> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pads4.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Introduction

External application elements are used to **start and embed other applications** during the playback of your presentation.

This element provides various options to identify, start, and stop external applications. It can also be connected to an **external data source** to dynamically determine which application to launch at runtime.

> **Note**: The External Application element **replaces** the Plug-in element from earlier PADS versions.

***

### **Properties Overview**

| Property Section       | Description                                                                                     |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Application window** | Properties for detecting and embedding the external application's window into the presentation. |
| **Background color**   | Set the background color of the element area.                                                   |
| **Behaviour**          | Enable or disable interactivity on the external content.                                        |
| **Border**             | Set the border around the element.                                                              |
| **Identification**     | Assign a unique identifier to the element within the page.                                      |
| **Position**           | Define the element's position on the page.                                                      |
| **Property bindings**  | Connect element properties to external data sources.                                            |
| **Rules**              | Set rules to dynamically control the element’s behavior based on predefined conditions.         |
| **Size**               | Specify the width and height of the element.                                                    |
| **Start application**  | Define which external application to start and how to start it.                                 |
| **Stop application**   | Specify if and when the external application should be stopped.                                 |
| **Visibility**         | Control whether the element or its content is visible during playback.                          |

***

### **Remark**

This section only covers the **external application-specific properties**.\
For general element properties shared across different page elements (such as background, position, size, and visibility), refer to the **Page Element Properties** section.