Teknision Extension Builder

The Teknision Extension Builder is an add-on to Flash MX 2004 Professional that simplifies the process of creating Flash extension packages. The Extension Builder is installed as a panel in the Flash MX 2004 interface.

An extension is simply an installer file that installs files into the Flash Configuration folder. This folder contains many subfolders that allow developers to add Commands, Panels, Actionscript Classes, Help Files, etc into the Flash interface. Specifically Extensions are of the file type MXP. When run they open the Macromedia Extension Manager and install their contents into the Flash Configuration folder.

In order to create an MXP file, first another type of file must be created called an MXI file. an MXI file is an xml file that contains all of the information about the extension. It contains details such as author, version, description, UI access, and liscence agreements. It also contains paths to all files that are to be installed.

When an MXI is complete, it is packaged using the Macromedia Extension Manager. This process converts an MXI into an MXP installer. This process is simple, but the job of actually creating the MXI file is tedious due to the fact that you author it in a text file.

The Teknision Extension Builder is used to create and manage MXI files. It gives you a visual interface that allows you to enter all of the information about your extension directly in Flash MX 2004 Professional. It allows you to open existing MXI files and edit them as well.

To manage the files to be added to the extension, the Teknision Extension Builder uses an innovative process to achieve this in a fast and familiar manner. It generates Flash project files that mirror the folder structure of the Flash MX 2004 Configuration Folder and launches them in the Projects panel. Files and folders can be added to the project file as desired to create the extension layout. Previously, a developer would have to manually implement the installation paths in the mxi file which could be annoying and unmanageable for large extensions. Now with a visual interface that is standard for flash development, the process is much simpler and much faster.

The Extension Builder will keep the Project file and the MXI file side-by-side and allows you to update the MXI file from the project layout at any time. Projects can even be generated from existing MXI files. The Extension Builder panel will treat the two files together as an "Extension Project" meaning that you can open either file and the panel will automatically look for the other and load it. If you set up your project file as a site for version control, the Extension Builder will carry your versioning over to the MXI file.

So by utilizing Flash Project files and MXI files, extensions can be deployed and managed very quickly while utilizing built-in development workflows using the Teknision Extension Builder.