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TheDollarBill
TheDollarBill
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Hybrid extension early loading?

Mar 8, 2012 10:52 AM

I have built a hybrid extension which uses a CS SDK Extension as the UI and an Illustrator SDK Plug-in to do the heavy lifting.

I need to get the Extension loaded right away when the Plug-in starts up.  I need the extension to load when Illustrator starts and before the user begins clicking around.

Has anyone created a hybrid extension that opperates in this way?

743 Views   6 Replies   Latest reply: TheDollarBill, Mar 8, 2012 12:15 PM
 
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  • Harbs.
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    1. Harbs.,
    Mar 8, 2012 11:03 AM   in reply to TheDollarBill
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    Why?

     

    If you need ActionScript code run right away, you'll need to set the extension to start on applicationActivate (or something like it).

     

    That means you'll probably need two extensions -- the visible one, and another invisible one...

     

    Harbs

     
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  • TheDollarBill
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    2. TheDollarBill,
    Mar 8, 2012 11:20 AM   in reply to Harbs.
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    Yes, exactly.  I have a visible extension that acts as the UI.  I have another extension that could remain invisible until my Illustrator-SDK plug-in calls it.  The problem is that the "PostStartup" notifier seems to happen too early to allow the extension to be loaded.

     

    Also, I just realized... should I have posted this in the extension builder forum?

     
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  • Harbs.
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    3. Harbs.,
    Mar 8, 2012 11:25 AM   in reply to TheDollarBill
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    Instead of having the C++ call the extension, can you have it work the other way around?

     

    Harbs

     
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  • TheDollarBill
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    4. TheDollarBill,
    Mar 8, 2012 11:31 AM   in reply to Harbs.
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    I don't think so.  It has to bring up the extension in the middle of some of the C++ stuff.  I suppose I viable load time would be upon a save event...

    But then would I have to unload it every time?  I mean do I have to check to make sure it's not already loaded if the user saved, and then saved again?

     
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  • david_a_clark
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    5. david_a_clark,
    Mar 8, 2012 11:32 AM   in reply to TheDollarBill
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    Ah, this is a known issue. For CS5 the workaround I used was to start an AI Timer in my plug-in's startup code which went off after '1 tick' (AI SDK terminology, IIRC). After 1 tick, PlugPlug has started up and is available to use.

     

    In the next version of AI SDK I believe there will be a 'PlugPlug set up' notifier which removes the need for the timer workaround.

     
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  • TheDollarBill
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    6. TheDollarBill,
    Mar 8, 2012 12:15 PM   in reply to david_a_clark
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    Yes! Thanks David!  And thanks Harbs.

    The AITimer totally works, however, now I am still wondering when I need to load and unload extensions so that everything is "happy".  Is it unsafe to call LoadExtension and then call it agian before UnloadExtension is called?

    Thanks again, y'all.

    Sincerely,

    Bill

     
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