Creating your own Keyboard Shortcuts in Dreamweaver

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by Don Herion

Adding new functionality to Dreamweaver is one of the major pluses of this popular Web editing program. In a previous article, I wrote about the power of 'Dreamweaver Extensions.' In this tutorial, I will demonstrate how to add your own keyboard shortcuts to this popular program.

Alert! Do not edit your 'menus.xml' document in a word processoer like WordPerfect. Use the BBEdit or Homesite version that was included with your Dreamweaver. You can also use TextPad, Notepad or WordPad.

Step 1
Quit Dreamweaver.

Step 2
Open your 'menus.xml' file using Homesite, BBEdit or a text editor. I used TextPad. The file should be located in the - Dreamweaver/configuration/menus - folder.

Alert! Immediately backup this file. I used 'oldmenus.xml.'

Step 3
Now open 'menus.xml.' As you can see, this 'xml' file lists every keyboard shortcut for Dreamweaver.

Step 4
I want to add a keyboard shortcut for the - Modify - Table - Insert Row or Column. Use the 'Search' or 'Find' command or scroll down in the text editor to find this line:

<menu name="_Modify" id="DWMenu_Modify">

This line and the ones immediately below it detail the keyboard shortcuts for the - Modify - drop down menu.

Step 5
Now you have to locate this long line of text:

This is the command that opens 'Insert Rows or Columns' window to add rows or columns to an existing table.

Step 6
Now you want to enter the keyboard command. I chose - Shift+Alt+I. If you are unsure whether or not your command choice is available, you can do a 'Search/Find' in your editor. Or check this 'keyboard shortcuts matrix.' Now enter the following snippet inside the line of code:

<menuitem name="_Insert Rows or Columns..." key="Shift+Alt+I" enabled="dw.getFocus()

Step 7
Save the 'menus.xml' file and close the text editor.

Step 8
Start Dreamwaver. Create a table anywhere in the document and select a cell. Now try out your keyboard shortcut - Shift+Alt+I. The 'Insert Rows or Columns' window opens.

Alert! Just remember to backup your 'menus.xml' file before you do any editing. Do not use Word or WordPerfect or any other word processing program. They may corrupt the file when you save it later. Use BBEdit, Homesite or a basic text editor.

Link to Dreamweaver Keyboard Shortcuts & Matrix