Overview of Activity Editor
Using Activity Editor, you can specify the flow of activities
for a specific transformation rule graphically, without knowing
programming or Java code. For each transformation rule in Map Designer Express,
you can display one activity and its subactivities. You can view
the associated attribute's transformation code graphically,
modify it, and have the tool generate the corresponding Java code.
You
launch Activity Editor directly from Map Designer Express (see Starting Activity Editor). At startup, Activity Editor
communicates with System Manager to discover the set of activities
allowed. After you have finished designing the activity for a particular
transformation rule, you save the changes in Activity Editor, and
they are communicated to Map Designer Express.
This section covers the following topics to introduce you to
Activity Editor:
Starting Activity Editor
You launch Activity Editor through the transformation
rule column of the Table or Diagram tabs of Map Designer Express.
Perform the following steps to do this:
- Select the attribute you want to work with.
- Do one of the following:
- Double-click the attribute's corresponding cell of
the transformation rule column.
- Click the bitmap icon in the corresponding cell of the transformation
rule column.
Result: Map Designer Express responds
to these actions depending on the following:
- Whether the code is still in auto-upgrade mode
Transformation code is in auto-upgrade mode if Map Designer Express has generated
it, and you have not customized it in any way. When you customize auto-upgrade
code, Activity Editor displays a confirmation prompt notifying you that
saving this code takes it out of auto-update
mode. For code not in auto-update mode, Map Designer Express displays the
transformation rule in blue italic font in the transformation rule
column.
If the transformation code is not in
auto-update mode (that is, you have modified the autogenerated code), Map Designer Express opens
Activity Editor in Java view when you double-click the attribute's
transformation rule cell or click the mapping rule icon.
- The type of transformation defined
Transformation code that is in auto-update mode is generated
from one of the standard transformations
that Map Designer Express provides
on the combo box of the transformation rule column. When you double-click
the attribute's transformation rule cell or click the mapping
rule icon, the type of transformation determines what Map Designer Express displays:
- For the Custom
transformation, Map Designer Express opens
Activity Editor on the transformation code.
- For all other standard transformations (Set
Value, Join, Split, Submap,
and Cross-Reference), Map Designer Express displays
the transformation's dialog. Click the View Code push-button
on this dialog to open Activity Editor in a new window with the
attribute name in the title bar. You can open multiple instances
of Activity Editor at the same time.
Layout of Activity Editor
Activity Editor has two main views: Graphical
view and Java view. Depending on the nature of the activity, at
any given time, only one view is visible. Thus, if Map Designer Express invokes
Activity Editor to display a graphical activity, Activity Editor
will startup with the Graphical view. If you choose to translate
this graphical activity into Java code, the Java view will display
in place of the Graphical view.
Restriction: Once the activity has changed
to Java code, it will not be converted back to the graphical nature.
Both views have common Window elements in their Design and Quick
view modes, as described in Table 26.
Table 26. Common Window elements
Window element |
Description |
Title Bar |
Contains the name of the application (Activity
Editor), application icon, and the main activity's name. |
Menu |
Contains the primary menus (Design mode only). |
Toolbar |
Contains dockable toolbars with shortcuts to
various functions and tools (Design mode only). |
Document Display Area |
Displays the representation of the activity definition.
It is organized with a workbook look. |
Status Bar |
Displays status information and some handy shortcuts. |
Working in Graphical view
If Map Designer Express opens
Activity Editor with an activity definition that has a graphical
nature, Activity Editor will display the activity definition in
Graphical view in one of two available display modes: Design mode
or Quick view mode.
- Design mode: In Design mode, Activity Editor resembles
a regular application--in addition to the main editing window, it
has a menu bar, toolbars, and the Library, Content, and Properties
windows that support your editing needs during the design stage
of the activity definition.
Figure 47 shows the Graphical
view in Design mode.
Figure 47. Graphical view in Design mode
The Graphical view has four main windows: the Activity Workbook
window, the Library window, the Content window, and the Properties
window.
- Quick view mode: In
Quick view mode, Activity Editor only displays the main editing
canvas; all other supporting windows (Library, Content, and Properties); the
menu bar; and the toolbars are hidden.
Figure 48 shows the Graphical
view in Quick view mode.
Figure 48. Graphical view in Quick view mode
Initially, when an activity definition that has a graphical nature
opens, Activity Editor displays the top-level view of the definition
in a tabbed window. Inside the tab window is the editing canvas.
For information on working with activity definitions on the editing
canvas, see Working with activity definitions.
Working in Java view
If Map Designer Express opens
Activity Editor with an activity definition that contains only custom
Java code, Activity Editor displays the activity definition in Java view.
Similar to Graphical view, Activity Editor is available in Java
view in two display modes: Design mode and Quick view mode.
- Design mode: In
Design mode, the Java view of Activity Editor contains the main Java
WordPad for viewing and editing custom Java code to provide the
definition for the activity. The WordPad is contained in a tabbed
window area. In addition to the regular editing options in a WordPad
(Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Select All, Undo, Redo), the Java WordPad
provides syntax highlighting for the Java Programming language.
By default, comments are green, string literals are pink, and
keywords are blue.
Tip: You can customize the syntax highlighting
schemes in the Preferences dialog.
Figure 49 shows the Java view
in Design mode.
Figure 49. Java view in Design mode
- Quick view mode: In
Quick view mode, the Java view only displays the WordPad. Figure 50 shows the Java view in Quick
view mode.
Figure 50. Java view in Quick view mode
Tip: To change from Quick view mode to
Design mode, click the >> button on the status
bar. If you do not see the >> button, resize the
Quick view window horizontally until the button appears.
Note:
Initially, the Java view will be in read-only
mode. To enter customized Java code, click the Edit Code toolbar
button, or select Edit Code from the Tools menu.
Using Activity Editor functionality
You can access Activity Editor's functionality
using any of the following:
- Pull-down menus
- Context menu
- Toolbar buttons
- Keyboard shortcuts
Activity Editor pull-down menus and keyboard shortcuts
Activity Editor provides the following pull-down menus:
- File menu
- Edit menu
- View menu
- Tools menu
- Help menu
The following sections describe the options of each of these
menus and their associated keyboard shortcuts.
Functions of the File menu: The File pull-down menu of Activity Editor
provides the following options:
- Save
[Ctrl+S]--Saves the activity to Map Designer Express.
- Print Setup [Ctrl+Shift+P]--Opens the Print
Setup dialog box for specifying print options.
- Print Preview--Switches Activity Editor
to print preview mode.
- Print
[Ctrl+P]--Opens the Print dialog box for printing the current activity.
- Close
--Closes Activity Editor.
Functions of the Edit menu: The Edit pull-down menu of Activity Editor
provides the following options:
- Undo
[Ctrl+A]--Clears the last change you made and restores the previous version.
- Redo
[Ctrl+Y]--Restores a change that was previously removed with the
Undo command.
- Cut
[Ctrl+X]--Deletes the selected item and copies it to the clipboard.
- Copy
[Ctrl+C]--Copies the selected item to the clipboard.
- Paste
[Ctrl+P]--Pastes the object in the clipboard to the cursor position
if they are compatible.
- Delete
[Del]--Deletes the selected item.
- Select All [Ctrl+A]--Selects all items.
- Find
[Crtl+F]--Finds the specific text in the editing area.
- Replace
[Ctrl+H]--Replaces specific text with different text in the editing
area.
- Goto Line [Ctrl+G]--Moves the cursor to
a specific line.
Functions of the View menu: The View pull-down menu of Activity Editor
provides the following options:
- Design mode--Toggles between Design mode
and Quick view mode. (Only one mode is enabled at a single time.)
- Quick view mode--Toggles between Quick
view mode and Design mode. (Only one mode is enabled at a single
time.)
- Go
To--Provides the following options:
- Back [Alt+Left Arrow]--Moves backward in the navigation history
in the Graphical view.
- Forward [Alt+Right Arrow]--Moves forward in the navigation history
in the Graphical view.
- Up One Level--Displays the diagram from one higher level.
- Home [Alt+Home]--Goes to the top-level diagram in Graphical
view.
- Zoom In [Ctrl++]--Magnifies content in Activity
Editor.
- Zoom Out [Ctrl+-]--Minimizes content in Activity
Editor.
- Zoom To [Crtl+M]--Opens the Zoom dialog box
for specifying a particular zoom level.
- Library window--Toggles the Library window
on and off.
- Content window--Toggles the Content window
on and off.
- Properties window--Toggles the Properties
window on and off.
- Toolbars--Opens
a submenu for displaying toolbars (Standard, Graphics, and Java)
that toggle on and off.
- Status Bar--Toggles the status bar on and
off.
- Preferences...
{Ctrl+U]--Opens the Preferences dialog box for specifying the default
behavior of Activity Editor.
Functions of the Tools menu: The Tools pull-down menu of Activity Editor
provides the following option:
- Translate
[Ctrl+T]--Translates the current activity to Java code and opens
the Java view.
- Edit Code--Allows you to edit code in Java.
- Check for Unmatched
Delimiters--Checks for unmatched delimiters in the Java code.
- Expression Builder--Opens the Expression
Builder utility.
Functions of the Help menu: The Help pull-down menu of Activity Editor
provides the following options:
- Help Topics [F1]--Opens the context-sensitive
Help topics
- Documentation--Opens
the InterChange Server Express
documentation.
Context menu
Activity
also provides a context menu for performing many tasks on the editing canvas.
You access the Context menu by right-clicking the editing canvas.
The Context menu provides the following options:
- New Constant--Creates a new Constant
container on the editing canvas.
- Add
Label--Creates a new label component on the editing canvas.
- Add
Description--Creates a new description component on the editing
canvas.
- Add
Comment--Creates a new comment component on the editing canvas.
- Add
To do--Creates a new reminder component in the activity.
- Add
To My Collection--Creates a new group component for reuse in the
Library window.
Activity Editor toolbars
Activity
Editor provides three toolbars for common tasks you need to perform.
- Standard toolbar
- Graphics toolbar
- Java toolbar
The functions of the toolbar buttons are the same as their corresponding
menu items.
Tip: To identify the function of each toolbar
button, roll over each button with your mouse cursor.
Standard toolbar: Figure 51 shows the Standard toolbar.
Figure 51. Activity Editor Standard toolbar
Table 27 provides the function
of each Standard toolbar button (left to right) and the corresponding
menu command.
Table 27. Functions of Standard toolbar buttons
Function |
Corresponding menu command |
Save
Activity |
File > Save |
Print
Activity |
File > Print |
Cut |
Edit > Cut |
Copy |
Edit > Copy |
Paste |
Edit > Paste |
Delete |
Edit > Delete |
Help |
Help > Help Topics |
Graphics toolbar: Figure 52 shows the Graphics toolbar.
Figure 52. Activity Editor Graphics toolbar
Table 28 provides the function
of each Graphics toolbar button (left to right) and the corresponding
menu command.
Table 28. Functions of Graphics toolbar buttons
Function |
Corresponding menu command |
Back |
View > Go To > Back |
Forward |
View > Go To > Forward |
Up
One Level |
View > Go To > Up One Level |
Home |
View > Go To > Home |
Zoom In |
View > Zoom In |
Zoom Out |
View > Zoom Out |
Figure 53 shows the Java toolbar.
Figure 53. Activity Editor Java toolbar
Table 29 provides the function
of each Java toolbar button (left to right) and the corresponding
menu command.
Table 29. Functions of Java toolbar buttons
Function |
Corresponding menu command |
Edit
Code |
Tools > Edit Code |
Undo |
Edit > Undo |
Redo |
Edit > Redo |
Find Text |
Edit > Find |
Goto Line |
Edit > Goto Line |
Expression Builder |
Tools > Expression Builder |
Status bar elements: Activity Editor also provides a Status bar,
as shown in Figure 54.
Figure 54. Activity Editor Status bar
Table 30 describes the functionality
of each Status bar element, left to right.
Table 30. Functions of Status bar elements
Element |
Function |
Zoom: 100% |
Edit box for specifying a zooming percentage |
Ready |
Status message |
10.9 |
Navigation pane showing the current position
of the I-bar in the Java editor |
>> (Shown in Quick view
mode)
<< (Shown in Design mode) |
Toggle between Design mode and quick view mode |
