Understanding DS file
1. In a nutshell
A Deluge Script (DS) file is a text-based file that stores the complete schema of a Zoho Creator application in the Deluge script format. It includes all components, such as forms, fields, reports, pages, schedules, custom functions, along with their configurations in code blocks and application-level settings.
2. Availability
- Available across all plans of Creator
- Can be accessed by super admins, admins, and developers
3. Overview
The DS file provides a structured view of an application's components, including forms, reports, pages, workflows, and more in code format(Deluge script). Each component follows a defined syntax to ensure readability and consistency. It presents the skeletal framework of the application components along with key configurations as shown below,
- Forms: Field types, field names, visibility settings, success messages, and other related settings
- Reports: Report types, layout configurations, header options, and display settings and other report customization
- Pages: Components, widgets, customization options, and other customizations
- Workflows & Scripting: Functions, schedules, custom scripts, and action settings in Deluge scripting, and so on.
Additionally, applications can be efficiently debugged and modified within the Application IDE or by exporting the DS file and editing it in any text editor. Developers can review and update Deluge scripts, customize workflows, edit components, and troubleshoot errors directly within the DS file.
3.1. Key Areas where DS file is utilized in Zoho Creator
The DS file have following functionalities:
- Exporting an application: The entire application can be exported as a DS file from the Application IDE. The exported file can be viewed and edited using any text editor. This feature is especially useful for developers who prefer a code-centric approach to application development. Additionally, it enables maintaining a local backup of the application on the device for future reference or restoration.
- Importing to create an application: A DS file can be imported from your device into any Zoho Creator account to create an identical version of the application. Learn how to create an application by importing a DS file
Note: A DS file only contains the application's structure and not any stored data. Therefore, applications created by importing a DS file will not retain any records.
- Application Backup: When the application is backed up in Zoho Creator, the DS file is included in the backup along with the other application data. The backup can be downloaded as a ZIP file, which contains the DS file. This file can be imported to create a replica of the backed-up application version.
3.2. Business use cases
Case 1: Debugging an application with DS
Consider a Zoho Creator application where a function is used across multiple components. Since the application was developed by multiple contributors, a developer needs to modify certain instances of this function while keeping others unchanged. To achieve this, the developer can export the DS file to their device, open it in a text editor, and use the search function to locate all occurrences of the function. This allows them to identify and update the necessary instances from the application while removing or replacing unnecessary ones.
4. Points to note
- When exporting the application DS file from the Application IDE, only the application components and their configurations will be included. The data and records within the application will not be exported.
You can edit components directly from the application IDE by modifying the Deluge script. However, new components can only be created from the edit mode of the application.- The image file added in the pages and print templates will not be stored in DS file.
5. Related links
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