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This documentation is associated with the plug-in project that provides branding for the associated feature. There is no code to discuss, but rather the support for building runtime systems using features that reference plug-ins as was covered in the Developing Features lecture. Build.properties files are used in the feature project and in the plug-in projects referenced by the feature, to control the runtime preparation and installation packaging support provided by the Plug-in Development Environment (PDE).
The solution for this project is an installable feature. The feature definition references several of the plug-in solutions included on the CD-ROM. The installation and configuration options available using Update Manager, or by emulating the installation of an extension, are reviewed in this section. Full details on the process used to build these materials and the installation options that exist were discussed in the Feature Development and Deployment exercise.
Three major tasks will be described:
Importing plug-in source from an installed feature requires that you first complete one of the two feature installation options. If you want to use both options you have to undo the
first before trying the second. Once you have the feature
installed, you can import its associated plug-in source. The materials on the CD-ROM in
these directories will be used during this process:
You can add the feature that is packaged on the CD-ROM as part of your Eclipse installation. The install extends your existing install using a link file to point at a copy of the code on the CD-ROM. The link file can point to the code on the CD-ROM, or you can first copy the code to your system.
The process of using Update Manager to install a feature was detailed
as Step 6. Install a new feature as an extension to an existing
product as found in the Feature Development and
Deployment exercise. You should use a new/empty workspace for this task.
Once done, all workspaces that are started from the Eclipse installation
you have customized will include this feature unless you remember the
link file.
The short form of the process is:
JSGuide.link
to support this
extension. platform.cfg
file
(workspace/.metadata/.config/platform.cfg
) and look for a site definition:site.0.url=file:J:/Solutions/Installable_Feature/Extension_Install_Directory/Eclipse site.0.stamp=41741001 site.0.stamp.features=-1045368155798 site.0.stamp.plugins=1044443188506 site.0.updateable=true site.0.linkfile=E:/Eclipse-2.0.2/eclipse/links/JSGuide.link site.0.policy=USER-EXCLUDE
You can use the update site that is packaged on the CD-ROM to install the feature solution as part of your Eclipse installation. The install extends your active workspace by installing the code on the CD-ROM to a new install site on your system. The link file can point to the code on the CD-ROM, or you can first copy the code to your system.
The process of using Update Manager to install a feature was detailed
in Step 7. Add a feature to an existing product configuration from
an update site as found in the Feature Development and
Deployment exercise. You should use a new/empty workspace for this task.
The short form of the process is:
site.0.url=file:E:/JSGuide_Inst/ site.0.stamp=1043961617892 site.0.stamp.features=-1044207632227 site.0.stamp.plugins=-949412728 site.0.updateable=true site.0.policy=USER-EXCLUDE
There are many ways to add existing plug-in projects to your workspace. You can:
The first option is used in the instructions for setting up your
workspace to support the plug-in development exercises. The second
option requires a repository. The third is
explained in Exploring (and Sometimes Correcting) the Eclipse
Platform Code, which can be found in the Using the Plug-in
Development Environment exercise. Regardless of the technique you have used to install the feature (link file or Update Manager), you can import one or more features as source projects.
Note: If you want to import the feature project, you need to use File
> Import and choose the Existing Project into
Workspace option. As long as the feature directory has a .project
file, the import will let you select the feature directory.
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