Creating transformation utilities

You can create transformation utilities to perform routine tasks as part of the overall functionality of a transformation. You might create a transformation utility if predefined transformation utilities, such as comparing and merging or team integration utilities, do not contain the functionality that you require.

Before you begin

You must have a plug-in manifest file open in the manifest editor. If the Java class that implements the utility exists already, you must open the manifest file of the plug-in that contains this Java class.

About this task

Typically, you create one Eclipse plug-in for each transformation utility.

To create a transformation utility:

Procedure

  1. In the plug-in manifest editor, on the Extensions tab, click Add.
  2. In the New Extension wizard, on the Extension Points tab, click com.ibm.xtools.transform.core.transformationUtilities; then click Finish.
  3. Optional: In the Extension Details area, provide values for the properties of the extension point.
  4. Expand the new com.ibm.xtools.transform.core.transformationUtilities extension point, click the TransformUtility element, and provide values for the fields. For more information about the fields in the Extension Element Details area, place the mouse pointer over the name to display hover help.
    1. Specify values for the id, name, and version fields.
    2. If the Java class that implements the utility does not exist, click class, and complete the pages of the New Java Class wizard. Otherwise, click Browse and, in the Select Type window, specify the Java class that implements the transformation utility.
    Tip: You can also specify values for these fields by editing the plugin.xml file in the plug-in.
  5. Click File > Save.

Results

The new utility is registered with the transformation service. You can now add the transformation utility to any custom transformation.

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