The Advanced Process Automation (APA) Library Functions SDK describes how you can develop additional Library functions in Visual Studio for use in Real-Time Designer projects.
Advanced Process Automation (APA) was previously known as Real-Time Solutions (RTS).
This involves:
| 1. | Creating a project in Visual Studio with the required functions. |
| 2. | Compiling the project into a DLL. |
| 3. | Installing the DLL into the Real-Time Designer folder. |
| 4. | Developing and testing the required project in Real-Time Designer. |
| 5. | Distributing the solution. |
This document describes how to complete the steps above using samples. The samples can be downloaded from ExtraNICE.
The various methods in the sample Visual Studio project illustrate how to create functions with various types of input and output parameters. The Real-Time Designer project in turn illustrates how to use these new functions, using the various types of parameters, for example, Number, Decimal, Boolean, DateTime, and Text.
The sample project includes:
Sample Visual Studio project (VS_Sample.zip) including a sample class (Class1.cs) with several sample functions:
Check for Character in Text: Runs a method that checks if a character exists in the text at the specified position.
Create Timer: Runs a method with an integer parameter (duration to wait), creates a timer, and then returns the current time after the specified duration.
Open Webpage: Runs a method with no parameters and opens the google webpage.
Run a Boolean Method: Runs a method that takes a boolean parameter and returns the opposite value.
Run a DateTime Method: Runs a method that takes a DateTime parameter and returns a date two weeks later.
Run a Decimal Method: Runs a method that takes a decimal parameter, adds 0.5 and returns a decimal value.
Run a Numeric Method: Runs a method that takes a number parameter, adds 2 and returns a number.
Run a Text Method: Runs a method that takes a text parameter, appends NICE! and returns a string.
Sort List by Length: Runs a method that takes a list of strings and sorts it by item length. For purposes of this example, the list must be comma separated.
Sample Real-Time Designer files (Designer_Sample.zip):
The sample DLL (Direct.Sample.Library.dll) to be included in the Real-Time Designer folder and in the Real-Time Client deployment.
A sample real-Time Designer project (Sample project.dproj and Sample project.resx).
