Datatype Descriptor

Isight must know how to access the previously discussed classes for your datatype, and must be provided with other supporting information in order for the datatype to work properly within the Isight environment. This information is specified in an XML file called the Datatype Descriptor. The Descriptor must be created manually--the SDK Generator interface does not support the creation of datatypes.

The Datatype Descriptor contains the following information:

  • the name of the datatype,

  • a description for the datatype, and

  • the paths to the Value, Editor, and Renderer classes

This information is provided to Isight through the definition of a Datatype Descriptor in an XML file. A sample XML Datatype Descriptor is provided in Datatype.xml.

The Plate Example

As an example of the definition of a Datatype Descriptor, again consider the Material datatype you are creating for the Plate Component. The Descriptor for this datatype is listed below. 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<MetaModel name="com.engineous.datatype.Material"
   supername="com.engineous.system.datatype.Variable"
   superversion="-1">
   <DisplayName>material</DisplayName>
   <Description>A material and its relevant 
   <Runtime type="com.engineous.sdk.vars.Value">
      com.engineous.datatype.material.MaterialValue
   </Runtime>
   <Editor type="com.engineous.desktop.sdk.ValueEditor"> 
      com.engineous.datatype.material.MaterialEditor
   </Editor>
   <Editor type="com.engineous.desktop.sdk.ValueRenderer"> 
      com.engineous.datatype.material.MaterialEditor
   </Editor>
</MetaModel>