VA Assist enhances the "Export to a directory" dialog in Visual Age for Java
with several powerful features
The "Directory" field in this enhanced dialog has been
changed to a combo box so that previous entries to this field can be easily recalled and
reused. The contents of target directory can be easily explored
using the "Explore" button. In addition, version name tokens can be used anywhere in the directory path
to provide a dynamically defined directory name based on version number, date, time, user,
etc.
To use version name tokens in the directory path, check
the box labeled "Replace template tokens, extracting version from" and select a
source project in the combo box. The version name tokens available are identical to
the version name tokens defined and usable in the Version
Name Templates window, and the version number is extraced from the specified source
project that is currently loaded in the image. If the source project that is
currently loaded in the image is an open edition (not versioned), then the version number
is extraced from the previous version and automatically incremented to determine the
version number to be used during token substitution. If currently loaded source
project is an open edition and has no previous versions, then the version number
"1.0" is used during substitution.
The .class and .java type selection dialogs
have been enhanced by making them bigger and enhancing their graphics. Options
are also provided on the "VA Assist | Misc"
options page to sort the types by package name and show the package name
before the type name if so desired.
If the "Always export current selection"
option is selected, then the class, java, and html to be exported are determined from the
selection in the browser from which the export wizard was launched. When this option
is not selected, then a saved export set will always reference the currently loaded
versions of a specific set of types.
If the "Use loaded Solutions rather than
Projects" options is on, any currently loaded solutions will be shown
in the class selection dialogs.
If resources are being exported, an
"Export resources if newer" option is provided that will prevent
any resources from being exported that are older than those in the target
directory.
Whenever an export set is run, the export wizard records
the name of the file being exported along with the classname/timestamp of the
class editions
being exported to that file. Selecting the "Export only if source has
changed" option causes the export wizard to compare the classname/timestamp of the
class editions being exported with the classname/timestamp of the class
editions exported earlier. If
the classname/timestamps are identical for a particular class, then that particular
class is
not exported and no new file is created. This information is recorded in the workspace and *not* in the
repository. This means that the "Export only if source has changed" will
not suppress generation of a new file the first time that it is exported from a particular
workspace.
Optionally, an external program can be specified as part
of the "Export to a directory". Either type the name of the external
program directly into the text field, or click the "Browse" button to open a
file dialog to select an external program. Once the "Export to a
directory" has been successfully completed, the external program will be executed.
An "Export to a directory" configuration can be saved as a named Export Set by clicking on the
"Save" button. If an Export Set was selected in the main Export dialog or recently saved using the "Save"
button, then clicking the "Delete" button will delete
that named Export Set. If no Export Set is currently loaded or the SHIFT key is
held down when the "Delete" button is clicked, then the "Delete multiple Export Sets" dialog appears.
Clicking the "Global Export Options"
button opens the Global Settings window and displays the "Export" options page.
