# IBM Visualization Data Explorer Programmer's Reference

[ Bottom of Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Table of Contents | Partial Table of Contents | Index ]

## 3.2 Creating a Module with the Module Builder: A Summary

To begin a Module Builder session, enter: `dx -builder`. The dialog box (Figure 4) consists of a menu bar and two major sections:

- A `Overall Module Description` section for defining the module, and
- An `Individual Parameter` section for defining the individual input and output parameters.

Figure 4. Module Builder Dialog Box. In the `Individual Parameter Information` section, the `Input or Output?` button specifies the kind of parameter being defined, and the associated `Number` setting specifies its ordinal ranking (i.e., first, second, etc.). Use the `Number` stepper buttons to proceed from one parameter description to the next.

When all the necessary information has been entered, save it. For new modules, use the `Save as...` option in the `File` pull-down menu (or `Save`, if the specified module name is already known to the system). The saved file has the name of the module and the extension `.mb`.

You can now use the options in the `Build` pull-down menu to create a module description file (`.mdf`), a C-code module framework (`.c`), a makefile (`.make`), or all three together. You can incorporate your own application code in the C-code framework file and reference additional files in the makefile.

Compile the program as follows:
`make -f filename.make`
This command creates a customized version of the Data Explorer executive that can use the new module. To run this version in your working directory, enter the following command:

For an inboard module:

    dx .mdf -exec dxexec

For an outboard or runtime-loadable module:

    dx .mdf

To create a version of the Data Explorer executive with more than one customized module, you must:

1. concatenate in a single mdf file the module descriptions you want to use;
2. create a makefile that references the combined mdf file as well as all the individual `.c` framework files.
3. compile the program as above.

You can now run the new version with the new mdf file.

[ Top of Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Table of Contents | Partial Table of Contents | Index ]
[Data Explorer Documentation | QuickStart Guide | User's Guide | User's Reference | Programmer's Reference | Installation and Configuration Guide ]

[Data Explorer Home Page]

[IBM Home Page | Order | Search | Contact IBM | Legal ]