Component Libraries Palette and the Online Repository

General Interface Builder provides an interface for the online component repository hosted on GeneralInterface.org. This repository allows you to share components with the GeneralInterface.org community. You can upload components to the repository for subsequent download and use by other developers and you can browse and download components uploaded by other developers from around the world.

The interface to the component repository is in the Component Libraries palette in Builder. The Component Libraries palette includes the following tabs:

• System tab: A tree that shows all of the built-in system components. These files are stored at the path GI_HOME/GI_Builder/prototypes.
• User tab: A tree that shows the components that the current user has created in their local GI workspace. Components downloaded from GeneralInterface.org are also saved here. These files are stored at the path GI_WORKSPACE/prototypes.
  
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• Online tab: List of the shared components that have been previously uploaded to GeneralInterface.org.
  
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Saving a Component to the Workspace

A component must exist in the GI workspace before you can upload it to the online repository. To save a component to the GI workspace:

1. Open an existing component or create a new component in General Interface Builder.
2. Choose File > Save a Copy to Library.
3. Enter a name for the file and save it in the prototypes directory. You can save it to any nested folder as long as it is contained within prototypes.
4. To display the component in the Users tab of the Component Libraries palette, click the Reload icon.

The component is now available for upload.

To create new component folders in your workspace, click the New Folder icon and enter the folder name. To remove components, select the components and click the Delete icon.

Uploading a Component to the Online Repository

For each component that you upload, you must agree to the General Interface terms of service http://www.generalinterface.org/terms.html.

To upload a component to the GeneralInterface.org online repository

1. Select the component on the User tab in the Component Libraries palette.
2. Click the Upload Component icon.
3. Enter a name and description.
4. Select the check box to agree to the General Interface terms of service. To review the terms of service, click the underlined link.
5. Click Upload.
6. If you are not already logged in, you will be prompted to enter your user name and password. Log in, then click Upload again.

The component is uploaded and summary infomation is presented. If you have any custom code in the application, Dojo Foundation staff will review the code before making it available to others.

To view an uploaded component, open the Online tab. Click the Filters icon and choose filtering option as needed to display the component.

Downloading Components from the Online Repository

To download previously uploaded components:

1. Open the Online tab in the Component Libraries palette.
2. Click the Filters icon and to choose how to filter the list of components.
3. Drag and drop the component to the canvas or to the desired level in the Component Hierarchy.

Using the Online Tab

The Online tab of the Prototype Libraries palette supports the options described in this section.

Refreshing the Display

Clickt the Refresh icon on the User or Online tab to reload the current list of components.

Displaying Component Details

On the Online tab, you can display component details by double-clicking the component entry. To return to the component list, click the List icon.

Using Filters

The following filter options are available by clicking the Filters icon.

Using Feeds

The following options are available by clicking the Feeds icon. To view these options, you must be subscribe to Live Bookmarks. If you are not subscribed, you are prompted to do so when you first choose a Feeds option on the Online tab.