[news.eclipse.tools] Re: -> Extension point mechanism (general concept q

["Martin Kersten" <martin.kersten@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> In the EclipseSDK download, there's a plugin called
> org.eclipse.platform.doc.isv. It has a zip file that contains a lot of
> documentation about the plugin system. Specifically, it describes the
> plugin.xml format, including how to define extention-points and
> extensions.

I already read this. It's available selecting Help -> Help Contents in
the menu. I read it where I got most of my guesses and clues from.

But maybe I missed some text parts about my current questions.


Martin

>
> Scott
>
> On Sat, 24 Aug 2002 09:38:43 +0200, "Martin Kersten"
<martin.kersten@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Hi there,
> >
> >     while studying the documentations and digging into the api's,
> > I seam to miss the big picture about the extension point mechanism.
> >
> > What I believe to know about:
> >
> > - The extension points are named 'connectors'.
> > - Every plugin specifies a xml-file about itself.
> > - Everytime the workbench starts it evaluates its plugin folder.
> > - A plugin is 'installed' within the system by reading its xml-file.
> > - The plugin xml-file is called manifest thouse describing the plugin.
> >
> > My Guesses:
> >
> > - Plugins naming the same extension point are grouped up
> >    by the system.
> > - A extension point must be unique within the system. To ensure this,
> >    including package names are best.
> >
> > My Questions:
> >
> > Q1: How does the plugin mechanism work for a concret example.
> >       Lets say, a view named an extension point of an editor.
> >       First scenario: The editor exsists while the view is opened.
> >       Second scenario: The editor does not exsists.
> >       What happens during startup and first run of the plugin?
> > Q2: A plugin wants to definie its own extension point. What is to do?
> >        What are the requirements?
> > Q3: Are there additional resources available I might have miss?
> >        I read the articles and the documentations about plugin.
> >
> > My Reason:
> >
> >     I just want to understand how the concept works. I just want to
> > add the concept to my every days knowledge.
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Martin
> >
> >
>
>
>