Re-use a feature in several applications

When you develop a new Plomino application, you often need features you have already implemented into a previous application (for instance, your want to re-use the same notification mechanism in your purchase database than in your job vacancies database).

Or you also might need to clone an existing database to create a new.

You can achieve that using the Import/export mechanism from the Design tab.

In the Design tab, in the "Import/Export design" section, the first form allows you to import design from an XML file, or directly from another database over HTTP.

For instance, if, on your own Plone site, you create a new database, go to its Design tab, and then:

• select "From server",
• enter Source URL = http://www.plomino.net/samples/example-with-config-doc
• Username = demouser
• Password = demouser
• And then click Refresh.

You will see the list of all the design elements from the "Example with config doc" database.

Now, in this list, select:

• frmConfig,
• configview,
• resources/scriptConfig.

Then make sure you re-select "From server" and click Import.

Your database does now include the Configuration document feature, you can create config doc and use them in your own application.

Export works the very same way, but elements are not pulled from a remote server but pushed, which might be useful if the source server is not reachable from the target server (when deploying from localhost to your production server from instance).

You can also import or export design elements using XML files, which is useful if you have to work offline, or if you want to backup up or restore a particular version of your application, or manage your Plomino development into an SVN (or other) repository.