RE: [ve-dev] how does eclipse know

[Dr Gili Mendel <gmendel@xxxxxxxxxx>]

... we can spend hours on this issue.
 But, the net net is that VE in its core will be able to drop any
JavaBean on the Free Form (see http://java.sun.com/products/javabeans/docs/spec.html).
 VE will model the bean,  instantiate it with a null constructor,
introspect it, and will render properties on the PropertySheet.

To support WYSIWYG, the core VE was
extended to screen scrape certain component hierarchy.  To extend
VE we use override files that could say that for a given hierarchy... use
special (GEF) edit parts, Decoders,  hide/fluff properties etc.  
see org.eclipse.ve.jfc\overrides\java\awt\Component.override as an example
override file for a Swing Component.

The Reverse Parsing process does not
necessarily looks at all the instance variables and code in your class.
 It tries to filter what is rendered.
If it is a Swing/SWT component will
render them (e.g., see the  modelled="true"
in the Component.override file).
If the class is not to be modelled by
default from an override file, you can for VE to model it as following
(this logic comes for rules that can be extended as well):

   1.  prefix the instance
variable name with "ivj"
   2.  (This is on CVS
and will be available in the next build)  An instance declaration
has a comment that starts as following  //
 @jve:decl-index=0:



         e.g.,
  if you use the ChooseBean to drop a none Swing/SWT component, it
will generate code like  this
           
           Foo  myFoo = null;  //
 @jve:decl-index=0:visual-constraint="56,58"
   This
implies that myFoo will be modeled, and will be placed on the Canvas at
coordinates 56,58.

           
          Foo  myFoo = null;  //
 @jve:decl-index=0:visual-constraint=""
       myFoo will
be modeled, and Free Flowed on the FF.

           
          Foo  ivjmyFoo = null; 
       ivjmyFoo
will be modeled, and Free Flowed on the FF.

           
          Foo  myFoo = null;  //
 @jve:decl-index=0:
       myFoo will
be modeled, but will not be placed on the FF

           
          Foo  myFoo = null;  
       myFoo will
NOT be modeled... as it is not a "override designated Visual Class"




------------
Dr. Gili Mendel
IBM
Software Development
RTP Raleigh, NC
(919)543 6408, tie: 441 6408


 
Ps- Just out of interest how does
the Visual Editor know which are visual components and must the class follow
a certain structure ( a la JavaBean structure)? I was trying to port some
old classes to it and i'm redoing them... just thought if I understand
how it builds it up I can save some time. Thanks again for the prompt reply.