/*===================================================================================================
AAX_CommonInterface_FormatSpecification.doxygen

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/** @defgroup CommonInterface_FormatSpecification AAX Format Specification	
	@ingroup MainInterface
	
	@brief Additional requirements for %AAX plug-ins
	
	This document describes aspects of the %AAX plug-in format specification that are beyond the scope of the \ref MainInterface "common interface classes and callbacks" that the plug-in must implement.
	
<DIV CLASS="section">
	@section commoninterface_formatspecification__aaxplugin_directory_structure .aaxplugin Directory Structure
%AAX uses a bundle packaging format. On macOS, %AAX plug-ins are built as standard OS bundles, while on Windows they are simple directories. All %AAX plug-in bindles must use the .aaxplugin extension and the following directory structure:

<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
	<LI>
		/Contents
		<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
			<LI>
				/Resources
				<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
					<LI>
						<EM CLASS="Italic">This directory contains all of the additional resource files that will be needed by the plug-in at run time such as DSP algorithm DLLs, XML page tables, and image files for the plug-in's GUI</EM>
					</LI>
				</UL>
			</LI>
		</UL>
		<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
			<LI>
				/MacOS
				<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
					<LI>
						<EM CLASS="Italic">Contains the plug-in's macOS binary (Mach-O)<SUP>*</SUP></EM>
					</LI>
				</UL>
			</LI>
		</UL>
		<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
			<LI>
				/Win32 
				<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
					<LI>
						<EM CLASS="Italic">Contains the plug-in's Windows x86 binary<SUP>*</SUP></EM>
					</LI>
				</UL>
			</LI>
		</UL>
		<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
			<LI>
				/x64
				<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
					<LI>
						<EM CLASS="Italic">Contains the plug-in's Windows x64 binary<SUP>*</SUP></EM>
					</LI>
				</UL>
			</LI>
		</UL>
		<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
			<LI>
				/Factory Presets <EM CLASS="Italic">(optional) </EM>
				<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
					<LI>
						<EM CLASS="Italic">This directory includes built-in plug-in presets. For more information, see \ref subsection__presets_and_settings_management in the \ref AAX_Pro_Tools_Guide documentation</EM>
					</LI>
				</UL>
			</LI>
		</UL>
		<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
			<LI>
				PkgInfo <EM CLASS="Italic">(macOS only) </EM>
				<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
					<LI>
						<EM CLASS="Italic">This file must include the concatenation of the plug-in's <TT>CFBundlePackageType</TT> (<TT>TDMw</TT> or <TT>BNDL</TT>) and <TT>CFBundleSignature</TT> (<TT>PTul</TT>)</EM>
					</LI>
				</UL>
			</LI>
		</UL>
		<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
			<LI>
				Info.plist <EM CLASS="Italic">(macOS only) </EM>
				<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
					<LI>
						<EM CLASS="Italic">The plug-in's property list</EM>
					</LI>
				</UL>
			</LI>
		</UL>
	</LI>
	<LI>
		desktop.ini (Windows only)
		<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
			<LI>
				<EM CLASS="Italic">The .aaxplugin directory's view resource file, used to set its custom icon in Windows Explorer</EM>
			</LI>
		</UL>
	</LI>
	<LI>
		PlugIn.ico (Windows only)
		<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
			<LI>
				<EM CLASS="Italic">Custom plug-in icon file</EM>
			</LI>
		</UL>
	</LI>
</UL>

<SUP>*</SUP>See the following compatibility notes
\compatibility \li The plug-in's binary filename must be the same as the outer .aaxplugin bundle name
\compatibility \li On Windows, the plug-in binary (DLL) must use the ".aaxplugin" suffix; i.e. the DLL must use exactly the same name as the outer .aaxplugin folder. On macOS, the plug-in binary does not require a specific suffix.
\compatibility \li On Windows, the plug-in's binary filename (and therefore also the outer .aaxplugin file name) must not contain any spaces. There is a bug in AAE that will prevent binaries with spaces from being loaded properly. This is logged as PTSW-189928.

\note This directory structure is also used for plug-in installer directories in the VENUE plug-in installer system. See \ref aax_venue_guide__installer for more information.

</DIV>


<DIV CLASS="section">
		@section commoninterface_formatspecification__required_symbols Required Symbols
The following symbols are required in any %AAX plug-in and must not be stripped from the binary:
<UL CLASS="paragraphs">
<LI><TT>_ACFRegisterPlugin </TT></LI>
<LI><TT>_ACFRegisterComponent </TT></LI>
<LI><TT>_ACFGetClassFactory </TT></LI>
<LI><TT>_ACFCanUnloadNow </TT></LI>
<LI><TT>_ACFStartup </TT></LI>
<LI><TT>_ACFShutdown </TT></LI>
<LI><TT>_ACFGetSDKVersion </TT><SUP>*</SUP></LI>
</UL>

\compatibility
<SUP>*</SUP><TT>_ACFGetSDKVersion</TT> is required for 64-bit %AAX plug-ins only

</DIV>

*/
