Registering a Visualization Type
Before a visualization of a given type can be created by an iTool, the visualization type's class definition must be registered as being available to the iTool. Registering a visualization type with the iTool links the class definition file containing the actual IDL code that defines the visualization type with a simple string that names the type. Code that creates a visualization in an iTool uses the name string to specify which type of visualization should be created. In addition, some operations and manipulators will operate only on specific visualization types; these limits are also specified using the name string.
Using IDLitTool::RegisterVisualization
In most cases, you will register a visualization type with the iTool in the iTool's class Init method. Registration ensures that the visualization type is available when the iTool attempts to create a visualization. (See Creating a New iTool Class for details on the iTool class Init method.)
To register a visualization, call the IDLitTool::RegisterVisualization method:
where Visualization_Type is the string you will use when referring to the visualization type, and VisType_Class_Name is a string that specifies the name of the class file that contains the visualization type's definition.
Note
The file VisType_Class_Name__define.pro must exist somewhere in IDL's path for the visualization type to be successfully registered.
See "IDLitTool::RegisterVisualization" (IDL Reference Guide) for details.
Specifying Useful Properties
You can set any property of the IDLitVisualization and IDLitComponent classes when registering a visualization. The following properties may be of particular interest:
ICON
A string value giving the name of an icon to be associated with this object. Typically, this property is the name of a bitmap file to be used when displaying the object in a tree view. See Icon Bitmaps for details on where bitmap icon files are located.
TYPE
A string or an array of strings indicating the types of data that can be displayed by the visualization. iTools data types are described in Data Management. Set this property to a null string ('') to specify that all types of data can be displayed.
