Impact Interface - Customise - Distribute Plugin

This form is opened from the Distribute option on the context menu when customizing custom toolbar items.

Distribute Plugin

Name

This is the name of the plugin, as it will be presented to all those you distribute the Impact Application Plugin (IAP) to.

Author

This is the name of the author of the plugin, who takes the credit for the IAP, and is recognised as holding the copyright for it.

GUID

A globally unique identification number, automatically generated.  This code uniquely identifies your plugin amongst all other plugins that you or others may create.  Click on the button  to generate a new code.

The GUID serves as an installation update code. If you wish to generate a second or subsequent .iap file for the same plugin, then making sure that this GUID stays the same will ensure that earlier versions are updated/replaced. Changing the GUID will result in the IAP being installed again, from fresh, alongside any other older IAPs of the same name.

Plugin Version

Define a version number for this IAP. If you generate a second or subsequent .iap file for the same plugin, then an update will only occur if the version is higher than any already installed version.

Minimum Impact Version

Define a minimum major version number of Impact for which the IAP is intended to work. IAPs are only be supported in Impact 2014 and above.

Update

If you wish to take advantage of the upgrade mechanism for IAPs, then you must keep a copy and history of all the .iap files you create. This option allows you to open an earlier .iap file, and use the information within it to make sure that this new .iap will serve as an update. The GUIDs are matched, the version number incremented, and saved options ported where possible.

Attempt self-registration of library

If the IAP encapsulates an automation plugin library (rather than simply macros or script), select this option if the library author has included the ability of the library to self-register itself with Microsoft Windows within the library itself. If such self-registration is possible, it may negate the need to supply a Windows Installer (.msi) package with the library as part of the IAP.

Attempt installation of package

If the IAP encapsulates an automation plugin library, or requires other resources to be installed into Microsoft Windows as well as Impact, then the author may supply a Windows Installer (.msi) package with the library as part of the IAP. Select this option if you wish Impact to attempt to run this installation for you, silently and automatically, via msiexec.exe.

Run as administrator

Such installation packages, as described above, may require Microsoft Windows administrator privileges in order to run successfully. Select this option in this case.

Caption

This is the default name that will be displayed within Impact for the plugin menu. You will have already defined a name for the native language as the menu name; click on the dictionary button  in order to add translations for other languages.

Hint

This is the default description that will be displayed within Impact when the user moves their cursor over the plugin menu. You will have already defined a hint for the native language as the menu hint; click on the dictionary button  in order to add translations for other languages.

Button Image

This shows a preview of the button image or icon that will be displayed within Impact for the plugin menu.

Tools

Each menu item on the menu for the IAP becomes a tool within Impact once it has been distributed. An IAP must contain at least one tool; a menu item with a valid automation. Select one and click the Change button to change its properties.

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