# Registering Workbench Actions

Using `Gio.Action` is a convenient way to attach actions to the workbench that contain state. For example, maybe for use by a button that should be insensitive when it cannot be used. Additionally, actions registered on the workbench can be activated using the command bar plugin.

Registering an action on the workbench

    import gi

    from gi.repository import GObject
    from gi.repository import Gio
    from gi.repository import Ide

    class MyWorkbenchAddin(GObject.Object, Ide.WorkbenchAddin):

        def do_load(self, workbench):
            action = Gio.SimpleAction.new('hello', None)
            action.connect('activate', self.hello_activate)
            workbench.add_action(action)

        def do_unload(self, workbench):
            workbench.remove_action('hello')

        def hello_activate(self, action, param):
            print('Hello activated!')

This adds a new action named `hello` to the workbench. It can be connected to widgets by using the `win.hello` action-name. Additionally, you can call the action with `hello` from the command bar.

To toggle whether or not the action can be activated, set the `Gio.SimpleAction:enabled` property.