Downloading the plug-in

There is a version of the plug-in available here, but I haven’t installed it from there. Below I’ve included instructions on how to install the plug-in using the software updates feature in Flex Builder.

Installing the plug-in via Software Updates

1. Launch Flex Builder 3 and go to Help>Software Updates>Find and install…
2. Check the Search for new features to install option and click Next
3. Now create a New Remote Site…
4. Enter the following URL for the remote site and give it a name, such as Flex Code Formatter and click Finish:
   http://flexformatter.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/FlexFormatter/FlexPrettyPrintCommandUpdateSite
5. Browse the tree to find the code formatter plugin ( FlexPrettyPrintCommandFeature Feature 0.6.27 ) and click Next.
6. Accept the license agreement and click Next then Finish.
7. Click Install All and restart Flex Builder 3. The plug-in is now installed and ready to use.

Using the plug-in

Once Flex Builder has restarted you should notice a new toolbar with some black and white icons. This toolbar gives you access to the following features:

• Generating ASDoc comments for the file
• Generating ASDoc comment for the current element
• Format code
• Indent code
• Rearrage the code of the file

There will also be a shortcut key set up for formatting code; the default is CTRL+SHIFT+F.

Editing the Preferences

To edit the preferences of the plugin go to Window>Preferences. Then browse to Flex Formatting using the tree navigation on the left. There are a vast array of formatting and restructuring options available, so you should be able to find something to suit the way you code. It is also worth browsing the navigation tree to show the options for Auto Format; this will give you the option to format or indent code when you save.

Installing the plug-in

1. Launch Flex Builder 3 and go to Help>Software Updates>Find and install…
2. Check the Search for new features to install option and click Next
3. Now create a New Remote Site…
4. Visit the Subclipse website’s install page and note the latest release’s update URL; it should look something like this: http://subclipse.tigris.org/update_1.6.x.
5. Enter the URL found at the site above and give the update site a name; such as Subclipse 1.6.x and click OK. Then ensure the new remote site is checked and click Finish.
6. Browse the Subclipse tree to find the Subclipse plug-in items; i.e. Subclipse 1.6>Subclipse
7. Select the following items and click Next:
   • Subclipse (Required) 1.6.x
   • Subversion Client Adapter (Required) 1.6.x.x
   • Subversion JavaHL Native Library Adapter (Required) 1.6.x
8. Accept the license agreement and click Next then Finish.
9. Click Install All and restart Flex Builder 3. The plug-in is now installed and ready to use.

Creating an SVN repository

I’m currently using Unfuddle to host all of my repositories but there are numerous other Subversion services out there. Unfuddle offer a free plan allowing you to create unlimited Subversion and Git repositories under one project. Once you’ve signed up for a repository somewhere and have the repository URL at hand you are ready to start using the Subclipse plug-in.

Sharing a Flex Builder project with your SVN repository

1. Right-click on your chosen project and go to Team>Share Project…
2. Select SVN as your repository type and click Next.
3. Choose Create a new repository location and click Next. Note that next time your repository will appear in the list of existing repository locations.
4. Now enter the URL of your repository and click Next.
5. You can now specify whether you want to use the project name or choose a different name as the folder for your project on your repository. Decide on a name for your project and click Next then Finish.
6. Flex Builder will then create the folder on your repository and ask you if you wish to open the Team Synchronizing perspective. Choose Yes.
7. In this perspective you are able to see all incoming, outgoing and conflicting items.
8. To commit your project to your repository choose the Commit All Outgoing Changes… button. Flex Builder will then upload your project to your repository.

Importing a project from your SVN repository

1. Right-click in the Flex Navigator and choose Import…
2. Select SVN>Checkout Projects from SVN and click Next
3. Choose Create a new repository location and click Next. Note that next time your repository will appear in the list of existing repository locations.
4. Now enter the URL of your repository and click Next.
5. Flex will then show you the list of folders in the repository, select the folder you wish to import and click Next.
6. Give your project a name and click Finish or click next to specify the workspace location for the project.
7. Flex will then download the project and it’ll be ready to use.

This is by no means a comprehensive guide to using the Subclipse plug-in for SVN repositories, and I may have missed a few things, but it should be enough to get you started.