Need help understanding Manifest file

[MOR75669]

Hi,

I was after a bit of help to understand the manifest file (.addin) a bit better.

When do you use <AddIn Type="Application"> and when <AddIn Type="Command">

If you have a solution that contains multiple commands (see example below), what is the best approach?

in this example on youtube https://youtu.be/QiFa4o5eQ3c?si=E2e94RUVB5KPgajf , as you can see there are four separate commands, linked to buttons in the Application.cs

in this case, do you just create a manifest and used the Application.cs  in the class name?

I have also seen manifest file that have both <AddIn Type="Application"> and <AddIn Type="Command"> in them! when do you use one like this?

Thanks for your help and support

[MOR75669]

Hi,

I was after a bit of help to understand the manifest file (.addin) a bit better.

When do you use <AddIn Type="Application"> and when <AddIn Type="Command">

If you have a solution that contains multiple commands (see example below), what is the best approach?

in this example on youtube https://youtu.be/QiFa4o5eQ3c?si=E2e94RUVB5KPgajf , as you can see there are four separate commands, linked to buttons in the Application.cs

in this case, do you just create a manifest and used the Application.cs  in the class name?

I have also seen manifest file that have both <AddIn Type="Application"> and <AddIn Type="Command"> in them! when do you use one like this?

Thanks for your help and support

[admaecc211151]

Application do somethings OnStartup, OnShutdown (start and close Revit).

If you already create buttons (or other ways) for a command in application. There is not need to put your command in .addin file again.

------

When you put a command in .addin. It can be called by "Add-Ins" tab -> External Tools -> Name(defined in <Text>Name</Text>).

------

And the separated .cs file in C# is only for human read easier.

If you want, writing app and command in some .cs file is fine, too.

[admaecc211151]

Application do somethings OnStartup, OnShutdown (start and close Revit).

If you already create buttons (or other ways) for a command in application. There is not need to put your command in .addin file again.

------

When you put a command in .addin. It can be called by "Add-Ins" tab -> External Tools -> Name(defined in <Text>Name</Text>).

------

And the separated .cs file in C# is only for human read easier.

If you want, writing app and command in some .cs file is fine, too.

[Mohamed_Arshad · Accepted solution]

Hi @MOR75669 

      In Revit API we have two major Interfaces IExternalCommand and IExternalApplication we can understand these two interface in simple way.

IExternalApplication => Front end of the Revit User Interface (ex. Button).

IExternalCommand =>Backend of the Revit User Interface (ex. Button's backend code).

Kindly check the below Image for detail explanation.

Complete Workflow

Hope this will Helps 🙂

[Mohamed_Arshad · Accepted solution]

Hi @MOR75669 

      In Revit API we have two major Interfaces IExternalCommand and IExternalApplication we can understand these two interface in simple way.

IExternalApplication => Front end of the Revit User Interface (ex. Button).

IExternalCommand =>Backend of the Revit User Interface (ex. Button's backend code).

Kindly check the below Image for detail explanation.

Complete Workflow

Hope this will Helps 🙂