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Packages Page

The Packages page of the Workbench displays all classes, interfaces, and methods in the workspace, grouped by package.  Here, you can organize, add, edit, create, and delete program elements (except for projects).

All Packages Pane
The All Packages pane lists all packages in the workspace in either a list layout or a tree layout.  Click the List Layout button btn_listUp.gif (873 bytes) or the Tree Layout btn_treeUp.gif (890 bytes) button in the title bar to change the layout.  Each of the packages has a pop-up menu, which contains actions you can perform on it.  These options are also available from the Packages menu.

Types Pane
When you select a package in the All Packages pane, the Types pane lists all classes and interfaces in the selected package.  Each type has a pop-up menu, which contains actions you can perform on it.  These options are also available from the Types menu.

Methods Pane
When you select a type in the Types pane, the Methods pane lists all methods in the selected type.  Each method has a pop-up menu, which contains actions you can perform on it.  These options are also available from the Methods menu.

Comment or Source Pane
When you select a package, the lower pane shows its comment text.  This text is not Java code, and you can edit it as regular flat text.

When you select a class or method, the Source pane shows the source code, if available.  If a class has been imported from a Java bytecode file (.class), the source is not shown; if it is in one of the standard class libraries provided in the VisualAge for Java product, the source code is shown but is not editable.  These bytecode classes are indicated by the bytecode symbol bytecode.gif (892 bytes).

In the Source pane, you can compose Java code normally.  To save the code, select Save from the Edit menu, or from the Source pane's pop-up menu.  Use code assist (type Ctrl+Spacebar) to get help with class, method, and field names.  When you save, the source is automatically compiled.  Compiler errors are brought to your attention.

Tool Bar Buttons

run.gif (1013 bytes) Run Runs an applet or application. If a package is selected, you can choose from a list of programs in the package (or if there is only one, it runs).   If a method in a runnable class is selected, the class is run.
debugger.gif (1043 bytes) Open Debugger Opens the Debugger browser.
search.gif (1033 bytes) Search Launches the program element search.
newpackage.gif (1031 bytes) Add a Package Starts the Add Package SmartGuide, for creating new packages or adding existing ones from the repository.
newclass.gif (1035 bytes) Create a Class Starts the Add Class SmartGuide, for creating new classes or adding existing ones from the repository.
newapplet.gif (1034 bytes) Create an Applet Starts the Add Applet SmartGuide, for creating new applets or applications.
newinterface.gif (1024 bytes) Create an Interface Starts the Add Interface SmartGuide, for creating new interfaces or adding existing ones from the repository.
newmethod.gif (1035 bytes) Create a Method Starts the Add Method SmartGuide, for creating new methods or adding existing ones from the repository.
newfield.gif (1029 bytes) Create a Field Starts the Add Field SmartGuide, for creating new fields.
showedname.gif (1011 bytes) Show Edition Names Click to the down position to show edition names beside program elements.

Menus
The Packages page has the following menus:

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Browsing the Workspace
Finding and Fixing Problems
Running an Applet from the IDE
Running an Application from the IDE
Saving Changes to Code
Setting IDE Options
Writing and Formatting Source Code

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Code Assist
VisualAge for Java IDE Symbols