Add support for stretchable spacers to XRC wxToolBar handler.

[wxWidgets.git] / docs / doxygen / overviews / aui.h

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Name:        aui.h
// Purpose:     topic overview
// Author:      wxWidgets team
// RCS-ID:      $Id$
// Licence:     wxWindows license
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

/**

@page overview_aui wxAUI Overview

Classes:
@li wxAuiManager
@li wxAuiPaneInfo
@li wxAuiNotebook
@li wxAuiDockArt
@li wxAuiTabArt

wxAUI stands for Advanced User Interface. It aims to give the user a cutting
edge interface with floatable windows, and a user-customizable layout. The
original wxAUI sources have kindly been made available under the wxWindows
licence by Kirix Corp. and they have since then been integrated into wxWidgets
and further improved.

wxAUI attempts to encapsulate the following aspects of the user interface:

@li @ref overview_aui_frame
@li @ref overview_aui_toolbar
@li @ref overview_aui_modeless
@li @ref overview_aui_lnf


<hr>


@section overview_aui_frame Frame Management

Frame management provides the means to open, move and hide common controls that
are needed to interact with the document, and allow these configurations to be
saved into different perspectives and loaded at a later time.


@section overview_aui_toolbar Toolbars

Toolbars are a specialized subset of the frame management system and should
behave similarly to other docked components. However, they also require
additional functionality, such as "spring-loaded" rebar support, "chevron"
buttons and end-user customizability.


@section overview_aui_modeless Modeless Controls

Modeless controls expose a tool palette or set of options that float above the
application content while allowing it to be accessed. Usually accessed by the
toolbar, these controls disappear when an option is selected, but may also be
"torn off" the toolbar into a floating frame of their own.


@section overview_aui_lnf Look and Feel

Look and feel encompasses the way controls are drawn, both when shown
statically as well as when they are being moved. This aspect of user interface
design incorporates "special effects" such as transparent window dragging as
well as frame animation.

wxAUI adheres to the following principles: Use native floating frames to obtain
a native look and feel for all platforms. Use existing wxWidgets code where
possible, such as sizer implementation for frame management. Use classes
included in @ref page_libs_wxcore and @ref page_libs_wxbase only.

*/