B4J Tutorial [B4X] Create B4xLib (only 1 easy click)

Creating a b4xlib is easy.
You only need a B4X code (class or code module) with .bas file extension compressed into a file with the file extension .b4xlib.
You can add a manifest.txt to show the library version in the IDE.

Now, it is even faster and easier with the following steps, just inside the IDE, without any external tools.

Step 1: Prepare the project folder

1. Create a new project (non B4XPages)
   Optional: Create a GitHub repo. You can run the GitHub Desktop macro.
2. Move the project files into "source" folder
   The project files include .b4j or .b4a file and .meta
3. Create a new "release" folder

Step 2: Add the macros

1. Add the following macros
   

   #Region Macros
   '#Macro: Title, Export as zip, ide://run?file=%B4X%\Zipper.jar&Args=%PROJECT_NAME%.zip
   #Macro: Title, Update Version, ide://run?file=%ADDITIONAL%\..\B4X\manifest-writer.jar&Args=%PROJECT%&Args=%PROJECT%&Args=Version&Args=1.00
   #Macro: Title, Create B4xLib, ide://run?file=%JAVABIN%\jar.exe&WorkingDirectory=..&args=-cMf&args=..\release\%PROJECT_NAME%.b4xlib&args=*.bas
   #Macro: Title, Release folder, ide://run?file=%WINDIR%\SysWOW64\explorer.exe&Args=%PROJECT%\..\release
   #Macro: Title, Copy to AddLibs, ide://run?file=%COMSPEC%&args=/c&args=copy&args=%PROJECT%\..\release\*.b4xlib&args=%ADDITIONAL%\..\B4X
   #End Region

   Note: To run the "Update Version" macro, you need to use: Manifest Writer Tool

Step 3: Update your code

1. Add a new class or code module into your project
2. Optional: Add a manifest.txt file
3. Optional: Add a class template with .b4x_excluded extension
4. Optional: Add some code snippets txt files into the "Snippets" folder

Step 4: Run the macros

1. Optional: Click the shortcut at the title bar to run the macro for "Update Version".
   Edit the macro if you want to change or update the version number.
   If this file is not exist, it will be created.
2. Click the shortcut at the title bar to run the macro for "Create B4xLib".
   This is the only required click.
   Edit the macro to include additional files or folders. e.g Snippets, *.b4x_excluded, manifest.txt or LICENSE
   

   #Macro: Title, Create B4xLib, ide://run?file=%JAVABIN%\jar.exe&WorkingDirectory=..&args=-cMf&args=..\release\%PROJECT_NAME%.b4xlib&args=*.bas&args=*.b4x_excluded&args=Snippets&args=manifest.txt&args=LICENSE

   The library will be saved inside the "release" folder.
   Optional: You can verify if the file exist by running the macro "Release folder".
3. Optional: Click the shortcut at the title bar to run the macro for "Copy to AddLibs"
   The library will be copied to Additional Libraries\B4X folder.
   If it is a platform specific library, edit the macro to:
   

   #Macro: Title, Copy to AddLibs, ide://run?file=%COMSPEC%&args=/c&args=copy&args=%PROJECT%\..\release\*.b4xlib&args=%ADDITIONAL%

Step 5: Rinse and repeat (3 easy clicks)
From now on, every time you have modified your code and want to update your library immediately, just follow the following steps:

1. Follow Step 4, #1
2. Follow Step 4, #2
3. Follow Step 4, #3

Remember to right click the Libraries Manager tab to refresh the library.

That's all.

e.g Single class library

#Macro: Title, Create B4xLib, ide://run?file=%JAVABIN%\jar.exe&WorkingDirectory=..&args=-cMf&args=..\release\%PROJECT_NAME%.b4xlib&args=EndsMeet.bas&args=manifest.txt&args=LICENSE

Also check:

[Project Template] Create B4X Library

version: 1.10 This project template can be use for starting a B4X class library project. The project also contains a B4X folder which contains B4XPages projects and a server project that already linked to the library's class using relative path. GitHub...

www.b4x.com

 

[aeric]

B4XPages project​

When you are developing using B4XPages template, the following macro will copy all files with .bas file extension inside the source folder including B4XMainPage.bas

#Macro: Title, Create B4xLib, ide://run?file=%JAVABIN%\jar.exe&WorkingDirectory=%PROJECT%\..&args=-cMf&args=..\release\%PROJECT_NAME%.b4xlib&args=*.bas

If you only have 1 bas file e.g MyModule.bas, then you can edit the macro as:

#Macro: Title, Create B4xLib, ide://run?file=%JAVABIN%\jar.exe&WorkingDirectory=%PROJECT%\..&args=-cMf&args=..\release\%PROJECT_NAME%.b4xlib&args=MyModule.bas

If you have 2 bas files e.g MyModule1.bas and MyModule2.bas, then you can edit it as:

#Macro: Title, Create B4xLib, ide://run?file=%JAVABIN%\jar.exe&WorkingDirectory=%PROJECT%\..&args=-cMf&args=..\release\%PROJECT_NAME%.b4xlib&args=MyModule1.bas&args=MyModule2.bas

Alternatively, you can take a common part of the file names, e.g *Module*.bas

#Macro: Title, Create B4xLib, ide://run?file=%JAVABIN%\jar.exe&WorkingDirectory=%PROJECT%\..&args=-cMf&args=..\release\%PROJECT_NAME%.b4xlib&args=*Module*.bas

The other macros when using B4XPages template are as follow:

#Region Macros
'#Macro: Title, Export as zip, ide://run?file=%B4X%\Zipper.jar&Args=%PROJECT_NAME%.zip
#Macro: Title, Update Version, ide://run?file=%ADDITIONAL%\..\B4X\manifest-writer.jar&Args=%PROJECT%\..\..&Args=%PROJECT%\..\..&Args=Version&Args=add.01
#Macro: Title, Create B4xLib, ide://run?file=%JAVABIN%\jar.exe&WorkingDirectory=%PROJECT%\..&args=-cMf&args=..\release\%PROJECT_NAME%.b4xlib&args=*CommonPart*.bas
#Macro: Title, Release folder, ide://run?file=%WINDIR%\SysWOW64\explorer.exe&Args=%PROJECT%\..\..\release
#Macro: Title, Copy to AddLibs, ide://run?file=%COMSPEC%&args=/c&args=copy&args=%PROJECT%\..\..\release\*.b4xlib&args=%ADDITIONAL%\..\B4X
'#Macro: Title, Sync, ide://run?file=%WINDIR%\System32\Robocopy.exe&args=..\..\Shared+Files&args=..\Files&FilesSync=True
#End Region

e.g I can use &args=..\*ORM*.bas for above project.

#Macro: Title, Create B4xLib, ide://run?file=%JAVABIN%\jar.exe&WorkingDirectory=..&args=-cMf&args=..\..\release\%PROJECT_NAME%.b4xlib&args=..\*ORM*.bas

or
1. first change WorkingDirectory from (platform specific) project folder to 1 level up to "source" folder
2. include manifest.txt and LICENSE file located at another level up of "source" folder:

#Macro: Title, Create B4xLib, ide://run?file=%JAVABIN%\jar.exe&WorkingDirectory=%PROJECT%\..&args=-cMf&args=..\release\%PROJECT_NAME%.b4xlib&args=*ORM*.bas&args=..\manifest.txt&args=..\LICENSE