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Launch external translator program according file extension [message #1828351]

Mon, 08 June 2020 09:30

Charly Clément

Messages: 5
Registered: June 2020

Junior Member

My problem is yet simple, but I cannot find any pertinent information about it :

According the extension of a file in a CDT C/C++ project, I would like to launch a specific program.

My goal is to launch flex, bison, with parameters arising from current filename, current project location,... (for which variables exists), for files in my project, which have respectively the extensions ".L" an ".Y" (by example).

So simple that I ask me if I am missing something obvious.
Thanks in advance for your answers,
Charly C.

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Re: Launch external translator program according file extension [message #1828361 is a reply to message #1828351]

Mon, 08 June 2020 14:12

David Vavra

Messages: 1426
Registered: October 2012

Senior Member

When and how would this be launched?

During an edit?
Automatically just before a build?

For (1) I think you are looking for Run --> External Tools
For (2) assuming you are using a Managed Build, I think you want Project --> Properties --> C/C++ Build --> Settings --> Build Steps tab
otherwise, you should add it to your Makefile

For it to run different things based upon extent, it would likely have to be a script (Perl, bash, etc.)

The documentation for External Tools is rather sparse:
https://help.eclipse.org/2020-03/index.jsp?topic=%2Forg.eclipse.platform.doc.user%2Ftasks%2Ftasks-exttools-running.htm

The Build Steps documentation is
https://help.eclipse.org/2020-03/topic/org.eclipse.cdt.doc.user/reference/cdt_u_prop_build_settings_steps.htm?cp=10_4_7_0_3_3_1
Be aware that the pre- and post-build steps are run for every build whether needed or not.

[Updated on: Mon, 08 June 2020 14:30]

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Re: Launch external translator program according file extension [message #1828377 is a reply to message #1828361]

Mon, 08 June 2020 16:22

Charly Clément

Messages: 5
Registered: June 2020

Junior Member

Hello David,
Thanks for your answer.

I effectively looked around the "External Tools" and (pre-)"Build Step". I probably could solve my need with one of them.

However, I use "Managed Build", and precisely because of that, I expected to find a more "Nice to Have" functionality, allowing to configure the following behavior :
1) When I build the whole project, the builder automatically calls the external program, according to the file extension, as pre or post build.
2) When I "right-click" on such a file in the project browser, the usual contex-menu allow me to "Build Selected File", calling the adequate external program.

What is your opinion ? :
- Does a such behavior just ready and easy to configure in CDT ?
- Which piece of Eclipse Software handles this kind of behavior (CDT, Builder, Toolchain,....) ?
- What would involve to realize such functionality ?

Remark / Need Help :
I am totally confused with these notions of Builder, Toolchain, CDT, extensions,....
Who implements what ? Who calls what ? What involves customizing / extending any of them ?
Eclipse offers such an amount of tools, apis, frameworks, to help realize extensions, plugins, scripting,.... that I am totally lost.

Thanks in advance if somebody has time and patience for explain me the "essential" about my Interrogations.

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Re: Launch external translator program according file extension [message #1828379 is a reply to message #1828377]

Mon, 08 June 2020 17:33

David Vavra

Messages: 1426
Registered: October 2012

Senior Member

(1) Exists but is independent of file extent.
(2) Does not exist but might make a decent enhancement although the context menu is already rather large

A Managed Build Project is a project that creates makefiles to be run by make. The makefiles it generates are somewhat limited but often provide enough for the casual user. I prefer to create my own makefiles.

Builder: An unfortunate name in my opinion. A program run at specified times by Eclipse during a build.
Pre- and Post-build step: a step added to a makefile
Toolchain: the set of external tools used to make a target (compiler, assembler, linker, etc.) used in makefile recipes. Generally only needed by Managed Build Projects.
Extentions and Plugins: this link might help https://www.vogella.com/tutorials/EclipseExtensionPoint/article.html
and https://help.eclipse.org/2020-03/nav/14

Suggest you read:
https://help.eclipse.org/2020-03/nav/0
https://help.eclipse.org/2020-03/nav/2

[Updated on: Mon, 08 June 2020 17:51]

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