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Application Interface Tools

Application Interface tools launch a third-party application (such as an XML editor) or perform a set of operations to automate a procedure.

The application interface tools are independent programs that are configured to be executed from within the Contenta application. The software for an application interface tool resides in the Contenta /encaps directory on a user’s workstation or on the database server.

The following are application interface Tool Classes.

  • Server
  • Support
  • Client
  • Web
There are four types of application interface tools:
Tool ClassDescription
Server ToolRuns on the database server.

For example, the tool that creates the indexes for full text search is a server tool—the processing occurs directly on the server.

Client Tool

Runs locally on a user’s workstation.

For example, an editing tool that launches an XML editor is a Client AI—processing occurs on the user’s workstation. Client AIs communicate to the database server using the Contenta API.

Web Tool

Initiated from the web client, the tool runs on the Contenta Web server.

The editor-specific Check In and Check Out tools (for example, Arbortext Check In, Arbortext Check Out, XMetal Check In, XMetal Check Out, etc.), XML View, and Dynamic Import are some examples of Web application interface tools.

Support ToolAre available to other tools but are not accessible from Contenta Explorer menus.

You can change the location of the encapsulator directory for application interface programs in Contenta Explorer under the Tools menu:

Options > Directories

SDL provides several application interface tools with Contenta Explorer. Additional tools can be defined to launch custom application interface programs developed for your specific needs and can be added to the list of available tools for your database, or you can modify the tools assignments for the delivered, or custom objects.

For example, the XMetal, FrameMaker, and Contenta editing tools are application interface tools. See Defining the Editor Tools.