Special Plugin Types
Normally plugins are run from the Plugin window, or (if configured to do so) from the Tools window. When they are executed, they perform all the tasks in the plugin in sequence. In addition to this standard plugin type, there are also 4 special plugin types of plugins. These are:
Smart folder plugins are held within, and form part of, folder sets. These are files which define a set of smart folders. Family Historian comes with a number of standard folder sets, and you can create your own custom folder sets. Folder sets can optionally contain one or more smart folder plugins to specify the behaviour of particular smart folders within the set.
Language plugins are held within, and form part of, language packs.
Language packs enable reports, books and web pages to be rendered in
different languages, or translated into different languages. Each
language pack contains a plugin which has a central role in rendering
and translation.
Report plugins are used for creating custom reports that can be displayed in the Report Window.
Source-driven data entry plugins are used for performing a variety of tasks, related to simplifying data entry from sources.
Smart folder, language and report plugins work a little differently from normal plugins. Source-driven data entry plugins can be run like ordinary plugins. All four have special requirements.