Extending the modeling environment using pluglets

Pluglets are small Java™ applications that are used to make minor extensions to the workbench in a simple and straightforward way.

Pluglets reside in a pluglet project. The pluglet can be tested in the same instance of the workbench just like any other Java application. Pluglet authors can use the Java development environment, and they have access to the application programming interfaces (APIs) of the workbench plugins to extend and implement the existing pluglets.

Note: To work with pluglets, you must install the Pluglet Support feature. To learn how to modify existing product installations to include support for this feature, see Modifying installed product packages.

You can explore and extend the existing sample pluglets that are included with the product to learn more about how pluglets interact with the workbench.

  1. Creating pluglet projects
    Before you can create a pluglet, you need to create a pluglets project. Use a pluglets project to store your pluglets.
  2. Creating pluglets
    Pluglets are written in Java and reside in a pluglet project.
  3. Registering pluglets
    If you create a pluglet, you must register the pluglet in the workspace before you can use the pluglet. You must register pluglets that you create in external tools and within the workbench environment.
  4. Running pluglets
    After you have created a pluglet, you can run it from the Data perspective.
  5. Sample pluglets
    You can use the sample pluglets included with the workbench to understand how to implement and run pluglets.
  6. Debugging pluglets
    You can debug pluglets just like any other Java source file. Because pluglets run in the current workbench, they must be debugged from a different workbench. An automated mechanism to launch another workbench for debugging pluglets is provided by the pluglets feature.
Related concepts:
Pluglets
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