Custom Element Forms

A custom element is a user-defined element. In addition to the other elements (WYSIWYG, text only, image only, static list, dynamic list), the custom element provides one way to extend Site Studio to suit individual business needs. Custom elements are created when the other elements are not as suitable.

Custom elements are full HTML files that reside within an IFRAME in the Contributor form. A custom element must use an API and implement several callbacks to function correctly as a Site Studio element.

Important:

If you upgrade a Site Studio site from a version before 10gR3 (10.1.3.3.3), you must manually update any custom elements in the site. See Backward Compatibility and Upgrading.

A custom element form is designed to work with a custom element, which you add to a contribution region like any other element. The custom element form is unique in that it can be used to create a custom interface that contributors use to add various types of content to a Web site.

You might, for example, create a custom form that queries the content server for a certain file type, enables users to select one of those files, and returns the user to the Contributor. Or, you might create a form that provides a text box that contributors use to copy and paste source code or formatted text to a web page.

The form can be a generic browser-based form that collects arbitrary information from the user and returns a value to the host (in this case, Contributor).

This section includes the following topics: