.. _plugin-howto-steps:

Step-by-step instructions for creating a new plug-in based on the example

=========================================================================

This page provides step-by-step instructions for creating a new plug-in based on the example

plug-in described in :ref:`plugin-howto-example-plugin`. The new plug-in will simply be exactly the same as the example plug-in, except that

the name will be changed from ExampleML to NewML.

These steps show how to create a new plug-in under the ``example`` plug-in package, but the instructions

can be used for creating an entirely new plug-in package also. To do that, simply export

``source/plugins/example`` into ``source/plugins/new`` instead of just ``source/plugins/example/ConeExamplePlugin``

into ``source/plugins/example/ConeNewPlugin``.

#. Export the example plug-in into the new plug-in path. With TortoiseSVN it can be done like this:

    #. Open ``source/plugins/example`` in Windows Explorer

    #. Drag'n'drop ``ConeExamplePlugin`` into the empty area using the right mouse button

    #. Select "SVN export to here" from the pop-up menu

    #. Select "Auto rename" from the dialog that pops up

    #. After the export is done, rename "Export of ConeExamplePlugin" to "ConeNewPlugin"

#. Refresh the ``plugins/`` directory in Eclipse

#. Rename all files and folders containing "exampleml" to "newml" under ``ConeNewPlugin/``

    - ``examplemlplugin/`` -> ``newmlplugin/``

    - ``exampleml_impl.py`` -> ``newml_impl.py``

    - ``tests/unittest_exampleml_generation.py`` -> ``tests/unittest_newml_generation.py``

    - ``tests/project/Layer/implml/test.exampleml`` -> ``tests/project/Layer/implml/test.newml``

    - etc.

#. Change "exampleml" to "newml" inside all files

    - Select "ConeNewPlugin" in the PyDev Package Explorer

    - Press Ctrl+H to do a file search. Use the following options:

         - Containing text: exampleml (case-insensitive)

         - File name patterns: *

         - Scope: Selected resources

    - Change the string everywhere (use the same case convention, e.g. "exampleml_impl" -> "newml_impl" and "ExamplemlReader" -> "NewmlReader")

#. Check that test cases are run correctly and they pass

    #. Run ``source/plugins/example/ConeNewPlugin/newmlplugin/tests/runtests.py`` to check that all tests pass (all modules are found etc.)

    #. Run ``source/plugins/example/runtests.py`` to check that all tests pass also from the plug-in package level

#. Modify ``setup.py``

#. Check that the new plug-in is present in a ConE installation created using the ``example`` plug-in package

    #. Go to the working directory on the command line and run (remember to use forward slashes)::

        install.cmd C:/cone_temp_or_whatever_dir example

    #. Go to the temporary directory specified in the previous step and run::

        cone info --print-supported-impls

    #. Check that you can find the new namespace and file extension in the list of supported namespaces and file extensions