Editing Development Components

Selecting the Appropriate Perspective

You edit a component in the perspective that corresponds to its type. To open the appropriate perspective in the menu path choose  Window  Open Perspective  Other  .

For example, if the DC is of type Web Dynpro, you edit it in the Web Dynpro perspective. If it is of type J2EE, then edit it in the J2EE Development perspective, and so on.

Synchronizing the Files of the Component in the Local File System

Either you must synchronize the component or - if none exists - create a project for it. More information: Synchronizing a DC in a Local File System .

Checking Out the Files for Changing

Checking out the files for changing is necessary for old projects. After the synchronization, the files are stored read-only on the local file system. Before you can change individual files of this component, you must check them out for editing.

1. To check out a file or folder, choose the required file or folder in the tree.

2. From the context menu, choose  DTR  Edit  .

3. In the dialog that appears, select an existing activity or create a new activity.

   You need an activity to combine changes that belong together. Therefore, select only suitable activities (activities of the same DC) for your changes or create a new activity. As long as an activity has not been checked in, it is in open state, and you can always add other files to it.

4. To assign your file(s) to this activity, choose OK .

   Note

   If you assigned versions to a particular activity by mistake, as long as the activity is still open, that is, the activity is not checked in, you can:

   • Move individual versions to another existing or a newly created activity.

   • Rename the activity when you check it in (in case only the activity name was misleading and the activity contains only versions that belong together).

Editing the Source Files

1. To change the source files of a component, select the perspective that corresponds to the component type.

2. In the context menu of the component, choose either:

   •  DTR  Edit  : Other users can also check out this file.

   •  DTR  Edit (Exclusive) : The file is locked for other users until you check it back in.

   An activity is created.

3. Make your changes.

4. Save your changes.

Locally Building the DC

1. Open the perspective that belongs to the component type.

2. In the context menu of the DC to be built, choose Build .

   A dialog box appears.

3. Check the selected action and the DCs concerned in the dialog window and make changes, if necessary.

   The development environment automatically recognizes which components have changed and need to be built, and marks them accordingly. However, you can always change these selections, for example, if you want to enforce the building of a component.

   Note

   If errors occur during the DC build, you can view them in the General User Output view.

Checking In Changes Into the Repository

After you made sure that your changes do not trigger compilation errors, check in your activity with the changes you made.

1. Switch to the Open Activities view.

   Note

   You can integrate this view in any perspective using the menu path  Window  Show View  Other  Design Time Repository  Open Activities .

2. In the context menu of the activity, choose Checkin .

   Note

   The following distinction between active and inactive workspace only applies when a Component Build Service is used:

   Since the development takes place in the inactive workspace, your changes become visible only for those persons who are using the same inactive workspace. This means that the developers working on the same DC (in the same compartment and configuration) see the changes directly after their release.