Plug-ins extend functions and can be installed separately.
Installation
You can install plug-ins by copying the appropriate files (normally a single DLL) to the<Innovator installation directory>\Plugins\<Plug-in> directory. If the plug-in is a resource file for an English interface, copy it to the <Innovator installation directory>\Plugins\<Plug-in>\en directory.
Displaying Plug-Ins
A plug-in can have any number of tool or document windows.
In principle, there is an item in the ribbon for each tool window under View>Windows>Tool Windows.
The plug-in programmer determines how a document window opens. The plug-in may specify that commands are made available under Extras in the ribbon; these then open appropriate document windows.
Why Can't I See the Plug-In?
There are many possible reasons when the tool window or command for the installed plug-in does not appear.
- You have not restarted the user GUI.
- You have copied the files into the wrong directory.
- You do not have the licenses required by the plug-in.
- The plug-in was developed for another Innovator version. However, if this is the case, an error should appear when you log into the model.
- You received the plug-in as an archive file (ZIP) and the Windows protection mechanism was activated during extraction due to the contained DLL. If this is the case, a security message appears at the bottom of the General tab in the DDL properties dialog ("This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer"). might be blocked to help protect this computer"). If the file comes from a safe source, click on Allow to enable the use of the DLL.
- If applicable, other reasons can be determined via the event viewer.
Using Alternative Plug-In Directories
Distributing and Updating Plug-Ins
Plug-ins used by Innovator are stored in the %PROGRAMFILES%\Innovator\16.1\Plugins directory by default.
You can use both the PLUGINS_DEPLOYMENT_PATH and PLUGINS_PATH Innovator variables to copy plug-ins from a provided source directory to the plug-ins directory used when starting the model editor.
The PLUGINS_DELETE_WHEN_COPYING Innovator variable can be used for full comparison of source and target directories.
The user must have write rights for the target directory.
Setting the Source Directory
Context
If plug-ins which were not included within the scope of delivery of Innovator are used, then you can use environment variables to simplify the central provision and updates of this plug-in.
You can use any available directory which contains directories for all plug-ins which should be made available to the clients as a central source directory using the PLUGINS_DEPLOYMENT_PATH environment variable.
How to proceed
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Create the central source directory, e.g. "N:\Plugins".
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Create all directories for the individual plug-ins in the source directory.
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Select Administration>Environment in the administration program.
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Click in the user variables left-hand area on
New. -
Enter "PLUGINS_DEPLOYMENT_PATH" in the Name column.
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Enter the source directory's path in the Value column
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Click on Apply.
When the model editor is started, the plug-ins are initially copied and then updated from the alternative source directory into the %PROGRAMFILES%\Innovator\16.1\Plugins local default directory.
Setting the Target Directory
Context
If plug-ins which were not included within the scope of delivery of Innovator are used, then you can use environment variables to simplify the central provision and updates of this plug-in.
The PLUGINS_PATH Innovator variable sets a local directory where copies of the plug-in are automatically copied from a central directory into the local plug-in directory when the model editor is started. The user must have write rights for this target directory.
The plug-ins are refreshed upon start as soon as a deviating version is found in the source directory.
How to proceed
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Set the local target directory, e.g. "C:\Plugins".
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Select Administration>Environment in the administration program.
-
Click in the user variables left-hand area on
New. -
Enter "PLUGINS_PATH" in the Name column.
-
Enter the target directory's path in the Value column
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Click on Apply.
When the model editor is started, the plug-ins are initially copied and then updated from the central source directory into the local target directory.
Comparing the Target Directory
If the PLUGINS_DELETE_WHEN_COPYING Innovator variable is set (e.g. to the value 1), then the copy process is added and updated and any plug-ins in the target directory which do not exist in the source directory are also deleted. This enables a complete alignment of source and target directory.
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