Configure tools in Visual Studio

Build 1501 on 14/Nov/2017  This topic last edited on: 21/Mar/2016, at 18:35

Note: this topic is for the staff who use Visual Studio Express or Visual Studio Express to edit GN4 configuration files in the XML format.

If you decide to use Visual Studio Express for editing of GN4 configuration files in XML format, you may also want to semi-automate the re-import of modified files in the GN4 database. Instead to have to open a command prompt window and type the commands, you just execute the tool for the current file. This is accomplished through the External tools command. Note: the External Tools command appears on the Tools menu only if you selected Expert Settings under Settings.

We propose to configure four tools: 'config import', to use on the files such as xxx_TabItems.xml, xxx_Config.xml and similar; 'data import', to use on the data files; 'strings import', to use on the strings files; 'schema import', to use on the schema files.

Note about paths: this topic assumes that your GN4 applications are installed in c:\tera\gn4\bin\. If not so, adjust paths accordingly!

hmtoggle_plus1To add 'config import' external tool to Visual Studio Express

1.On the Tools menu, click External tools, and then click Add.

2.In Title, enter config import.

3.In Command, enter c:\tera\gn4\bin\cmd4.exe

4.In Arguments, enter one of the following

•config -in $(itempath) -srvurl qqqq -UserName xxxx -Password yyyy where qqqq is the full url to the server, e.g. http://main.teradp.com/GN4/adminsrv.asmx, xxxx is the user name to connect to the GN4 system, and yyyy the password.

•config -in $(itempath) -srvname nnnn -UserName xxxx -Password yyyy where nnnn is the name of the connection, e.g. rel6, xxxx is the user name to connect to the GN4 system, and yyyy the password.

5.Select Output window.
hmtoggle_plus1To add 'data import' external tool to Visual Studio Express

1.On the Tools menu, click External tools, and then click Add.

2.In Title, enter data import.

3.In Command, enter c:\tera\gn4\bin\cmd4.exe

4.In Arguments, enter one of the following:

•import -in $(itempath) -srvurl qqqq -UserName xxxx -Password yyyy where qqqq is the full url to the server, e.g. http://main.teradp.com/GN4/adminsrv.asmx, xxxx is the user name to connect to the GN4 system, and yyyy the password.

•import -in $(itempath) -srvname nnnn -UserName xxxx -Password yyyy where nnnn is the name of the connection, e.g. rel6, xxxx is the user name to connect to the GN4 system, and yyyy the password.

5.Select Output window.
hmtoggle_plus1To add 'strings import' external tool to Visual Studio Express

1.On the Tools menu, click External tools, and then click Add.

2.In Title, enter schema import.

3.In Command, enter c:\tera\gn4\bin\cmd4.exe

4.In Arguments, enter one of the following:

•strings -in $(itempath) -srvurl qqqq -UserName xxxx -Password yyyy where qqqq is the full url to the server, e.g. http://main.teradp.com/GN4/adminsrv.asmx, xxxx is the user name to connect to the GN4 system, and yyyy the password.

•strings -in $(itempath) -srvname nnnn -UserName xxxx -Password yyyy where nnnn is the name of the connection, e.g. rel6, xxxx is the user name to connect to the GN4 system, and yyyy the password.

5.Select Output window.
hmtoggle_plus1To add 'schema import' external tool to Visual Studio Express

1.On the Tools menu, click External tools, and then click Add.

2.In Title, enter schema import.

3.In Command, enter c:\tera\gn4\bin\srv4.exe

4.In Arguments, enter dbupdate -s $(itempath) -UserName xxxx -Password yyyy where xxxx is the user name to connect to the GN4 system, and yyyy the password.

5.Select Output window.

Important

Use schema import only if you run Visual Studio Express on the GN4 server. It won't work on the GN4 client computers.
Click to toggle expandTo export external tools from the previous version of the Visual Studio Express

You can export external tools from the previous version of the Visual Studio Express and then import them in the new version.

To export External tools

1.On the Tools menu, click Import and Export Settings.

2.On the Import and Export Setting Wizard, select Export selected environment settings.

3.On the Choose Settings to Export pane, deselect All, and then under All Settings, General Settings, select only External Tool List.

4.On the next pane, select the name and the folder.

To prepare the exported file for the import

IMPORTANT: without changes explained in this paragraph, the file will import, but the external tools will not appear in the menu!

Open the exported file in Notepad and then locate all the lines in the XML code that contain the text ApplicationIdentity version where the version number may be 12.0 if you exported tools from Visual Studio 2013, or lower, if you exported tools from an older version:

<ApplicationIdentity version="12.0"/>

To import tools in the Visual Studio Express 2015, the line should be:

<ApplicationIdentity version="14.0"/>

To import tools in the Visual Studio Express 2013, the line should be:

<ApplicationIdentity version="12.0"/>

To import tools in the Visual Studio Express 2012, the line should be:

<ApplicationIdentity version="11.0"/>

You can use search and replace.

Import External Tools in Visual Studio

1.On the Tools menu, click Import and Export Settings.

2.On the Import and Export Setting Wizard, select Import selected environment settings.

3.On the Save Current Settings pane, optionally select to save the current settings, or select No, just import new settings...

4.On the Choose Settings to Export pane, deselect All, and then under All Settings, General Settings, select only External Tool List.

5.On the next pane, select the exported setting, and then in the Tree select the External tools.