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About DirectSync Plugins

DirectSync plugins do the actual file parsing and compositing needed to make the application useful. If you obtain a DirectSync plugin it is easy to install it by highlighting the DirectSync application in the finder, pressing command-i, and in the plugins drop down choosing "add" and then adding the plugin. The next time you launch DirectSync the new capabilities will be available. You can also load a plugin from anywhere on disk by choosing "Load Plugin..." from the file menu but note that it will only be available until you quit DirectSync. If you want to have it load every time use the other method.

If you are interested in developing a DirectSync plugin I hope to have a project builder DirectSync plugin template available as well as documentation available at some point in the near future. If you are interested in seeing how I've done the plugins now, take a look at the ones included with the source and especially the source modules DSOpProtocol.h, and DSOpThreadServer.h as well as the class from which your main plugin class should inherit from: DSOp.

New Plugins

AppleScript Plugin: This allows you to place an applescript in the synchronization operations list to be executed as synchronization occurs.

For example, you could make a script like "tell the application "iCal" to activate" save it, and place it after your iCalendar synchronizations and then iCal will open after its files are synchronized. Likewise you could preceed your Safari bookmarks syncs by making a script to quit safari and then follow them up by a script to reopen it.