# Create Action Reference

## General Create Action Information

1. - WhatCreateActionDoes

   - CreateActionFunctionality

## Create Action Windows

1. - CreateActionMainWindow

   - AddDatatypeWindow

   - DatatypeCriteriaWindow

   - FindIconSetDialog

## Files Created by Create Action

The output from Create Action is:

- An action definition that runs a command. A file `HomeFolder/.dt/types/action_name.dt` is created containing the definition.

- An action icon for the action. The action icon is placed in your home directory. The icon runs the action command when it is double-clicked. Optionally, you can make the action icon a drop zone by specifying droppable data types.

- If you use the advanced functions of Create Action, it may also create:

  - One or more data types for the application's data files.

  - Open and Print actions for the data type

  The data type(s) and Open and Print actions are also written to the file `HomeFolder/.dt/types/action_name.dt`.

## Limitations of Create Action

## Create Action Limitations

1. You cannot use Create Action to create the action for an application if:

   - The command line requires a non-file parameter. For example, you cannot use Create Action to write an action for the command:

         lp -ddevice filename

     where the user has to supply device each time the command is executed. (You can manually create an action that does this.)

   - You want the user to see a different label on the action icon than the action name. For example, you cannot use Create Action to provide a local- language version of an existing action.

   - The action requires some of the advanced features of the action database, such as actions that:

     - Launch commands on systems remote from the action definition.

     - Invoke other actions.

     - Must be run as a different user (for example, as superuser).

     - Make extensive use of the "map" feature.

     - Have very different behaviors, depending on the number of file arguments supplied to the action.

## Data Type Limitations

1. You cannot use Create Action to create the data type for an application if:

   - The data type must have additional actions associated with it other than Open and Print.

   - The Open action for the data type is not the action's command. For example, you cannot use Create Action to create the data type that provides a unique icon for the directory representing the application's application group.

## Create Action Main Window

For task information, see ToCreateAction.

Action Name

- Type the name of the action. The name is case sensitive and cannot include spaces.

Action Icons

- Displays the icon image that will be used by the action icon.

Find Set

- Displays the Find Set dialog box. Use the Find Set dialog box to select a different, existing bitmap or pixmap file.

Edit Icon

- Opens the Icon Editor. Use Icon Editor to create a new icon or edit an existing one.

Command When Action is Opened

- Type the command. Use the syntax `$`n for a file argument.

Help Text for Action Icon

- Type the text of the on-item help for the action icon.

Window Type

- Select the type of window the action will create:

  - Graphical: The application displays its own window

  - Terminal (Auto-Close): The action displays a terminal window that closes when the action completes

  - Terminal (Manual Close): The action displays a terminal window that the user must manually close

  - No Ouptput: The application requires no window

## Advanced Functions

1. Use the advanced features only if the command in the "Command When Action Icon Is Double-clicked" field includes a file argument.

   When Action Opens, Ask Users for

2. Type the file prompt that is displayed when the action icon is double-clicked.

Datatypes That Use This Action

- A list of the data types created for this action. This list is read-only. Entries are added when you create the data types using the Add Datatype dialog box.

Add

- Opens the Add Data Type dialog box for creating a new data type.

Delete

- Deletes the selected data type from the "Data Types That Use This Action" list.

Edit

- Choose to edit the data types selected in the "Datatypes That Use This Action" list.

Droppable Datatypes

- Select whether the action icon will accept any type data file, or only files of data types in the "Datatypes That Use This Action" list.

## Add Datatype Dialog Box

For task information, see ToCreateDatatype.

Name of Datatype Family

- The data type name. A name is supplied automatically. You can edit the text field. The name is case sensitive and cannot include spaces.

Identifying Characteristics

- A list of the criteria for typing the file. Use Edit to set and change characteristics.

Edit

- Displays the Identifying Characteristics dialog box.

Help Text for this Datatype Icon

- Type the text of the on-item help for files of this data type.

Datatype Icons

- Displays the icon image that will be used by the data type.

Find Set

- Displays the Find Set dialog box. Use the Find Set dialog box to select a different, existing bitmap or pixmap file.

Edit Icon

- Opens the Icon Editor. Use Icon Editor to create a new icon or edit an existing one.

Command to Open this Datatype

- Displays the command that is executed when the user double-clicks the data type. This is the same command shown in the ommand When Action Icon is Double-clicked field.

Command to Print this Datatype

- Type the command line supplied by the application to print the data type.

OK

- Creates the data type information, adds the data type to the Datatypes That Use This Action list, and closes the dialog box.

Apply

- Creates the data type information and adds the data type to the Datatypes That Use This Action list. The dialog box remains open.

Cancel

- Closes the Add Datatype dialog box without creating a data type.

Help

- Displays online help.

## Identifying Characteristics Dialog Box

For task information, see ToCreateDatatype.

Include All

- - Files: Select if the data type applies only to files.

  - Folders: Select if the data type applies only to folders.

Name Pattern

- Select the check box and type the name pattern. You can use these special characters:

  - `*`: Matches any sequence of characters.

  - `?`: Matches any single character.

Permission Pattern

- Select the check box, and then select the radio buttons that apply. Select Either if the permission doesn't matter.

Contents

- Select the check box and type the data the file must contain.

Type

- Select the type of data. Use String to text (ASCII) data.

Start byte

- Type the location in the file to start searching for the data. Use `1` to start at the beginning of the file.

OK

- Applies the characteristics to the Identifying Characteristics in the Add Datatype dialog box and closes the Identifying Characteristics dialog box.

Cancel

- Closes the dialog box without saving the changes.

Clear

- Clears the settings to the default.

Help

- Displays online help.

## Find Set Dialog Box

The Find Set dialog box lets you specify the icon image to be used for an action or data type. For task information, see ToSpecifyIcon.

Icon Folders

- Lists the folders on the icon search path. Double-click a folder to see the icons it contains.

Icon Files

- Lists the icons in the directory. Click an icon file to select it. It's name is displayed in the Enter Icon Filename text field.

Enter Icon Filename

- Text field for entering the base nameof the icon file. The contents of the field changes when you click an item in the Icon Files list.

OK

- Makes the icon specified in the Enter Icon Filename text field the designated icon and closes the Find Set dialog box.

Cancel

- Closes the dialog box without changing the icon.

Help

- Displays online help.

## Create Action Open Dialog Box

Enter path or folder name&sigspace;

- Identifies the path name of the current folder.

Filter

- An asterisk (*) shows all files. You can enter wildcard characters to display only those files that match an extension. For example, *.doc lists only those files with a .doc extension.

Files

- Lists files located in the current folder.

Folders

- Lists folders located in the current folder.

  You can open a file in the current folder, a subfolder, or a different folder.

Enter a file name

- Displays the file name selected in the Files list. Press Return or click OK to open the file. Or, you can type the name of the file you want to open.

OK

- Opens the file specified in the Enter a file name field.

Update

- Displays a new list of files after changing the filter key or changing to a new folder.

Cancel

- Cancels the Open operation.

Help

- Describes text entry fields, selection lists, and buttons in the dialog box.