The pattern plug-in is created in the Eclipse Plug-in Development Environment by using a pattern template that adds the pattern required artifacts to the project.
The pattern project contains many types of directories and files:
A pattern plug-in always contains one pattern library. A pattern library can own one or more patterns. A pattern usually has at least one parameter. Although multiple patterns are packaged with the same library, each is usually independent of the other. Patterns are only packaged with their library and the library's member patterns and libraries are distributed as plug-ins.
The manifest file for the project library maintains a list of all the manifests contained in the project. Each pattern manifest file maintains information about the pattern and its parameters. When a pattern property is modified, the corresponding changes are made to the pattern’s manifest. Some of the properties are also found in the Java code. You can resynchronize the code and manifest files, when needed, from the Pattern Authoring view.
When the pattern plug-in is created by using a RAS asset export, a separate manifest file is constructed. It includes additional information about packaging the project. This information aids in the import and unpackaging of the pattern.