Contents
1. Custom Actions
1.1. Concept
Custom actions allow extending the set of contextual actions available on objects. The following types of custom actions are available:
- opening an URL
- running a command in the Command Prompt
- running an external program
Custom actions accept an object attribute or category as parameter for the URL, command, or program. NEXThink Finder comes with a default set of custom actions ready for use, but it is easy to create new custom actions for integration with third-party tools or services. Custom actions are stored locally on the computer and are thus available in all engines you connect to. They can also be exported for distribution on other NEXThink Finder installations.
1.2. Example: "Ping" Custom Action
The default actions set features the Ping custom action:
Upon execution of Ping, the following happens:
The Last IP address attribute is retrieved in the engine for the selected source(s)
A ping command is executed in the Command Prompt with the retrieved IP address. If multiple sources were selected, one ping is executed per source.
2. Managing Custom Actions
2.1. Create a custom action
Custom actions can be edited at any time, either during connection to an engine or in disconnected mode.
To create a custom action, select the Custom Action... item in the Tools menu:
This brings up the Custom actions dialog. Observe the list of default custom actions visible here:
Click on New.... This shows the New custom action dialog.
Enter a name for the action in the Name section.
- Select the object the action can be executed on, and a parameter attribute:
Note that if you are currently logged into an engine, existing object categories appear in the menu as well. Availability of such category-based custom actions will of course depend on the presence of the selected category.
- Select an action type from the menu:
- Enter the command parameters:
The % character is replaced at execution time by the value of the selected attribute (Last IP address in the example). Note that if % is necessary as a plain character in the line then it can be included by doubling it (%%).
2.1.1. Advanced section
Behavior in the case of multiple selected objects can be configured in the advanced section:
The default behavior is to trigger multiple actions. When selecting trigger a single action, the attribute values will be concatenated into the % parameter and the action will only be triggered once. A value delimiter can be specified (; by default).
2.2. Export custom actions
- Select any number of custom actions in the dialog
Right-click on the selection and select the Export... menu item:
- Choose a file name in the file dialog
2.3. Import custom actions
Click on the Import... button
- Choose the custom actions file to be imported in the file dialog
3. Using Custom Actions
3.1. In list view
Select the object(s) upon which to execute the custom action and right-click
Select the corresponding item in the Custom actions menu:
3.2. In network or local activity views
right-click on the object or object group upon which to execute the custom action
Select the corresponding item in the Custom Actions menu:
