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User Guide
The information contained in this section applies to IBM WebSphere Commerce Version 7.0.0.9 and Feautre Pack 8. The documentation also applies to all subsequent releases and modifications until otherwise indicated in new editions.
Developing
The topics in the Developing section describe tasks performed by an application developer.
Presentation layer
WebSphere Commerce uses Java Server Pages (JSP) to implement the view layer of the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern. The view layer is in charge of retrieving data from the database through the use of data beans and formatting it to meet the display requirements. The view layers determines whether the request is sent to a browser or streamed out as XML. JSP files present a clean separation between data content and presentation.
Management Center framework
The Management Center framework is the foundation for business user tooling. The business objects are defined by the individual components that make up the Management Center. The framework uses those definitions to provide all of the features that you can use to find, create, modify, and delete the defined business objects. If you plan to customize the Management Center, it is important to understand the framework and the components that make up the Management Center.
Customizing the Management Center user interface
Customize the Management Center user interface by adding, changing, or removing elements within the user interface.
Creating a new tool for the Management Center
The Management Center offers the Catalogs, Marketing, Promotions, Installments, Store Management, Catalog Filter and Pricing, Assets, and Tasks tools, ready to use. As part of your Management Center customization, you can create a new custom tool.
Working with UI text and images
You define text and icons as part of creating a tool for the Management Center. The Management Center framework uses the defined text and icons on user interface widgets such as list views, properties views, calendar views, the explorer view, menus, and tooltip text.
Defining icons
Include graphics on the Management Center UI, such as in the main work area (list, properties, or calendar views), search, explorer view, menu, message, and help text. Rather than hard-coding image file names in many OpenLaszlo classes, include all paths to images in resource libraries, and associate the image paths with resource keys. This way, you keep all your image definitions in one location. This is particularly useful if you have images that will change often.

Defining icons

Include graphics on the Management Center UI, such as in the main work area (list, properties, or calendar views), search, explorer view, menu, message, and help text. Rather than hard-coding image file names in many OpenLaszlo classes, include all paths to images in resource libraries, and associate the image paths with resource keys. This way, you keep all your image definitions in one location. This is particularly useful if you have images that will change often.

Before you begin

Before defining resource bundles, refer to any *Resources.lzx files provided with the Management Center tools. *Resources.lzx files are located in the WCDE_installdir\LOBTools\WebContent\WEB-INF\src\lzx\commerce\Management_Center_component\restricted directory.

Procedure

In the Enterprise Explorer view, expand LOBTools > WebContent > WEB-INF > src > lzx > your_company_name > Management_Center_component, where Management_Center_component is the name of your new custom tool.
Create an OpenLaszlo library file with this syntax: Management_Center_component_in_camel_caseResources.lzx. For example, CatalogManagementResources.lzx
Add a library tag to the file:
```
<library>

</library>
```
Within the library element, list all the UI images and associate a resource name with each path and file name. For example, to include three images (one for the Management Center toolbar, and two for the list and properties views), include something similar to this:
```
<resource name="AToolbarIcon" src="../resources/AToolbar.png"/>
<resource name="AThumbnail" src="../resources/AThumbnail.png"/> 
<resource name="ALargeImage" src="../resources/ALargeImage.png"/>  
```

What to do next

After you complete your work:

Right-click LOBTools Project; then click Build OpenLaszlo Project to produce an updated ManagementCenter.swf file under the WCDE_installdir\workspace\LOBTools\WebContent directory. This setting is the default environment setting.
Test your work by viewing them in the Management Center, using this URL: https://hostname:8000/lobtools.
Deploy your files to your production environment.