Permlink Replies: 8 - Pages: 1 - Last Post: 21 May 18, 09:47 Last Post By: davidekholm Threads: [ Previous | Next ]
ctwist

Posts: 474
Registered: 27-Sep-2003
Tool techniques
Posted: 17 May 18, 23:34
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Today I published my first tool, SettingsConverter. I reviewed some existing tools to find out how to write it, but I could not find every technique that I needed, so most of it is new development.

This is a list of the techniques that I used. The source code is published, but I can provide additional details if necessary.
  • Written in compiled Java, using Eclipse. I avoid BeanShell abandonware whenever possible.
  • The behaviour is skin-dependent. For each skin, a simple plugin skinname.java must be written. The tool processes the plugin for the current skin via Java Reflection.
  • For each skin, the earliest supported version of the skin and jAlbum are specified. The tool refuses to run against earlier versions.
  • A cumulative log of changes is saved in the root image directory.
  • It can run in preview mode, which logs the changes without changing anything.
  • A converted setting is saved as a skin variable, AlbumObject variable or AlbumObject user variable.
  • It can run repeatedly for the same project; this ignores previously converted settings.
  • When complete, a message shows the status of the conversion. If changes were saved or previewed, a button is available to open the log file.

Edited by: RobM on 18-May-2018 14:58
Added link to the tool
davidekholm

Posts: 3,442
Registered: 18-Oct-2002
Re: Tool techniques
Posted: 18 May 18, 15:55   in response to: ctwist in response to: ctwist
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"Converted setting"? Can you explain what you mean? Thanks for contributing with new tools!. PS. I guess you forgot to include/attach the tool.
ctwist

Posts: 474
Registered: 27-Sep-2003
Re: Tool techniques
Posted: 18 May 18, 16:11   in response to: davidekholm in response to: davidekholm
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The tool is attached in the External Tools and Plugins forum. SettingsConverter.pdf explains everything.

I created a separate message here because I didn't want to "clutter" the other forum with development techniques; this could confuse end users.
ctwist

Posts: 474
Registered: 27-Sep-2003
Re: Tool techniques
Posted: 18 May 18, 16:34   in response to: ctwist in response to: ctwist
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There are two problems with SettingsConverter that I could not fix.

The tool changes some skin settings or AlbumObject settings for the current project. There is a possibility that jAlbum will overwrite these changes with its cached settings. To prevent this, in the instructions I specify that you must open the project immediately before running the tool and close it immediately afterwards.

1) When the tool starts, I want to verify that there are no unsaved project settings. If there are unsaved changes, the tool should terminate. I checked
engine.isDirty()
but this always returns true, even if the project has just been opened. Is there a way to detect if there are any unsaved changes?

2) When the tool finishes, I want to automatically close the project. Is there any way I can do this?
davidekholm

Posts: 3,442
Registered: 18-Oct-2002
Re: Tool techniques
Posted: 18 May 18, 21:40   in response to: ctwist in response to: ctwist
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The isDirty() method signals if the existing album needs to be refreshed with yet another "make album" operation. It doesn't signal if you have unsaved settings.

Before answering more, can I ask you: Are you manipulating jAlbum's .info files directly? You should never do that, instead use the APIs.
ctwist

Posts: 474
Registered: 27-Sep-2003
Re: Tool techniques
Posted: 19 May 18, 15:55   in response to: davidekholm in response to: davidekholm
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davidekholm wrote:
Are you manipulating jAlbum's .info files directly?
This is how I do it.

Get a user variable:
AlbumObject vAlbumObject;
.......
AlbumObjectProperties vProperties = vAlbumObject.getProperties();
if (vProperties != null)
{ HashMap vUserVariables = (HashMap) vProperties.get(AlbumObjectProperties.USER_VARIABLES);
  String vUserVariable = vUserVariables.get(pUserVarName)
}
Save a user variable:
if (vUserVariables == null)
{ vUserVariables = new HashMap();
}
vUserVariables.put(vUserVariableName, pSrcValue);
vProperties.put(AlbumObjectProperties.USER_VARIABLES, vUserVariables);
vProperties.save(false);


Edited by: ctwist on 19-May-2018 10:13
Added initialization of user variables.
davidekholm

Posts: 3,442
Registered: 18-Oct-2002
Re: Tool techniques
Posted: 20 May 18, 19:31   in response to: ctwist in response to: ctwist
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That's fine Chris, so why the need to close and reopen projects?
ctwist

Posts: 474
Registered: 27-Sep-2003
Re: Tool techniques
Posted: 20 May 18, 20:40   in response to: davidekholm in response to: davidekholm
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In one of my tests, after running SettingsConverter, I closed the project. jAlbum asked me if I wanted to save the project changes and I replied "Yes". After I re-opened the project I noticed that one of the converted settings had reverted to its previous value. My assumption was that jAlbum saved the original value.

So, to be safe, I want to avoid jAlbum and SettingsConverter from tripping over each other. Without knowing the internals of jAlbum, I am being extra cautious.
davidekholm

Posts: 3,442
Registered: 18-Oct-2002
Re: Tool techniques
Posted: 21 May 18, 09:47   in response to: ctwist in response to: ctwist
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I see. Thanks for providing this. I can't know what triggered the save changes warning. If you want to know, set debug level to FINE, then inspect jAlbum's system console after such a message has been triggered. It will then print what settings differ. Making changes via jAlbum's API's like you do should be fine.
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