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Rich Client Platform/How-to

< Rich Client Platform
Revision as of 10:59, 26 March 2009 by Pgodeau.sapex-profor.com (Talk | contribs) (Extension Point)

RCP
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This page is a checklist to get started to build an Eclipse RCP application. It is intended to keep as minimal as possible.

This was tested on Eclipse 3.4 (Ganymede).

IDE

http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/

Link "Eclipse for RCP/Plug-in Developers"

Download and unzip: eclipse-rcp-ganymede-*.zip

Launch Eclipse

Open PDE (Plug-in Development Environment) perspective: Window > Open Perspective > Other > Plug-in Development

Target

Create directory target

http://download.eclipse.org/eclipse/downloads

Download and unzip in target: eclipse-RCP-SDK-*.zip, eclipse-*-delta-pack.zip

  • Delta pack is needed for building to other platforms, or for automated build.
  • If Help ou Update feature is needed, either replace RCP-SDK with platform-SDK, or download individual features from http://www.eclipse.org/platform/
  • eclipse-RCP-SDK-*.zip is needed rather than eclipse-RCP-*.zip else extensions won't work in plug-in editor.

Window > Preferences > Plug-in Development > Target Platform > Browse > target/eclipse > OK > Reload

Plug-in

File > New > Project > Plug-in Project > Next > Project name > Next > Rich Client Application > Yes > Next > Hello RCP > Next > Add branding > Finish

plugin.xml > Overview > Testing > Launch

View

plugin.xml > Extensions > Add > org.eclipse.ui.views > right-click > New > View > id, class

Perspective

plugin.xml > Extensions > org.eclipse.ui.perspectives > perspective > class

 public void createInitialLayout (IPageLayout layout) {
   layout.addView ("view_id", IPageLayout.LEFT, 0.5f, layout.getEditorArea ());
   layout.getViewLayout ("view_id").setCloseable (false);
 }

WorkbenchWindowAdvisor.preWindowOpen:

 configurer.setShowPerspectiveBar (true);
 configurer.setShowCoolBar (true);

Editor

plugin.xml > Extensions > Add > org.eclipse.ui.editors > id, class, icon

To open editor:

 IWorkbenchPage page;
 IEditorInput input;
 page = PlatformUI.getWorkbench ().getActiveWorkbenchWindow ().getActivePage ();
 // else if in ViewPart // page = getSite ().getPage ();
 page.openEditor (input, "editor_id");

EditorPart.init:

 setSite (site);
 setInput (input);

Debug

In case something goes wrong:

Run > Run Configurations > Main > Clear workspace

Run > Run Configurations > Arguments > Program arguments > -consoleLog

Run > Run Configurations > Plug-ins > Validate plug-ins automatically

Run > Run Configurations > Plug-ins > Add Required Plug-ins

Command

plugin.xml > Extensions > org.eclipse.ui.commands > right-click > New > command > defaultHandler > Superclass > org.eclipse.core.commands.AbstractHandler

Menu

plugin.xml > Extensions > org.eclipse.ui.menus > right-click > New > menuContribution > locationURI = menu:org.eclipse.ui.main.menu > right-click > New > menu > right-click > New > command > commandId > Browse

Popup menu

plugin.xml > Extensions > org.eclipse.ui.menus > right-click > New > menuContribution > locationURI = popup:view_id > right-click > New > command > commandId > Browse

ViewPart.createPartControl:

 Viewer viewer;
 MenuManager menuManager = new MenuManager ();
 Menu menu = menuManager.createContextMenu (viewer.getControl ());
 viewer.getControl ().setMenu (menu);
 getSite ().registerContextMenu (menuManager, viewer);

Toolbar

plugin.xml > Extensions > org.eclipse.ui.menus > right-click > New > menuContribution > locationURI = toolbar:org.eclipse.ui.main.toolbar > right-click > New > toolbar > right-click > New > command > commandId > Browse

WorkbenchWindowAdvisor.preWindowOpen:

 configurer.setShowCoolBar (true);

View Toolbar

plugin.xml > Extensions > org.eclipse.ui.menus > right-click > New > menuContribution > locationURI = toolbar:view_id > right-click > New > command > commandId > Browse

Key Binding

plugin.xml > Extensions > org.eclipse.ui.commands > right-click > New > keyBinding

  • keyConfigurationId = org.eclipse.ui.defaultAcceleratorConfiguration
  • commandId (there is no Browse button)
  • keySequence = M1+A (this is Ctrl-A)

Product

Creating a product is required for branding and automatic build.

File > New > Product Configuration > File name > product_name.product > Initialize the file content:

  • Use an existing product (plugin_id.product) if applying (if "Add branding" was checked)
  • Use a launch configuration (plugin_id.application) if applying (if application was launched)

If no existing product: product_name.product > Overview > Specify the product identifier > New > Defining plug-in

product_name.product > Overview > Testing > Synchronize (updates plugin.xml) product_name.product > Overview > Testing > Launch product_name.product > Overview > Eclipse Product export wizard

Feature

Creating a feature is required for update.

File > New > Project > Feature Project > Next > Project name > feature_id feature.xml > Plug-ins > Add > plugin_id

product_name.product > Overview > The product configuration is based on > Features product_name.product > Configuration > Add > org.eclipse.rcp product_name.product > Configuration > Add > feature_id

Localization

plugin.xml

plugin.xml > Overview > Exporting > Externalize Strings Wizard

plugin.properties:

 key=Default value

Create for each language xx (ISO 639 language code) a file plugin_xx.properties

plugin_xx.properties:

 key=Translated value

RCP

http://download.eclipse.org/technology/babel/babel_language_packs/

Unzip BabelLanguagePack-eclipse-*.zip into target

Window > Preferences > Plug-in Development > Target Platform > Reload

Run > Run Configurations > Plug-ins > Add Required Plug-ins

Strings

Source > Externalize Strings > Use Eclipse's string externalization

Preferences

If no need for preference scopes

http://www.eclipse.org/eclipse/platform-core/documents/user_settings/faq.html

Get preference value:

 Activator.getDefault ().getPluginPreferences ().getString ("preference_id");

Preference page: plugin.xml > Extensions > Add > org.eclipse.ui.preferencePages > right-click > New > page > class > Superclass > FieldEditorPreferencePage

FieldEditorPreferencePage:

 protected IPreferenceStore doGetPreferenceStore () {
   return Activator.getDefault ().getPreferenceStore ();
 }
 protected void createFieldEditors () {
   addField (new StringFieldEditor ("preference_id", "label", getFieldEditorParent ()));
 }

Command org.eclipse.ui.window.preferences

Update

See also feature

File > New > Project > Update Site Project

site.xml > Archives > URL, Description

site.xml > Site Map > Add Feature > feature_id

site.xml > Site Map > Build All

Copy to URL: site.xml, plugins, features

feature.xml > Overview > Update Site URL

feature.xml > Included Features > Add > org.eclipse.rcp

feature.xml > Plug-ins > Add > org.eclipse.core.net, org.eclipse.equinox.security, org.eclipse.ui.forms, org.eclipse.update.core, org.eclipse.update.ui

plugin.xml > Dependencies > Add > org.eclipse.update.core, org.eclipse.update.ui

Run > Run Configurations > Plug-ins > Add Required Plug-ins

Add command IHandler

IHandler.execute:

 BusyIndicator.showWhile (HandlerUtil.getActiveShell (event).getDisplay (),
 new Runnable () {
   public void run () {
     String label = Platform.getResourceBundle (Platform.getBundle (
     "org.eclipse.update.ui")).getString ("actionSets.softwareUpdates.label");
     UpdateManagerUI.openInstaller (HandlerUtil.getActiveShell (event),
     new UpdateJob (label, false, false));
   }
 });

WorkbenchWindowAdvisor.preWindowOpen:

 configurer.setShowProgressIndicator (true);

Test with exported product, not with product launched from IDE

Help

Add command org.eclipse.ui.help.helpContents

plugin.xml > Dependencies > Add > org.eclipse.help.ui, org.eclipse.help.webapp

plugin.xml > Extensions > Add > org.eclipse.help.toc > Available templates > Help Content

product_name.product > Configuration > Add > org.eclipse.help

build.properties > Binary build > check html, icons, toc.xml, etc.

ActionBarAdvisor.makeActions:

 IAction helpAction = ActionFactory.HELP_CONTENTS.create (window);
 register (helpAction);

Build

Automatic (headless) build

File > New > Project > General > Project

Copy build.properties and customTargets.xml from: eclipse/plugins/org.eclipse.pde.build_*/templates/headless-build

build.properties (edit with properties file editor):

 product=/plugin_id/product_name.product
 archivePrefix
 configs=win32,win32,x86 & linux,gtk,x86 (*,*,* does not work)
 buildDirectory=${builder}/build
 base=path_to_target

customTargets.xml:

 <target name="preSetup">
   <copy todir="${buildDirectory}/plugins/plugin_id">
     <fileset dir="${builder}/path_to_plugin" />
   </copy>
   <copy todir="${buildDirectory}/features/feature_id">
     <fileset dir="${builder}/path_to_feature" />
   </copy>
 </target>

product_name.product > Program Launcher > Launcher Name

java -jar eclipse/plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher_*.jar -application org.eclipse.ant.core.antRunner -buildfile eclipse/plugins/org.eclipse.pde.build_*/scripts/productBuild/productBuild.xml

Customization

Create file plugin_customization.ini in plug-in

plugin_customization.ini:

 org.eclipse.ui/DOCK_PERSPECTIVE_BAR=topRight
 org.eclipse.ui/SHOW_TRADITIONAL_STYLE_TABS=false

Status Line

WorkbenchWindowAdvisor.preWindowOpen:

 getWindowConfigurer ().setShowStatusLine (true);

ViewPart:

 getViewSite ().getActionBars ().getStatusLineManager ().setMessage ("message");

Extension Point

Plug-in with extension point (plugin_id):

plugin.xml > Extension Points > Add > ID=point_id, Name

point_id.exsd > Definition > New Element > Name=element_name

element_name > New Attribute > Name=class_name, Type=java, Implements=package_name.InterfaceName > Implements

point_id.exsd > Definition > extension > New Choice > right-click > New > element_name

plugin.xml > Runtime > Exported Packages > Add > package_name

Activator.start (for example):

 IConfigurationElement[] elements = Platform.getExtensionRegistry ().getConfigurationElementsFor ("plugin_id.point_id");
 for (IConfigurationElement e : elements) {
   Object o = e.createExecutableExtension ("class_name");
   if (o instanceof InterfaceName) {
   }
 }

Plug-in with extension:

MANIFEST.MF > Dependencies > Required Plug-ins > plugin with extension point

MANIFEST.MF > Extensions > Add > plugin_id.point_id > right-click > New > element_name > class_name

Add plug-in with extension to run configuration.

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