ZxApp IT supports three types of scripting, plus a mechanism for
creating native Java extensions (function libraries). All three types
of scripts, ad-hoc, reporting, and export templates work the same. They
use the same language, and with a few exceptions, have access to the
same properties, methods, and objects. Appendix
C provides a scripting reference and some additional examples.
Table 14.1, shown below, outlines the different types of
scripts/extensions that can be created and provides guidelines for
choosing one.
Table 14.1: Scripting/Extension Types.
|
Type
|
Description
|
Output
|
Advantage
|
Disadvantage
|
Owner
|
|
Ad-Hoc
|
Ad-hoc scripts are written inside of the WYSIWYG editor. You can
simply declare a function, then use it with the ad hoc expression
evaluator.
|
Plain text from the expression evaluator.
|
Very quickly prototype your functionality
|
Not as fast as other scripting types.
|
Single Organizer
|
|
Reporting
|
Report scripts are accessed within the organizer properties
dialog. They are used to produce single-file or single-node
output. Report writing is discussed in section
14.
|
A single file or single node.
|
Easier to install than Export scripts.
|
Other users must import them into their Organizers to use them.
|
Single Organizer
|
|
Export Templates
|
Export templates are accessible by all organizers. ZxApp IT ships
with export templates that can be used to create help systems
(such as the one provided with ZxApp IT), and web sites (Such as ZipXap.com).
Export templates are "installed" by placing a collection of text
files into the <app directory>/htmltemplating directory within the
ZxApp IT application directory. Section
15.2 teaches you how to create your own export templates.
|
One or more files.
|
This is the most powerful usage of ZxApp IT scripting.
|
Because export templates are intended to be written by 3rd party
companies, they require some extra work on the part of the
developer to ensure that they obey all the rules and play nicely
with other export templates.
|
All Organizers
|
|
Function Libraries
|
A function library is a collection of properties and functions
that can be used within all of the above mentioned scripting
types. Function libraries are written in the Java programming
language and compiled into JAR files for distribution. They become
available to users of ZxApp IT simply by placing the JAR file in
the <app directory>/dist/lib directory. They have full access to
the Java API and can be used implement just about anything, from
enterprise database integration to full GUI applications. Section
16 teaches you how to create your own function libraries.
|
Anything.
|
Since function libraries are native Java applications, they run
significantly faster than ZxApp IT scripts. They have full access
to the Java API and can be used to implement enterprise database
integration or full GUI applications.
|
You must trust whom you get custom function libraries from because
they have full access to your system.
|
All Organizers
|