Primary Add-Ins for OEM Applications

Every Inventor OEM application requires at least one add-in. The primary add-in is the first add-in that Inventor OEM loads. The function of the primary add-in is to verify licensing, and implement functionality in the OEM application.

License Check for OEM Applications

When you activate your add-in, use the licensing technology you chose to verify that the license is valid. Perform the check in the Activate method of your add-in. If the license is valid, your add-in continues to run normally. If the license is not valid, call the Application Quit method to shut down Inventor OEM. Inventor OEM continues to load, but once loaded, it immediately terminates.

Other Functionality in OEM applications

Implement any other functionality in the OEM application.

The iBlock application demonstrates both of these concepts.

Differences between primary and other add-ins

Primary add-ins, and any other add-ins used with Inventor OEM are standard Inventor add-ins. However, there are some differences between most primary and other add-ins.

• Inventor OEM add-ins are never registered in the registry. Instead, they register themselves with the registry-free method. Inventor supports registry-free add-ins, but unlike Inventor OEM, does not currently require that all add-ins be registry-free.
  Note: We recommend that you use the Inventor Add-In Template in ETO Studio to create an add-in.

  The Inventor Add-In wizard delivered as part of the Inventor 2012 SDK creates registry-free add-ins. To convert an existing add-in that is not registry-free to registry-free, see the step-by-step directions in appendix A.

• The OEM add-in performs more ribbon customization. A typical Inventor add-in adds its commands to the existing ribbons. An OEM application often removes most of the existing ribbon content and replaces it with its own tabs, panels, and buttons. By default, the contents of the ribbon in OEM are the same as in Inventor. During activation of the add-in, you customize the ribbon using the API to remove and add ribbon elements. You can customize to any extent. For example, you can delete or hide all the tabs in a ribbon, and create different ribbon tabs and content.