KNIME JSON Node Documentation Generator

Builds JSON files containing KNIME node, port, and splash icon documentations, based on and similar to KNIME’s org.knime.workbench.repository.NodeDocumentationGenerator, but with a structured JSON files as a result which can be easily further processed, mined and integrated in different environments. Originally created for the Selenium Nodes website where we display the node documentation on this page, and now also used for building NodePit’s node index.

Installation

The tool is available through the following software site (the version numbers reflect the branch names e.g. release/4.1 -- in case there’s no explicit branch for a version, the update site will fall back to the most recent previous version):

https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/3.6
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/3.7
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/4.0
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/4.1
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/4.2
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/4.3
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/4.4
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/4.5
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/4.6
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/4.7
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/5.0
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/5.1
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/5.2
https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/5.3

Beside that, the master branch is available through the following software site:

https://download.nodepit.com/jsondocgen/master

Open KNIME, go to File → Preferences → Install/Update → Available Software Sites, click on Add… and paste above’s URL. Save and close the preferences window, choose File → Install KNIME Extensions… and select the JSON node documentation generator in the list. Restart KNIME when promted to do so and follow the usage instructions below.

Usage

The application has the ID de.philippkatz.knime.jsondocgen.application.JsonNodeDocumentationGenerator. Execute it without options to see the following instructions:

$ ./Knime -nosplash -application de.philippkatz.knime.jsondocgen.application.JsonNodeDocumentationGenerator
Usage: NodeDocuGenerator options
Allowed options are:
    -destination dir : Directory where the result should be written to (should be absolute, otherwise the files will be placed relative to the knime executable)
    -plugin plugin-id : Only nodes of the specified plugin will be considered (specify multiple plugins by repeating this option). If not all available plugins will be processed.
    -category category-path (e.g. /community) : Only nodes within the specified category path will be considered. If not specified '/' is used.
    -includeDeprecated : Include nodes marked as 'deprecated' in the extension point.
    -skipNodeDocumentation : Skip generating node documentation
    -skipPortDocumentation : Skip generating port documentation
    -skipSplashIcons : Skip extracting splash screen icons

This example creates three JSON file in you home directory (all images within the JSON files are encoded as Base64 strings):

nodeDocumentation.json with the documentation for all Selenium nodes
portDocumentation.json with a hierarchy of all available ports
splashIcons.json: list of all registered splash screen icons

$ ./Knime -nosplash --launcher.suppressErrors -application de.philippkatz.knime.jsondocgen.application.JsonNodeDocumentationGenerator -destination ~ -category /selenium

When running within a headless environment (CI, Docker, …) with Xvfb, it’s highly advisable to add the option --launcher.suppressErrors. Otherwise, execution errors will lead to a seemingly hanging application, as the shown error dialog remains “invisible”.

You might need to add some further configuration options, especially -vmargs to make it work with any kind of node extension. In our NodePit crawler production environment for example, we additionally supply the --add-opens arguments, which you can copy from a current knime.ini file and a customized Log4J configuration. (see also here)

The generated nodeDocumentation.json JSON file’s structure looks as follows:

{
  "children": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "intro": "<p>This node allows interacting with JavaScript-based <a href=\"https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Window/alert\">alert</a>, \n        <a href=\"https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Window/confirm\">confirm</a>, and \n        <a href=\"https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Window/prompt\">prompt</a> dialog boxes. \n        When a WebBrowser shows a dialog, these can be dismissed or confirmed. Further, it allows to \n        extract a dialog's text and send keyboard input to the dialog. The node assumes, that a \n        dialog box is currently shown in the browser window.</p><p><b>Important:</b> This node does <b>not</b> work with headless browsers (PhantomJS, jBrowser, \n        HtmlUnit, headless Chrome). In case you want to influence the page's dialog behavior when running\n        headless browsers, you can directly modify the <tt>window.alert</tt>, <tt>window.confirm</tt>, \n        or <tt>window.prompt</tt> functions using an <b>Execute JavaScript</b> node, which needs to be \n        placed at a point in the workflow, before the dialog is actually shown. The following code\n        snippet gives a simple example how to globally override the default behavior:</p><pre>\nwindow.alert = function() {\n   // do nothing\n}\nwindow.confirm = function() {\n  return true; // simulate, that all 'confirm' dialogs are closed via 'OK' button\n}\nwindow.prompt = function() {\n  return 'dummy text'; // simulate, that the given string is entered into all 'prompt' dialogs\n}\n        </pre>",
          "options": [
            {
              "type": "option",
              "name": "WebDriver input",
              "description": "Input column which provides the WebDriver(s)",
              "optional": false
            },
            {
              "type": "option",
              "name": "Dismiss",
              "description": "Close the dialog by clicking the \"Cancel\" button.",
              "optional": false
            },
            {
              "type": "option",
              "name": "Accept",
              "description": "Close the dialog by clicking the \"OK\" button.",
              "optional": false
            },
            {
              "type": "option",
              "name": "Append column with text",
              "description": "Extract the dialog's message and append it as text column.",
              "optional": false
            },
            {
              "type": "option",
              "name": "Send keys",
              "description": "The text to send to the dialog (in case it is a \"prompt\" dialog).",
              "optional": false
            }
          ],
          "inPorts": [
            {
              "index": 0,
              "portObjectClass": "org.knime.core.node.BufferedDataTable",
              "name": "WebDriver",
              "description": "Table with a column providing a WebDriver with an open alert, confirm, or prompt box.",
              "optional": false
            }
          ],
          "outPorts": [
            {
              "index": 0,
              "portObjectClass": "org.knime.core.node.BufferedDataTable",
              "name": "WebDriver",
              "description": "Same as input table, and appended text column in case the \"Save text\" option was selected.",
              "optional": false
            }
          ],
          "inPortObjectClasses": [
            "org.knime.core.node.BufferedDataTable"
          ],
          "outPortObjectClasses": [
            "org.knime.core.node.BufferedDataTable"
          ],
          "type": "Manipulator",
          "deprecated": false,
          "streamable": false,
          "identifier": "ws.palladian.nodes.selenium.alert.AlertNodeFactory",
          "id": "ws.palladian.nodes.selenium.alert.AlertNodeFactory",
          "name": "Alert",
          "shortDescription": "Interact with alert, confirm, and prompt boxes.",
          "description": "Interact with alert, confirm, and prompt boxes.",
          "contributingPlugin": "ws.palladian.nodes.selenium.plugin",
          "iconBase64": "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"
        },

     ],
      "identifier": "selenium",
      "id": "selenium",
      "name": "Selenium",
      "shortDescription": "Selenium",
      "description": "Selenium",
      "contributingPlugin": "ws.palladian.nodes.selenium.plugin",
      "iconBase64": "iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAAQCAYAAAAf8/9hAAAA6UlEQVR4nK2TAQ2EMAxFJ2ESkIAEJCABCUiYg0lAAhKQgAQkVEKPP2hTxuB2yf2kCdnoW9u/OXco7EF7cGXQmaPJHEJgImJRjLEGlCA0DAOXVAFBJY6XZUkJ67py13U8TZNCKqpw+nPf92kRkJ8A0jtaKf3kvdcqIXxjTQHzPKcNgDDMpmkuANuShSigbduLAxCgcorsAY7I2jtOwamYugUBYmeE2RTmc+85d+FJNxdAL7nwN4DsP9qI0u1FwrrdH8cx3ZW8AsLwSpKrLDZbnTbS62MSG+EQrrlo27Zkff4ivz5nJJ2J+pw/KRs8lHJwDIkAAAAASUVORK5CYII="
    }
  ],
  "identifier": "/",
  "id": "/",
  "name": "Root",
  "contributingPlugin": "org.knime.base"
}

The generated portDocumentation.json JSON file’s structure looks as follows:

{
  "name": "PortObject",
  "objectClass": "org.knime.core.node.port.PortObject",
  "specClass": "org.knime.core.node.port.PortObjectSpec",
  "color": "ff9b9b9b",
  "hidden": true,
  "registered": true,
  "children": [
    {
      "name": "WebDriver Factory",
      "objectClass": "ws.palladian.nodes.selenium.ports.AbstractWebDriverFactoryPortObject",
      "specClass": "org.knime.core.node.port.PortObjectSpec",
      "color": "408e2f",
      "hidden": false,
      "registered": true,
      "children": [
        {
          "name": "ws.palladian.nodes.selenium.WebDriverFactory2",
          "objectClass": "ws.palladian.nodes.selenium.ports.WebDriverFactory2PortObject",
          "specClass": "org.knime.core.node.port.PortObjectSpec",
          "color": "408e2f",
          "hidden": true,
          "registered": true
        },
        {
          "name": "ws.palladian.nodes.selenium.WebDriverFactory",
          "objectClass": "ws.palladian.nodes.selenium.ports.WebDriverFactoryPortObject",
          "specClass": "org.knime.core.node.port.PortObjectSpec",
          "color": "408e2f",
          "hidden": true,
          "registered": true
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

The generated splashIcons.json JSON file’s structure looks as follows:

[
  {
    "id": "selenium",
    "contributingPlugin": "ws.palladian.nodes.selenium.plugin",
    "tooltip": "Selenium",
    "icon": "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",
    "icon24": "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",
    "icon32": "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"
  }
]

Development

Run the following Maven command to compile the code, run the tests, and, if successful, build an update site:

$ mvn clean verify

To increment the version, make sure to update the pom.xml, MANIFEST.MF, and feature.xml files. Make sure to follow Semantic Versioning.

Contributing

Pull requests are very welcome. Feel free to discuss bugs or new features by opening a new issue.

License

GNU General Public License

NodePit / knime-json-node-doc-generator