Introduction to C++ Plugin

ARES commander provides C++ plugin which lets you author third party Plugin Software for ARES Commander.

The CFx examples can be found in the folder \ARES Commander 20** SDK\Samples\CFx\. Open the solution file CFxSamples.sln and

follow the steps “How to Create a Sample C++ plugin and build,load the plugin ”.

• Add a new C++ project(Empty project) using visual studio 2015 

as SampleCommand in ‘\ARES Commander 20** SDK\Samples\CFx’ 

• Header Section: Create the following header files:                

                        1. SampleCommand.h - Create SampleCommand class with global and local command names 

              #include "FxCommand.h"
              #include "FxCommandContext.h"
              #include "FxUserIO.h"

              class SampleCommand
              {
              public:
                   /** Description:
                   Sets non-localized version of the command name.
                   */
                   virtual const OdString globalName() const;
                   /** Description:
                   Sets localized version of the command name.
                   */
                   virtual const OdString localName() const;

                   ~SampleCommand(void);

              protected:
                   SampleCommand(void);
              };

2. SampleCommandModule.h - Create a new module for SampleCommand with InitApp, uninitapp and object to represent the command 

              #include <RxModule.h>
              #include <StaticRxObject.h>
              #include "SampleCommand.h"
              /** Description:
              Creates a new module for Sample command.
              */
              class CHelloCommandModule : public OdRxModule
              {
              public:
                  ~CHelloCommandModule() {}

              protected:
                  CHelloCommandModule() {}

                  /** Description:
                  Adds new command to the current module.
                  */
                  virtual void initApp();
                  /** Description:
                  Removes command from the current module.
                  */
                  virtual void uninitApp();

               private:
                  /** Description:
                  Object from type sampleCommand is created. It represents the new command.
                  */
                  OdStaticRxObject<SampleCommand> m_SampleCommand;
               };

3. stdafx.h -  File to include all the standard system include files/project specific include files that are frequently used

              #include <windows.h>
              #include "OdaCommon.h"

• Source Files : Create the following C++ files : 

1.SampleCommand.cpp - C++ file to create commands that can be called from ARES commander

              #include "stdafx.h"
              #include "SampleCommand.h"
              #include "FxSystemServices.h"

              SampleCommand::SampleCommand(void)
              {
                    GetFxSystemServices()->WriteLine(L"HI, This is a Sample command.");
              }

              SampleCommand::~SampleCommand(void)
              {
              }

              const OdString SampleCommand::globalName() const
              {
                    // global command name to be called
                    return("MYSAMPLE");
              }

              const OdString SampleCommand::localName() const
              {
                    // local command name to be called
                    return("MYSAMPLE");
              }

2. SampleCommandModule.cpp - Defines entry and end point for the DLL application

              #include "stdafx.h"
              #include "SampleCommandModule.h"
              #include <RxDynamicModule.h>
              #include "FxSystemServices.h"

              #ifdef _MANAGED
              #pragma managed(push, off)
              #endif

              ODRX_DEFINE_DYNAMIC_MODULE(CHelloCommandModule);

              void CHelloCommandModule::initApp()
              {
                  GetFxSystemServices()->WriteLine(L"SampleCommandModule initApp");
              }

              void CHelloCommandModule::uninitApp()
              {
                  GetFxSystemServices()->WriteLine(L"SampleCommandModule uninitApp");
              }

4. stdafx.cpp -  Source file that includes just the standard includes files

              #include "stdafx.h"

Now for the C++ sample plugin to work certain configurations has to be done.

• Open SampleCommand property page and set Configuration → Release and Platform→ choose appropriate platform (in this example it is x64)
• Additional Include and Library Directories - Need to include Libraries and Include files from ARES SDK folder.

• Additional Dependencies: Linking appropriate libraries that implement ARES Commander plugin API. Libraries are located on your drive, 

   in \Program Files\Graebert GmbH\ARES Commander 20** SDK\Libraries\dd_lib

• Change extension of output and other properties as shown in the below image

           The shared library containing the subclass of OdRxModule, should be named < application name >.tx.

• Define _TOOLKIT_IN_DLL macro

• Go to C:\Program Files\Graebert GmbH\ARES Commander 20**\BIN and find the files named TD_Db_*.dll;

  In our example, it is named TD_Db_4.03_14.dll. You must add the suffix _4.03_14 to your output .dll name to make it load normally.

• Build SampleCommand project and Open ARES Commander and use the APPLOAD command to load your application:

  In our example, we have SampleCommand_4.03_14.tx as result.

If there are no errors, a confirmation message displays as successfully loaded with the output of the project