As I said before:

They aren't as limited as you think...
If a parameter contains an attribute that subclasses
ParameterEditorStyle, then that attribute controls
how the interaction with the parameter is done.
See the
$PTII/ptolemy/actor/gui/style directory.

In addition, you can completely customize the
dialog that Configure Actor opens.
See EditorFactory and its subclasses for examples.

For an example, the PythonScript actor in the library
opens a text editor when you select Configure Actor.

Edward

On 6/8/12 2:14 PM, Rohan Sadler wrote:
Hi Patrick,

I was thinking the same thing today, and was having a look at wxPython. 
However, I am in the early days and so can't help you re: experience.

At this point in time I am almost tempted to run Kepler from the command line: 
https://kepler-project.org/developers/reference/executing-kepler-from-the-command-line.
 The python/java GUI buttons would simply change default object assignments in 
the kepler/java script before running the project. There though should be a 
better way, as it would not be computationally smart to have two interpreters 
stacked on top of each other.

re: other toolkits. The forthcoming book 
http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Graphical-Interfaces-Chapman-Series/dp/1439856826
 also enables learning GUIs for R.

I agree with you. The bottom line is that there is a need for custom interfaces 
for endusers of the kepler workflow, as soon as the workflow gets complex. Most 
of my endusers are familiar with excel and that is it when it comes to 
software, and don't want to venture too far out. For example a technician 
typing in soil and plant parameters, before getting a soil water balance from 
Kepler. Something like RExcel means they can plug in numbers in a spreadsheet, 
and get their outputs. In a workflow this would mean that:
1) Run the workflow in Kepler,
2) An excel styled spreadsheet would pop-up, pre-populated with default 
parameters, and perhaps some pre-specified data [e.g. swing pulldown to source 
locally held weather station data].
3) End user would type in their numbers, then press 'done'
4) Kepler would continue to execute with the new information.

Regards
Rohan

Senior Scientist
Astron Environmental Services

Adjunct Senior Lecturer
School of Agricultural and Resource Economics
The University of Western Australia

________________________________________
From: kepler-users-boun...@kepler-project.org 
[kepler-users-boun...@kepler-project.org] On Behalf Of Patrick Janssen 
[patr...@janssen.name]
Sent: Tuesday, 5 June 2012 8:54 AM
To: kepler-users@kepler-project.org
Subject: [kepler-users] component gui

The GUI creation tools under the 'Configure Actor' (for creating custom 
interfaces for setting actor parameters) are limited (for example, no sliders, 
no drop down lists, no tabs, no free text, no layout constraints, etc). In 
particular, I find this an issue when defining complex Python actors with lost 
of different parameters. As a result, the interface can end up being a bit 
unfriendly for the end users of my actors.

I am wondering -  what is the best way of overcoming this? Has anyone had any 
experience creating custom GUIs for actors using either Java or Python, for 
example using Swing or other toolkits?
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