Editing OpenLaszlo files

You can search for a specific OpenLaszlo type and view OpenLaszlo files in hierarchy and outline views. The OpenLaszlo editor assists you with updating, adding, or deleting OpenLaszlo files.

The editor, based on the XML editor, includes these features:

Automatically associates with your OpenLaszlo files
Provides syntax highlighting
Creates a new OpenLaszlo outline view

Before you begin

Review the information in Changing key mapping for OpenLaszlo actions.

About this task

Complete the following steps:

Procedure

Start WebSphere Commerce Developer.

To open an OpenLaszlo file select one of the following methods:

Open file by type:
1. Click Navigate > Open OpenLaszlo Type. The Open OpenLaszlo Type dialog opens.
2. In the Enter the name of the type field, enter a type. For example, enter *Grid to find all OpenLaszlo types that contain the Grid string.
3. Any matches are displayed in the Select OpenLaszlo type dialog. Click the appropriate type and click OK. The selection dialog closes and the OpenLaszlo editor opens displaying the OpenLaszlo file. The editor highlights the OpenLaszlo type you selected.

Open by type in hierarchy view:

Click Navigate > Open OpenLaszlo Type in Hierarchy. The Open OpenLaszlo Type dialog opens.
In the Enter the name of the type field, enter a type. For example, enter *Grid to find all OpenLaszlo types that contain the Grid string.
Any matches are displayed in the Select OpenLaszlo type dialog. Click the appropriate type and click OK. The selection dialog closes and the OpenLaszlo Hierarchy view opens.

Select one of the hierarchy views:

Hierarchy views
View	Icon	Details
Full hierarchy		This view displays both the parents and children of the selected type.
Subtype hierarchy		This view makes the selected type, the root of the tree. Any children of the selected type are also displayed.
Supertype hierarchy		This view displays only the ancestors of the selected type.

In the hierarchy view, right-click an entry and then click one of the following options:

Entry options
Header	Action
Open	The OpenLaszlo editor opens displaying the OpenLaszlo file. If present, the editor highlights the OpenLaszlo type you selected. If the selected type is not located in the OpenLaszlo file, an error dialog opens. This error can occur when attempting to open a base OpenLaszlo type, such as a view.
Focus on `selected type`	The OpenLaszlo Hierarchy view updates to display the `selected type` hierarchy. Once displayed, the Hierarchy toolbar buttons can be used to alter the hierarchy view.
Focus on	Opens the Open OpenLaszlo Type selection dialog. Use this option to display another type's hierarchy.

Double-click any of the elements in the hierarchy view. If the Open Laszlo type is contained in the file, the OpenLaszlo editor opens the file and highlights the OpenLaszlo type.

The outline view displays a summary of class definitions and instantiations within an OpenLaszlo file. To use the outline view:

Click Window > Show View > Outline to open the outline view. The Link with Editor option is enabled by default. If you do not want this option enabled, access the outline view menu and clear the Link with Editor check box.
The Sort View option is enabled by default. This option groups all similar elements together. For example, all attributes in a class definition are sorted alphabetically and all methods are grouped together and sorted alphabetically. If this option is disabled, the elements are shown in the order they appear within the OpenLaszlo file. If you do not want the Sort View enabled, access the outline view menu and clear the Sort View check box.
Open an OpenLaszlo file by completing step 2.
Navigate to the Outline view. The class definitions are:
Class definitions
Class Icon Definition
view Elements that can display graphical interface widgets.
node Objects that hold data.
The root objects of an OpenLaszlo file are:
Root objects
Element Icon
canvas

library

Underneath the class definitions, the outline view displays the following elements:
Elements
Element Icon
attribute

event

handler

include

method

node instantiation

OpenLaszlo instantiation

script

unknown class type

view instantiation

Class definitions
Class	Icon	Definition
view		Elements that can display graphical interface widgets.
node		Objects that hold data.

Root objects
Element	Icon
canvas
library

Elements
Element	Icon
attribute
event
handler
include
method
node instantiation
OpenLaszlo instantiation
script
unknown class type
view instantiation

Navigate to the Outline view. Right-click an element; then click one of these options:

Element options
Option	Action
Open Declaration	Opens the declaration of the selected element in the OpenLaszlo editor. Declaration types: instantiation Displays the object's class definition class Places the cursor at the beginning of the class' definition The declaration action is disabled for non-class or non-instantiation related elements such as attributes or methods. The action is also disabled when the object does not exist in the workspace.
Open Super Declaration	Opens the super declaration of the selected element in the OpenLaszlo editor. Declaration types: instantiation Displays the object's super definition class Displays the class' super object The declaration action is disabled for non-class or non-instantiation related elements like attributes or methods. The action is also disabled when the object does not exist in the workspace.
View Hierarchy	Opens the OpenLaszlo Hierarchy view if the view has not been previously opened. The action is disabled when the type is not known or the type is not a class related element.