Re: [Lazarus] Groupboxes in the IDE
Graeme Geldenhuys wrote: Marc Weustink wrote: Groupboxes were cluttering the real info, therefore we made a change to the bevels. Not all parts are done. Any objects in creating a custom component which does the dividing instead of using 100's of TBevel components and lots of advanced Align settings? Actually, I attempted to create a frame for this, but run into some bugs that prevented it. I also thought about a custom component. The idea goes a step further. The component would also act as container for the items inside (like a panel). This can have several uses: - depending on the availability off a layout manager, the custom component can do this. (like a groupbox, you just add the inner components) - it can be used to help doing a keyword oriented search for *all* option-pages (each container searches the captions of all children) - it may become collapsible (if no children matches the search) / not sure if really a good idea It should be very simple to knock together a simple divider component - custom drawn and only to be used in the IDE (not available on component palette). This is what I meant before by creating custom drawn components, which are only meant to be used inside the IDE. A more versatile NoteBook component for the editor is another candidate. IMHO not. I think the notebook is better solved by hiding the tabs, and using a listbox or even tree-view (sort by directory,...). What is the advantage of putting the drawing of such a list into the notebook itself? PS: I have to agree, the Bevel+2xLabel does look less cluttered that GroupBoxes. An alternative might also have been the Gnome HIG style. One bold label defining a section. Then the components for that section, but slightly indented. See attached screenshot for very quick mock-up. Well a custom component (accommodating the other controls as children) could very easily switch between a variety of layouts (but I think that's not really needed) Regards, - Graeme - -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus.freepascal.org http://lists.lazarus.freepascal.org/mailman/listinfo/lazarus -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus.freepascal.org http://lists.lazarus.freepascal.org/mailman/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Groupboxes in the IDE
2009/8/27 Martin laza...@mfriebe.de: Actually, I attempted to create a frame for this, but run into some bugs that prevented it. And you didn't fix those bugs? ;-) Actually I never even though of using a TFrame - that could have worked as well. - it may become collapsible This was my second thought for a custom grouping component. For the more complex dialogs the grouping component would maybe collapse the more advanced (or less used) options by default. IMHO not. I think the notebook is better solved by hiding the tabs, and using a listbox or even tree-view (sort by directory,...). For GTK2, I hacked my copy of the editor notebook so that tabs appear on the right with horizontal text. Windows can position tabs too, but the text defaults to vertical which makes it much harder to read and does not save on space - which defeats the whole exercise. To overcome the Windows tabs on right with vertical text issue, you need to do custom drawing to solve it. Hence my idea of a custom component for editor notebook. The other benefit will be that all widgets can be made to support the x close button on tabs. I have no idea how OS X looks with tabs on right or left edges - if it's even possible. Again a reason for custom drawn notebook component. The idea of the listbox is actually a good one. There is already a nice Lazarus add-on which uses a listbox, supports drag-to-reorder and does filtering. I haven't had time to see if I can manually dock it inside the editor window. My copy of Lazarus already has two manually docked add-ons. The editor toolbar and the embedded messages window below the editor. So this makes it a bit more tricking docking the file listbox add-on. Regards, - Graeme - ___ fpGUI - a cross-platform Free Pascal GUI toolkit http://opensoft.homeip.net/fpgui/ -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus.freepascal.org http://lists.lazarus.freepascal.org/mailman/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Groupboxes in the IDE
Graeme Geldenhuys wrote: 2009/8/27 Martin laza...@mfriebe.de: Actually, I attempted to create a frame for this, but run into some bugs that prevented it. And you didn't fix those bugs? ;-) Actually I never even though of Why would I do this myself? I delegated it. ;- (that is to say I reported them) Part of it is in fpc, so you need fpc trunc... using a TFrame - that could have worked as well. - it may become collapsible This was my second thought for a custom grouping component. For the more complex dialogs the grouping component would maybe collapse the more advanced (or less used) options by default. yes, that too IMHO not. I think the notebook is better solved by hiding the tabs, and using a listbox or even tree-view (sort by directory,...). For GTK2, I hacked my copy of the editor notebook so that tabs appear on the right with horizontal text. Windows can position tabs too, but the text defaults to vertical which makes it much harder to read and does not save on space - which defeats the whole exercise. but a listbox will work on all OS. To overcome the Windows tabs on right with vertical text issue, you need to do custom drawing to solve it. Hence my idea of a custom component for editor notebook. The other benefit will be that all widgets can be made to support the x close button on tabs. I have no true a list box does not have that (x button). but you could emulate the middle click, as it is used on tabs to close them. But then this are 2 different things: - custom draw tabs, to allow an [x] button (but keep orientation nativ) = IMHO this would make sense to add to the LCL for everyone. - custom draw tabs, to change the orientation. = IMHO easier to use a listbox (better tree view), though it wont have the fancy border, and the [x] button was still left for solving idea how OS X looks with tabs on right or left edges - if it's even possible. Again a reason for custom drawn notebook component. The idea of the listbox is actually a good one. There is already a nice Lazarus add-on which uses a listbox, supports drag-to-reorder and does filtering. I haven't had time to see if I can manually dock it inside the editor window. My copy of Lazarus already has two manually docked add-ons. The editor toolbar and the embedded messages window below the editor. So this makes it a bit more tricking docking the file listbox add-on. It could be fixed into the the source-editor window (meaning not un-dockable). The source-notebook is probably alClient. so any extension can just add an alLeft (or alRight) component). -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus.freepascal.org http://lists.lazarus.freepascal.org/mailman/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Groupboxes in the IDE
theo wrote: While real TGroupBox - Captions (at least on GTK2) are theme aware (bold, not bold), the labels on the bevels aren't. Correct. In Gnome I have my text set to dark-blue color. The TLabel components in Lazarus do not seem to adhere to that theme color. See the attached screenshot I posted earlier. The issue is even it the Form Designer. The captions of TCheckBox is correct color, but TLable is not. Then again, I am not sure if Lazarus IDE theme is that Section labels must be black color and bold. Hard-coded by design - if so, then I don't mind it. Regards, - Graeme - -- fpGUI Toolkit - a cross-platform GUI toolkit using Free Pascal http://opensoft.homeip.net/fpgui/ -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus.freepascal.org http://lists.lazarus.freepascal.org/mailman/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Groupboxes in the IDE
theo wrote: By introducing custom groupbox-alikes, Lazarus is giving up a part of the system look. Well, it's doing that already by using the Label 2xBevel isn't it?? That's my point I was trying to make before. Custom components should be allowed, that are _only_ used in the IDE -- NOT in normal applications that must adhere to system theme/look. IDE's are normally exceptions to normal applications because it is only used by a small target audience -- developers. Plus, IDE's need to convey a lot more settings and functions, which normal applications don't have to. You can have a look. Many IDE's use custom components that are only available in the IDE and not normally used in general applications. Delphi 2007 * it's new component palette component with search/filter feature * customized Virtual Treeview for many lists and trees Eclipse * non-standard tab control etc... Regards, - Graeme - -- fpGUI Toolkit - a cross-platform GUI toolkit using Free Pascal http://opensoft.homeip.net/fpgui/ -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus.freepascal.org http://lists.lazarus.freepascal.org/mailman/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Groupboxes in the IDE
Well, it's doing that already by using the Label 2xBevel isn't it?? Yes, I counted these as //groupbox-alikes too in my prev. message. I don't mind if you use custom components for the IDE if there is a good reason to do so. But you should be aware of the fact that they do not follow themes with the current solution. As long as both (TGroupBox, custom groupbox) are used together, it may look inconsistent mainly because of different caption-font. // -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus.freepascal.org http://lists.lazarus.freepascal.org/mailman/listinfo/lazarus
