Prima::DockManager - advanced dockable widgets
Prima::DockManager contains classes that implement additional functionality in the dockable widgets paradigm.
Prima::DockManager
The module introduces two new dockable widget classes: Prima::DockManager::Panelbar, a general-purpose dockable container for variable-sized widgets; and Prima::DockManager::Toolbar, a dockable container for fixed-size command widgets, mostly push buttons. The command widgets nested in a toolbar can also be docked.
Prima::DockManager::Panelbar
Prima::DockManager::Toolbar
The Prima::DockManager class is application-oriented in a way that a single of it is needed. It is derived from Prima::Component and therefore is never visualized. The class instance is stored in the instance property in all module classes to serve as a docking hierarchy root. Through the document, the instance term means the Prima::DockManager class instance.
Prima::Component
instance
The module by itself is not enough to make a docking-aware application work effectively. The reader is urged to look at the examples/dock.pl example code, which demonstrates the usage and capabilities of the module.
A toolbar widget class. The toolbar has a dual nature; it can both dock itself and accept dockable widgets. As a dock, toolbars can host command widgets, mostly push buttons.
The toolbar consists of two widgets. The external dockable widget is implemented in Prima::DockManager::Toolbar, and the internal dock in Prima::DockManager::ToolbarDocker classes.
Prima::DockManager::ToolbarDocker
Selects the behavior of the toolbar when all of its command widgets are undocked. If 1 (default), the toolbar is automatically destroyed. If 0 it calls visible(0).
visible(0)
Pointer to the Prima::DockManager::ToolbarDocker instance.
See also Prima::DockManager::ToolbarDocker::parentDocker.
Prima::DockManager::ToolbarDocker::parentDocker
Prima::DockManager instance, the docking hierarchy root.
An internal class, implements the dock widget for command widgets, and a client in a dockable toolbar, a Prima::LinearDockerShuttle descendant. When its size is changed due to an eventual rearrangement of its docked widgets, also resizes the toolbar.
Prima::LinearDockerShuttle
The Prima::DockManager instance, the docking hierarchy root.
Pointer to a Prima::DockManager::Toolbar instance. When in the docked state, the parentDocker value is always equal to owner.
parentDocker
owner
See also Prima::DockManager::Toolbar::childDocker.
Prima::DockManager::Toolbar::childDocker
Calculates the minimal rectangle that encloses all docked widgets and returns its extensions.
Called when the size is changed to resize the owner widget. If the toolbar is docked, the change might result in a change of its position or docking state.
The class is derived from Prima::LinearDockerShuttle, and is different only in that the instance property is introduced, and the external shuttle can be resized interactively.
The class is to be used as a simple host to sizeable widgets. The user can dispose of the panel bar by clicking the close button on the external shuttle.
A binder class, contains a set of functions that groups toolbars, panels, and command widgets together under the docking hierarchy.
The manager serves several purposes. First, it is a command state holder: the command widgets, mostly buttons, usually are in an enabled or disabled state in different life stages of a program. The manager maintains the enabled/disabled state by assigning each command a unique scalar value, or a CLSID. The toolbars can be created using a set of command widgets, using these CLSIDs. The same is valid for the panels - although they do not host command widgets, the widgets that they do host can also be created indirectly via CLSID identifier. In addition to CLSIDs, the commands can be grouped by sections. Both CLSID and group descriptor scalars are defined by the programmer.
Second, the create_manager method presents the standard launchpad interface that allows the rearranging of normally non-dockable command widgets, by presenting a full set of available commands to the user as icons. Dragging the icons to toolbars, dock widgets, or merely outside the configuration widget automatically creates the corresponding command widget. The notable moment here is that the command widgets are not required to know anything about dragging and docking; any Prima::Widget descendant can be used as a command widget.
create_manager
Prima::Widget
Third, it helps maintain the toolbars' and panels' visibility when the main window is hidden or restored. The windowState method hides or shows the toolbars and panels effectively.
windowState
Fourth, it serves as a docking hierarchy root. All docking sessions start their protocol interactions at a Prima::DockManager object, which although does not provide docking capabilities itself ( it is a Prima::Component descendant ), redirects the docking requests to the children dock widgets.
Finally, it provides several helper methods and notifications and enforces the use of the fingerprint property by all dockable widgets. The module defines the following fingerprint dmfp::XXX constants:
fingerprint
dmfp::XXX
fdmp::Tools ( 0x0F000) - dock the command widgets fdmp::Toolbar ( 0x10000) - dock the toolbars fdmp::LaunchPad ( 0x20000) - allows widgets recycling
All this functionality is demonstrated in examples/dock.pl example.
A hash of boolean values with keys of CLSID scalars, where if the value is 1, the command is available and is disabled otherwise. Changes to this property are reflected in the visible command widgets, which are enabled or disabled immediately. Also, the CommandChange notification is triggered.
CommandChange
The property is read-only, and always returns 0xFFFFFFFF, to allow landing to all dockable widgets. In case a finer granulation is needed, the default fingerprint values of toolbars and panels can be reset.
0xFFFFFFFF
If 1, the command widgets can be interactively dragged, created, and destroyed. This property is usually operated together with the create_manager launchpad widget. If 0, the command widgets cannot be dragged.
Default value: 0
Brings to front all toolbars and panels. To be used inside a callback code of a main window, that has the toolbars and panels attached to:
onActivate => sub { $dock_manager-> activate }
Returns a unique name for an automatically created toolbar, like Toolbar1, Toolbar2 etc.
Toolbar1
Toolbar2
Enables or disables commands from CLSIDs array. The changes are reflected in the visible command widgets, which are enabled or disabled immediately. Also, the CommandChange notification is triggered.
Inserts two widgets into OWNER with PROFILE parameters: a list box with command section groups, displayed as items, that usually correspond to the predefined toolbar names, and a notebook that displays the command icons. The notebook pages can be interactively selected by the list box navigation.
The icons dragged from the notebook, behave as dockable widgets: they can be landed on a toolbar, or any other dock widget, given it matches the fingerprint ( by default dmfp::LaunchPad|dmfp::Toolbar|dmfp::Tools). dmfp::LaunchPad constant allows the recycling; if a widget is dragged back onto the notebook, it is destroyed.
dmfp::LaunchPad|dmfp::Toolbar|dmfp::Tools
dmfp::LaunchPad
Returns the two widgets created, the list box and the notebook.
PROFILE recognizes the following keys:
Position where the widgets are to be inserted. The default value is 0,0.
Size of the widget insertion area. By default, the widgets occupy all OWNER interiors.
Custom parameters passed to the list box.
Custom parameters passed to the notebook.
Spawns a dockable panel from a previously registered CLSID. PROFILE recognizes the following keys:
A hash of parameters passed to the new() method of the panel widget class. Before passing it is merged with the set of parameters registered by register_panel. The profile hash takes precedence.
new()
register_panel
profile
Contains extra options passed to the Prima::DockManager::Panelbar widget. Before passing it is merged with the set of parameters registered by register_panel.
Note: The dock key contains a reference to the desired dock widget. If dock is set to undef, the panel is created in the non-docked state.
dock
undef
Example:
$dock_manager-> create_panel( $CLSID, dockerProfile => { dock => $main_window }}, profile => { backColor => cl::Green });
Inserts a command widget, previously registered with a CLSID by register_tool, into OWNER widget at X1 - Y2 coordinates. For automatic maintenance of enabled/disabled states of command widgets, OWNER is expected to be a toolbar. If it is not, the maintenance must be performed separately, for example, by reacting to the CommandChange event.
register_tool
Creates a new toolbar of the Prima::DockManager::Toolbar class. The following PROFILE options are recognized:
Manages the autoClose property of the toolbar.
autoClose
The default value is 1 if the name option is set, and 0 otherwise.
name
Contains a reference to the desired DOCK widget. If undef, the toolbar is created in the non-docked state.
Parameters passed to Prima::DockManager::Toolbar as creation properties.
Manages geometry of the Prima::DockManager::ToolbarDocker instance in the dock widget ( if docked ) or the screen ( if non-docked ) coordinates.
Parameters passed to Prima::DockManager::ToolbarDocker as properties.
Sets the vertical property of the toolbar.
vertical
Selects the visibility state of the toolbar.
Returns a class record hash, registered under a CLSID, or undef if the class is not registered. The hash format contains the following keys:
Widget class
Creation parameters passed to new when the corresponding widget is instantiated.
new
If 1, the class belongs to a control widget. If 0, the class represents a panel client widget.
Saved value of the last used dock widget
Saved coordinates of the widget
Returns reference to the panel widget represented by CLSID scalar, or undef if none is found.
A helper function; maps all panel names into a structure, ready to feed into the Prima::AbstractMenu::items property ( see Prima::Menu ). The action member of the menu item record is set to the CALLBACK scalar.
Prima::AbstractMenu::items
Sets the visibility of a panel referred to by the CLSID scalar. If VISIBLE is 0, the panel is destroyed; if 1, a new panel instance is created.
Returns all visible panel widgets in an array.
Accepts pairs of scalars, where each first item is a panel CLSID and the second is the default dock widget. Checks for the panel visibility and creates the panels that are not visible.
The method is useful in a program startup, when some panels have to be visible from the beginning.
Accepts an array of hashes where each array item describes a toolbar and a default set of command widgets. Checks for the toolbar visibility and creates the toolbars that are not visible.
The method recognizes the following PROFILES options:
The default dock widget.
An array of CLSIDs corresponding to the command widgets to be inserted into the toolbar.
Selects the toolbar name.
Selects the toolbar position relative to the dock ( if dock is specified ) or to the screen ( if dock is not specified ).
The method is useful in program startup, when some panels have to be visible from the beginning.
Registers a panel client class and set of parameters to be associated with a CLSID scalar. PROFILE must contain the following keys:
Client widget class
A string of text displayed in the panel title bar
A hash of parameters passed to Prima::DockManager::Panelbar.
A hash of parameters passed to the client widget.
Registers a control widget class and set of parameters to be associated with a CLSID scalar. PROFILE must contain the following keys:
A hash of parameters passed to the control widget.
Returns a reference to the toolbar of NAME, or undef if none is found.
A helper function; maps all toolbar names into a structure, ready to feed into the Prima::AbstractMenu::items property ( see Prima::Menu ). The action member of the menu item record is set to the CALLBACK scalar.
Sets the visibility of a TOOLBAR. If VISIBLE is 0, the toolbar is hidden; if 1, it is shown.
Returns all toolbar widgets in an array.
Mimics interface of Prima::Window::windowState, and maintains visibility of toolbars and panels. If the parameter is ws::Minimized, the toolbars and panels are hidden. On any other parameter, these are shown.
Prima::Window::windowState
ws::Minimized
To be used inside a callback code of a main window, that has the toolbars and panels attached to:
onWindowState => sub { $dock_manager-> windowState( $_[1] ) }
A generic event triggered by a command widget when the user activates it. It can also be called by other means.
CLSID is the widget identifier.
Called when the commands property changes or the commands_enable method is invoked.
commands
commands_enable
Triggered when a panel is created or destroyed by the user.
Triggered when a toolbar is created, shown, gets hidden, or destroyed by the user.
The package simplifies the creation of Prima::SpeedButton command widgets.
Prima::SpeedButton
Builds a hash with parameters, ready to feed to Prima::DockManager::register_tool for registering a combination of the Prima::SpeedButton class and the PROFILE parameters.
Prima::DockManager::register_tool
IMAGE is the path to an image file, loaded and stored in the registration hash. IMAGE provides an extended syntax for selecting the frame index if the image file is multiframed: the frame index is appended to the path name with the : character prefix.
:
CLSID scalar is not used but is returned so the method result can directly be passed into the register_tool method.
Returns two scalars: CLSID and the registration hash.
$dock_manager-> register_tool( Prima::DockManager::S::SpeedButton::class( "myicon.gif:2", q(CLSID::Logo), hint => 'Logo image' ));
Dmitry Karasik, <dmitry@karasik.eu.org>.
Prima, Prima::Widget, Prima::Docks, examples/dock.pl
To install Prima, copy and paste the appropriate command in to your terminal.
cpanm
cpanm Prima
CPAN shell
perl -MCPAN -e shell install Prima
For more information on module installation, please visit the detailed CPAN module installation guide.