Tool Descriptor

An AWM tool descriptor describes how a tool provided by a function package is called at run time. Tool descriptors can only be referenced by action descriptors where they are defined in a fixed sequence. The return code of a tool is checked against the maximum allowed return code defined under Application Options. If the return is high this prevents the execution of all following tools defined in the action descriptor. Output parameters of tools can be used as input parameters for subsequent tools.

The basic requirement for the implementation of a tool is an implementation of a tool interface. The function package to which the tool descriptor belongs defines the connection between tool descriptors and the communication interfaces. The function package has to implement the AWM model extension point. See the function package topics for details about all provided AWM tool descriptors.

Any tool making changes to one or more AWM elements in the attached application should be specified in the tool descriptor in such a way that AWM can react to such operations. This is modeled using the ResourceProcessing attribute.

Configurable resource operations are based on the following rules:

The following resource operations can be modeled for a tool descriptor:

Resource Operation Description
COPY Creates a new element based on the selected element. All the property values are copied first. Property values returned by the tool are assigned to the copied resource. The copied element is inserted into the Application Explorer or Table Results view. In the tree view the element is inserted on the same hierarchical level as the selected element.
DELETE Removes the selected elements from all lists. It does not necessarily mean that the elements are deleted in the attached application system. This depends on the modeled tool. Supports deleting specific elements if their key properties and match name are returned with the resource operation.
INSERT Inserts a new element into the Application Explorer or Table Results view. In the tree view the element is inserted on the same hierarchical level as the selected element.

If an element with the same ID already exists, an UPDATE is performed instead.

INSERT-CHILD Inserts a new element as a child of the current selection. Works only if the selected resource is able to have children, such as an element that has a "Get Children" action and is only relevant for the Application Explorer view. If an element with the same ID already exists, an UPDATE is performed instead.
MOVE Creates a new element based on the selected element. All the property values are copied first. Property values returned by the tool are assigned to the copied resource. Then it removes the selected element from all lists. It does not necessarily mean that the element is deleted in the attached application system. This depends on the modeled tool. The new element is inserted into the Application Explorer or Table Results view. In the tree view the element is inserted on the same hierarchical level as the selected element.
READ Standard value. Does not make any changes to elements.
REFRESH Updates all property values of the selected element by means of the "GetAllProperties" action assigned to the element type. If you want to refresh an element directly after inserting an element, you should use the "Refresh Resource" attribute of the tool descriptor instead.
UPDATE Updates the selected element with the values returned by the tool. Key property values cannot be updated. Supports updating specific elements if their key properties and match name are returned with the resource operation.
TOOL_DEFINED The rules about which element operations are to be used for this tool descriptor are set in the attached tools and not in the model. This makes dynamic implementation of resource operations possible. It also allows for dealing with more than one resource. See Tool-defined Resource Operations for more information.

The attributes which are displayed for a tool descriptor in the model editor may depend on the function package provider. The function package specific tool attributes are documented in the function package topics. See Extending the AWM Meta Model for more information.

Attributes that are valid for all tool descriptors are listed in the table below:

Attribute Type Description
ID * ID * The ID of the tool descriptor.
RefreshResource Boolean Indicates whether the element should be updated after successful execution of the tool. This means that the "GetAllProperties" action of the element is always called after a successful execution of the tool. See Get All Properties Action for more information.  

The default value is false.

ResourceProcessing Selection Defines the operations that the tool carries out with elements, so that the AWM can react to this.

Valid values include:

  • COPY
  • DELETE
  • INSERT
  • INSERT-CHILD
  • MOVE
  • READ (default value)
  • REFRESH
  • TOOL_DEFINED
  • UPDATE
In Parm Separator [O] String Separator used to separate input parameter values for command based tools. Can be entered with double quotes, which are removed at run time.  

The default value is " " (Blank).

Out Parm Separator [O] String Separator that parses returned output parameter values from command based tools. Can be entered with double quotes, which are removed at run time.  

The default value is " " (Blank).

HelpText [O]       String

(multi line)    

Help text associated with the tool. If this help text is defined for a UI tool, the help text appears when the question mark is clicked in the dialog box.  
Relationship Cardinality Description
Has Input Parameter 0..* Relationship to a property. The property value is passed as an input parameter to the tool.
Has Output Parameter 0..* Relationship to a property. The property value is passed as an output parameter to the tool.

Examples

The SVN_TOOL_SVN_AddRepository tool adds a new SVN repository location.


Add Repository Tool

Add Repository Properties
Attribute Value Description
Essential:
ID SVN_TOOL_SVN_AddRepository Unique identifier of the tool in this model.
Optional:
Help Text --- Not relevant for this tool type.
In Parm Separator " " Input parameter for the tool are separated by blanks.
Out Parm Separator " " Output parameter for the tool are separated by blanks.
Resource Processing:
Refresh Resource false The GetAllProperties action should not be called after the successful execution of this tool.
Resource Processing INSERT_CHILD The new repository location returned by the tool is inserted as child entry in the tree below the resource from where it was called.

Tool SVN_TOOL_SVN_DiscardLocation. This tool discards an SVN repository location.


Discard Tool

Discard Tool Properties
Attribute Value Description
Essential:
ID SVN_TOOL_SVN_DiscardLocation Unique identifier of the tool in this model.
Optional:
Help Text --- Not relevant for this tool type.
In Parm Separator " " Input parameter for the tool are separated by blanks.
Out Parm Separator " " Output parameter for the tool are separated by blanks.
Resource Processing:
Refresh Resource false The GetAllProperties action should not be called after the successful execution of this tool.
Resource Processing DELETE The selected SVN repository location is deleted from the UI after successful execution of this tool.