How to customize ...

the Operation-tree, the Operation-list and the Operations menu

The Operation-tree and the Operation-list contain a list of all ILWIS operations and some other commands (New, Show, Edit).

To hide or show the Operation-tree and the Operation-list:

On the View menu in the Main window, look for the Operation-list/Navigator command:

if a check mark appears in front of this menu command, the Operation-tree, Operation-list and the Navigator are displayed.

To hide the Operation-tree, Operation-list and Navigator, click the Operation-list/Navigator command on the View menu;

if no check mark appears in front of the 'Operation-list/Navigator' command, the Operation-tree, Operation-list and Navigator are hidden.

To show the Operation-tree, Operation-list and Navigator, click the Operation-list/Navigator command on the View menu.

To add scripts to the Operation-tree/Operation-list and to the Operations menu of the Main window

ILWIS scripts can be added to the Operation-tree, the Operation-list and to the Operations menu of the Main window, so that the scripts will always be available.

Using a fixed Scripts folder within the ILWIS program folder:

If you have access to the folder where the ILWIS program is located, i.e. the folder where the ILWIS executable is located, you can add a subfolder/subdirectory called Scripts in which you can place one or more scripts. When you restart ILWIS, the scripts found in the Scripts folder will appear in the Operation-list, in the Script section of the Operation-tree, and as a Script section on the Operations menu.

Specifying one or more user-defined Script folders:

Scripts can also be located in other folders than in a fixed Scripts folder.

In the Preferences (section Directories), specify one or more Script folders/directories where commonly used scripts are located. When multiple folders are specified, separate the folders by semicolons ;
Make sure that the required scripts (.isl and .isf files) are actually available in the specified Script folders/directories.
Close and reopen ILWIS.

The scripts that are available in the specified Script folders/directories will appear:

in the Operation-list,
in the Script section of the Operation-tree, and
as a Script section on the Operations menu.

To add external applications to the Operation-tree/Operation-list and to the Operations menu of the Main window

Similarly, external programs or executables (.exe, .com, .bat), shortcuts (.lnk) either to Windows applications or to files of registered applications, and external files of a registered file type (for instance .doc, .txt, .pdf, .xls, .ppt, .pps, .gif, .bmp, etc. ) can be made available in the Operation-tree, the Operation-list and on the Operations menu of the Main window.

Using a fixed Tools folder within the ILWIS program folder:

If you have access to the folder where the ILWIS program is located, i.e. the folder where the ILWIS executable is located, you can add a subfolder/subdirectory called Tools in which you can place one or more external tools. When you restart ILWIS, the tools found in the Tools folder will appear in the Operation-list, in the Tools section of the Operation-tree, and as a Tools section on the Operations menu.

Specifying one or more user-defined Tools folders:

External tools, shortcuts or files may also be located in other folders than in a fixed Tools folder.

In the Preferences (section Directories), specify one or more Tools folders/directories where commonly used tools are located. When multiple folders are specified, separate the folders by semicolons ;
Make sure that the required programs, shortcuts, and/or other files or documents etc. are actually available in the specified Tools folders/directories.
Close and reopen ILWIS.

The external programs, the shortcuts, and/or any other registered files that are available in the specified Tools folders/directories, will appear:

in the Operation-list,
in the Tools section of the Operation-tree, and
as a Tools section on the Operations menu.

Mind:

A shortcut to a Windows application should point to the correct location of that Windows application.
A shortcut to a document or file of a registered Windows application should point to the correct location of that file or document.
To inspect which are the registered file types on your system, use Windows' Control Panel, Folder Options, File Types.

Advanced (action.def)

To further customize the Operations menu, the Operation-list and the Operation-tree, advanced users may wish to modify the ILWIS action.def file, or to create their own action.def file that either replaces the ILWIS action.def file or that is used in addition to the ILWIS action.def.

In short, the action.def file lists the operations that are available on the Operations menu, in the Operation-tree and the Operation-list, and the manner in which these operations are arranged.

The action.def file can be edited for instance with Notepad; the meaning of the entries in the file are shortly described at the top of the file; entries are space-delimited.

Modifying the ILWIS action.def file:

If you have access to the folder where the ILWIS program is located, i.e. the folder where the ILWIS executable is located, you may edit, at your own risk, the ILWIS action.def file. For safety reasons, it is advised to make a copy of the original action.def file first!

Creating your own action.def file (replacing the ILWIS action.def file):

Create an action.def file yourself; the file should use the same structure as the ILWIS action.def file.
Open the Preferences, and under Directories, select a Startup directory. As the Startup directory, it is probably handy to select the directory where your default data is located.
Make sure that your action.def is located in the specified Startup directory.
Make sure that all ILWIS Catalogs are closed, then close and restart ILWIS.

Tips:

For more information, see also How to change the working or startup directory.
Alternatively, you can also locate your action.def in the 'Start in' property of the ILWIS shortcut on your desktop.

Creating your own action.def file (used in combination with the ILWIS action.def file):

Create an action.def file yourself; the file should use the same structure as the ILWIS action.def file.
Make sure that your action.def file is located in a subfolder of the ILWIS program folder, i.e. a subfolder of the folder where the ILWIS executable is located.
Close and restart ILWIS.

The entries in your own action.def will be listed below the regular ILWIS operations in the Operation-list, the Operation tree and the Operations menu.

Adding external applications to the action.def file and optionally use parameters for an external application:

To add an external application to an action.def, use the following syntax for the command entry in the action.def:

Start the command with ! to start an external application, when ILWIS should wait until the external application has been closed.
Start the command with !! to start an external application, when you wish to use ILWIS when the external application is open.
Use single quotes around the external program, shortcut or file, if you are using long file names or paths; include any paths and extensions within the single quotes.
Use '.\AnyProgram.exe' if you wish to use a program located in the same folder as your action.def file.
Enclose the entire command in double quotes.

For more information on using commands and search paths for external applications, etc., see Appendices : ILWIS commands, section Other commands and expressions.

Examples:

To start Notepad, located in C:\Windows:
"My menu" "" "My menu command" "My operation in the Operation–list" Exe16Ico "" "!!'C:\Windows\notepad.exe'" - "Status line: start Notepad"
To open text file D:\My File.txt with the program that by default opens such files (Notepad):
"My menu" "" "My menu command" "My operation in the Operation–list" Exe16Ico "" "!!'D:\My file.txt'" - "Status line: open my text file"
To open text file D:\My File.txt with Notepad:
"My menu" "" "My menu command" "My operation in the Operation–list" Exe16Ico "" "!!'C:\windows\notepad.exe' 'D:\My file.txt'" - "Status line: open my file with my program"
To start Notepad via a shortcut to Notepad, the shortcut is located in D:\My Folder:
"My menu" "" "My menu command" "My operation in the Operation–list" Exe16Ico "" "!!'D:\My Folder\shortcut to notepad.exe.lnk'" - "Status line: start Notepad via a shortcut located in D:\My Folder"

Names for menus and submenus are free.
To use a submenu, see the description at the top of the action.def file itself.
The name of an operation as it should appear on a menu (menu command) and the name of the operation as it should appear in the Operation-list and Operation-tree are free.
For the icon, use one of the internal ILWIS icons listed in the ILWIS action.def.
Specify a minus - for the Help topic number.
Text to appear on the status line when the menu command is active, is free.