Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Icons sizes for Classes

Hi!

If you want to create your own images for management pack classes you should know image dimensions:
1. 16x16 - this icon is used in the details pane (e.g. in state view) when user choose specific object and in target picker (e.g. user create new monitor, rule... to extend MP capabilities)
2. 80x80 - this icon is used in diagrm view.

Pay attention that image files should be in PNG (or JPG) format - not old-school ICO!

MP to XML

Hi!

It's very often task for me when I discover third-party management packs to convert it from Sealed MP-format to original XML form. After that I can relax, open it in VS and review structure and code to understand how I should work with this management pack (yep...operations guide is just operations guide - not development guide :))
How to do it? Two options:
1. Use MP2XMLDumper tool which export MP from RMS directly to XML format.
2. User PS script from Boris Yanushpolsky which just conevrt MP to XML.

Option one is explained well there, option 2 is explained with some useful comments of SCOM MVP David Allen there. Review, download, convert and enjoy! :)