Writing an Eclipse Plug-in (Part 24): Common Navigator: Configuring the submenus (Presentation…again)
When we last left our erstwhile travelers (that would be all of you) they were surfing the quantum wave on their way to a future refactoring of their past to allow them to simultaneously feel proud of their work and embarrassed that they were following some guy who is making it all up as he goes along causing them to need refactoring in the first place.
Hey. Refactoring happens. All the time. Just ask evolution (only don’t mention the alligators).
What I will post about is adding behavior to our menu items. After having added 4 (count ’em) new menu items it is time to make them actually do something. What should they do? Well, they are going to add elements into their respective XML files (and respectively) while looking like they are adding items into their respective category nodes in the navigator.
That would appear to entail a few things:
- Display the proper menu item based on the node/project selected
- If right clicking on Schema then display Table, View and Filter
- If right clicking on Stored Procedures then display Stored Procedure
Regardless of which node is selected:
- Make sure the XML file in question exists to begin with
- Update the appropriate elements
- Update the Custom Navigator model
Finally:
- In the navigator: open the node that contains the new element
- Remove the ability to create the actual XML file from the New Wizard
- New Wizard: Add the appropriate New Wizard based on whether a Project, Schema or Stored Procedures node, or any of their children, is selected
We won’t be doing those last 2 in this post. All we are going to do is straighten out the popup behavior. I want to do more, but these posts are getting rather long, its Sunday and I really want to get some reading in before I go to work tomorrow.
What (are we doing?)
The things we need to do (in this and the next few posts) are:
1. Display the proper popup depending on the node right-clicked by the user
2. Check for the existence of a particular file type (schema or stored procedure file)
3. Add a new entry into the file based on the element type selected
4. Display the new entry in the navigator
Sounds reasonable so far. We can test the second two and ignore the last (what? Ignore it? Yes…remember: don’t test the platform). However, depending on how involved the model code is we might want to test that the model code is handling the non-trivial handling of the XML files properly. I am not sure. We’ll figure that out. But not today.
How (are we doing it?)
Display the proper menu item based on the node/project selected
- If right clicking on Schema then display Table, View and Filter
- If right clicking on Stored Procedures then display Stored Procedure
In order to restrict the Schema Table menu we have to go back to customnavigator plugin.xml –> Extensions –> org.eclipse.ui.handlers –> (handler) [the one for Schema Table] –> (enabledWhen) –> selection (with) –> false (iterate) –> customnavigator.navigator.ICustomProjectElement.
Do the following:
- Delete the false (iterate) node.
- selection (with) –> New –> iterate
- (iterate) –> New –> or
- (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectParent
- (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchema
Repeat the previous steps for Schema View and Schema Filter.
Save plugin.xml and start the runtime workbench to check your work.
Close the runtime workbench when you finish checking that everything is okay.
- Go to org.eclipse.ui.handlers –> (handler) [the one for Schema Table] –> (enabledWhen) –> selection (with) –> (iterate) –> (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchemaTables
- Go to org.eclipse.ui.handlers –> (handler) [the one for Schema View] –> (enabledWhen) –> selection (with) –> (iterate) –> (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchemaViews
- Go to org.eclipse.ui.handlers –> (handler) [the one for Schema Filter] –> (enabledWhen) –> selection (with) –> (iterate) –> (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchemaFilters
Save the plugin.xml and check out the runtime workbench.
Why (did we do it that way?)
Okay! We are now at a point where we can move forward again. Maybe not a lot very far, but my expectations are low these days.
Let’s see:
Display the proper menu item based on the node/project selected (in this case, the Schema Table)
- Right clicking on a Custom Project should display all of our items under New
- If right clicking on Schema then display Table, View and Filter
- If right clicking on Stored Procedures then display Stored Procedure
Starting the runtime workbench shows that our New menu comes up as before. All the various menu items are available as usual. If you right-click on Schema you will notice that all the menu items are also still displayed including Stored Procedure. We only want to see New –> [Table | View | Filter] when right clicking on the Schema node. How to fix that?
In order to restrict the Schema Table menu we have to go back to customnavigator plugin.xml –> Extensions –> org.eclipse.ui.handlers –> (handler) [the one for Schema Table] –> (enabledWhen) –> selection (with) –> false (iterate) –> customnavigator.navigator.ICustomProjectElement.
When the Eclipse GUI framework opens the popup it checks to see if any of the handlers should be enabled or disabled based on the information found in the enabledWhen element of the handler. In this case the Schema Table menu item will only appear if the item being right-clicked by the mouse is an object of type customnavigator.navigator.ICustomProjectElement. That is apparently too generic. Let’s restrict it to just the Schema node by changing customnavigator.navigator.ICustomProjectElement to customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchema.
Save plugin.xml and start the runtime workbench. Test our new configuration by right-clicking on Stored Procedures. The Table menu item should be gone. Excellent! Good times.
Before exiting the runtime workbench check that the Table node still appears when we right-click on the project. Oh, oh. The Table menu is gone!
Of course it is. We just told Eclipse to only display Table when the selected node is Schema. We need to display Table when the selected node is Schema or the project.
Do the following:
- Delete the false (iterate) node.
- selection (with) –> New –> iterate
- (iterate) –> New –> or
- (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectParent
- (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchema
Start the runtime workbench. Check both the project node and the Schema node. The Table menu should be displayed on both (only showing the popup menu of the project node).
Exit the runtime workbench.
Repeat the previous steps for Schema View and Schema Filter.
- Delete the false (iterate) node.
- selection (with) –> New –> iterate
- (iterate) –> New –> or
- (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectParent
- (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchema
Save plugin.xml and start the runtime workbench.
Check that all of the menu items appear when you right-click on the project, check that the Schema choices appear when right-clicking on the Schema node (the Stored Procedure menu item is still there as we have not updated its handler to only appear based on a more specific object type), and check that the Stored Procedure choice appear when right-clicking on the Stored Procedures node.
Exit the runtime workbench.
There is bit of a side-effect going on in that last check: because the Stored Procedures node is not a Schema node the only item that appears, by default, is Stored Procedure. Let’s be explicit:
- Delete the false (iterate) node.
- selection (with) –> New –> iterate
- (iterate) –> New –> or
- (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectParent
- (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectStoredProcedures
Save plugin.xml and start the runtime workbench. The results should appear the same as before only now the Schema sub-menu no longer displays the Stored Procedure item. Give yourself a +1 for being so anal.
Extra credit: when you right click on any of the Schema nodes (Table, View or Filter) the New menu should just display the menu item specific to that node (we don’t need to worry about doing this for Stored Procedures).
- Go to org.eclipse.ui.handlers –> (handler) [the one for Schema Table] –> (enabledWhen) –> selection (with) –> (iterate) –> (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchemaTables
- Go to org.eclipse.ui.handlers –> (handler) [the one for Schema View] –> (enabledWhen) –> selection (with) –> (iterate) –> (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchemaViews
- Go to org.eclipse.ui.handlers –> (handler) [the one for Schema Filter] –> (enabledWhen) –> selection (with) –> (iterate) –> (or) –> New –> instanceof
- Value: customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchemaFilters
Save the plugin.xml and check out the runtime workbench.
Just a quick look at one of the three leaves:
Cool, huh?
What Just Happened?
Once again, we performed a minimal amount of configuration to control the display of popups. No code this time…again.
While I hoped that we would get to a point where we could finally add behavior to these popups that was not to be.
So in case I publish this before September: have a great Labor Day (for those of you not in the US: that would be the first Monday in September)! Eat drink and be merry! More drinking! More merry-making (especially merry-making)!
The cat disapproves. The platypus wants shrimp on the barby. I am not sure what the squirrel thinks.
Code
Download this post’s code from the Eclipse Kick Start site.
plugin.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?eclipse version="3.4"?>
<plugin>
<extension
point="org.eclipse.ui.views">
<category
id="customnavigator.category"
name="%category.name">
</category>
<view
allowMultiple="false"
category="customnavigator.category"
class="org.eclipse.ui.navigator.CommonNavigator"
icon="icons/navigator.png"
id="customnavigator.navigator"
name="%view.name">
</view>
</extension>
<extension
point="org.eclipse.ui.navigator.viewer">
<viewer
viewerId="customnavigator.navigator">
<popupMenu
id="customnavigator.navigator#PopupMenu">
<insertionPoint
name="group.new">
</insertionPoint>
<insertionPoint
name="group.build"
separator="true">
</insertionPoint>
</popupMenu>
</viewer>
<viewerContentBinding
viewerId="customnavigator.navigator">
<includes>
<contentExtension
pattern="customnavigator.navigatorContent">
</contentExtension>
</includes>
</viewerContentBinding>
<viewerActionBinding
viewerId="customnavigator.navigator">
<includes>
<actionExtension
pattern="customnavigator.popup.actionprovider.CustomNewAction">
</actionExtension>
<actionExtension
pattern="customnavigator.popup.actionprovider.CustomRefreshAction">
</actionExtension>
</includes>
</viewerActionBinding>
</extension>
<extension
point="org.eclipse.ui.navigator.navigatorContent">
<navigatorContent
activeByDefault="true"
contentProvider="customnavigator.navigator.ContentProvider"
id="customnavigator.navigatorContent"
labelProvider="customnavigator.navigator.LabelProvider"
name="%navigatorContent.name">
<triggerPoints>
<instanceof
value="org.eclipse.core.resources.IWorkspaceRoot">
</instanceof>
</triggerPoints>
<commonSorter
class="customnavigator.sorter.SchemaCategorySorter"
id="customnavigator.sorter.schemacategorysorter">
<parentExpression>
<or>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchema">
</instanceof>
</or>
</parentExpression>
</commonSorter>
</navigatorContent>
<actionProvider
class="customnavigator.popup.actionprovider.CustomNewActionProvider"
id="customnavigator.popup.actionprovider.CustomNewAction">
<enablement>
<or>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.ICustomProjectElement">
</instanceof>
<adapt
type="java.util.Collection">
<count
value="0">
</count>
</adapt>
</or>
</enablement>
</actionProvider>
<actionProvider
class="customnavigator.popup.actionprovider.CustomRefreshActionProvider"
id="customnavigator.popup.actionprovider.CustomRefreshAction">
<enablement>
<or>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.ICustomProjectElement">
</instanceof>
<adapt
type="java.util.Collection">
<count
value="0">
</count>
</adapt>
</or>
</enablement>
</actionProvider>
<commonWizard
type="new"
wizardId="customplugin.wizard.new.custom">
<enablement></enablement>
</commonWizard>
</extension>
<extension
point="org.eclipse.ui.commands">
<command
description="%command.schemaTable.description"
id="customnavigator.newSchemaTable"
name="%command.schemaTable.name">
</command>
<command
description="%command.schemaView.description"
id="customnavigator.newSchemaView"
name="%command.schemaView.name">
</command>
<command
description="%command.schemaFilter.description"
id="customnavigator.newSchemaFilter"
name="%command.schemaFilter.name">
</command>
<command
description="%command.storedProcedure.description"
id="customnavigator.newStoredProcedure"
name="%command.storedProcedure.name">
</command>
</extension>
<extension
point="org.eclipse.ui.handlers">
<handler
class="customnavigator.handler.BogusHandler"
commandId="customnavigator.newSchemaTable">
<enabledWhen>
<with
variable="selection">
<iterate>
<or>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectParent">
</instanceof>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchema">
</instanceof>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchemaTables">
</instanceof>
</or>
</iterate>
</with>
</enabledWhen>
</handler>
<handler
class="customnavigator.handler.BogusHandler"
commandId="customnavigator.newSchemaView">
<enabledWhen>
<with
variable="selection">
<iterate>
<or>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectParent">
</instanceof>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchema">
</instanceof>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchemaViews">
</instanceof>
</or>
</iterate>
</with>
</enabledWhen>
</handler>
<handler
class="customnavigator.handler.BogusHandler"
commandId="customnavigator.newSchemaFilter">
<enabledWhen>
<with
variable="selection">
<iterate>
<or>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectParent">
</instanceof>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchema">
</instanceof>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectSchemaFilters">
</instanceof>
</or>
</iterate>
</with>
</enabledWhen>
</handler>
<handler
class="customnavigator.handler.BogusHandler"
commandId="customnavigator.newStoredProcedure">
<enabledWhen>
<with
variable="selection">
<iterate>
<or>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectParent">
</instanceof>
<instanceof
value="customnavigator.navigator.CustomProjectStoredProcedures">
</instanceof>
</or>
</iterate>
</with>
</enabledWhen>
</handler>
</extension>
<extension
point="org.eclipse.ui.menus">
<menuContribution
allPopups="false"
locationURI="popup:common.new.menu?after=additions">
<command
commandId="customnavigator.newSchemaTable"
style="push">
<visibleWhen
checkEnabled="true">
</visibleWhen>
</command>
<command
commandId="customnavigator.newSchemaView"
style="push">
<visibleWhen
checkEnabled="true">
</visibleWhen>
</command>
<command
commandId="customnavigator.newSchemaFilter"
style="push">
<visibleWhen
checkEnabled="true">
</visibleWhen>
</command>
<command
commandId="customnavigator.newStoredProcedure"
style="push">
<visibleWhen
checkEnabled="true">
</visibleWhen>
</command>
</menuContribution>
</extension>
<extension
point="org.eclipse.ui.commandImages">
<image
commandId="customnavigator.newSchemaTable"
icon="icons/project-schema-tables.png">
</image>
<image
commandId="customnavigator.newSchemaView"
icon="icons/project-schema-views.png">
</image>
<image
commandId="customnavigator.newSchemaFilter"
icon="icons/project-schema-filters.png">
</image>
<image
commandId="customnavigator.newStoredProcedure"
icon="icons/project-stored-procedures.png">
</image>
</extension>
</plugin>
MANIFEST.MF
Manifest-Version: 1.0 Bundle-ManifestVersion: 2 Bundle-Name: %Bundle-Name Bundle-SymbolicName: customnavigator;singleton:=true Bundle-Version: 1.0.2.4 Bundle-Activator: customnavigator.Activator Require-Bundle: org.eclipse.ui, org.eclipse.core.runtime, org.eclipse.core.resources, org.eclipse.ui.ide;bundle-version="3.6.0", org.eclipse.ui.navigator, customplugin;bundle-version="1.0.1" Bundle-ActivationPolicy: lazy Bundle-RequiredExecutionEnvironment: JavaSE-1.6 Export-Package: customnavigator, customnavigator.navigator, customnavigator.popup.actionprovider, customnavigator.sorter
Very nicely made tutorial. This helped me when I was stuck in creating my own plugin. Thanks
Hello,
Firstly, these tutorials are extremely useful. Everything is explained so well and the steps are outlined in a progressive manner which makes it easier to understand the whys and the hows.
Thank you so much for them.
I was wondering under what license is your code distributed?
The code is distributed under the Coder Beware license. Use it as long as you don’t blame me for anything that goes wrong. Ever. For anything. Not even for your relationships. Or badly prepared food. Or anything that may or may not have happened in an alternate time stream. Especially alternate time streams.
Yes, I completely agree with the alternate time streams; you never know what to expect there.
Does this license also apply for commercial use?
Thank you so much for your Hidden Clause plugin series!
I read them all so far and it was exactly what I was looking forward to.
Will we see any editor related plugin entries soon? You’ve spent a considerable amount of time on the navigator part (and thank you for that) but I think editors would be a great next step.
Keep up the good work and once again, thank you so much.
I have to join the other posters: Thanks for all these great articles.
Maybe it is possible to provide all these articles as one file for a better reading experience?
Cheers,
Martin
I have no errors while running my project in the runtime workbench but when I try to deploy it as a jar (using Export Wizards link), the jar file created does not work in other standard eclipse versions. I have tried putting the jars in pulgins folder of eclipse installations but to no avail. Can anyone please tell me what the issue might be all about?
I would try to create a Feature for all plugins you need. Afterwards generate a P2/Eclipse repository; this’ll add all needed dependecies to your (vanilla) eclipse installation.
this is nice but the file created is not shown in the navigator. How we can extend this navigator to achieve this?