EWF Packaging - Improve Package update design for enhancing the existing EWF functionality saved in package

Scenario:

• Assume a complex solution has been built and delivered.

• After some time, got to implement a new functionality in that solution.

• For that, need to do some POC, create some testing EWF components. For this, need to utilize couple of existing EWF components, which are already part of previously delivered solution and are residing in a package.

Issue:

• As per current design of package, if need to use any existing component from the package, the new component, say Function, Report, Action must be part of that package.

• So first, have to create a blank POC component, add it in package and save the package. Then can use the existing components from the package for further development / POC.

• During the development and testing, it needs to be created good amount of EWF components. So every time, need to follow the first step mentioned in this section. Then only can enhance the package.

• After the successful development and testing, another challenge is to identify the not needed components and remove them from existing package.

These whole practice is too time consuming and cumbersome.

Solution:

• Introduce a flag in package like Development, Production.

• If a package is saved as Development, all the components inside that package will be available for selection while building other EWF components.

• User will create all the POC components and do the development of new feature without adding them into package. Once the testing is concluded, new components can be added into existing package and change the flag to Production.

• If a package is saved as Production, it's components will not be available for selection while building other EWF components.

• Also, after marking the package as Production, though there are some EWF items which are built using the components from package but not added into the package, they will not work, which is expected. At that time, at least a message is given saying this component is using some items from so and so package and it's not part of that package, it will be helpful to rectify the miss and correct.