Exporting and Importing Tools

Report templates and data filters may be exported selectively to a file, and imported selectively from a file.  This enables the sharing and archiving of these user-configurable tools.  This section describes the export and import procedures.

Creating a Tools Export File

An export file is created by using the  Configure - Export Tools menu item in the Global Toolbar or the Main Menu.  This menu item displays the Export Tools dialog window depicted in Figure 1.


Figure 1.  Export Tools dialog window

Using a standard tree control, this window lists the categories of user configurable tools which may be exported from the Trace Analyzer application, Reports (i.e., report templates) and Filters (i.e., data filters).  Either category may be expanded by clicking the expansion control to the left of the category icon.  Expanding a category displays a full listing of each tool which has been configured for that category.  For example, Figure 2 depicts a listing of all data filters available for export.



Figure 2.  Export Tools dialog window with some filters selected for export

In Figure 2, two data filters have been selected for export:  Broadcast and HTTP.  Tools are selected for export by clicking once on the item of interest.  To indicate that an item has been selected for export, its icon is tinted red.  Tools may be deselected by clicking again on the same item.  The item's icon is returned to its original state.

An entire category may be selected for export, by clicking once on the category itself (see Figure 3).  A category can be deselected in its entirety in the same way.  Likewise, all exportable tools in the system may be selected or deselected by clicking once on the top level item (Tools Available for Export).



Figure 3.  Selecting an entire tool category for export

Partial selection of tools in a category or overall is indicated at the group level by a partially tinted icon  (e.g.,  for filters or  at the topmost level).

Note that tools selected for export remain so selected, regardless of the expanded/collapsed state of the tree control.

Once the desired tools have been selected, the Export button may be clicked to create an export file.  Clicking this button displays the Select Export File dialog window depicted in Figure 4.  However, if no tools have been selected for export and the Export button is clicked, an error is reported instead.



Figure 4.  Select Export File dialog window

In the Select Export File dialog window a filename may be entered in the File name text entry field, or may be selected from the list displayed.  Only filenames which have an .XML extension (case is not significant) are permissible.  The Export button is clicked to create the export file containing the selected tools, or Cancel is clicked to abort the export operation.

If Export is clicked and a filename has been chosen which indicates an existing file, the existing file is overwritten with the contents of the new export selections.  In this case, the user is first asked to confirm the operation before the existing file is overwritten.

Importing Tools from a File

Files containing tools previously exported by the Trace Analyzer may be selectively imported into the application using the  Configure - Import Tools menu item in the Global Toolbar or the Main Menu.  This menu item displays the Import Tools dialog window, and immediately prompts for a file to import, as depicted in Figure 5.



Figure 5.  Import Tools dialog window w/ Select Import File dialog window

From this window, a file may be selected for import, or the filename typed directly into the File name text entry field.  Only filenames ending in .XML (case is not significant) may be valid for import.  After a filename is chosen, the Open button may be clicked to review the contents of the file, as depicted in Figure 6.



Figure 6.  Viewing the contents of an exported tools file

The Import Tools dialog window presents a listing of the tool definitions contained in the current file, organized by tool category.  Each line item contains the name and description, if any, of an importable tool.  To import tools, the user selects those items of interest by clicking each item once to highlight it, then clicks the  Import button.

To indicate that an item has been selected for import, its icon is tinted red.  Partial selection of tools in a category or overall is indicated at the group level by a partially tinted icon  (e.g.,  for filters or  at the topmost level).

When the  Import button is clicked, only those tools which have been selected will be imported;  the remaining unselected tools are ignored.

Resolving Import Conflicts

An importable tool may conflict with a tool already loaded in the current Trace Analyzer configuration in two ways: If either of these conflicts are encountered, and the affected tool is imported, its name will have a numeric suffix appended, such that the imported tool's name is unique within the system.  For example, in the case depicted in Figure 6, if the Broadcast filter were to be imported, its name might be changed to Broadcast:1.  If this name were in use, the program would attempt to import the filter as Broadcast:2, and so on.  The user is free to change these names afterwards, as described in the Customizing Reports and Editing Filters sections.


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