Task 5:

Create a plug-in

Data provided to any Flash object must be in the specific XML format that the object requires. To use the dataURL variable to pass data to the Flash object, you create a Java class to generate an XML document, and deploy the class as a plug-in. In this procedure, you create the plug-in using the Eclipse Plug-in Development Environment (PDE).

1	In the main menu, choose Window→Open Perspective→Other.

2	In Open Perspective, choose Plug-in Development, as shown in Figure 18-23.

Figure 18-23

Selecting the Plug-in Development perspective

Choose OK. The Plug-in Development perspective displays the views and tools for creating and managing plug-ins.

3	Choose File→New→Project.

4	In New Project, expand Plug-in Development, and select Plug-in Project, as shown in Figure 18-24.

Figure 18-24

Selecting Plug-in Project

Choose Next.

5	In New Plug-in Project, specify the following project information:

1	In Project Name, type:

com.actuate.birt.flash.library.sample.CombinationChart

This name follows the naming convention used by Actuate BIRT plug-ins.

2	In Target Platform, select the following option:

OSGi framework: Equinox

OSGi is a framework specification for developing and deploying modular Java applications. Equinox is an Eclipse project that implements the OSGi framework and is the plug-in technology used by Eclipse and BIRT.

3	Use the default values for the other properties. Figure 18-25 shows the information specified for the plug-in project.

Figure 18-25

Properties of the plug-in project

Choose Next.

6	In New Plug-in Project—Content, specify the information for generating the plug-in.

1	In Properties, use all the default values.

ID identifies the plug-in. By default, the value you specified as the project name in the previous step is used as the ID value.

Version is the version number to assign to this plug-in.

Name is the plug-in’s display name, which appears in general descriptions about the plug-in.

Provider is the name of the plug-in contributor.

Execution Environment specifies the JRE (Java run-time environment) to use.

2	In Options, uncheck the first option, Generate an activator, a Java class that controls the plug-in’s life cycle.

Figure 18-26 shows the information for generating the plug-in.

Figure 18-26

Information for generating the plug-in

Choose Finish.

Eclipse creates the plug-in. The Plug-in editor displays an Overview page, as shown in Figure 18-27. This page shows the properties of the plug-in and provides links to pages about developing, testing, and deploying a plug-in.

Figure 18-27

Plug-in editor displaying overview information

Copyright Actuate Corporation 2012