The Properties tab in the Component Editor displays all of the properties defined for the open component. If the component is “live” (indicated by a red dot), the Properties tab shows two columns of property values: Configured Value and Live Value. (Otherwise, it displays the Configured Value column only.) The configured value is the value specified by the component’s properties file; the live value is the current value, which may be different from the configured value. If you want to view read-only properties, select the Includeread-onlyproperties checkbox. Read-only properties appear grayed-out to indicate that they are unavailable for editing.
Note: Not all component properties appear by default in the Component Editor. Certain “expert level” properties are visible only if you choose Tools > Preferences from the ACC window and select the Showexpert-levelinformation checkbox in the Edit Preferences dialog box.
To edit component properties:
Click in the property value cell you want to edit. Editing options depend on the type of property you select:
String values provide a text field for editing. You can type values directly into this field or you can click ... to open a pop-up editing window.
Int, long, float and double values provide a number field for editing.
Boolean values provide a drop-down list with two options: true.
Enumerated values provide a drop-down list of options.
Array, hash table, and component values have a ... button that opens a corresponding pop-up editing window.
All property types have an @ button that lets you set the property value to another component or component property.
When you finish, click Save on the editor toolbar. If the component is live, a dialog box appears, asking whether to save the configuration changes to the component’s live state.
Note: If you changed a property’s configured value, the change is used to configure the live component only when you restart the ATG platform. If you edit the live value of a property, the change takes place immediately, but it is not retained if you stop the component. If another component refers to the live component, references to the component are not updated when you stop or restart the component; you must restart the ATG platform to register the changes. Also, stopping or restarting a cross-referenced component can leave the ATG platform in an unstable state.
Setting Property Values to Other Components
You can set property values for the component you are editing by linking them to other components or component properties. This lets you set a property value in one component, and have its value immediately reflected in the linked properties of other components.
To link to another component or component property:
In the Properties tab of the Component Editor, click the “@” button that appears in the property value cell you are editing. The Select Link Target dialog box opens, displaying the available components by module or by path. When you click on a component, the Component Properties panel on the right displays all of the properties for that component.
Select the component or property you want to link to.
To link the property of your active component to a component, click on the name of the component in the Components panel.
To link the property of your active component to a property of a component, click on the name of the property in the Component Properties panel.
Click Link. When you return to the Component Editor, the new property link appears in the appropriate value cell.
Click the Save button on the editor toolbar.
Unlinking Component Properties
To unlink component properties:
In the Properties tab of the Component Editor, click the “@” button that appears next to the property you want to unlink.
When the Select a Component or Property dialog box opens, click the UnlinkProperty button. The ATG Control Center removes the link and returns you to the Component Editor.
Click Save in the editor toolbar.
