Add Custom TCComponent like java classes

Summary:

The com.teamcenter.rac.kernel.TCComponent (and classes derived from TCComponent ) represents Teamcenter data model business objects ( or classes) in Rich Client.

Pre-requisite:

1. Create a Teamcenter plugin project.
2. You need to have custom data model business objects, that you plan to map to TCComponent classes.

Overview:

1. Create custom data model business objects (or classes).
2. Create JAVA classes for TC data model business object (or class).
3. Associate JAVA class to data model business object (or class) using teamcenter extension.

Details:

1. Create custom teamcenter data model business objects (or classes) :

The Teamcenter data model can be customized using TC BMIDE tool.  – How to use BMIDE? – How to create custom data model business objects (or classes)? will be covered as part of a dedicated post.

2.  Create a JAVA class for TC data model business object (or class) :     The data model business object (or class) that we are trying to map here is MyItem. The business object MyItem is descendent of Teamcenter business object Item.

• Create a JAVA class, name it “ABC9ComponentMyItem.java”.
• Extend class “ABC9ComponentMyItem” from “TCComponentItem” class.
• Create one more JAVA class, name it “ABC9ComponentMyItemType.java”.
• Extend class “ABC9ComponentMyItemType” from “TCComponentItemType” class.
• If any behaviour needs customization, the same can be provided by Implementing/Overriding required methods in ABC9ComponentMyItem(Type) class.

NOTE : Teamcenter recommends that all the customizations should use a prefix format for all customized entities. The recommended format for prefix…           <Three Alphabetical Characters><One Digit Between 4-9>.

3.  Associate JAVA class to data model business object (or class) using teamcenter extension:  Your TCComponent look alike class for custom business object is ready. But teamcenter does not know about your component class. You need to associate your java class to business object using teamcenter extension.

1. Go to plugin.xml file for your plugin project.
2. Open the plugin.xml in plugin editor in Eclipse.
3. Go to Extensions section.
4. Add an extension com.teamcenter.rac.kernel.Kernel_Components to the plugin.xml file.
5. The extension needs info as shown below…

<extension id=“com.teamcenter.rac.kernel”

               point=“com.teamcenter.rac.kernel.Kernel_Components”>

      <entry id = “MyItem”

              name=“com.mycompany.rac.kernel.ABC9ComponentMyItem”

              type=“com.mycompany.rac.kernel.ABC9ComponentMyItemType”

              icct=“com.teamcenter.tc.kernel.icctstubs.ICCTItem”  />

</extension>

Save plugin.xml file. compile and build your plugin. Deploy the plugin to Teamcenter.

Benefits:

• ABC9ComponentMyItem is recognized by the Teamcenter framework. The custom class would become integral part of TC RAC framework.
• TC would create an object of ABC9ComponentMyItem (and not TCComponentItem) whenever an object of MyItem type is needed in RAC.
• The source code would be better organized if all the RAC/UI customization related to MyItem object remains within ABC9ComponentMyItem(Type) class.
• The source would be maintainable and readable.
• Developers can clearly distinguish between Item (TCComponentItem) and MyItem (ABC9ComponentMyItem) objects in RAC code.
• Many more benefits…

Congratulations, you have sucessfully added a component class to Rich Client framework. I hope this post helps.

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