Extending techexplorer via Add-ins

This section is of a technical nature and is for readers who are familiar with C++, Java, and JavaScript programming. You may wish to skip this section of you are solely interested in viewing and creating techexplorer documents.

techexplorer add-ins enable third party developers to extend the core functionality of techexplorer or provide links to other applications, perhaps across the Internet. Add-ins are dynamically loaded applications that blend seamlessly into techexplorer and can add a wide range of interactive capabilities.

The techexplorer add-in Software Development Kit (SDK) includes a C/C++ Application Programming Interface (API) that allows developers to easily integrate new or existing applications into techexplorer. Furthermore, through the techexplorer add-in conduit, add-ins can take advantage of the World Wide Web by interacting with techexplorer objects, HTML elements, and Java/JavaScript code. For example, the techexplorer add-in interface can be used by a symbolic math system to augment techexplorer for manipulation of math objects.

The techexplorer add-in architecture and Java API serve as the "glue" for developing interactive scientific and technical documents. In the sections that follow, we discuss how you can extend techexplorer by building your own add-ins.

Get started by perusing the techexplorer add-in architecture, a gentle guide and a high level description of techexplorer add-ins from both a user's and programmer's perspective.
Next, become familiar with the IBM techexplorer add-in Software Development Kit (SDK), which provides the source code necessary to start developing techexplorer add-ins. This section details the components of the techexplorer add-in SDK.
Move on to an explanation of the IBM techexplorer add-in Application Programming Interface (API), the "bridge" between add-in applications and techexplorer.
Learn about the techexplorer implementation of the W3C Document Object Model application programming interface. Java applications and C++ add-ins can now programatically manipulate the techexplorer document tree!

Becoming proficient in developing add-ins that make use of the Document Object Model API is simple! Examine the implentation details behind the DocumentExplorer, an add-in that displays the document hierarchy in the form of tree as well as provides a graphical interface for Document Object Model operations.

Finally, explore the techexplorer add-in API Reference Guide, a quick summary of each add-in method and data structure.

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Send comments and questions to techexpl@us.ibm.com.
Visit the official techexplorer home page at http://www.software.ibm.com/techexplorer/.