[Zope] Re: external methods

[Mitchell L Model]

---  "Arenz, Ralph" <Ralph.Arenz@f...> wrote:
>  Hi,
>
>  i' am using external methods to do something on the filesystem.So i
>  make an external method for the entry-function. This works fine,so far.
>  The module which is containing the function imports
>  several other modules which i placed in <zope>/lib/python>
>  directory.
>
>  My problem is that changes to imported modules takes no effect.
>  What have i to do to tell Zope that the imported modules has changed ?
>
>  A simple buttonclick in the Zope manage screen won't do.
>  Equally, compiling the imported method to bytecode takes no effect.
>
>  Changes in the function or module which is connected
>  via "external method" to zope are approved after a buttonclick
>  on "edit" in zope.
>

Are you developing a Product?  (That is, do you put code in a 
subdirectory of <zope>/lib/python/Product?  If yes, just put your 
Python modules in the Extensions subdirectory of your Product 
directory, along with files defining your external methods.  (Note 
that you can have more than one external method in a file.)   Then, 
create an __init__.py file in the Extensions subdirectory of your 
Product.  (I think you have to include __doc__ and __version__ 
strings in the __init__.py, but I'm not sure.)  Finally, in 
__init__.py import all the files in the directory.  (I think that 
makes Zope aware of them for purposes of updating.)

I've found that with a setup like that, updating my product from the 
Control Panel updates all the Python modules and external methods in 
my product's Extensions directory.  It even works with the automatic 
update feature you can turn on for your product in the Control 
Panel's item for your product.