.

Warn when Opening Read-Only Files

If enabled, Dreamweaver provides an alert box if you open a read-only (locked) file. Use the Site Check Out command to unlock a file for editing.

Add Extension when Saving

You can specify the file extension to use when saving HTML files—typically .htm or .html. The Commands Create Web Photo Album command uses the preference setting in Fireworks' File HTML Setup General dialog box when creating HTML files.

Update Links when Moving Files

Determines whether to update links when you move, delete, or rename documents through Dreamweaver's Site window. Available options are:

Prompt

Ask the user whether to update links.

Never

Don't update links (and don't prompt the user).

Always

Update links without prompting the user.

Show Dialog when Inserting Objects

Allows you to insert placeholders for certain object types without being prompted for more information. If enabled, Dreamweaver prompts the user to specify additional information when inserting the following object types in the Objects panel: Image, Table, Email, Server-Side Includes, Flash, Shockwave, Generator, Anchor, Script, Comment, Applet, and Plugin. If this option is disabled, use the Property inspector to set object properties. Even when this preference is enabled, holding down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Cmd key (Macintosh) overrides the preference and inserts placeholder objects. Many other object types are not affected by this preference. The Other Character, Rollover Image, Tabular Data, Navigation Bar, Date, Fireworks HTML, Flash Button, Flash Text, and Jump Menu objects always open a dialog box when inserted. The Layer, Horizontal Rule, ActiveX, and Forms objects (other than Images and Jump Menus) never display a dialog box when inserted.

Faster Table Editing (Deferred Update)

If enabled, table cells sizes are not adjusted until you click outside the table or press Ctrl+Space (Windows) or Cmd+Space (Macintosh).

Rename Form Items when Pasting

If enabled, when a form object is pasted into a document, it is automatically given a unique name. Leave this option enabled.

Enable Double-Byte Inline Input

If enabled, Dreamweaver allows double-byte characters, as is required for double-byte languages such as Japanese and Chinese.

Maximum Number of History Steps

Specifies the number of history steps to be tracked in the History panel. Defaults to 50. Larger numbers may consume excessive memory and disk space.

Object Panel

Determines whether the Objects panel displays object names, icons, or both.

Spelling Dictionary

You can select which dictionary to use with the Text Check Spelling (Shift+F7) command. See Chapter 7.