Installing and using Lightroom export plug-ins

I received a simple question via email this morning:

"How do you attach and use plug-ins?"

And I realized that Lightroom Help doesn't provide an answer. Certainly, plug-in developers provide some documentation for their own tools--and by all means, do consult it--but here are some things you should know that will help you work more efficiently with plug-ins in Lightroom:

1. Lightroom 2 can work with export plug-ins regardless of where they're located, but it's easiest if you put them in one of the following folders:

• Mac OS: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Modules
• Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Adobe\Lightroom\Modules
• Windows Vista: C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Modules

To install a plug-in, simply drag it into one of those folders, and then launch Lightroom. Lightroom will automatically find the plug-in and make it available.

2. Use the Plug-In Manager to enable/disable plug-ins. Choose File > Plug-In Manager or click the Plug-in Manager button in the Export dialog box.

3. To use an export plug-in, click the double-pointing arrow ( ) at the far right of the Files On Disk button that straddles the top of the Export dialog box. Then, choose the plug-in from the list.

4. Some plug-ins have additional functionality that is available by choosing Plug-In Extras from the File, Library, or Help menu.

For more information, see the Export Plug-Ins topic in Lightroom Community Help.