Getting Started
Assumptions/Restrictions
- Processes, including subnets, will be represented on DrawFBP diagrams by rectangles, referred to
in what follows as "blocks".
- Currently, component classes (which can be associated with diagram blocks) may be located either in a JavaFBP jar file or
in your chosen class directory.
- Options have been added to DrawFBP so that it can be used using only a single mouse-button, or not using the mouse at all
(except for when positioning blocks in the drawing area).
Getting Started
- Get rid of the splash panel by moving the mouse (or waiting).
- To the left of the drawing space is a "zoom" slider - see that topic for more information.
- Click on the drawing space (or click on Edit/New Block) - whichever diagram symbol type is selected at the bottom of the screen,
in the Block options bar, will be painted on your drawing area where you clicked. DrawFBP will remember the diagram symbol type you selected -
there are 11 possible symbols - plus "none". It can be changed at any time during diagram construction.
- Alternatively, you can go to "File" (in the top left corner), where you will see a list of possible actions.
They are as follows:
- "Open Diagram"
- "Save"
- "Save as..."
- "New Diagram"
- "Select Diagram Language ..." - list of supported languages
- "Export Image"
- "Show Image"
- "Generate [chosen language] Network" - depending on Diagram Language
- "Display Generated Code"
- "Compile Code"
- "Run Code"
- "Compare Diagrams"
- "Locate JavaFBP Jar File" (greyed out if target language not Java)
- "Add Additional Jar File" (greyed out if target language not Java)
- "Add Additional Dll File" (greyed out if target language not C#)
- "Remove Additional Jar and Dll Files"
- "Change Fonts"
- "Change Font Size"
- "Print"
- "Display Properties"
- "Close Diagram"
- When you click on "File/Save" or "File/Save as...", you will be prompted to select a file location.
The diagram will be stored in xml format, with an
extension of .drw. If the file already exists, a copy will be stored before saving -
with an extension of .dr~.
- As we said earlier, a given diagram can be associated with one of 3 groups of languages (the Java group, C# or NoFlo). Theoretically
we can generate a network in any of these language groups from a given diagram, but changing language groups will
lose the association with the previous language group.
- Two of the above-listed options are only available if you are working in Java.
- "Compile Code" and "Run Code" are available for both Java and C#. In the Java case, "Compile Code" will generate a .class file,
and "Run Code" will run a .class file, provided it contains a "main" method". If you need additional jar files,
use the "File/Add additional jar file" function.
In the C# case, "Compile Code" compiles the contents of the folder
including the selected C# program, and generates an .exe file
using that folder name. If you need additional dll files,
use the "File/Add additional dll file" function.
- As you work, you will be prompted to fill in various pieces of "profile" information -
this information will be stored in <user>DrawFBPProperties.xml in the user's
home directory.