1. LiveCode
  2. Installing Extensions

LiveCode 8.0 is the most exciting release in the history of the technology. It provides a simple way to extend the functionality or control set of LiveCode.

Our focus in LiveCode 8.0 is extensibility. You can now build and share widgets (custom controls) and libraries that are treated by LiveCode as engine level elements.

Installing Extensions

1) Open the extension manager

To install an extension open the extension manager from the Tools menu: Tools > Extension Manager

Notice the extension manager has three tabs:

  • Widgets – Displays locally widgets
  • Libraries – Displays installed libraries
  • Extension Store – Displays the extension portal through which you can download any extension shared by another developer

Note: Only open source (free) extensions can be shared and downloaded in this release. We will be adding commercial (paid) extensions in future releases

2) Go to the extension store

Go to the extension by clicking on the extension store tab and wait for it to load (Internet connectivity is required).

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You can browse by category or search for an extension.

3) Select an extension

Click on any of the extensions to load full details and installation options.

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4) Install the extension

Click on the install button to begin the download and installation of the extension. It should only take a matter of seconds to download and install.

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5) Try out your extension

Widgets
If you downloaded a widget it will appear in your list of installed widgets and also in your Tools Palette. Using the widget is no different from any of the classic LiveCode controls you’ve been used to. Simply drag it onto a stack and start interacting with it as you could any another control.

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You can reference the widget in script as a control:

<code>set the name of the last control to &quot;clock&quot;</code>

Or more specifically as a widget:

<code>set the tooltip of widget 1 to &quot;This is my nice new clock widget&quot;</code>

Libraries
If you downloaded a library it will appear in your list of installed libraries. A library adds new functions and commands to the LiveCode engine which become available automatically to you in LiveCode script, just like the standard syntax. Open the documentation stack to view a full list of the new functions provided by a newly installed extension.

6) Extension Documentation

Extensions can provide an API (Dictionary) and User Guide as part of the installed package. They are installed and viewable through the LiveCode Dictionary stack.

API (Dictionary)

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  1. Open the documentation stack from the menubar
  2. API chooser – Choose which API to view. By default, LiveCode 8.0 comes with the LiveCode Script API and the new LiveCode Builder API. Any extension that contains an API is displayed here.
  3. Category Filter – Click on the tags to filter the API entries.
  4. Search Filter – Enter a text string to filter the API entries by a specific search string
  5. History – Move back and forward through your API navigation history
  6. Entry List – Select the entry to display from this list
  7. Entry – The entry describing the syntax

User Guide

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  1. Click on the "Guide" tab at the top of the documentation stack
  2. Select the guide you wish to view

Note: In LiveCode 8.0 we’ll be including an updated version of the LiveCode Script User Guide. The version currently included with LiveCode has not yet been updated.

ArnaudInstalling Extensions