Adobe Configurator 3.1.1

Follow these steps to get started with the Configurator preview:

1. Download and install the latest version of Adobe AIR
2. Download Configurator 3.1.1 for Mac or Windows
3. See the Configurator 3.1 release notes for installation instructions
4. To create your first panel, follow the instructions on the Configurator welcome screen or try one of the samples and consult the Configurator Help Guide for more details.
5. Viewing the panels you create with Configurator 3 requires installation of one of the supported applications: Photoshop CS5/5.1 or CS6, or InDesign CS5/CS5.5 or CS6.  Creative Suite 6 trials are available on Adobe.com.
6. Once you have exported your panel, you can open it from the Window > Extensions menu in the target application.
7. Ask questions and share your feedback in the Configurator forum
   
   Please note that your submission of comments, ideas, feature requests and techniques on this and other Adobe maintained forums, as well as Adobe's right to use such materials, is governed by the Terms of Use.

Below you'll find references and links to help you participate in the Configurator community.

Online Forum

Ask questions and discuss ideas with other Configurator users in the Labs forums.

• Visit the Configurator forum

Please note that your submission of comments, ideas, feature requests and techniques on this and other Adobe maintained forums, as well as Adobe's right to use such materials, is governed by the Terms of Use.

Developer Center

Learn more about customizing Photoshop and InDesign in the Developer Center.

• Visit the Photoshop Developer Center
• Visit the InDesign Developer Center

Resources

If you want to learn more about releases on Labs as well as other Adobe technologies, visiting a user group or connecting with an Adobe Community Professional is a great place to start.

• Find a user group
• Find an Adobe Community Professional

• Features
• FAQ
• System Requirements
• Release Notes

Features

Configurator 3 is compatible with Photoshop CS5/5.1 and CS6, and InDesign CS5/CS5.5 and CS6; supports new features and automatic conversion of existing panels. The latest release supports the new Adobe Exchange. to distribute and share panels you create in Configurator with other Creative Suite 6 users. Additional features include:

• Improved welcome screen — Easily access many of the new features and learn how to create your first panel.
• Faster launch time — Launch time has improved on average from 8 Seconds with Configurator 2 to just 3 seconds with Configurator 3.
• Watermarks — Personalize your panels with new options for a "Created by" watermark in your panel with your name and web link, and an About Box with HTML styling.
• Custom panel icons — Provide custom icons to represent your panel when it is minimized or docked.
• Convert to CS6 — Automatic conversion is ideal for panels created in earlier versions of Configurator.
• Improved text widget — The former "Simple Text" widget is replaced by a more sophisticated Text widget with new options for fonts and styling.
• Color theme coordination for Photoshop CS6 — Create themed versions of your panel and preview them within Configurator 3 to see how the light and dark versions will look when opened in Photoshop.
• Sample panels — A whole set of samples you can use to learn, edit, and get inspired.
• DPS panels — Support for opening InDesign Digital Publishing Suite (DPS) panels.
• Button icons — In CS6 panels, you can create buttons using your own images. You can have icons for Command, Script, Script file, Action and Popup buttons.
• Panels for Adobe Exchange — Additional support and features that help you create panels for Adobe Exchange.
• Scripting support — The HTML widget now allows you to invoke predefined and developer-defined functions and scripts, which gives your panel access to the JavaScript API for Photoshop or InDesign.
• Additional color theme support — The HTML widget can now detect the user’s change of color themes in Photoshop CS6, so that you can provide light and dark versions of any panel content.

FAQ

What is Configurator?

Configurator is a utility application that helps create custom panels for Photoshop and InDesign. Configurator makes it easy to drag and drop tools, menu items, scripts, actions, and other objects into a panel design, then export the results for use in Photoshop or InDesign. These panels leverage built-in Flash support, making it possible to drag and drop audio, video, images, web pages and even other SWF and HTML content files into a panel design.

Who should try Configurator?

Configurator allows any Photoshop or InDesign user to customize the application interface without having to learn Flash and ActionScript. If you are an author, trainer, or other expert seeking to create and share panels that make Photoshop or InDesign easier to use, Configurator is created with you in mind. If you develop solutions for Photoshop or InDesign, then Configurator provides a quick and code-free way to create tutorial content.

Do I need to buy Photoshop or InDesign to use Configurator?

Configurator is free for anyone to use. Running the panels it generates requires installing Photoshop or InDesign. Creative Suite 6 trials are available on Adobe.com.

Which platforms are supported?

Configurator runs on all configurations supported by Adobe AIR (see the AIR system requirements). Running the panels you create with Configurator 3 requires installation of one of the supported applications: Photoshop CS5/5.1, Photoshop CS6, InDesign CS5, InDesign CS5.5, or InDesign CS6. The system requirements for Photoshop and InDesign are available on Adobe.com.

What languages are supported?

Configurator works in 13 different languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian (Bokmal), Portuguese and Chinese Simplified.

How can I share my custom panels?

Configurator provides a new way to share the panels you create publicly or privately with the new Adobe Exchange. For other ways to export and share your panels, see the help documentation.

What is Adobe Exchange and how can I use it with Configurator 3?

Configurator 3 introduces support for Adobe Exchange, a commercial marketplace enabling distribution of resources and software, directly integrated with Adobe Creative Suite CS6. Adobe Exchange is an in-application panel providing a consistent user experience across various CS6 applications, including the products Configurator 3 supports; Photoshop and InDesign. You can create panels with Configurator 3 for the new Adobe Exchange and choose whether to distribute them publicly (free or paid), or privately. Adobe Exchange will automatically install your panel in the correct location for the user and you can easily provide updates to your panel as required.

What are the differences between Configurator 2 and Configurator 3?

Configurator 3 is compatible with Photoshop CS5.x and CS6 and InDesign CS5.x and CS6, but Configurator 2 works only with Photoshop CS5 and InDesign CS5. Configurator 3 provides greater customization capabilities and a new way to distribute and discover panels with the new Adobe Exchange. Users of Configurator 2 are encouraged to upgrade to version 3 in order to take advantage of the latest features and increased product support.

Can Configurator 3 work for Photoshop CS4?

Configurator 1 works only with Photoshop CS4, and Configurator 2 only works with Photoshop CS5 and InDesign CS5. To make a CS4 panel compatible with CS5, you must open the Configurator 1 format file in Configurator 3, then export for CS5 (File > Export Panel). To make your panel compatible with CS6, choose Edit > Convert to CS6.

What is Adobe AIR?

The Adobe AIR runtime lets developers use proven web technologies to build rich Internet applications that run outside the browser on multiple operating systems.

Where can I post issues and comments?

Please use the Labs forum for Configurator to ask questions and post issues and comments.

System Requirements

To create custom panel extensions using Configurator, the Adobe AIR system requirements apply.

To test and use your custom panels, the Photoshop system requirements and InDesign system requirements apply.

Release Notes

This release of Configurator is a technology preview. The software contained within the installer is not final; but, many portions of the technology are fully implemented and ready for you to try and discuss.

See the full Configurator 3.1 release notes for additional information