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## 6. Plugin Interface

## 6.1 Introduction

Since release 0.6.0 you have the ability to extend KMovisto by plugins. KMovisto plugins are shared objects which could be loaded or unloaded dynamicly at runtime via plugin manager. The well documented interface version 1.0.0 provides file import and export routines which could be used to extend KMovisto capabilities to work with common molecule file formats. Plugins are fully integrated in the program window, so they are used by toolbar button or import menu. The user has also the ability to define working directories if this is supported by the plugin.

Plugin libraries are programed in standard c++, so developers who are familiar with c++ will have no problems to create own plugins. For further informations how to write KMovisto plugins see chapter 6.3.

## 6.2 Plugin Manager

The plugin manager (Fig. 24, menu Preferences) is the central unit to activate or deactivate plugins. Since plugins are libraries they are handled like other shared object (*.so) files, so by default they should be located in /user/lib. The user can select the plugin file by clicking Add.

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>     Fig. 24: Plugin manager

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If the selected library is a valid KMovisto plugin file, the plugin description, properties and legacy informations are displayed and the plugin funtions are usable immediately after leaving the Plugin manager. Plugins can also excluded from the program by pressing the Delete button after highlighting the plugin in the listbox.

## 6.3 Plugin Interface development

As described above KMovisto plugins are common shared libraries. For detailed informations see The KMovisto Plugin Development Handbook

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