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Target audience: Users of the extension providing Flex support. |
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Summary: This document provides information about the extension providing Flex support. |
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com.castsoftware.flex
What's new?
Please see Flex 1.1 - Release Notes for more information.
Description
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This version of the extension provides support for:
| Version | Supported |
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Flex 3.x |   |
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| Function Points (transactions) | Quality and Sizing | ||
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| A Transaction definition is automatically imported when the extension is installed. This definition will be available in the CAST Transaction Configuration Center. |
CAST AIP release | Extension release | Supported |
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8.3.x | ≥ 1.0.1 | |
| 8.2.x | ≥ 1.0.1 | |
| 8.1.x | ≥ 1.0.1 | |
| 8.0.x | ≥ 1.0.1 | |
| 7.3.x | ≥ 1.0.1 | |
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Supported DBMS servers
This extension is compatible with the following DBMS servers:
| DBMS | Supported |
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| CSS/PostgreSQL | |
| Oracle | |
| Microsoft SQL Server |  |
Prerequisites
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Only files with following extensions will be analyzed:
- * .as
- *.mxml
Download and installation instructions
The extension will be automatically downloaded and installed in CAST Console when at least one of the supported file types is delivered for analysis. You can manage the extension using the Application - Extensions interface:
Source code discovery
A discoverer is provided with the extension to automatically detect Flex code: when one of the supported file types is found in a folder, one "Flex" project will be discovered, resulting in a corresponding Universal Technology Analysis Unit in AIP Console.
Tools
Flex preprocessor
Flex source code needs to be preprocessed so that CAST can understand it and analyze it correctly. This code preprocessing is actioned automatically when an analysis is launched or a snapshot is generated (the code is preprocessed before the analysis starts). Flex Preprocessor log file is stored in the following location:
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%PROGRAMDATA%\CAST\CAST\Logs\<application_name>\Execute_Analysis_<guid>\com.castsoftware.flex.<_extension_version>.prepro_YYYYMMDDHHMMSS.log |
FlexPMD
Metrics/Rule data are generated using an external tool provided by Adobe (Adobe called FlexPMD). More information about this tool is available here:
The licence agreement for Adobe FlexPMD tool is available here:
and is detailed below:
FlexPMD License: BSD
. The FlexPMD log file is stored in the following location:
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%PROGRAMDATA%\CAST\CAST\Logs\<application_name\Execute_Analysis_<guid>\com.castsoftware.flex.plugin<_extension_version>_YYYYMMDDHHMMSS.log |
The license for this tool is listed below:
Copyright (c) 2009, Adobe Systems, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
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THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
Download and installation instructions
Please see:
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The latest release status of this extension can be seen when downloading it from the CAST Extend server. |
CAST Transaction Configuration Center (TCC) configuration
A set of Flex Entry Points for use in the CAST Transaction Configuration Center is delivered in the extension via a .TCCSetup file.
- with CAST AIP ≥ 8.3.x, there is nothing for you to do: these entry points will be automatically imported during the extension installation and will be available in the CAST Transaction Configuration Center.
- with CAST AIP ≤ 8.2.x, you can manually import the file %PROGRAMDATA%\CAST\CAST\Extensions\com.castsoftware.flex.<version>\Configuration\TCC\Base_Flex.TCCSetup to obtain your configuration (see instructions below).
Manual import action for CAST AIP ≤ 8.2.x
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Prepare and deliver the source code
Once the extension is downloaded and installed, you can now package your source code and run an analysis. The process of preparing and delivering your source code is described below:
Source code preparation
Only files with following extensions will be analyzed:
- * .as
- *.mxml
Source code preprocessing
Flex source code needs to be preprocessed so that CAST can understand it and analyze it correctly. In previous releases of the extension, this preprocessing was a manual action that needed to be completed before the code was analyzed. However, in this release and all future releases, the code preprocessing is actioned automatically when an analysis is launched or a snapshot is generated (the code is preprocessed before the analysis starts). In other words you only need to package, deliver and launch an analysis/generate a snapshot for the preprocessing to be completed.
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| Note that the CAST Management Studio will use the LISA folder to analyze the preprocessed files (see CAST Management Studio help for more information about this folder). |
Deliver the source code
Using the CAST Delivery Manager Tool:
- create a new Version
- create a new Package for your source code using the Files on your file system option and choose the location of your source code:
Click to enlarge
- Run the Package action.
- Before delivering the source code, check the packaging results.
Analysis configuration and execution
Refer to Analysis Configuration and Execution for more information.
Logging mechanism
Analysis log files
Analysis logs are stored in the default locations used by the CAST Management Studio.
Flex Preprocessor
Flex Preprocessor log files (the preprocessor is launched automatically during an analysis) are stored in the following locations:
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%PROGRAMDATA%\CAST\CAST\Extensions\<extension_name>\Configuration\Languages\Flex\prepro
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| Note that the above location is the default, however, if you have modified the CAST_PLUGINS_ROOT_PATH variable in the CastGlobalSettings.ini file, this location may be different. |
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FlexPMD
FlexPMD log files (FlexPMD is launched automatically during an analysis) are stored in the following locations:
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%PROGRAMDATA%\CAST\CAST\Extensions\<extension_name>\Configuration\Languages\Flex\plugin
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| Note that the above location is the default, however, if you have modified the CAST_PLUGINS_ROOT_PATH variable in the CastGlobalSettings.ini file, this location may be different. |
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Errors and Warnings
The Flex configuration included in the extension uses external plugins. During the analysis, the Universal Analyzer or the plugin may throw errors or warnings. The table below list the most significant errors/warnings and lists a suggested remediation action:
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The following structural rules are provided:
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Because of way the Universal Analyzer (analysis engine used by the Flex extension)functions, dynamic links which require dataflow/interpretation of parameters across multiple artifacts are not supported. If links are required for these situations, a custom reference pattern can be created to manually create the links (see CMS - Dependencies - using Reference Patterns for more information).