FAQ

Adobe Creative Suite Extension Builder 2 is an Eclipse™ based IDE for quickly developing, debugging, and packaging extensions that run inside the Creative Suite applications.

Creative Suite extensions are applications that leverage the Flex and Adobe AIR® frameworks and integrate inside the Creative Suite products to extend their functionality. Apart from ActionScript® code, they can contain native (C++, JavaScript) code. Creative Suite extensions that combine native and ActionScript code are referred to as hybrid extensions. They are usually accessible in the Creative Suite products from the Window > Extensions menu. When launched, they show up as panels inside the Creative Suite products. Learn more about Create Suite extensions.

The Adobe Creative Suite SDK is a set of ActionScript libraries that make it possible to build Adobe Flash® technology–based extensions in CS5, CS5.5, and CS6. Developers can include these libraries in their projects in order to create cross-application plug-ins that use the Flex framework and the Adobe AIR 2 API or later, and access the scripting Document Object Model (DOM) of Creative Suite applications through ActionScript objects.

The Creative Suite SDK is a set of ActionScript libraries. Creative Suite Extension Builder is an IDE that includes the Creative Suite SDK.

To use Creative Suite Extension Builder 2, you will need the following:

• Adobe Flash Builder® 4.5 software or later (standalone or the Eclipse plug-in version) installed; see release notes on how to install
  
• At least one Creative Suite 5, CS5.5, or CS6 application installed
  

Note: Both trial and licensed versions of Flash Builder and the Creative Suite applications will work with Creative Suite Extension Builder 2.

Creative Suite Extension Builder 2 includes a number of new features. Here are the key ones:

• Support for Creative Suite 6 products: Develop extensions for CS5, CS5.5, and CS6.
• Creative Suite multiple version support (CS5/5.5/6): Select the version of Creative Suite you want to target and CS Extension Builder 2 works out the compatible features available for that version.
• Support for Creative Suite 6 products: Create extensions for the CS6 versions of Adobe Photoshop/Extended, Illustrator, InDesign, InCopy, Premiere Pro, Prelude, Fireworks, Dreamweaver and Flash Professional.
• Adobe Exchange support: Adobe Exchange is a new way to promote, distribute and sell the extensions you create.
• CS Communications Toolkit support: Use the new CS Communication Toolkit to enable communication between Creative Suite 6 applications, extensions and external applications.
• ZXP Bundles: Let you wrap all your different CS version extensions inside a single ZXP file making distribution much easier.
• Synchronize interface: Create extensions that adopt the look and feel of their host CS application.

To find out more, read Introducing CS Extension Builder and check out other resources on the Developer Center.

Creative Suite Extension Builder 2 is currently available only in English.

No. Using Creative Suite Extension Builder 2 (or 1.0), you can create extensions that run inside either Creative Suite 5, CS5.5, or CS6. CS Extension Builder 1.5 lets you create extensions for CS5 and CS5.5.

Using Creative Suite Extension Builder, you can develop extensions using Flex SDK version 4.5. This is the version supported by Creative Suite 6. Note that since Creative Suite Extension Builder is a Flash Builder plug-in, it supports the same Flex SDK version as Flash Builder. The limitation to 4.5 applies only to extensions developed for Creative Suite.

No. Creative Suite Extension Builder 2 needs Flash Builder 4.5 or later (standalone or Eclipse plug-in version) to function properly.

The latest version of Creative Suite Extension Builder includes backward compatibility, so you can build extensions that run inside CS5, CS5.5 and CS6. Hence, it is unnecessary to have multiple versions installed.

The standalone version of Creative Suite Extension Builder 2 comes without additional support. Read about Adobe support for developers.

Creative Suite Extension Builder 2 is available as a 60-day trial and as a month-to-month or yearly subscription. Both versions have the same feature set and are fully functional.

There are three ways to buy Creative Suite Extension Builder 2:

• Purchase a month-to-month subscription through the Adobe Store.
• Purchase a yearly subscription through the Adobe Store.
• Purchase a yearly subscription to the Adobe Enterprise Developer Program through the Adobe Store. This subscription entitles you to a variety of software programs, including Creative Suite Extension Builder.

No, currently there is no specific pricing for education customers.

No, Creative Suite Extension Builder is not currently available as part of Adobe Volume Licensing.

When you buy a subscription to use Creative Suite Extension Builder, the purchase is tied to your Adobe ID. Purchasing more than one subscription under the same Adobe ID will not provide you additional benefits, nor will it enable you to have multiple users access the software.

As long as you have a valid subscription, you will always be entitled to the latest version of Creative Suite Extension Builder. So, once a new version becomes available, you will be notified so that you can download it.

Since Creative Suite Extension Builder is offered on a subscription basis, there are no upgrade options available. As long as you are an active subscriber you have access to the latest version.

• Creative Suite Extension Builder and Flash Builder
  Creative Suite Extension Builder is a Flash Builder plug-in. It leverages many of the features that Flash Builder has (such as code completion, project wizards, and debugging) and adds additional ones to streamline development on top of the Creative Suite products.
• Creative Suite Extension Builder and Adobe Photoshop®, Photoshop Extended, InDesign®, InCopy®, llustrator®, Flash Professional®, and Premiere Pro®
  Creative Suite Extension Builder contains a set of libraries, called Creative Suite ActionScript Wrapper (CSAW) libraries, that provide direct access to the Creative Suite applications scripting DOM. CSAW libraries are currently available only for Photoshop, Photoshop Extended, InDesign, Illustrator, and InCopy. CSAW Libraries are now available for Premier Pro CS6 and Flash Professional CS6.
• Creative Suite Extension Builder and Flash Professional, Adobe Premiere®, Dreamweaver®, and Fireworks®
  Creative Suite Extension Builder 2 does not contain CSAW libraries for Dreamweaver or Fireworks.

The following resources are available:

• Creative Suite Extension Builder Developer Center
• Creative Suite SDK blog
• Creative Suite Extension Builder YouTube channel
• Creative Suite Extension Builder forums and Creative Suite SDK forums

Check out these Flex training resources:

• Flex in a Week is a free, online video–based training course available from the Adobe Developer Center.
• Adobe has training partners around the world that offer three- and five-day classes to help train developers.
• Adobe Professional Services can help customers get started or provide deep expertise in Flex application architecture and development.