Configuring the BASIS IDE – Initial Setup Configuring the BASIS IDE – Initial SetupAfter installing the BASIS IDE for the first time, the NetBeans Setup Wizard (shown in the image below) will appear and ask the following questions:
1. Import settings from a previous install?
If this is the first time that NetBeans has been installed, the answer is NO. There are no settings to import. If the same version of NetBeans (i.e., the same version number) is being reinstalled, and the user directory where settings were located has not been manually removed, answering YES will save time because previously configured options settings will not have to be re-entered. If a different, newer version of NetBeans is being installed over a previous version, answering YES could also save time, but is not guaranteed to be successful.
2. Use a proxy server?
Check this box and enter the proxy server name and port if one is required by the system. Leave the box blank if a proxy server is not required.
3. Run NetBeans in MDI or SDI mode?
In NetBeans, MDI mode refers to a configuration where all NetBeans components (windows, dialogs, menus, and toolbars) are contained in a single resizable frame. This has certain advantages, especially for new users. Some of the advantages are:
Easier navigation.
Individual components are less likely to become "lost" (covered up by other windows).
Components can be "docked" (meaning attached), to the sides of the main NetBeans frame to make preserving a standard layout simple.
SDI mode means that each NetBeans component will appear in its own floating window and may be repositioned, focused, and resized independent of any other component. Experienced users may prefer SDI mode over MDI mode because of its greater flexibility.
4. Which Web browser?
The default external browser should be used.
Subsequent Wizard screens present the opportunity to disable NetBeans modules and obtain automatic updates to modules directly from the NetBeans Web site. Without accumulated NetBeans user experience, these options are not recommended.
NetBeans obtains virtually all of its capabilities from plug-in modules. Disabling a module means that NetBeans will lose the capabilities and features that module was responsible for implementing. Certain functionalities may "break" without any apparent reason. Conversely, NetBeans will have a correspondingly shorter startup time because fewer Java classes need to be loaded, and the IDE will be less cluttered. If the IDE is being used exclusively for developing in BBj, there may be Java-only modules that could be disabled to improve performance. Some experimentation will help to determine the best arrangement.
NetBeans is an open-source project that is constantly being refined and expanded. The built-in NetBeans Update Center lets the user take advantage of all changes and improvements to NetBeans by automatically downloading new versions of the NetBeans modules. The caveat is that a changed version of a module may be downloaded which the BBj modules depend on and the change may not be compatible, which could cause some BBj development capability to break. If in doubt, contact BASIS or do not accept automatic module updates.
All selections made in the Setup Wizard up to this point can be changed later. The Setup Wizard can be opened again at any time by selecting Setup Wizard from the Tools menu of the main menu bar.