Plugins are loaded from two locations on the program startup.
Installation directory
Plugins are loaded from the program installation directory (a global plugin directory) <modeling tool installation directory>\plugins.
This directory can be changed using a md.plugins.dir java system property and specifying paths separated with a semicolon (;) symbol.
To change the location of the plugins directory
- Open the <modeling tool name>.properties file, which is located in <modeling tool installation directory>\bin.
In the JAVA_ARGS line, add the following property:
-Dmd.plugins.dir="absolute path to plugins directory1;absolute path to plugins directory2"
Sample property value
-Dmd.plugins.dir="C:\Program Files\MagicDraw\plugins;D:\MyPlugins"
Configuration files location
Additionally, plugins are loaded from a configuration files location (<Configuration files location>\plugins). This allows to have global and user plugins.
See “MagicDraw Configuration Files Location” in the MagicDraw UserManual.pdf.
Another issue on Unix systems is related to user permissions to write. If a modeling tool is installed in a root, user is not allowed to write in a global plugin directory if a user has not such permissions.