How to...

io.Connect Desktop is highly customizable, both visually and functionally. In many cases, clients adopt io.Connect Desktop as the foundation for their internal desktop integration platform, tweaking the visual elements and adjusting its features to satisfy their own business demands and preferences. Some of the modifiable elements include:

• all configuration files;
• images, icons, branding texts and more;
• the frames of io.Connect Windows, window groups, and Workspaces;
• the io.Connect launcher - the Launchpad;
• the io.Connect Desktop installer app;

As of io.Connect Desktop 10.0, the io.Connect seed project is the main approach for retrieving, customizing, and packaging the platform. The seed project enables you to:

• add your custom assets (images, icons, loaders) and custom system configurations directly to the project;
• customize the io.Connect system apps directly in the project and bundle them with your distribution package;
• bundle your own custom apps with the distribution package;
• produce installable artifacts and bundles for Windows and macOS;
• customize the names and icons of the produced artifacts;
• code signing for the produced artifacts;

The Functionality section provides examples of how to configure the platform and customize the system apps to meet your specific business needs.

The User Interface section provides instructions on where to find and replace various visual assets (splash screen, icons, images, loaders) and how to customize the styles of the platform system apps.

⚠️ Note that, with some exceptions, the Functionality and the User Interface sections are relevant for the both the 9.0 and the 10.0 version streams of io.Connect Desktop. The Installer section is relevant only for the 9.0 version stream as the extensibility configuration options aren't supported in io.Connect Desktop 10.0.

9.0 Version Stream

If you are still using the io.Connect Desktop 9.0 version stream, there are two general approaches for customizing the platform depending on your deployment strategy:

• Using an installer for deploying io.Connect Desktop allows you to automate the customization process by employing the extensibility features of the installer app. The extensibility configuration options are available only when using an installer for deployment. For more details, see the Installer section.

• Using a bundle (delivered via a repository or an archive (ZIP) file) for deploying io.Connect Desktop prevents you from using any extensibility features provided by the installer app, but enables you to directly edit and replace the existing io.Connect Desktop assets and configuration files. For more details, see the Functionality and the User Interface sections.