5.2.1 Adding Ports

A port is an interface that allows components to communicate with one another. Generally, ports are used to either pass data or call functions. Release 0.6.2 of OSSIE is packaged with several pre-defined standard interfaces that make development of components simple.

To add one or more ports to your component, click on the ``Add Port'' button from the OSSIE Component Editor window.

The Add Port dialog box will be opened. You may then select the data type for the component (complexShort or complexFloat from standardInterfaces is recommended) and its type. Whether or not the port is a uses or provides port is often a point of confusion for users who are unfamiliar with the SCA. In most simple cases, a uses port corresponds to an output interface, while a provides port corresponds to an input interface.

Give the port a unique name (e.g. complex_baseband) and click ``Ok.'' The new port should now appear in the ``Ports'' pane of the OSSIE Component Editor window.