Same question here. What's the point of making the tools harder to use?

EDIT: After some research on the Internet it seems to me that in order to be able to add to or modify the File Info Panels, Adobe forces us to purchase either Flash or Flex Builder. I'm afraid that if I'd say what I'm thinking of Adobe right now then I'd get banned from these forums ... :(

-- Olaf

Thanks Gunar,

I already had my custom XMP panel for my server product for InDesign. I tried to create a CS4 compatible panel on MacPro (Mac OS X 10.5.5 3GB RAM) using every possible method from the XMP FileInfo SDK pdf - it didn't work. The panel did show up in the dialog, but not the fields. Not only this, all fields also disappeared from some other panels. After I removed my custom panel, everything went back to normal.

I tried:

-Generic panel method - the fields didn't show up

-The Flex SDK method: when I run

ant built.xml

I got the "Target "build.xml" does not exist in the project "TestPanel"." error (I checked many times - all the files were where they're supposed to be, and I run it from the correct directory).

-I downloaded Flex Builder, followed all the steps - the fields didn't show up, and fields in other panels disappeared.

The idea of building the panel interface interactively is great - I hope it will ever work.

Any ideas of why it didn't work for me?

While we're on this, I think that the new tabbed interface for the File Info dialog is a huge step back. You already had a great interface, with the list of panel names on the left side - which is easy to use and is standard through many Adobe dialogs.

The multi-tab approach for many items proved to be inefficient long time ago. Right now you created a dialog that works like a dilaog in QuarkXPress 4 - what's the point?

To support the new tabbed interface, you had to introduce TWO new "arrow" controls, none of which is user-friendly, and which make a simple task of choosing a panel extremely confusing.

The new feature of changing panel position by dragging is great, but it could be also achieved through the side list approach.

Bottom line: could you please restore the side list approach. I think it will help advance the XMP technology further and encourage people to actually use it , instead of doing exactly the opposite.

Best,

Leo Revzin
Zevrix Solutions
zevrix.com

Adobe Exchange is a good place to post it. We can all point to it as an example. Since we don't have a XMP specific area, I suggest posting it to Photoshop and the Flex areas. That should cover most interested customers.

Gunar

i figured out the generic panel customization, but i too, would like to know how to be able to show this custom panel info on bridges side panel, instead of having to click on every photo and choosing "view file info". so im hoping we can be told an 'easy' way to do this, so i can click on photos and instantly see my custom info off to the side. ive too many photos to manually view file info on all....thanks
gg
fl

The document is in error.

Best to use this location...

/Library/Application Support/Adobe/XMP/Custom File Info Panels/2.0/panels

I ran into this issue as well - frustrating. We will update the doc.

Gunar

Hi

I have posted today my Microsoft Expression Media CS4 panels project (with source) on Photoshop Exchange Flex Panels area and on Flex Builder area.

Wait for acception by Adobe. You will find a full set of panels (SWF type and Generic XMP type) with full source to study. Setup readme is included. Needs Flex Builder and XMP FileInfo SDK.

Hope it helps for CS4 panels builders!

Massimo

Easier, yes, and more visible in most non-Adobe applications. But a custom panel can give you more control. For instance, you can scan down it and see that all your fields have been populated, or you might control data entry by limiting choices with drop down boxes or date fields. You can also keep your metadata slightly more private (someone else would have to look into the Advanced panel and drill down to your metadata).

I'd recommend installing the generic panel from the SDK. It'll help the thought process about whether to go down this route at all, and will also show you an alternative to learning Flex - you just need to know XML.

John

Jerry

You can test and experiment with a working CS4 panel at this link on Exchange:

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?event=extensionDetail& loc=en_us&extid=1701061

I included source code for Flex Pro 3 SWL project and an equivalent Generic Panel app to see differences. A bridge XMP sample is also included.

For simple types the Generic Panel way is equivalent. For more elaborate UI tasks You will probably need SWF and Flex.

Hope it helps.

Massimo

Massimo,
I have not been able to get the Adobe samples or your Expression example to work and have been through all the documentation multiple time. I must be missing something as it does show the tab but no fields. I have the trust file set up and have checked it carefully.
I won't go into all the details but I have tried all options several times from scratch. I'm on Vista w/CS4. I am an experienced Actionscript3 developer and very familiar with XML so not much of this is new to me ... it just does not work. Any clues as to what you ran into when you started tackling this would be appreciated as I think my problem is more basic and I am just missing it.