The 'Extension Manager' layout is the second default layout of the Ruleset Manager. The purpose of the 'Extension Manager' is to create and maintain the resources (role, ruleset, classification, information takeoff definitions, ITO template, summary report template and coordination report template) of Solibri. The end result, Solibri Resource Extension (SRE) is exported as 'jar' file. This jar file is then uploaded to a Solibri Solution Center's web page from where it is converted into an SSC extension which can be distributed to the users.
It consists of four default views: Ruleset Folders view, Account Extensions view, Extension Manager Info view and Extension Manager view.
If there is one or more unsaved SRE(s) and you close Solibri either by using the close button of the Ruleset Manager or by switching to Solibri perspective and pressing 'Exit' button, it gives a dialog asking to save SRE(s):
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The 'Account Extensions' view provides various operations for the SRE. It allows you to create an SRE, open an SRE, close an SRE, save an SRE, 'save as' an SRE with a different name and export an SRE to a 'jar' file. It shows the list of all the SREs that are created or opened from the disk. Only one SRE is selectable at a time..
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New
The 'New' button adds a new SRE in the 'Account Extensions' view. The 'File' column of the 'Account Extensions' view shows a '-' for an unsaved SRE and 'SRE file' for a saved SRE.
If a role is already selected in Solibri and you press 'New' button, then a dialog box is shown.
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This dialog box has two buttons:
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Include: Pressing the 'Include' button allows you to create a new SRE based on that role and its resources. These resources are used to populate the relevant panels in the Extension Manager view.
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Discard: Pressing 'Discard' button does not include any resources from the role. Instead, it simply adds an empty SRE in the view.
If no role is selected in Solibri and you press 'New' button, then it simply adds an empty SRE in the view.
Open
The 'Open' button opens a dialog box to let you locate an SRE file. When the SRE is opened, its resources such as (role, ruleset, classification, ITO and templates, etc) are populated in the relevant panels in the Extension Manager view.
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If the SRE has some error in opening, then a dialog box is shown that tells you that the SRE cannot be opened:
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Close
The 'Close' button closes the selected SRE. If the SRE is not modified then it simply closes. If the SRE is modified i.e. a resource such as a Role is added to it or its name or description is changed and then you press close, Solibri prompts for saving the SRE. If you press Yes, then it gives a dialog box to 'save' the SRE. If you press No, then it closes the SRE. If you press Cancel, the current 'Select' dialog box is closed and SRE remains there.
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Save
The 'Save' button saves an SRE and opens a dialog box for saving the SRE for the first time. The name of the selected SRE is taken as the file name for saving the SRE, in the saving dialog.
Save As
The 'Save As' button saves an SRE with a new name or to a different location and opens a dialog box for saving the SRE.
If the SRE file cannot be 'saved' or 'saved as', for example, if you try to save it to some write-protected directory, then you will get a dialog box informing that the SRE cannot be saved.
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Export as Jar
The 'Export As Jar' button exports an SRE to a jar file. In the Extension Manager view, only the files that are selected using the checkboxes in the resource tables such as (role, ruleset, classification, ITO and templates, etc) in the SRE are exported to the jar file.
If any linked file is missing, then the 'Export as Jar' button is disabled. A message with a red triangle appears: "Some linked files are missing", appears in the Extension Manager view. Also, in the 'Account Extensions' view table, a red triangle appears in the third column to indicate that this SRE has some broken link or missing file. In case, if there are only broken links between files, the exporting of the SRE as a jar file is still possible.
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If the SRE file cannot be exported to a jar file, for example, if you try to export it to some write-protected directory, then you will get a dialog box informing that the SRE cannot be exported:
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'Info' view shows the information about the SRE you have selected in the Account Extensions view. In the Info view, you can edit the name and notes of the selected SRE:
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Name:
You can define a meaningful name for the SRE extension. Changing the name of the SRE, modifies the SRE as a new one and it must be saved with the given name.
Author:
This specifies the creator of the SRE. It can be changed from the user section in General Settings. If the initials and the user name is not defined in the User section, then the operating system's user name is used as 'Author'.
Organization:
This specifies the name of the organization. It can be changed from the User section in General Settings.
Date:
This uneditable field shows the creation date and time when you add a new SRE in the Account Extensions view.
Notes:
In the 'Notes' field, you can describe the SRE. Pressing the edit ('
') button opens a dialog to add/edit description about the SRE. Adding or editing the notes modifies the SRE and it needs to be saved.
The 'Extension Manager' view shows all the resources that are related to an SRE. There are eight tables and each of them allows you to add and remove distinct resources such as Roles, Rulesets, Classifications, Information Takeoffs, Information Takeoff Templates, Layout Sets, Summary Report Templates and Coordination Report Templates.
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Extension Manager Tables
The Extension Manager tables are explained below:
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1. Chain icon shows that the resource is linked to some other resource.
2. Broken Chain icon shows that the link is broken and linked resource is missing.
3. No icon means that the resource is not linked to any other resource.
4. Toolbar has Add and Remove buttons.
5. A checked checkbox means that the file will be included when SRE is exported as a Jar file.
6. Red triangle means that file is missing.
7. An unchecked checkbox means that the file will not be included when SRE is exported as a Jar file.
Add
The 'Add' button allows you to add the resource to the relevant resource table. When you press 'Add' button, it opens a dialog box to choose a relevant resource. This resource is added to the table of the resource.
Remove
The 'Remove' button allows you to remove a selected resource from the resource table. It is enabled only when a resource is selected in the resource table.
Roles
You can add roles to this table. All the resources referred by the role are populated in their relevant tables such as ITOs, classifications and rulesets. Upon selecting a role, its resources are highlighted with light-blue color.
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Rulesets
You can add rulesets to this table. Ruleset(s) can be linked to classification(s) so if any classification is missing from the 'Classifications' table, then the broken link icon '
' appears on the left side of the Ruleset resource whose linked file is missing.
Classifications
You can add Classifications to this table. Classifications are typically linked from rulesets/ITOs from Rulesets and Information Takeoff Definitions.
Information Takeoff Definitions
You can add Information Takeoff Definitions to this table. ITO definitions can be linked to Information Takeoff Templates so if any linked Information Takeoff Templates is missing, then the ITO definition is marked with the broken link icon ''.
Information Takeoff Templates
You can add Information Takeoff Templates to this table. Information Takeoff Templates can be linked from Information Takeoff Definitions.
Layout Sets
You can add layout sets to this table. Layout sets can be linked to a Role.
Summary Report Templates
You can add Summary Report Templates to this table.
Coordination Report Templates
You can add Coordination Report Templates to this table.