Developing a BigSheets plug-in

You can extend or customize BigSheets by using your own readers and functions.

Before you begin

Create a BigInsights™ project.

Procedure

  1. Switch to the BigInsights perspective.
  2. Right-click the project and select one of the following menu items.
    Option Description
    For a new BigSheets function class New > BigSheets Function
    For a new BigSheets reader class New > BigSheets Reader
  3. The wizard opens with your project preselected. Enter a package name in the Package field, and a class name in the Name field.
  4. Specify other values as needed for the new BigSheets class:
    Option Description
    For a new function class

    Specify the return type in the Return type field.

    For details on building customized BigSheets functions, see Building customized functions

    For a new reader class
    1. Select the super class from the Super class list.
    2. If you extend com.ibm.bigsheets.reader.AbstractReader, enter the type of the reader keys and values in the Type of reader keys field and the Type of reader values field.

    For details on building customized BigSheets readers, see Building customized readers

  5. Click Finish to create the BigSheets function or reader class. A Java™ editor with the created class opens.
  6. Use the Java editor to complete the coding for the reader or the function. There are TODO markers where more coding is required. For details about coding these classes, see: BigSheets Function and BigSheets Reader.

What to do next

To install and run the BigSheets reader or function within BigSheets, you must publish the reader or macro as a BigInsights application. See Packaging and publishing an application for details.