Lesson 5: Installing the Add-in

GISDK stores compiled resource files in a special database called a user interface database. This database is often referred to as the UI Database, and consists of a collection of files on disk with the same name and extensions of .1, .2, .3, .4, .5, .6, and .dbd. When you compile and test add-ins as we have been doing so far, GISDK stores the compiled macros in a UI Database named test_ui, which is stored in the gisdk folder in the Maptitude program folder.

 

To distribute a GISDK application to Maptitude users, you must compile your resource files into a separate, stand-alone UI Database with a different name. This UI Database can then be delivered to other users of Maptitude. Then, the user needs to install the add-in or custom application by using the Setup option in the Add-Ins dialog box.

 

NOTE: Products developed with one version of GISDK (such as Maptitude) cannot be delivered to users of a different product (such as TransCAD).

 

Let’s work through a quick example.

 

To Create the UI Database

1. Click in the GISDK Toolbox to display the Compile to UI Database dialog box.
2. Choose the file named lesson4.lst in the gisdk\samples folder, and click Open to display the Save As dialog box.
3. Choose the folder that contains the Maptitude program files, type "lesson4" as the UI Database name, and click Save.

GISDK compiles the file into the lesson4 UI Database. Note that the only difference between the and buttons is that the latter stores the compiled resources in your own UI Database. Now, let’s configure Maptitude so that it can run the add-in from the Add-Ins dialog box.

 

To Install the Add-In

1. Choose Tools>GIS Developer's Kit>Setup Add-Ins to display the Setup Add-Ins dialog box.
2. Click Add to create a new add-in. The default description will be "Untitled Add-in" and the default name for the macro to call will be "Untitled."
3. Click Macro in the radio list.
4. Type "Find and Zoom" in the Description text box.
5. Type "lesson4" in the Name text box.
6. Type "lesson4" in the UI Database text box.
7. Click OK.

Maptitude closes the Add-Ins dialog box.

 

To Run the Installed Add-In

1. Choose Tools>GIS Developer's Kit>Add-Ins>Find and Zoom.

Maptitude runs your add-in, just as you would expect.

 

Go to Lesson 6: Running the Add-in from the Desktop.