2.1. Starting System Designer

You can run System Designer from Launcher or from the distributed command-line executable.

  • In Launcher, go to the Tools tab and click the System Designer button:

Start the tool

  • From a command line, run the rtisystemdesigner.bat script in the bin directory of your Connext installation. This script starts the tool, tries to open your default browser, and points to the right address. If the browser does not start, open a new webpage and go to http://localhost:5000/index.html

Tip

By default, System Designer uses port 5000. If that port is not available, set the RTI_SD_PORT property to a valid port for your system.

In System Designer, XML configuration files are created and saved in project files (.rtisdproj). On open, the Select or create project dialog prompts you to open, create, or import a project:

  • Open…
    Browse the filesystem for an existing System Designer project

  • Import zip…
    Browse the filesystem to import a System Designer project that was previously exported (.zip)

  • Create New…
    Create a new project

  • Open Selected…
    Select one of the recent projects listed (the list is empty until you work with a project)

Opening a project

Note

System Designer can be configured to use a different Node.js version by setting the NODEJSHOME property to a valid Node.js installation.

Note

System Designer automatically shuts down if no connection is detected for five minutes. When running System Designer from Launcher, clicking the System Designer button after an automatic shut down will not create a new instance until after the five-minute period has passed. (Clicking the System Designer button again while the previous instance is running will just open your default browser.) To open a new System Designer instance from Launcher, wait at least five minutes or kill the running instance.

2.1.1. Application Interface

The System Designer interface includes the following areas:

Interface

  1. Toolbar. Create and manage projects, files, and XML object comments.

  2. View menu. Click the hamburger icon to select a view. Each view represents an XML element that is configurable in System Designer. Types is the default view.

  3. Tree panel. A hierarchical list of all elements in the selected view.

  4. Information panel. Displays information and available subviews for the element selected in the tree panel.

2.1.1.1. Toolbar

The System Designer toolbar enables you to:

  • Create, import, export, validate, and configure projects.

  • Manage existing XML files in your system.

  • Add a comment to the selected XML object.

  • Review general information and warnings via the Info button.

  • Get detailed help on how to use System Designer.

Toolbar

The toolbar also displays the name of the current project and most recently used XML file.

2.1.1.2. Workflow

System Designer is based on RTI’s XML-Based Application Creation and Routing Service technologies. Each System Designer view represents an XML element provided by these RTI schemas:

  • Types. Define the data types.

  • QoS. Define the QoS settings for the application.

  • Domain. Define the domain(s), register types, and declare Topics.

  • Participant. Define the application Entities, including Publishers, Subscribers, DomainParticipants, DataWriters, and DataReaders.

  • Plugin Libraries. If using Routing Service, define any pluggable components as needed.

  • Routing Service. Configure an execution of Routing Service, if using.

  • Configuration Variables. Assign default values to define user environment variables.

Important

We recommend you initially define your application configuration in the same order these views are presented. You can always (and probably will) go back to any view to tweak your system.

Selecting a View