WEBDEV Concepts

106 Part 3: Development environment 3.3 Standard distribution of external components The standard distribution of an external component consists in copying the files required by the component to a given location. The files are copied to a specific directory. This directory can be located on a network server, for example. When the external component is imported into a project, all you have to do is select the WDI file corresponding to the component in the distribution directory. To distribute an external component, you must provide: • The files automatically generated by WINDEV or WEBDEV (<Component name>.WDK and <Component name>.WDI files) • If necessary, the specific files handled by the component (data files, initialization files, etc.) as well as the <Component name>.WDO file. The <Component name>.WDO file contains the list of files that must be provided with the component. For more details on this file, see "Distributing an advanced component: WDO file" page 109. 3.4 Distribution via a setup procedure The distribution of external components using a setup procedure requires providing a setup program to the users. This program installs all the files required for the external component in the directory specified by the user. This installation mode allows you to automatically manage: • the WDO file and the installation of specific files (data files, etc.) used by the external component. • the installation of specific tools (MDAC, ODBC driver for HFSQL, etc.). • the automatic update of data files used by the external component (if necessary). • the uninstallation of the external component. To create a setup procedure for an external component: 1. Create the setup procedure of the external component directly from the quick access buttons: 2.  In the different steps of the wizard, specify: • the name of the external component. • the languages of the setup procedure. • the title of the main window of the setup program. You can configure the interface of the installer via the "Advanced" button. • the files installed. You can add specific files on top of the default component files. The WDO file will be automatically created from this list. • the default component setup directory. You can configure the changes to be made to the system via the "Advanced" button. • the optional modules to install. • the installation media, security options and advanced parameters. • ... By default, the files required to install an external component are created in the "<Project name>\ EXE\INSTALL_COMPO<Component name>" subdirectory. Reminder : When creating the installation of an application, the necessary files are created in the "<Project name>\EXE\INSTALL" subdirectory. 4 Using an external component in a website An external component can be reused at any time in any WEBDEV site: you just need to know the directory that contains the component files. When a new version of the component is available, you just have to install the new files in the setup directory of the component (depending on the setup mode used). For more details on the different modes to install a component, see "Distributing an external component", page 105. If the component was published and imported via the SCM, the available updates appear when opening the project that uses the component. If the component was distributed with a WEBDEV site, the component must be updated. For more details, see "Deploying a site containing an external component", page 107.