Equinox Integration 2/Tutorial Plugin

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If you want to change existing functionality in ADempiere, write a plugin. It is simple!

Create Plugin Project

  • In Eclipse, chose New/Plugin Development/Plugin Project
  • as a convention, choose a folder under adempiereTrunk/plugins
  • The manifest editor opens, fill in appropriate attributes
    • regarding versioning: I found the default versioning scheme using a qualifier (which is replaced by a timestamp at deployment time) quite annoying, because bundles are never overridden - but maybe I missed something here

Activation

  • If you need action to be done, specify an activator in the manifest.
  • Certainly you may implement the plain BundleActivator, but preferrably use org.adempiere.plugin.utils.AdempiereActivator
    • You have to import this package in the bundle manifest - it is provided by pluginUtils
  • The AdempiereActivator:
    • registeres your plugin as an ADempiere package
    • If you provide /META-INF/PackOut.xml in your plugin, it automagically does a 2Pack Packin with in.
  • If nothing is to do on yours plugin start or stop, you may use AdempiereActivator itself as the activator of your plugin
  • If you want to do something, subclass and override one of these methods:
    • install() - called after the packIn when your plugin is started in this version for the first time
    • start() - called - optionally after install() - when your plugin is started
    • stop() - called when your plugin is stopped
  • You may use each of these utility methods:
    • getName() - name of the plugin
    • getVersion() - version of the plugin

Extension Points

In a plugin, you can only change core functionality already prepared for modification. These functionalities are exposed as extension points. As example, let us introduce a new callout.

  • Open your plugins MANIFEST.MF
  • You have to refer to the plugin providing the extension point, most often org.adempiere.base:
    • On Tab "Dependencies", click "Add.."
    • Choose the plugin and click "Ok"
  • Now you have to declare your extension
    • If the tab "Extensions" is not already present, click on the link "Extensions" on the overview tab
    • On the "Extensions" tab, click "Add..." and choose the IColumnCallout Extension point
    • In the context menu of the point, choose "New/client"
    • In the "Extension Element Details", provide information about your callout: table and column and
    • the implementing class
  • Use Eclipse magic to implement the callout:
    • simply click on the class-Link
    • watch the "New class" dialog open with the exact interface already provided.
    • So you only have to provide package and class name and start implementing!
  • Simple, isn't it?

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