The Plugin Creator, accessed through the Tools->Plugins->Create... menu item in the Main Display window, allows you to create new plugins. The Plugin Creator is broken up into three tabs: Resources, Excludes, and Properties.

A plugin is a Java JAR file that contains a set of resource files. These resource files can include things like the color tables you have created, projections, station models, formulas, etc. The plugin manager supports both adding in a whole file (e.g., all of the color tables you have created) as well as adding in individual resource objects (e.g., a specific color table you have created).

• Adding Resources
• Resources List
• Excludes
• Properties
• Writing the Plugin
• Menus

To add in a file, use the File->Add File menu item. The file dialog will come up listing the contents of your local McIDAS-V directory. This is where all of the various resources that are created are stored. For example, if to include all of the color tables, add the colortables.xml file. Use the File->Add Preferences menu item to add your User Preferences to a resource, such as a bundle you are creating or editing. Individual resources can be added through the File->Add Resource menu item. Resources can also be added through the various resource editors (e.g., Jython Editor, Parameter Defaults, Parameter Aliases). Typically this facility is available through the editor's File menu.

Each file, preference, and resource that is added into the Plugin Creator is listed under the Resources tab:

Image 1: Resources Tab of the Plugin Creator

Resources can be deleted by clicking the button or by pressing the delete key when a resource is selected.

The Excludes tab allows for the exclusion of system default resources. For example, in the below image, Color tables and Map projections are excluded. When the plugin that is defined here is loaded into McIDAS-V, the excludes will result in only the Color tables and Map projections that are defined in this plugin to be used.

Image 2: Excludes Tab of the Plugin Creator

The Properties tab allows the user to overwrite different properties McIDAS-V uses. This listing is broken up into three categories: User Interface, Data, and Miscellaneous.

Image 3: Properties Tab of the Plugin Creator

The User Interface category primarily affects the aesthetic appearance and basic usability in McIDAS-V. These options allow you to decide if you want to do the following:

• Display icons in the Field Selector.
• Display formulas in the Field Selector.
• Display the menu bar.
• Display the splash icon.
• Show the Data Explorer on startup.
• Use the full screen view.
• Change the height and width of the Main Display window.

The Data category affects what sources of data you will have available when selecting data in the Data Sources tab of the Data Explorer. These options allow you to decide the following:

• Which Image Descriptors will be listed when selecting data in the Data Sources tab.
• Which ADDE Point Datasets will be available to choose from.
• Which Level III Datasets will be available.
• Which different Servers will be available in the Data Sources tab.
• Which Catalogs will be included in the General->Catalogs chooser.
• Which Level II Remote Radar Catalogs will be included.
• Whether to merge Catalogs and Servers together.

The Miscellaneous category affects many features of McIDAS-V. While these options affect many things that go on 'under the hood' of McIDAS-V, there is a great deal that can be changed with these options. These options allow you to decide the following:

• If you are going to use 3D or not in your displays.
• How globe and map projections are plotted in the Main Display window.
• What distance units you want to use.
• Many aspects of the JNLP code.
• Many aspects of the User Preferences.
• If and how information will be shown as quicklinks.
• The vertical range for Globe, Map, and Transect displays.

To write the plugin, click the button. If you have not specified a plugin file name, (i.e., a .jar file) you will be prompted. If you also want to install the plugin to your local McIDAS-V plugins area, select the Install checkbox. You can choose a specific location to save the plugin to by selecting the button, or by typing the file path into the field. Note: You will need to restart McIDAS-V for any installed plugins to take effect.

Many of the menu items seen utilizing the Plugin Creator tool are unique to this menu item.

The File menu has these unique options:

• Add File - Allows you to add a local file to the list under the Resources tab of the Plugin Creator window.
• Add Preferences - Adds in the main.xml file for your user to the list under the Resources tab. This includes all of your User Preferences.
• Add Resource - Allows you to add favorites, bundles from disk, individual color tables, station models, projections, formulas, and parameter defaults to the list under the Resources tab of the Plugin Creator window.
• Import Plugin - Allows you to import an existing plugin. All of the Resources in the plugin you import will be added to your list under the Resources tab in the plugin you are making.
• Close - Closes the Plugin Creator window.