Plugin distribution

Rhino Developer
1

After a plugin is compiled to a .rhp file, is that all that has to be installed on the users PC or do any of the dll references or resources need to installed also? I have one text file that I store some settings in. I know that file will have to be installed, but I’m wondering about the button graphic files and dll’s in references and resources.

Thanks

2

All the dependencies and resources that are not part of the RHP assembly need to be distributed along with the RHP. Basically, the RHP is a DLL of which the extension has been changed.

But: would you distribute the plug-in without testing if it works? I know I wouldn’t, so build your distribution and test if it works on a clean Rhino installation.

3

I’ll definitely test, I just don’t have a PC at the moment that has a clean install of rhino, so I’m trying to get a head start on it. So would the files displayed in resources and references in the project be considered part of the assembly?

4

Look at the bin directory where your plug-in is built. Are there any extra files in that directory?

Also, are you aware of the Settings property on the plug-in and command classes? You may be able to eliminate the need for a separate text file if you use those properties.

5

I wasn’t aware of a setting property. I have 8 parameters that I have to save on exit then load on startup. Can you post a quick sample of how to use that feature?

I think there are a whole bunch of files in the bin directory. I’m not in front of it now, but I know there is more than just the rhp file. Are you saying that what ever is in the bin directory needs to get installed in plugin folder in Rhino?

6

Both the command and plug-in classes have a Settings property that will handle what you describe. For example, if you are in a command’s RunCommand function

protected override Result RunCommand(RhinoDoc doc, RunMode mode)
{
  double default_radius = Settings.GetDouble("DefaultRadius", 0);
  bool use_diameter_mode = Settings.GetBool("DiameterMode",false);

  // do something with these values
  // .... maybe use them as default when asking the user for input

  // If the values have changed and you want to save them
  Settings.SetDouble("DefaultRadius", default_radius);
  Settings.SetBool("DiameterMode", use_diameter_mode);

}
7

The files in the bin directory are what are needed (except the .pdb file which is only needed for debugging purposes.)