Common Desktop Environment: Advanced User's and System Administrator's Guide

4 Registering an Application


Contents of Chapter:
Overview of Application Registration
Features Provided by Application Registration
The Purpose of Application Registration
General Steps for Registering an Application
Step 1: Modifying Font and Color Resources
Modifying Font Resources
Modifying Color Resources
Step 2: Creating the Desktop Application Root
Step 3: Creating the Registration Package Directories
Step 4: Creating the Actions and Data Types for the Application
Actions and Data Types Required by an Application
Location for Action and Data Type Definition Configuration Files
Ways to Create Actions and Data Types
To Create Actions and Data Types Using Create Action
To Create Actions and Data Types Manually
Step 5: Putting the Help Files in the Registration Package
Step 6: Creating Icons for the Application
Icons Required for the Desktop
Step 7: Creating the Application Group
Creating the Application Group Directory
Application Group Name
Configuring the Application Group To Use a Unique Icon
Creating the Contents of the Application Group
Step 8: Registering the Application Using dtappintegrate
To Register an Application with dtappintegrate
How dtappintegrate Integrates Applications
Example of Creating a Registration Package
This chapter describes how to create a registration package for an application and how to register the application onto the desktop.

When an application is fully registered onto the desktop, it has:

Application registration is a non-invasive operation to the application:

You will want to create a registration package if you are:


Overview of Application Registration

This section explains:


Note: For a detailed example that shows how to register an existing application, see "Example of Creating a Registration Package".

Features Provided by Application Registration

Application registration provides a graphical way for users to:

The Purpose of Application Registration

A registered desktop application has certain configuration files used by the desktop to provide the application's user interface:

In order for these files to be recognized and used by the desktop, they must be in certain directories specified by the desktop's search paths.

It can be difficult to administer an application when its configuration files are scattered among numerous directories. Therefore, the desktop allows an application to keep all its desktop configuration files gathered under a single directory. This grouping of files is called a registration package .

If the application is desktop smart, it supplies a registration package as part of its installation package. If you are a system administrator creating the configuration files yourself, you can create the registration package yourself.

The configuration files in the registration package are not available to the desktop because they are not located in the proper search path directories. The process of placing these files in the proper locations is called registering , or integrating , the application.

The desktop provides a tool, dtappintegrate, that performs the registration by creating symbolically linked representations of the files in the proper search path directories.

Many desktop-smart applications will automatically run dtappintegrate during the installation process. If you are a system administrator integrating an existing application, you can run it yourself after you've created the registration package.

Once an application is registered on a system's desktop, the application is available to all users on the system. If the system is configured as a desktop application server, the application will also be available to other systems throughout the network.

The dtappintegrate tool has a command-line option that reverses the process by breaking the links. This makes it easy to remove the application from the Application Manager so that it can be moved to a different application server or updated.


General Steps for Registering an Application


Note: For a detailed example that uses these steps to create an application package, see "Example of Creating a Registration Package".

  1. Modify any application resources that set fonts and colors. Otherwise, the desktop's dynamic fonts and colors will not work properly.

    See "Step 1: Modifying Font and Color Resources".

  2. Create an application root location.

    See "Step 2: Creating the Desktop Application Root".

  3. Create the directory structure underneath the application root.

    See "Step 3: Creating the Registration Package Directories"

  4. Create the actions and data types for the application.

    See "Step 4: Creating the Actions and Data Types for the Application".

  5. Put the help files in an appropriate directory.

    See "Step 5: Putting the Help Files in the Registration Package".

  6. Create the icons for the application

    See "Step 6: Creating Icons for the Application".

  7. Create the application group for the application.

    See "Step 7: Creating the Application Group".

  8. Register the application using dtappintegrate.

    See "Step 8: Registering the Application Using dtappintegrate".


Step 1: Modifying Font and Color Resources


Note: For an example of modifying resources for an application, see Step 1 of the "Example of Creating a Registration Package".

The desktop provides mechanisms for setting and manipulating interface fonts and window colors. In order for an application to use these mechanisms properly, you may have to modify the application's app-defaults file.

Modifying Font Resources


Note: This section applies to applications created using OSF/Motif 1.2 (or later versions). Style Manager cannot set interface fonts for applications written using earlier versions of OSF/Motif.

The desktop Style Manager will set interface fonts for applications created using OSF/Motif 1.2 (or later versions) if the application does not specify application-specific interface fonts.

Style Manager provides two fonts:

system font
Used by system areas such as labels, menus, and buttons

user font
Used for editable areas such as text fields

Each font is provided in seven sizes, labeled 1 through 7 in the Fonts dialog box. The Style Manager fonts are connected to actual fonts on the system through Style Manager resources set in
/usr/dt/app-defaults/language/Dtstyle.

If you want the application to use the Style Manager fonts, you should remove any application resources that interface specify fonts. The desktop will automatically set the application's resources appropriately:

FontList
Set to system font

XmText*FontList
Set to user font

XmTextField*FontList
Set to user font

Modifying Color Resources

Style Manager provides the ability to change application colors dynamically. The application must be an OSF/Motif 1.1 or 1.2 client. Clients written with other toolkits cannot change color dynamically; color changes take effect when the client is restarted.

The easiest way to use the dynamic colors provided by the desktop is to remove any application color resources for background and foreground color.


Step 2: Creating the Desktop Application Root


Note: For an example of creating the desktop application root directory for an application, see Step 2 of "Example of Creating a Registration Package".

The registration package files for the application are grouped beneath a directory called the application root, or app_root . The app_root directory used for the desktop configuration files can be the same directory as the application's installation app_root or some other location.

For example, suppose an application is installed under a directory /usr/BTE . This same directory could be used as the app_root for the desktop configuration files. However, if you are integrating an existing non-desktop smart application, it is recommended that you create a different desktop app_root directory. This will prevent the configuration files you create from being overwritten when you update the application.

For example, a system administrator might want to create a directory /etc/desktop_approots/BTE as the desktop app_root directory.


Step 3: Creating the Registration Package Directories


Note: For an example of creating the registration package directories for an application, see Step 3 of "Example of Creating a Registration Package".

The registration package is the group of desktop configuration files used by the desktop to provide a graphical interface for the application.

Registration Package Contents
The desktop configuration files include:

The registration package is gathered under a top-level directory called the application root, or app_root.

Figure 4-4 A registration package beneath an application root directory

The major categories of configuration fields under the app_root/dt/appconfig directory are:

Subdirectory
Contents

types
Action and data type definition files

help
Desktop help files

icons
Bitmap and pixmap image files used by the application's actions and data types

appmanager
The directory and contents that create the application group

Each of the major categories has subdirectories for language-dependent files. Default-language files are placed in the C directory.

To Create the Registration Package
Create these directories. If you are providing language-dependent configuration files, create a separate directory for each language. If you are supplying only one language, put the files in the C directory.

For example, Figure 4_5 shows Application Manager containing a group whose appgroup_name is "Media_Tools."

Figure 4-5 Application group at the top level of the Application Manager

The dtappintegrate tool operates only on the desktop configuration files in the types , help , icons , and appmanager directories. The application's binary executable, app-defaults , and message catalog files are administered separately.


Step 4: Creating the Actions and Data Types for the Application


Note: For an example of creating the actions and data types for an application, see Step 4 of "Example of Creating a Registration Package".

Actions and data types provide a user interface for the application.

Actions and Data Types Required by an Application

Typical applications require the following action and data type definitions:

For an introduction to how actions and data types are used in the desktop, see Chapter 8, "Introduction to Actions and Data Types."

Location for Action and Data Type Definition Configuration Files

Actions and data types are defined in configuration files. The only naming requirement for files containing action and data type definitions is that they must have a .dt suffix. By convention, you may want to name the file action_name .dt or application_name .dt .

Place files containing actions and data types under the application root in the directory app_root /dt/appconfig/types/ language. The default language is C .

Figure 4-6 Action and data type definition files

Ways to Create Actions and Data Types

You can create action and data type definitions for an application in either of two ways:

To Create Actions and Data Types Using Create Action

This procedure uses the Create Action utility to create an action and data types for the application.

For more information about Create Action, use its online help or see Chapter 9, "Creating Actions and Data Types Using Create Action."

  1. Open the Desktop_Apps application group and double-click Create Action.

  2. Use Create Action to create the action and data type definitions for the application and its data type.

    The configuration file created by Create Action will be written to HomeDirectory /.dt/type/ action_name .dt. The action file (the executable file with the same name as the action) is placed in your home directory.

  3. Test the action using the action file created in your home directory.

  4. Copy the action definition file HomeDirectory/.dt/type/action_name.dt to the app_root/dt/appconfig/types/language directory.

  5. After the application group directory has been created (see "Step 7: Creating the Application Group "), copy the action file HomeDirectory / action_name to the app_root /dt/appconfig/appmanager/ language / appgroup_name directory.

To Create Actions and Data Types Manually

Create a configuration file containing the action and data type definitions for the application.

Action and data type definition files must follow the naming convention name.dt.

You can place all your action and data type definitions in one file or distribute them among multiple files. For each file, use a file name that system administrators will easily connect with your application.

Action and data type names must be one word (no embedded spaces). You can use an underscore character. By convention, the first letter of the action or data type name is capitalized. Do not use an existing action name or file name. Use a name that advanced users and system administrators will easily connect with your application.

If you want the application's icon labeled with a different name than the action name, include a LABEL field in the action definition.

For more information about creating actions and data types, see:


Step 5: Putting the Help Files in the Registration Package


Note: For an example of adding help files to a registration package, see Step 5 of "Example of Creating a Registration Package".

If the application includes a desktop help volume (a help volume created with the desktop Help Developer's Kit), the help volume master file ( *.sdl ) should be placed in the directory app_root /appconfig/help/ language .

Graphics used by the help files are usually placed in a graphics subdirectory. The graphics must be located in the same directory relative to the master help volume (*.sdl ) file as when the help volume was created.

If the application does not provide a help volume, you can create one if you have the Help Developer's Kit.

There are two levels of integration of a help volume:


Step 6: Creating Icons for the Application


Note: For an example of creating the icon files for an application, see Step 6 of "Example of Creating a Registration Package".

The desktop provides default icons for actions, data types, and application groups. However, you will probably want to create unique icons for the application.

Icons are placed in the directory app_root/dt/appconfig/icons/language.

Icons Required for the Desktop

The application uses these icon images on the desktop:

You may need to supply both pixmap and bitmap versions of each icon to support color (eight-bit and larger) and monochrome (fewer than eight bits) displays

.

If you do not provide bitmap files, the desktop maps the color specifications of the pixmap files into black and white. However, this mapping may not produce the appearance you want.

For more information about icons, see "Icon Image Files".


Step 7: Creating the Application Group


Note: For an example of creating the application group, see Step 7 of "Example of Creating a Registration Package".

Once you have created the action and data type definitions for the application, you must create the configuration files responsible for creating what the user actually sees--the application group and its contents.

The application group is a directory at the top level of the Application Manager (see Figure 4-1).

There are three steps to creating the application group:

Creating the Application Group Directory

To create an application group, create the directories in the registration package under appmanager, as shown in Figure 4-7.

Figure 4-7 The appmanager directory

Application Group Name

The <appgroup_name> in Figure 4-7 is the name for the application group.

Figure 4-8 The application group name (<appgroup_name>)

The name can be any allowable file (directory) name. Use a name that describes the application.

Configuring the Application Group To Use a Unique Icon

The desktop provides a default application-group icon. However, you will probably want to provide a custom icon.

If you want to provide a unique icon for the application group, you must create:

For example, suppose you want to create an application group named Media_Tools. The following data type definition, placed in a file app_root /dt/appconfig/types/ language / name .dt , assigns a unique icon to the application group icon.

DATA_ATTRIBUTES  Media_ToolsAppgroup
{
   ACTIONS       OpenInPlace,OpenNewView
   ICON          MediaTools
   DESCRIPTION   Double-click to open the Media_Tools \
                 application group
}

DATA_CRITERIA Media_ToolsAppgroupCriteria1 { DATA_ATTRIBUTES_NAME Media_ToolsAppgroup MODE d PATH_PATTERN */appmanager/*/Media_Tools }

The attributes section of the definition specifies the icon to be used. The criteria section of the definition specifies that the data type be defined to any directory named Media_Tools that is a subdirectory of a directory named appmanager .

Figure 4-9 shows the relationship between the application group name and the data type definition. The PATH_PATTERN field in the data type definition connects a unique icon to the application group.

Figure 4-9 How an application group gets a unique icon

You should also create an Open and Print action for the application group data type:

ACTION Open
{
   ARG_TYPE     Media_ToolsAppGroup
   TYPE         MAP
   MAP_ACTION   OpenAppGroup
}

ACTION Print { ARG_TYPE Media_ToolsAppGroup TYPE MAP MAP_ACTION PrintAppGroup }

OpenAppGroup and PrintAppGroup actions are built-in actions defined in /usr/dt/appconfig/types/language/dtappman.dt.

Creating the Contents of the Application Group

The most important item in the application group is an icon to start the application (an action icon). If the application group contains a suite of applications, there is usually an icon for each application.

In addition to one or more action icons, the application group may contain:

The application group can contain subdirectories.

Creating the Action File (Application Icon)

The application group should contain an icon that launches the application. If the group supplies a suite of applications, there should be an icon for each one. These icons are called application icons, or action icons, since they represent an underlying action.

An action icon is created by creating an executable file with the same name as the action it will run:

app_root/dt/appconfig/appmanager/appgroup_name/action_name

The file is called an action file, because its purpose is to create a visual representation of the underlying action.

For example, if you've created an action named BestTextEditor that runs the BestTextEditor application, you would create an executable file named BestTextEditor. In File Manager and the Application Manager, the action file will use the icon image specified in the action definition.

Figure 4-10 illustrates the relationship between the action definition, action file, and actual entry in the Application Manager window.

Figure 4-10 The application icon is a file in the application group

Read Me Files

The desktop provides a README data type that you can use for your application's README files. Use one of these naming conventions:

Creating a Specialized Front Panel Control

In most cases, you do not need to provide a Front Panel control definition; the user can add the application to the Front Panel by dropping the action icon on the Install Icon control in a subpanel.

You might want to create a Front Panel configuration file containing a control definition for your application if you want users to be able to install a control that behaves differently than the action icon--for example, if the control monitors a file and changes appearance when the monitored file changes.

Front Panel configuration files are placed in the app_root/dt/appconfig/types/language directory. The naming convention is name.fp.

If you supply a configuration file containing a control, the user can add the control to a subpanel by dropping the *.fp file on the Install Icon control in the subpanel.

For example, the following definition can be placed in a Front Panel configuration file in the application group. If the user drops this file on an Install Icon control in a subpanel, a control is created in the subpanel that runs a single instance of the BestTextEditor application. If BestTextEditor is already running, the window is moved to the top of the window stack in the current workspace.

CONTROL BestTextEditorControl
{
   TYPE          icon
   ICON          BTEFPanel   
   PUSH_RECALL   True
   CLIENT_NAME   BTEd
   PUSH_ACTION   BTEditor
   DROP_ACTION   BTEditor
   HELP_STRING   Starts the BestTextEditor application.
}

For additional information about creating Front Panel configuration files, see:


Step 8: Registering the Application Using dtappintegrate


Note: For an example of registering an application, see Step 8 of "Example of Creating a Registration Package".

Once you've created a registration package under an application root, you are ready to perform the actual application registration.

Application registration creates links between the registration package and the directories located along the desktop search paths (see "How dtappintegrate Integrates Applications" ).

To Register an Application with dtappintegrate

If the application is desktop-smart, dtappintegrate is usually run automatically as the final step in the installation process. If it is not run automatically, or if you have created the configuration files to integrate a non-desktop smart application, then you can run dtappintegrate manually.

  1. Log in as root.

  2. Run the command:

    /usr/dt/bin/dtappintegrate -s  app_root

    where app_root is the desktop application root directory. For more information, see the dtappintegrate(1) man page.

  3. Open the Desktop_Tools application group and double-click Reload Applications.

  4. Verify that the application is properly registered:

    a. Display the top level of the Application Manager. The new application group should appear in the Application Manager.

    b. Open the application group and double-click the action icon.

Syntax and Options for dtappintegrate

dtappintegrate -s app_root [-t target_path ] [-l language ] [-u]

-s app_root
Required parameter. Specifies the application root under which the appication has been installed.

-t target_path
Optional parameter, defaults to the system location /etc/dt/appconfig. Specifies the location to which the desktop configuration files are linked. You must use a location on the application search path.

-l language
Optional parameter, defaults to all languages. Specifies which language-dependent desktop configuration files to integrate.

-u
Optional parameter. Un-integrates the application, removing all the links set up during integration.

How dtappintegrate Integrates Applications

The function of dtappintegrate is to set up links between the installed files and the locations where the desktop looks for configuration files.

Actions and Data Types
dtappintegrate creates symbolic links from the action and data type definition files in the registration package to the system-wide directory along the action database help search path. This is done by creating links from

app_root/dt/appconfig/types/language/*.dt

to

/etc/dt/appconfig/types/language/*.dt

Help Information Files
dtappintegrate creates symbolic links from the help files in the registration package to the system-wide directory along the help search path. This is done by creating links from

app_root/dt/appconfig/help/language/help_file.sdl

to

/etc/dt/appconfig/help/language/help_file.sdl

Icon Files
dtappintegrate creates symbolic links from the icon files in the registration package to the system-wide directory along the icon search path. This is done by creating links from

app_root/dt/appconfig/icons/language/icon_files

to

/etc/dt/appconfig/icons/language/icon_files 

Application Group
To place the application group for the application into the top level of Application Manager, dtappintegrate creates a link between the application group directory in the registration package and the system-wide location along the application search path. This is done by creating links from the directory

app_root/dt/appconfig/appmanager/language/appgroup_name

to

/etc/dt/appconfig/appmanager/language/appgroup_name


Example of Creating a Registration Package

The following steps create a registration package for an existing, non-desktop smart application named BestTextEditor.

Information You Need to Know About ``BestTextEditor''
The example assumes the following facts about the BestTextEditor application:

Steps to Registering ``BestTextEditor''
The following step-wise procedure registers BestTextEditor.

  1. Modify font and color resources.

    In BestTextEditor's app-defaults file, remove resources that set:

  2. Create the application root.

    Create the directory:

    /desktop_approots/BTE

    If you are integrating an existing application, you should create the application root directory elsewhere than in the installation location for the application; otherwise, the configuration files you create may be removed when you update the application.

  3. Create the registration package directories.

    Create these directories:

    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/types/C
    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/help/C
    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/icons/C
    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/appmanager/C/BestTextEditor

  4. Create the actions and data types for the application.

    a. Create the configuration file for the action and data type definitions:

    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/types/C/BTE.dt

    b. Create the action definition for running BestTextEditor:

    ACTION BTEditor
    {
       WINDOW_TYPE  NO_STDIO
       ICON         BTERun
       DESCRIPTION  Double-click this icon or drop a BTE data \
                    file on it to run BestTextEditor.
       EXEC_STRING  /usr/BTE/BTEd %Arg_1%
    }

    c. Create the data type for *.bte files:

    DATA_ATTRIBUTES BTEDataFile
    {
       DESCRIPTION  BestTextEditor data file.
       ICON         BTEData
       ACTIONS      Open,Print
    }
    
    DATA_CRITERIA BTEDataFileCriteria1
    {
       DATA_ATTRIBUTES_NAME  BTEDataFile
       NAME_PATTERN          *.bte
       MODE                  f
    }

    d. Create the data type for *.tpl files:

    DATA_ATTRIBUTES BTETemplateFile
    {
       DESCRIPTION  BestTextEditor template file.
       ICON         BTETempl
       ACTIONS      Open
    }
    
    DATA_CRITERIAL BTETemplateFileCriteria1
    {
       DATA_ATTRIBUTES_NAME  BTETemplateFile
       NAME_PATTERN          *.tpl
       MODE                  f
    }

    e. Create the Open action for *.bte files.

    ACTION Open
    {
       ARG_TYPE     BTEDataFile
       TYPE         MAP
       MAP_ACTION   BTEditor
    }

    f. Create the Print action for *.bte files.

    Here are simple Print actions that will print the data files. These actions require a value for the LPDEST environment variable and ignore the -s print option. (If LPDEST isn't set, the action may fail.)

    ACTION Print
    {
       ARG_TYPE     BTEDataFile
       TYPE         MAP
       MAP_ACTION   BTEPrintData
    }

    ACTION BTEPrintData } WINDOW_TYPE NO_STDIO EXEC_STRING BTEPrint -d $LPDEST %Arg_1% }

    Here is another version of the BTEPrintData action and an accompanying script. Together, they handle situations where LPDEST is not set or if silent printing is requested.

    ACTION BTEPrintData
    {
       WINDOW_TYPE  NO_STDIO
       EXEC_STRING  /usr/BTE/bin/BTEenvprint %(File)Arg_1%
    }

    The contents of the /usr/BTE/bin/BTEenvprint script is:

    # BTEenvprint
    #!/bin/sh
    DEST=""
    SILENT=""
    if [ $LPDEST ] ; then
       DEST="-d $LPDEST"
    fi
    BTEPrint $DEST SILENT $1

    g. Create the Open action for *.tpl files:

    ACTION Open
    {
       ARG_TYPE    BTETemplateFile
       TYPE        MAP
       MAP_ACTION  BTEditor
    }

    h. Create the Print action for *.tpl files:

    ACTION Print
    {
       ARG_TYPES   BTETemplateFile
       TYPE        MAP
       MAP_ACTION  NoPrint
    }

    NoPrint is a built-in action that displays a dialog box telling the user the file cannot be printed.

  5. Put the help files into the registration package.

    a. Place the help files in the following locations:

    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/help/C/BTEHelp.sdl
    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/help/C/graphics/BTE1.xwd
    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/help/C/graphics/BTE2.xwd

    b. Create the file:

    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/types/C/BTEhelp.dt. 

    Put the following action definition in the file:

    ACTION BTEHelp
    {
       WINDOW_TYPE   NO_STDIO
       EXEC_STRING   /usr/dt/bin/dthelpview -helpVolume \
                     BTEHelp.sdl
       DESCRIPTION   Opens the BestTextEditor help volume.
    }

  6. Create icons for the application.

    Use Icon Editor to create the icons. Use these size guidelines:

    Name
    Size

    basename.t.pm
    16 by 16

    basename.m.pm
    32 by 32

    basename.l.pm
    64 by 64

    Create these icon files in the directory
    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/icons/C:

  7. Create the application group.

    a. If you haven't already done so, create the directory.

    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/appmanager/C/BestTextEditor

    b. This step is optional. It provides a unique icon for the application group icon by creating a data type and associated actions for the application group. If you omit this step, the application group will use the default icon.

    Add the following data type and action definitions to the file /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/types/C/BTE.dt .The data type specifies the icon to be used by the BestTextEditor application group. The actions provide the same Open and Print behavior as the built-in application groups.

    DATA_ATTRIBUTES BestTextEditorAppGroup
    {
       ACTIONS     OpenInPlace,OpenNewView
       ICON        BTEApp
    {

    DATA_CRITERIA BestTextEditorAppGroupCriterial { DATA_ATTRIBUTES_NAME BestTextEditorAppGroup MODE d PATH_PATTERN */appmanager/*/BestTextEditor }

    ACTION Open { ARG_TYPE BestTextEditorAppGroup TYPE MAP MAP_ACTION OpenAppGroup }

    ACTION Print { ARG_TYPE BestTextEditorAppGroup TYPE MAP MAP_ACTION PrintAppGroup }

    c. Create an icon in the application group that will start the application. To do this, create the file:

    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/appmanager/C/BestTextEditor/BTEditor

    and make the file executable.

    d. Create the action file in the application group that will open the help volume. To do this, create the file:

    /desktop_approots/BTE/dt/appconfig/appmanager/C/BestTextEditor/BTEHelp

    and make the file executable.

    e. Put other files into the application group; for example, "read me" files, sample data and template files.

  8. Register the application.

    In a terminal emulator window:

    a. Log in as root.

    b. Run the command:

    /usr/dt/bin/dtappintegrate -s /desktop_approots/BTE

    c. Open the Desktop_Tools application group and double-click Reload Applications.



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