# Plugins

The VisionPro Deep Learning software includes a plugin architecture that provides the ability to customize and extend functionality of the standard GUI at various aspects of the typical teaching, training and validation work flows.

Typical use-cases could be:

- Translate labeling information from an existing 3rd party database to Deep Learning labels.
- Automate the search for optimal parameter settings or optimal selection of training images.
- Export the analysis results to a different format readable by another application.

Plugins have access to the UI component interfaces and as such can be re-used in custom applications, which also make use or implement the interfaces of the standard UI components.

# Installing a Plugin

A plugin generally comes as a .NET assembly (.dll) or within a ZIP file (if in a ZIP file, it must first be extracted).

1. Copy the plugin to the VisionPro Deep Learning plugins folder: C:\Program Files\Cognex\VisionPro Deep Learning\3.0\Cognex Deep Learning Studio\plugins

   Ensure that you copy all of the files associated with the plugin to the plugins folder; otherwise the plugin could fail to load.

2. Within the VisionPro Deep Learning Studio, from the Plugins menu, select Manage Plugins.

3. This will launch the Plugin Manager dialog, where you can add and/or remove plugins.

4. To add a plugin, press the Add button and then navigate to the plugins folder and select the plugin you want to add.