Manage image libraries

Image libraries store images and icons used in Semarchy xDM applications. They are stored in the repository, are global to the platform and can be used by all applications. Designers use, in applications, images and icons from the libraries by reference, using image library URLs.

Default image libraries

When the repository is created, built-in image libraries are seeded with default Semarchy xDM images and icons:

  • mdi is the library for all the Material Design icons and assets. This library cannot be modified.

  • default contains Semarchy branding images as well as the default images used by applications, such as the default images for the actions. Icons provided in addition to the mdi library are in this library. This library cannot be modified.

  • demo<application_name>_ contains the images/icons used in the <application_name> demonstration application. Such a library is seeded when a demo application is installed.

The default image libraries content changes with new versions of Semarchy xDM. When an image is removed or changed in the default libraries, it is indicated as deprecated in the validation report for models using it. Model designers should update their models to use newer versions of such images.

Browse image libraries

The Image Libraries editor, available in Semarchy Configuration, allows administrators to view and manage the image libraries.

To browse the image libraries:

  • Open Semarchy Configuration.

  • Select Image Libraries in the navigation drawer.
    The Image Libraries editor opens.

Use the filter box in the image libraries editor to reduce the number of images displayed. You can use the '%' sign to replace any number of character.

Manage image libraries

Image libraries are created and modified using file import. You can import two types of files:

  • Image files, for which you must select a target library.

  • Zip files, into which images are organized into folders. When a Zip file is imported, one library is created for each folder at the root of the Zip file, and images in this folder are imported into the library. Exporting images creates a file that follows the same format.

To import images:

  • Open the image libraries editor.

  • Click the Import Image Library button. The import dialog opens.

  • Drop either a Zip file or multiple image files into the dialog, or click Add to select a Zip file or multiple image files.

  • If you import image files, select the Target Library for these images. Select Create a New Library to create a new library for these images.

  • Click OK to import the images.

To delete images:

  • Open the image libraries editor.

  • Click an image to select it. Repeat this operation for all images you want to delete. You can also click the Select All option in the toolbar to select all the filtered images.

  • Click the Delete Selected Images button, and then confirm the deletion.

If you delete all the images from a library, the library disappears.

To export images:

  • Open the image libraries editor.

  • Click the image to select it. Repeat this operation for all images you want to delete. You can also click the Select All option in the toolbar to select all the filtered images.

  • Click the Export Selected Images button.

A zip file is downloaded, containing all the selected images stored in folders named after their parent library.

Using this export mechanism, you can move an image library to a remote repository, or reorganize the library before reimporting it.
If an image is removed from a library while being used in a model, it will raise a warning in the model validation report. Designers should fix such stale image references and update their models to point to valid images.