Impact Interface - Customise - Distribute Plugin - Distribute Plugin Tool

This form is opened when you press the Change Button on the Distribute Plugin form.

Distribute Plugin Tool

Name

This is the name of the tool, as it will be presented to all those you distribute the IAP to.  

GUID

A globally unique identification number, automatically generated. This code uniquely identifies your tool amongst all other tools that may be contained within your plugins, both now and in the future. 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 when an update of an earlier version takes place, this tool will be updated, and will remain consistent with any appearance settings changes the user may have made relating to this tool (such as setting hotkeys). Changing the GUID will result in the tool being installed again, from fresh, with default appearance.

Caption

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

Button Image

Shows a preview of the button image or icon that will be displayed within Impact for the tool.

Automation

Shows the automation that will be run or executed whenever this tool is selected.

Distributed Files

In order for the distributed IAP to work on another user’s workstation, it may need to contain a number of supporting files. These files will be copied to the user’s workstation whenever the IAP is installed or upgraded.

By default, Impact will try to include the files required by the automation for each tool. For a macro, the macro or script, the file containing the script (but no dependent or included files) will be added to the distributed file list automatically. For a plugin library, the library itself (but again, no dependent files) will be added to the distributed file list automatically.

You will need to edit the list of distributed files if:

  • There are dependent or included files required by the automation
  • There are additional files that you would like to ensure exist on the user’s workstation
  • The library requires a Windows Installer (.msi) package in order to be installed

Use the Add and Delete buttons to do this; the Reset button returns the list to be that which Impact originally defaulted to.

On the user’s workstation, the support files are copied to the macro repository for macros and scripts, and the plugin repository otherwise.

Each tool has its own list of associated distributed files; however, a single IAP can only support the distribution of a single plugin library and Windows Installer (.msi) package. 

Save As

When you have finished, clicking this button generates an .iap file at the location of your choosing, which you can then distribute to other users. The IAP must be valid, containing at least one tool.

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