Using Binary Shared Modules in your Project

To use a binary shared module, you begin by importing the archive into your workspace where it appears like any other shared module, except that the internal details of the shared module are not visible. You use a binary shared module in the same way as you would use any other shared module.

You can see the processes in the Project Explorer but cannot view their diagrams in the Process Editor or open them with a text editor to decipher their models.
You can see the following artifacts associated with a binary shared module:
  • Process and package name
  • XML schema files associated with the module
    Note: Because the schema files are in plain text, you will be able to modify them. Keep in mind though that if and when you import a newer version of the module into your workspace, your modifications to the schema files will be overwritten.
  • Shared resources - you can reference them, but cannot edit them
  • Module Descriptor folder - only the Overview item is available under this folder
  • Module Descriptor editor will be able to display the Overview page only. All other fields will be disabled

You can implement a Call Process activity that invokes the functionality in the binary shared module. When deploying your application, the binary shared modules are included in the application like any other shared module.

Difference between a Shared Module and a Binary Shared Module

This section describes the difference between a shared module and a binary shared module.

In Project Explorer

The image below shows you the difference between a shared module (shared5, in the image below) and a binary shared module (shared4). Notice that almost all the editable artifacts (such as Module Properties, Dependencies and Shared Variables) are missing from the binary shared module tree. This is one way to prevent the binary shared module from being edited.

Menu Items

At the project level some of the context menus items are disabled in the binary shared modules. At the resource level all the menu items except for Show Properties View are disabled.

Context Menu Shared Module Binary Shared Module

At the project level:

Right-click menu from process name

Repair BusinessWorks Project dialog

Context menus at Processes, Service Descriptors, Resources, and Schemas level

Public Processes and Internal Processes

A binary shared module can contain two types of processes - public processes and private (internal or inline) processes. While a public process in a binary shared module can be called by an application, a private process within the module is meant for consumption by the public processes within that binary shared module only. By default, the private processes are not visible in the Project Explorer.

To view the private processes in the Project Explorer, do the following:
  1. In the Project Explorer, click the View Menu button () and select Customize View.
  2. In the Available Customizations dialog, deselect the BW binary private processes check box and click OK.