Unable to load custom module

Question

Im refactoring my current dissector by splitting it up in different lua modules.

The implemented protocol has multiple subprotocols. Which protocol is decided by a field in the top protocol. I created a lua module for each subprotocol, but I am unable to load the module into the wireshark.

the file structure

+$/.wireshark/plugins
    -proto.lua
    -tm_frame.lua

A module

local tm_frame = {}
function tm_frame.handle(tree, buffer)
    local tm_frame_tree = tree:add(buffer, "TM Transfer Frame")
    ...
end
return tm_frame

The line of code to call the module in the main plugin

local tm_frame = require 'tm_frame'

Other information

Mint 17
Lua 5.2.3
Wireshark 1.10.6

How can i load the module?

Accepted Answer

If you're using Wireshark 1.12.0 or newer, then you can create a sub-directory for your module files in the personal plugins directory - let's call that new sub-directory "tm_modules" - and you can put the tm_frame.lua file in that "tm_modules" directory; keep your main proto.lua Lua file in the main personal plugins directory but put this line before your "require" line in it:

package.prepend_path("tm_modules")
-- then do the require
local tm_frame = require 'tm_frame'

Answer 2

A bit of a guess but if you are placing two files in plugins directory they both will be executed by lua.

I'd maybe try to 1) place second file one directory above in separate directory ie: my_custom_lib 2) then try something like

dofile("../my_custom_lib/tm_frame.lua")

command in your code in proto.lua