Move to the New web site

This web site is now deprecated. It won't be updated in the future.
You can't create accounts anymore and in few weeks, it will be closed.
So now, move to the new web site of the MADCAT and update your bookmarks :

http://www.themadcat.fr

Definition File

Practically a tool is a DLL (Dynamic Link Library) with a definition file having a XTL extension. This definition file controls the way MADCAT displays and executes the actions supported by the tool : it gives the following information :

  • Name of the tool
  • Icon of the tool
  • Description of the tool
  • Path to the DLL or EXE file
  • List of actions supported by the tool. For each action, you can provide the name, the icon, the description and the execution settings (see below)



Execution of actions can be controlled by several parameters :

  • Background mode : Action is executed in a specific thread. End-user can continue working in MADCAT while action is running
  • Read-only mode : Action can't modify project's data
  • Cancelable : End-user can cancel an in-progress action
  • Suspendable : End-user can pause/resume an in-progress action
  • Endless action : Action has no end. It must be canceled by the user
  • Show progress window : Progress window is automatically displayed when action starts
  • Re-entrant : If set to Yes, same action can be run multiple times in parallel. Otherwise, MADCAT will automatically schedule the action at the earliest moment depending on the end of the currently running threads
  • Multiselect : If set to yes, action can be executed on more than one item at a time. Otherwise, MADCAT will schedule the action once for each item



These settings are defined once for all by the designer of the tool. Changing these settings without changing the tool itself may produce unpredicable results.

You can download the definition file of the tool used by the workspace editor :
WorkspaceEditorTool.xtl