For the first part, it is also possible to do this via scripting only.
If the NPC that you want to initiate the dialog is visible and in the module, use the NPC's OnPerception event, which is quite easy to do. To learn more about this, see my thread (
http://www.lucasforums.com/showthread.php?t=206379) on spawning a cloaked NPC. Sadly, the resolution that came about in that thread was lost when LF had the database error, but you will soon see the results in the new issue of Force Fashion K1 :dev14:
Also see tk102's tutorial on UserDefinedEvents (
http://www.lucasforums.com/showthread.php?t=143452)
The benefit to this method is that you do not need to repack the module.
As for the second part, yes TB12's tut is excellent :D