Tool manager
Wandora tool is a Java class containing a specific function such as Create topic or Export topic map in XTM format. Almost all functions of Wandora have an accountable tool. Tool manager enables Wandora user to manage tools in Wandora. Tool manager starts with Tools > Tool manager and opens Tool manager window.
Tool manager window has three tabs
- Tool sets
- All tools
- Tool paths
Tool sets tab is used to create and manage tool collections. Tool collection has a name, Extract for example, and a set to tools.
Wandora's default tool sets are extractors, importers, extractors, generators, and generic tools. User can not delete these default tool sets. However, user can delete and add tools into the default sets. Default sets have a special function in Wandora. They have well defined place in Wandora's user interface.
Right clicking a tool in set reveals a context menu with options to execute tool class and view tool info for example (See image below).
All tools tab lists all available Wandora tools.
Tool paths tab lists all Java class paths used to scan available tools.
Wandora supports six different tool types:
- Generic tools are miscellaneus Wandora tools. Example of generic tools is AddClass. Generic tools are added to the Tools menu.
- Import tools are used to load complete knowledge packets such as RDF(S) files. However, sometimes it is just a matter of taste should the tool be import or extract one. Example of import tools is XSLImport. Import tools are added to File > Import menu.
- With export tools user can output Wandora content to topic maps or HTML pages for example. Export tools are added to File > Export menu.
- Extract tools are used to transfer parts or certain files such as JPG images to small topic maps, which are then merged to the Wandora. Extract tools locate in File > Extract menu.
- Generator tool creates topics and associations using computational algorithms. Generator contains a computational model of certain domain area and produces topic maps using that model. These topic maps can then be building blocks of knowledge applications.
Tool manager views active tools of selected category. Clicking New starts add tool dialog. Clicking Remove deletes selected tool from the category. Rename allows you to change tool's GUI name. If the selected tool is configurable you may configure tool clicking Configure. Up and Down buttons are used to change order of tools.
Adding new tool
New tool is added to the selected category with add tool dialog. Pressing New button in Tool manager opens the dialog. Dialog allows you to browse available tools in the category and views description of the selected tool. List of available tools is updated at Wandora startup. Add tool dialog allows you to change tool's default GUI name also. New tool is added to the tool category menu if you accept tool creation with OK and close Tool manager.
Note about available tools
You should be aware that Wandora contains many experimental, unfinished, and undocumented tools you can access with Tool manager! Using such tool may cause unwanted effects. Remember to save your project once and a while.
More about Wandora tools
Would you like to know more about Wandora tools.
