Configure an External Content item

Each External Content item has three properties that must be assigned values:

• URL or URI

• Media Type

• Content Type(s)

An External Content item is modified from the External Content editor. The editor can be opened by double-clicking an item from the Visualization folder. Also, an External Content item that has been placed onto a layout pane can be edited from the Layout and ViewApp editors by the selecting the item from the Actions list.

To configure an External Content Item

1. Open the IDE and select the Visualization tab to show the External Content items available in the Galaxy.

2. Double click an External Content item to open it in the External Content editor.

3. If you are using a static string for this URL or URI value, enter the value. The value you enter is the location of the external content specified by a URI-formatted string. A media location must be specified.

   • You can browse for the media file by selecting the vertical dots icon to the right of the field. A drop-down list includes a Browse for file option that enables you to browse your network and select a media file. The URL or URI field updates and shows a formatted URI path to the file.

   • You can also enter a URL to a web site by selecting the http:// or https:// options from the drop-down list. The http:// and https:// options assist the user when entering URLs by prefixing the URLs with the selection. See More information about specifying a URI for information about the format of a URI string.

4. Select the Constant/Reference icon if you will enter a reference in the URL or URI field, and select Reference or Expression.

   • The vertical dots to the right of the data entry field will change to the Galaxy Browser (...) icon, and you can browse for the reference you want to use.

   • If you choose to use a Reference or Expression, the Open and Suggest buttons are disabled.

5. If you are using a static string (Constant), select the Open button to validate the value you entered.

   The Open button attempts to launch the appropriate media application and display the external content specified in the URL or URI field using the default application assigned from the operating system. For example, an external video file will play in Windows Media Player.

   The Open button is disabled if you are using a Reference or Expression, and the External Content object subscribes to the reference at runtime.

6. Select the type of media from the drop-down list of the Media Type field.

   The value you enter is the MIME type of the content. To be viewable, the media type must be supported by an app within the galaxy. A media type must be specified.

   A media type is a two-part name that identifies the type of app required to display the external media within a running ViewApp. The bold media type names listed in the Media Type field's drop-down list have apps that can play the external media. Users may also type in a media type that is not available from the drop-down list. However, for the external content to be displayed at runtime, an app must be imported that can service the exact media type.

   If you want, selecting the Suggest button updates the Media Type field with a suggested media type based on the file extension of the external media entered in the URL or URI field. Also, it is based on file extension if it’s a file in files system (file:\\) or based on the header from server response if it’s a http or https.

   The Suggest button is disabled if you are using a Reference or Expression.

   See Specify media types for External Content for information about supported media types.

7. Select the type of content from the drop-down list of the Content Type(s) field.

   The value you enter is used by content-placement algorithms within AVEVA OMI during runtime to determine the placement of content when AutoFill or ShowContent calls are invoked.

   See Set pane properties: content types for the types of content that can be assigned to layout panes.

8. Save your changes and exit from the External Content item.