View source for SCA/Components/SCA Form Editor

== Introduction ==

The SCA Form Editor is a multi-page editor where each page represents a concept of an SCA application (general information, components, services, references, wires...).
<br />In terms of usability and simplicity, it can be seen as at an intermediate level between the SCA XML editor and the SCA Composite Designer.

Each page allows to visualize and edit the elements and attributes relative to the page concept.<br />
In general, pages are made of two parts: a list on the left, and sub-elements and attributes of the the list elements on the right.<br />
However, some pages are more complex, like the <b>component</b> page, where you have to select which sub-elements you want to edit. This is achieved through an action bar.

This editor aims at covering all the aspects of SCA.<br />
In particular, it will bring some useful help to use component types, constraining types, policies, intents, complex properties and composite inclusions. 
This will be achieved by overview mechanisms and embedded widget editors.


== Screenshots ==

<center>
[[Image:ScaFormEditorOverviewPage.gif]]<br />
<u>Overview of the SCA Form Editor</u>
</center>


<center>
[[Image:ScaFormEditorComponentOverviewPage.gif]]<br />
<u>Component page of the SCA Form Editor</u>
</center>


<center>
[[Image:ScaFormEditorComponentServicePage.gif]]<br />
<u>Edit the services of an SCA component</u>
</center>


<center>
[[Image:ScaFormEditorComponentReferencePage.gif]]<br />
<u>Edit the references of an SCA component</u>
</center>


<center>
[[Image:ScaFormEditorServicesPage.gif]]<br />
<u>Edit the services of an SCA composite</u>
</center>


<center>
[[Image:ScaFormEditorIncludesPage.gif]]<br />
<u>The SCA Resource Explorer in action to manage composite inclusions</u>
</center>


<center>
[[Image:ScaFormEditorPoliciesIntentsPage.gif]]<br />
<u>Define policies and intents for SCA elements</u>
</center>


<center>
[[Image:ScaFormEditorSourcePage.gif]]<br />
<u>The source page</u>
</center>


== Features ==

Here are the main features expected for this editor.


<u>Short-term (before Galileo):</u>
* Web-form interface to edit SCA composites. <span style="color: green; font-weight: bold">Done</span>
* Synchronisation with the SCA Composite XML Editor. <span style="color: green; font-weight: bold">Done</span>
* Edit all the elements of a composite. <span style="color: orange; font-weight: bold">Partially done</span>
* Visualize elements as lists with filtering by name. <span style="color: green; font-weight: bold">Done</span>
* Simple vs. Expert mode to edit wires (there are three ways of wiring). <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold">Delayed</span>
* Edit complex properties. <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold">Delayed</span>
* Browse and visualize other SCA composites for inclusion. <span style="color: green; font-weight: bold">Done</span>
* Browse and visualize SCA constraining types. <span style="color: orange; font-weight: bold">Partially done</span>
* Browse and visualize SCA component types. <span style="color: green; font-weight: bold">Done</span>
* Edit basic implementations, bindings and interfaces. <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold">Delayed</span>


<u>Mid-term and long-term (after Galileo):</u>
* Edit constraining types and component types.
* Refactoring capabilities (e.g. rename a component service renames also the wire attributes using it). <span style="color: green; font-weight: bold">Done</span>
* Browse and visualize policies and intents.
* Display validation error and warning markers in the editor.
* Edit implementations, bindings and interfaces specified in the preference page for <b>XML-based editors</b>.
* SCA Composite analysis (find unused dependencies, find cycles in dependencies...).
* Handle constraints set up by component types and constraining types when editing.


== Technical Information ==

This editor uses Eclipse Forms for the graphical part, and the WTP XML model as the underlying model.

[[Category:SOA_Tools]]
[[Category:SOA]]
[[Category:STP]]
[[Category:SCA]]