Create an external component

The following task describes how to create a component using a URL. You can use a static URL, where the component simply opens the URL that you enter. You can also create a dynamic URL, where the component URL responds to other components on the page.

For a scenario which shows how to create a component based on a dynamic URL, see Create a component using a dynamic URL – Use-Case Scenario.

1. Open the Add Component dialog box

   Open the Component Gallery, and click the Add External Component button on the Component Gallery toolbar. The New Component dialog box appears; for details, see New/Edit Component Dialog Box.

2. Define the static part of the URL

   In the upper area of the New Component dialog box, enter a name for the component and the component's URL.

   • To create a component using a static URL, enter the full URL.

   • To create a component using a dynamic URL, enter the static portion of the URL only.

3. Categorize the component (optional)

   To help you organize your content, you can assign pages and components to default categories, or to user-defined categories. For details, see How to Modify Page and Component Categories.

   In the Categorize Component area, select one or more categories to which you want the component assigned. Note that this is optional.

4. Define the dynamic part of the URL

   If you are creating a component using a dynamic URL, perform the following steps:

   1. In the Wiring Context area, select one or more contexts whose attributes can be used to define the URL pattern, as follows:

   • Select CIChange if the URL should respond to a component where CIs are selected.

   • Select EventChange if the URL should respond to a component where events are selected.

   • Select ViewChange if the URL should respond to a component where views are selected.

   2. In the URL Parameters and Values area, add one or more URL parameters which are used to define the URL pattern. You can define the URL's path, query, or a fragment of the URL, using the following pattern:

   https://domain/ <path> ? <query_string> # <fragment>

   For example, you could use dynamic URL parameters to create one of the following:

   • www.google.com/search?hl=<<lang>>&q=<<viewID>>

   • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/<<articleName>>

   A pattern such as: http://download.oracle.com/javase/1.4.2/docs/api/<<className>>.html#<<methodName>> might take you to: http://download.oracle.com/javase/1.4.2/docs/api/java/net/URL.html#toString() (which is a valid URL).

   3. The Attributes list contains a list of attributes that can be used to build the URL pattern, based on the contexts you selected in the Wiring Context area. To use attributes as parameter values, drag attributes from the Attributes list into the Value areas of URL parameters.

   The URL Parameters area shows the dynamic URL you have built, using the static URL in the upper area of the dialog box, and the URL parameters that you defined.