Xelfi Browser, Browser settings dialogbox, Browsing packages, objects and methods, Working with views and Hint windows

I. User's Guide to the Browser


I.1 Xelfi Browser

    Xelfi Browser is important part of Xelfi developer environment. It allows not only browsing throw packages and classes but from Xelfi Browser creating and editing classes, methods and variables is possible too. Browser supports Hints (special Java comments) than inspecting, editing and generating of Hints is very comfortable.

I.1.1 Open browser window

    You may open Browser window by clicking on icon in XELFI Main window toolbar, or by selecting File / New browser in the main XELFI menu. Then XELFI scans paths of an opened project ( when no project is opened, XELFI creates a default project and scans paths included in CLASSPATH ) and opens Browser window.

    When a new Browser window is opened, the default settings are used. You may customize default settings before you open new Browser window, or you may customize settings of existing window.

I.1.2 Functionality of the Browser window


I.2 Browser settings dialogbox

    You may change parameters of Browser window which are described above from the Browser settings dialogbox. There are two types of settings in Xelfi Browser - Default settings and settings of each Browser window. Default settings are used only when a new Browser window is opened.

I.2.1 Open Browser settings dialogbox

    You may open Browser settings dialogbox from menu ( File/Options Browser tab) or via using shortcut Ctrl + s from Browser window. If the Browser settings dialogbox is open from menu than it's ready for customizing default settings. In another case changing of settings of Browser window from which shortcuts will be called is expected.

I.2.2 Customizing of the default settings

    To customize the default settings of Browser window open XELFI settings dialog box from Main XELFI menu File / Options. Then select Browser tab and change Browser settings. See Browser settings dialog box help for further information. After modifying of settings close dialog box by clicking on OK button.

I.2.3 Customizing of opened Browser window's settings

    To customize opened Browser window's settings open XELFI settings dialog box from Main XELFI menu File / Options. Then select Browser tab and change Browser settings. See Browser settings dialog box help for further information. After changing of settings select in Apply choice name of Browser window which you want to customize and click on Apply button. Then close dialog box by clicking on Cancel button if you don't want to change Default settings.


I.3 Browsing packages, objects and methods

    Packages, objects and methods are parsed automatically, when the user firstly access them or when Xelfi change them. But user can reparse them manually too. Parsered informations are stored in the disk in files calld "name_of_package.brw". This files are stored in appurtenant packages or in project home package. You can delete them.

I.3.1 Scanning directory for packages

    This proces starts automatically when you open Browser window for a first time, or when you change paths in project paths. You can start this proces manually from Project view.

I.3.2 Parsing package

    This proces starts automatically when you select package ( just click on it ) in Browser window for a first time. XELFI doesn't reparse package, but only reads a structure from "name_of_package.brw" file from the disk, if it exists. You can start this proces manually from Package view ( package will be reparsed, not readed from .brw file).

I.3.3 Parsing file

    This proces starts automatically when you select package ( you click on it ) in Browser window for a first time. XELFI doesn't reparse package, but only reads a structure from "name_of_package.brw" file from the disk, if it exists. You can start this proces manually from Object view ( object then will be reparsed, not readed from .brw file).


I.4 Working with views and Hint windows

I.4.1 Open Item view ( Package view, Object view or Member view )

    If you haven't open Browser window yet, open it. If you want to open view of some type of item, this type of item must be shown in some listbox. Customize opened Browser window, if it isn't. Now you may open Item view by double-clicking on item in Browser window.

I.4.2 Working with Package view

I.4.2.1 Reparsing a package

I.4.2.2 Deleting a package

I.4.2.3 Changing a package name

I.4.2.4 Creating of a new package

I.4.3 Working with Object view

I.4.3.1 Reparsing a file

I.4.3.2 Compiling a file

I.4.3.3 Deleting an object / a file

    Firstly open Object view of an object / a file which you want to delete. Now start deleting by clicking on Delete button in Object view. Then you will be asked if you want to delete only declaration of this object or whole file which contains it. After you answer this XELFI delete this object or file.

I.4.3.4 Changing an object name, modifiers and other parameters

I.4.3.5 Creating a new object

I.4.3.6 Opening an object in Text editor

I.4.3.7 Opening a form in Form editor

I.4.3.8 Opening Hint window for an object

I.4.4 Working with member view

I.4.4.1 Deleting a member

I.4.4.2 Changing a member name, modifiers and other parameters

I.4.4.3 Creating a new member

    Firstly open Member view of the member after which you want to generate the declaration of the new member. Then change name and other parameters of this member and click on New button in Member view. New member will be generated now. In forms is possible, that the new member will be generated to another position in the source text of the form.

I.4.4.4 Opening a member in Text editor

I.4.4.5 Opening Hint window for a member