This is not an Import/Export format, as soon as Eclipse or Notepad or BBEdit or whatever your favourite editor is has saved your changes, your colleagues using the IDF can see those same changes (unless they are using a separate sandbox).
We've employed an Eclipse expert developer to help us create an editor specifically tailored to Uniface Source Code as stored by UD6.
What can I do with UD6IDE
UD6IDE is currently released as a proof-of-concept, if you would like to get involved in developing UD6IDE the source code is included with UD6 and you can contribute back changes once you have filled in some additional paperwork.
Our goal is to extend the editor capabilities from October 2013 to June 2014. Based on customer feedback we will then aim to produce a 'stable' build for developers who are interested in a product that 'simply works' and not interested in contributing. The features available in that release will depend largely on customer feedback and contributions before June 2014.
What is implemented
We have currently implemented the following:
- Reads and Writes Text Files (XML) direct from the Uniface repository database (UD6)
- Based on the Eclipse IDE framework
- To compile, runs a build script or idf.exe /frm
- Shows properties (eg: locking: optimistic/cautious)
- All Triggers window displays triggers for all fields, entities and component
- Traditional trigger window displays triggers just for selected entity, field etc.
- Tree shows when trigger contains local procs
- Inheritance proof for triggers and properties (from model definitions for entity/field)
- Trigger editor based on XTEXT widget providing:
- Refactor
- Autocomplete/Hint
- Search
- Properties editor, eg: Form, Component, Window, Entity, Field properties:
- Grid/Tabular style
- Form style
- Inheritance
- Simultaneously work on traditional IDF and Eclipse UD6 IDE
What needs to be implemented
We have a long list of things to implement, here is just a sample:
- Multi-Object property view, ie: show properties for all component objects in a single grid
- Define Syntax for all Uniface built-in funtions and procs
- Complete inheritance for all triggers/properties
- Form Paint Tableau editor (plan available)
- Model editor
- Global objects editor
- Re-Load XML files if they are changed externally (eg: by other user)
- Define 'Hints' and 'Help' for all built-in functions and procs
Configuring UD6 for use with Eclipse
The current release of UD6IDE requires some minor changes to how UD6 writes XML files. If you are working will be actively working with UD6IDE then you will need to add this configuration setting to you ASN file:
USYS$UD6_PARAMS = ud6ide, etc etc
If you already have a UD6 repository then you will need to export (using performance 111) the repository, delete the XML files, then re-import using the new settings.
As UD6IDE develops between now and June 2014, we may need to alter the XML format further:
- simplify the storage location of conceptual/model level entities, sub-types, fields, etc.
- alter the 'basic' storage format to be more compatible with older UD6 installations
- etc.
Contributing to the project
To contribute to the project we require that you attribute the copyright of your submissions to March Hare Software. This copyright only affects code that you submit back to the project, and it allows us to ensure that the subsequent product can be covered by our professional and products indemnity insurance.
Once we have your signed copyright agreement then we will issue you with a login that allows you to collaborate with the other developers, checkout the latest code and commit updates using CVS Suite/CVSNT.
License
To allow Uniface customers to extend and improve the editor, UD6IDE is licensed with the Eclipse Public License: http://www.eclipse.org/org/documents/epl-v10.php