The Workflow Studio IDE is where you develop EmpowerID workflows. It comprises four user interface components that work together to provide developers with a visual design environment. Through friendly drag-and-drop operations, depictions of business processes can be translated quickly into workflow logic without the need for extensive code. This can be as simple as dragging predefined activities onto the design surface of the IDE and connecting those activities with flow lines. Code editors allow C# code to be injected into the process when desired to create a complete package.
The below image shows what the Workflow Studio IDE looks like with a Flow Chart workflow opened in the Workflow Designer.
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As depicted by the above image, the Workflow Studio IDE is comprised of four components—the Ribbon, the Solution Explorer, the Document Space, and the Toolbox—each of which combine to create a rich, interactive environment for workflow development. Expand the sections below for details about that particular component.
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title | Workflow Studio Ribbon |
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The Workflow Studio ribbon provides immediate access to a variety of tools and application-specific development tabbed toolbars. The toolbars are dynamic in that the number of tabs and commands available on the ribbon at any given time is determined by the number and types of designers and editors opened in the IDE.
Common Toolbar
The Common toolbar contains a number of command buttons that allow you to perform general tasks when working in the IDE.
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Command Button
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Purpose
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Save
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Saves a new or edited package item.
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Save As
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Opens a dialog that allows you to name an open package item and choose the package to which you wish to save it.
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Deployment Services
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Provides options for opening and creating new manifests, building solutions and packaging development items for deployment to the local file system.
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Refresh Toolbox
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Forces a refresh of the toolbox. If any recent changes have occurred you can elect to have those reflected in the update.
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Object Browser
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Displays the Workflow Studio class library.
Build Toolbar
The Build toolbar contains a number of commands relevant to publishing projects created in Workflow Studio.
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Command Button
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Purpose
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Compile
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Compiles the open workflow, activity, form or lookup.
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Publish
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Publishes workflows to the designated workflow server.
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Deployment
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Provides options for opening and creating new manifests, building solutions and packaging development items for deployment to the local file system.
Tools Toolbar
The Tools toolbar contains commands for performing a number of Workflow Studio maintenance tasks.
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Command Button
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Purpose
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View Assemblies
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Opens a list of all Workflow Studio assemblies by version number, allowing you to add or remove any from your copy of Workflow Studio.
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Activity Templates
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Opens a dialog that allows you to view and delete any activity templates from Workflow Studio.
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Event Viewer
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Opens an Event Viewer that allows you to view any workflow events that have occurred on a selected machine.
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Isolate Workflow Versions
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Allows you to select an existing workflow and save it as different version.
Workspace Toolbar
The Workspace toolbar contains commands relevant to the Workspace, which is a local copy of the Workflow Studio Source Control. The workspace can be individualized with selected packages and package items.
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Command Button
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Purpose
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Build Log
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Opens the Build log, if one exists.
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Cancel Build
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Cancels any batch build operations that exist in your workspace.
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Program Files
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Opens the Program Files folder on the local machine.
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Program Data
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Opens the ProgramData folder on the local machine.
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Compile Temp
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Opens the ProgramData > CompilerTemp folder on the local machine.
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Dyna Local Temp Dll
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Opens the ProgramData > DynaLocalTempDll folder on the local machine.
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Intelli Cache
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Opens the ProgramData > Cache folder on the local machine.
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Workflow Templates
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Opens the ProgramData > UserWorkflowTemplates folder on the local machine.
Options and Settings Toolbar
The Options and Settings toolbar contains commands that allow you to perform various actions.
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Command Button
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Purpose
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Alert Receivers
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Opens a window displaying a list of the current Alert Event Receivers configured in your environment.
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STS Claims Extensions
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Opens the STS Claims Extensions dialog with a list of extensions and related assemblies in your environment.
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SSO Extensions
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Opens the SSO Extension editor displaying a list of extensions and related assemblies.
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C# Code Editor Font
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Opens the Editor Style dialog, which allows you to style how text appears in the C# Code Editor.
Workflow Editing Toolbar
The Workflow Editing toolbar contains commands related to designing workflows and activities. This toolbar only appears when a workflow is open in the Workflow Designer or an activity is open in the Activity Designer.
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Command Button
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Purpose
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Add New Property
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Opens the Add New Property dialog, which allows you to add a new property to the workflow or activity. Once added, the new property can be used for data binding.
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Delete Property
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Allows you to delete a selected property. You must select a property to delete it.
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Promote
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Promotes the selected property.
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Bind Property
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Opens the Data Binding Shortcut dialog, which allows you to create a new workflow or activity property bound to another property in the same workflow or activity.
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Bind Wokflow
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Opens the Shortcut Workflow Association wizard, which allows you to call an external workflow to return a property from that external workflow to the current workflow or workflow activity.
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Copy
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Copies an item selected in the designer.
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Cut
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Cuts an item selected in the designer.
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Paste
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Pastes a previously copied item into the designer.
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Delete
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Deletes a selected item from the designer.
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Zoom In
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Allows you to magnify the designer.
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Zoom Out
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Allows you to decrease the magnification level of the designer.
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Pointer
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Releases the mouse from the Zoom In and/ Zoom Out control.
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Print Setup
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Opens the Page Setup dialog, which allows you to configure print options.
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Print Preview
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Displays a preview of what the workflow or activity will look like when printed.
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Prints the workflow or activity to the printer selected in the Page Setup dialog.
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Add Reference
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Opens the GAC Assembly Reference dialog, which allows you to add an assembly reference to the project.
Form Designer Toolbar
The Form Designer toolbar contains commands related to designing forms. This toolbar only appears when a form is open in the Form Designer.
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Command Button
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Purpose
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New Tab
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Adds a new tab to the form that is actively being edited in the Form Designer.
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New Section
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Adds a new section to the form that is actively being edited in the Form Designer.
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Mask
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Opens the Add New Mask dialog, which allows you to add a new Mask to the Components tree of the form that is actively being edited in the Form Designer.
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Validation
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Opens the Add New Validation dialog, which allows you to add a new Validator to the Components tree of the form that is actively being edited in the Form Designer. Validators force users to enter data in the format specified by the Validation Expression of the Validator.
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Data Source
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Opens the Add New Data Source dialog, which allows you to add a new Data Source object to the Components tree of the form that is actively being edited in the Form Designer. Data Source objects allow you to bind form controls to objects in the EmpowerID Identity Warehouse.
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Add Object
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Opens the Add Object dialog, which allows you to add Primitives (Strings, Booleans, DateTime, etc) and Rbac Components (Account, AccountStore, Person, etc) to the Components tree of the form that is actively being edited in the Form Designer. Once added to the Components tree, these objects can be dropped onto a form as properties for use in data binding.
Lookup Designer Toolbar
The Lookup Designer toolbar contains commands related to Lookup Control design. This toolbar only appears when the Lookup Designer is open.
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Command Button
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Purpose
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New Column
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Adds an empty column to the currently open lookup
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Set Grid Type
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Allows you to set the grid type for the currently open lookup. Grid types can be set to custom, default or that of a current EmpowerID component. The selected grid type determines the initial columns of the lookup. For example, if you set the grid type for a lookup to the Account component, Workflow Studio adds the columns that appear in the default Account Lookup to the lookup in the designer.
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title | Solution Explorer |
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The Solution Explorer is comprised of several tabbed views that provide access to the Workflow components in your development environment.
Server Explorer Tab - Provides a view of the EmpowerID servers and EmpowerID services in your environment.
Solution Explorer Tab - Provides a view of the workflow objects in your development environment.
Windows Form Toolbox Tab - Provides access to common Windows Form objects that can be used when developing Windows Forms in Workflow Studio.
Each of these is discussed in further detail below.
Servers Tab
Select the Servers tab to display a tree view of EmpowerID servers and their status in your environment. Expand a server node to display the EmpowerID services installed on that server. Right-click a node to open a context menu that allows you to select various options for that node.
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Menu Item
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Function
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Refresh
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Refreshes the list of services running on the server.
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Create EmpowerID Azure Web Jobs
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Opens the Azure Web Job Packages dialog where you can view web job dependencies and their statuses, create new Azure WebJob Scheduler and WebJob Engine packages, and deploy Azure.
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Deploy Existing EmpowerID Azure WebJobs
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If you elected not to deploy Azure when creating the Azure WebJobs, use this option to deploy them.
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Deploy EmpowerID Azure WebJobs...
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Opens a dialog where you can select a Publisher Settings file from your Workflow Exports folder.
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Enable WCF Service
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Enables an WCF service on the WCF Service Bus Agent. This menu item is only enabled when right-clicking on a Web service hosted by the EmpowerID Service Bus Agent.
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Force Enable WCF Service
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Enables an WCF service on the WCF Service Bus Agent. This menu item is only enabled when right-clicking on a Web service hosted by the EmpowerID Service Bus Agent.
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Disable WCF Service
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Disables an active WCF service on the WCF Service Bus Agent. This menu item is only enabled when right-clicking on a Web service hosted by the EmpowerID Service Bus Agent.
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Generate <System.ServiceModel> Configuration
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Generates the XML configuration data for a given service on the EmpowerID Service Bus Agent. This menu item is only enabled when right-clicking on a Web service hosted by the EmpowerID Service Bus Agent.
Solution Explorer Tab
The Solution Explorer tab provides access to the workflow applications and other objects that exist in the EmpowerID Identity Warehouse. It is comprised of three sub-tabs for managing these applications: the Workspace tab, which gives you access to all the objects you develop in Workflow Studio; the Search tab, which allows you to search for objects by name and type; and the SharePoint tab, which allows you to work with your SharePoint objects. Of the three, the Workspace Tab provides the greatest functionality for working with and managing the objects developed in Workflow Studio.
Using the Workspace Tab
In Workflow Studio, the workflow applications and other objects that you develop are classified as or solution items and placed in folders you create on your local development machine. These folders are simply containers for holding the items you are developing and are represented as nodes in the Source Control tree visible from the Workspace tab of the Solution Explorer. Each time you create a new workflow, activity, user interface element, or other object, Workflow Studio prompts you for the folder in which the object should be placed and then places that within a Source Control folder underneath the selected folder. While Workflow Studio gives you some freedom in placing folders and folder items, Source Control folders are predetermined by their content and cannot be moved or deleted. If a Source Control folder does not exist for a particular package item being created, Workflow Studio will create that Source Control folder at the time the item is created and then place the item in the folder.
Workflow Studio allows you to determine which folders and folder items you want to appear in your Workspace. You can opt to have all folders and folder items that exist in the Identity Warehouse appear in your Workspace or pick and choose only those items with which you are working. When you start Workflow Studio for the first time, your Workspace will contain no workflow items and you will be prompted by the Workspace dialog to add items.
If you click No, the dialog closes, allowing you to proceed. If you click Yes, the Source Control dialog opens. The Source Control dialog contains two panes, the Team Source Control pane on the left and the Workspace Source Control pane on the right. The Team Source Control pane displays the Source Control tree populated with every folder and folder item that exists in the EmpowerID Identity Warehouse. The Workspace Source Control pane displays every folder and folder item that exists in your personal Workspace.
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Windows Form Tab
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Add New Custom Method (Duplicate Signature)
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Edit Method Signature
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This command allows you to add a new folder to the Code Tree.
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Add Embedded Resource
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This command allows you to search for a file on your computer or the network and add it to your project.
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Remove All Embedded Resources
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This command allows you to remove *all* embedded resources from your project.
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Rename Item Support Class
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This command allows you to rename a Support Class file that you have added to your project. You must right-click on the particular Support Class file in the Code Tree that you want to rename.
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Delete Item
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Deletes a selected item from the project.
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