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1 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
2 // Name: xrc.h
3 // Purpose: topic overview
4 // Author: wxWidgets team
5 // RCS-ID: $Id$
6 // Licence: wxWindows license
7 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
8
9 /**
10
11 @page overview_xrc XML Based Resource System (XRC)
12
13 Classes: wxXmlResource, wxXmlResourceHandler
14
15 The XML-based resource system, known as XRC, allows user interface elements
16 such as dialogs, menu bars and toolbars, to be stored in text files and loaded
17 into the application at run-time. XRC files can also be compiled into binary
18 XRS files or C++ code (the former makes it possible to store all resources in a
19 single file and the latter is useful when you want to embed the resources into
20 the executable).
21
22 There are several advantages to using XRC resources:
23
24 @li Recompiling and linking an application is not necessary if the resources
25 change.
26 @li If you use a dialog designer that generates C++ code, it can be hard to
27 reintegrate this into existing C++ code. Separation of resources and code
28 is a more elegant solution.
29 @li You can choose between different alternative resource files at run time, if
30 necessary.
31 @li The XRC format uses sizers for flexibility, allowing dialogs to be
32 resizable and highly portable.
33 @li The XRC format is a wxWidgets standard, and can be generated or
34 postprocessed by any program that understands it. As it is basedon the XML
35 standard, existing XML editors can be used for simple editing purposes.
36
37 XRC was written by Vaclav Slavik.
38
39 @li @ref overview_xrc_concepts
40 @li @ref overview_xrc_binaryresourcefiles
41 @li @ref overview_xrc_embeddedresource
42 @li @ref overview_xrc_cppsample
43 @li @ref overview_xrc_sample
44 @li @ref overview_xrc_cppheader
45 @li @ref overview_xrc_newresourcehandlers
46
47 See also the separate @ref overview_xrcformat page for details about the XRC file format.
48
49 <hr>
50
51
52 @section overview_xrc_concepts XRC Concepts
53
54 These are the typical steps for using XRC files in your application.
55
56 @li Include the appropriate headers: normally "wx/xrc/xmlres.h" will suffice.
57 @li If you are going to use XRS files (see
58 @ref overview_xrc_binaryresourcefiles), install wxFileSystem archive
59 handler first with wxFileSystem::AddHandler(new wxArchiveFSHandler);
60 @li Call wxXmlResource::Get()->InitAllHandlers() from your wxApp::OnInit
61 function, and then call wxXmlResource::Get()->Load("myfile.xrc") to load
62 the resource file.
63 @li To create a dialog from a resource, create it using the default
64 constructor, and then load it. For example:
65 wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadDialog(dlg, this, "dlg1");
66 @li Set up event tables as usual but use the XRCID(str) macro to translate from
67 XRC string names to a suitable integer identifier, for example
68 <tt>EVT_MENU(XRCID("quit"), MyFrame::OnQuit)</tt>.
69
70 To create an XRC file, you can use one of the following methods.
71
72 @li Create the file by hand.
73 @li Use wxDesigner <http://www.roebling.de/>, a commercial dialog designer/RAD
74 tool.
75 @li Use DialogBlocks <http://www.anthemion.co.uk/dialogblocks/>, a commercial
76 dialog editor.
77 @li Use XRCed <http://xrced.sf.net/>, a wxPython-based dialog editor that you
78 can find in the wxPython/tools subdirectory of the wxWidgets SVN archive.
79 @li Use wxGlade <http://wxglade.sf.net/>, a GUI designer written in wxPython.
80 At the moment it can generate Python, C++ and XRC.
81
82 A complete list of third-party tools that write to XRC can be found at
83 <http://www.wxwidgets.org/wiki/index.php/Tools>.
84
85 It is highly recommended that you use a resource editing tool, since it's
86 fiddly writing XRC files by hand.
87
88 You can use wxXmlResource::Load in a number of ways. You can pass an XRC file
89 (XML-based text resource file) or a zip-compressed file (see
90 @ref overview_xrc_binaryresourcefiles), with extension ZIP or XRS, containing
91 other XRC.
92
93 You can also use embedded C++ resources (see
94 @ref overview_xrc_embeddedresource).
95
96
97 @section overview_xrc_binaryresourcefiles Using Binary Resource Files
98
99 To compile binary resource files, use the command-line @c wxrc utility. It
100 takes one or more file parameters (the input XRC files) and the following
101 switches and options:
102
103 @li -h (--help): Show a help message.
104 @li -v (--verbose): Show verbose logging information.
105 @li -c (--cpp-code): Write C++ source rather than a XRS file.
106 @li -e (--extra-cpp-code): If used together with -c, generates C++ header file
107 containing class definitions for the windows defined by the XRC file (see
108 special subsection).
109 @li -u (--uncompressed): Do not compress XML files (C++ only).
110 @li -g (--gettext): Output underscore-wrapped strings that poEdit or gettext
111 can scan. Outputs to stdout, or a file if -o is used.
112 @li -n (--function) @<name@>: Specify C++ function name (use with -c).
113 @li -o (--output) @<filename@>: Specify the output file, such as resource.xrs
114 or resource.cpp.
115 @li -l (--list-of-handlers) @<filename@>: Output a list of necessary handlers
116 to this file.
117
118 For example:
119
120 @code
121 $ wxrc resource.xrc
122 $ wxrc resource.xrc -o resource.xrs
123 $ wxrc resource.xrc -v -c -o resource.cpp
124 @endcode
125
126 @note XRS file is essentially a renamed ZIP archive which means that you can
127 manipulate it with standard ZIP tools. Note that if you are using XRS files,
128 you have to initialize the wxFileSystem archive handler first! It is a simple
129 thing to do:
130
131 @code
132 #include <wx/filesys.h>
133 #include <wx/fs_arc.h>
134 ...
135 wxFileSystem::AddHandler(new wxArchiveFSHandler);
136 @endcode
137
138
139 @section overview_xrc_embeddedresource Using Embedded Resources
140
141 It is sometimes useful to embed resources in the executable itself instead of
142 loading an external file (e.g. when your app is small and consists only of one
143 exe file). XRC provides means to convert resources into regular C++ file that
144 can be compiled and included in the executable.
145
146 Use the @c -c switch to @c wxrc utility to produce C++ file with embedded
147 resources. This file will contain a function called @c InitXmlResource (unless
148 you override this with a command line switch). Use it to load the resource:
149
150 @code
151 extern void InitXmlResource(); // defined in generated file
152 ...
153 wxXmlResource::Get()->InitAllHandlers();
154 InitXmlResource();
155 ...
156 @endcode
157
158
159 @section overview_xrc_cppsample XRC C++ Sample
160
161 This is the C++ source file (xrcdemo.cpp) for the XRC sample.
162
163 @code
164 #include "wx/wx.h"
165 #include "wx/image.h"
166 #include "wx/xrc/xmlres.h"
167
168 // the application icon
169 #if defined(__WXGTK__) || defined(__WXMOTIF__) || defined(__WXMAC__)
170 #include "rc/appicon.xpm"
171 #endif
172
173 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
174 // private classes
175 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
176
177 // Define a new application type, each program should derive a class from wxApp
178 class MyApp : public wxApp
179 {
180 public:
181 // override base class virtuals
182 // ----------------------------
183
184 // this one is called on application startup and is a good place for the
185 // app initialization (doing it here and not in the ctor allows to have an
186 // error return: if OnInit() returns false, the application terminates)
187 virtual bool OnInit();
188 };
189
190 // Define a new frame type: this is going to be our main frame
191 class MyFrame : public wxFrame
192 {
193 public:
194 // ctor(s)
195 MyFrame(const wxString& title, const wxPoint& pos, const wxSize& size);
196
197 // event handlers (these functions should _not_ be virtual)
198 void OnQuit(wxCommandEvent& event);
199 void OnAbout(wxCommandEvent& event);
200 void OnDlg1(wxCommandEvent& event);
201 void OnDlg2(wxCommandEvent& event);
202
203 private:
204 // any class wishing to process wxWidgets events must use this macro
205 DECLARE_EVENT_TABLE()
206 };
207
208 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
209 // event tables and other macros for wxWidgets
210 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
211
212 BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(MyFrame, wxFrame)
213 EVT_MENU(XRCID("menu_quit"), MyFrame::OnQuit)
214 EVT_MENU(XRCID("menu_about"), MyFrame::OnAbout)
215 EVT_MENU(XRCID("menu_dlg1"), MyFrame::OnDlg1)
216 EVT_MENU(XRCID("menu_dlg2"), MyFrame::OnDlg2)
217 END_EVENT_TABLE()
218
219 IMPLEMENT_APP(MyApp)
220
221 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
222 // the application class
223 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
224
225 // 'Main program' equivalent: the program execution "starts" here
226 bool MyApp::OnInit()
227 {
228 wxImage::AddHandler(new wxGIFHandler);
229 wxXmlResource::Get()->InitAllHandlers();
230 wxXmlResource::Get()->Load("rc/resource.xrc");
231
232 MyFrame *frame = new MyFrame("XML resources demo",
233 wxPoint(50, 50), wxSize(450, 340));
234 frame->Show(true);
235 return true;
236 }
237
238 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
239 // main frame
240 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
241
242 // frame constructor
243 MyFrame::MyFrame(const wxString& title, const wxPoint& pos, const wxSize& size)
244 : wxFrame((wxFrame *)NULL, -1, title, pos, size)
245 {
246 SetIcon(wxICON(appicon));
247
248 SetMenuBar(wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadMenuBar("mainmenu"));
249 SetToolBar(wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadToolBar(this, "toolbar"));
250 }
251
252 // event handlers
253 void MyFrame::OnQuit(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
254 {
255 // true is to force the frame to close
256 Close(true);
257 }
258
259 void MyFrame::OnAbout(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
260 {
261 wxString msg;
262 msg.Printf( _T("This is the about dialog of XML resources demo.\n")
263 _T("Welcome to %s"), wxVERSION_STRING);
264
265 wxMessageBox(msg, "About XML resources demo",
266 wxOK | wxICON_INFORMATION, this);
267 }
268
269 void MyFrame::OnDlg1(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
270 {
271 wxDialog dlg;
272 wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadDialog(&dlg, this, "dlg1");
273 dlg.ShowModal();
274 }
275
276 void MyFrame::OnDlg2(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
277 {
278 wxDialog dlg;
279 wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadDialog(&dlg, this, "dlg2");
280 dlg.ShowModal();
281 }
282 @endcode
283
284
285 @section overview_xrc_sample XRC Resource File Sample
286
287 This is the XML file (resource.xrc) for the XRC sample.
288
289 @code
290 <?xml version="1.0"?>
291 <resource version="2.3.0.1">
292 <object class="wxMenuBar" name="mainmenu">
293 <style>wxMB_DOCKABLE</style>
294 <object class="wxMenu" name="menu_file">
295 <label>_File</label>
296 <style>wxMENU_TEAROFF</style>
297 <object class="wxMenuItem" name="menu_about">
298 <label>_About...</label>
299 <bitmap>filesave.gif</bitmap>
300 </object>
301 <object class="separator"/>
302 <object class="wxMenuItem" name="menu_dlg1">
303 <label>Dialog 1</label>
304 </object>
305 <object class="wxMenuItem" name="menu_dlg2">
306 <label>Dialog 2</label>
307 </object>
308 <object class="separator"/>
309 <object class="wxMenuItem" name="menu_quit">
310 <label>E_xit\tAlt-X</label>
311 </object>
312 </object>
313 </object>
314 <object class="wxToolBar" name="toolbar">
315 <style>wxTB_FLAT|wxTB_DOCKABLE</style>
316 <margins>2,2</margins>
317 <object class="tool" name="menu_open">
318 <bitmap>fileopen.gif</bitmap>
319 <tooltip>Open catalog</tooltip>
320 </object>
321 <object class="tool" name="menu_save">
322 <bitmap>filesave.gif</bitmap>
323 <tooltip>Save catalog</tooltip>
324 </object>
325 <object class="tool" name="menu_update">
326 <bitmap>update.gif</bitmap>
327 <tooltip>Update catalog - synchronize it with sources</tooltip>
328 </object>
329 <separator/>
330 <object class="tool" name="menu_quotes">
331 <bitmap>quotes.gif</bitmap>
332 <toggle>1</toggle>
333 <tooltip>Display quotes around the string?</tooltip>
334 </object>
335 <object class="separator"/>
336 <object class="tool" name="menu_fuzzy">
337 <bitmap>fuzzy.gif</bitmap>
338 <tooltip>Toggled if selected string is fuzzy translation</tooltip>
339 <toggle>1</toggle>
340 </object>
341 </object>
342 <object class="wxDialog" name="dlg1">
343 <object class="wxBoxSizer">
344 <object class="sizeritem">
345 <object class="wxBitmapButton">
346 <bitmap>fuzzy.gif</bitmap>
347 <focus>fileopen.gif</focus>
348 </object>
349 </object>
350 <object class="sizeritem">
351 <object class="wxPanel">
352 <object class="wxStaticText">
353 <label>fdgdfgdfgdfg</label>
354 </object>
355 <style>wxBORDER\_SUNKEN</style>
356 </object>
357 <flag>wxALIGN_CENTER</flag>
358 </object>
359 <object class="sizeritem">
360 <object class="wxButton">
361 <label>Buttonek</label>
362 </object>
363 <border>10d</border>
364 <flag>wxALL</flag>
365 </object>
366 <object class="sizeritem">
367 <object class="wxHtmlWindow">
368 <htmlcode><h1>Hi,</h1>man</htmlcode>
369 <size>100,45d</size>
370 </object>
371 </object>
372 <object class="sizeritem">
373 <object class="wxNotebook">
374 <object class="notebookpage">
375 <object class="wxPanel">
376 <object class="wxBoxSizer">
377 <object class="sizeritem">
378 <object class="wxHtmlWindow">
379 <htmlcode>Hello, we are inside a <u>NOTEBOOK</u>...</htmlcode>
380 <size>50,50d</size>
381 </object>
382 <option>1</option>
383 </object>
384 </object>
385 </object>
386 <label>Page</label>
387 </object>
388 <object class="notebookpage">
389 <object class="wxPanel">
390 <object class="wxBoxSizer">
391 <object class="sizeritem">
392 <object class="wxHtmlWindow">
393 <htmlcode>Hello, we are inside a <u>NOTEBOOK</u>...</htmlcode>
394 <size>50,50d</size>
395 </object>
396 </object>
397 </object>
398 </object>
399 <label>Page 2</label>
400 </object>
401 <usenotebooksizer>1</usenotebooksizer>
402 </object>
403 <flag>wxEXPAND</flag>
404 </object>
405 <orient>wxVERTICAL</orient>
406 </object>
407 </object>
408 <object class="wxDialog" name="dlg2">
409 <object class="wxBoxSizer">
410 <orient>wxVERTICAL</orient>
411 <object class="sizeritem" name="dfgdfg">
412 <object class="wxTextCtrl">
413 <size>200,200d</size>
414 <style>wxTE_MULTILINE|wxBORDER_SUNKEN</style>
415 <value>Hello, this is an ordinary multiline\n textctrl....</value>
416 </object>
417 <option>1</option>
418 <flag>wxEXPAND|wxALL</flag>
419 <border>10</border>
420 </object>
421 <object class="sizeritem">
422 <object class="wxBoxSizer">
423 <object class="sizeritem">
424 <object class="wxButton" name="wxID_OK">
425 <label>Ok</label>
426 <default>1</default>
427 </object>
428 </object>
429 <object class="sizeritem">
430 <object class="wxButton" name="wxID_CANCEL">
431 <label>Cancel</label>
432 </object>
433 <border>10</border>
434 <flag>wxLEFT</flag>
435 </object>
436 </object>
437 <flag>wxLEFT|wxRIGHT|wxBOTTOM|wxALIGN_RIGHT</flag>
438 <border>10</border>
439 </object>
440 </object>
441 <title>Second testing dialog</title>
442 </object>
443 </resource>
444 @endcode
445
446
447 @section overview_xrc_cppheader C++ header file generation
448
449 Using the @c -e switch together with @c -c, a C++ header file is written
450 containing class definitions for the GUI windows defined in the XRC file. This
451 code generation can make it easier to use XRC and automate program development.
452 The classes can be used as basis for development, freeing the programmer from
453 dealing with most of the XRC specifics (e.g. @c XRCCTRL).
454
455 For each top level window defined in the XRC file a C++ class definition is
456 generated, containing as class members the named widgets of the window. A
457 default constructor for each class is also generated. Inside the constructor
458 all XRC loading is done and all class members representing widgets are
459 initialized.
460
461 A simple example will help understand how the scheme works. Suppose you have a
462 XRC file defining a top level window @c TestWnd_Base, which subclasses wxFrame
463 (any other class like @c wxDialog will do also), and has subwidgets wxTextCtrl A
464 and wxButton B.
465
466 The XRC file and corresponding class definition in the header file will be
467 something like:
468
469 @code
470 <?xml version="1.0"?>
471 <resource version="2.3.0.1">
472 <object class="wxFrame" name="TestWnd_Base">
473 <size>-1,-1</size>
474 <title>Test</title>
475 <object class="wxBoxSizer">
476 <orient>wxHORIZONTAL</orient>
477 <object class="sizeritem">
478 <object class="wxTextCtrl" name="A">
479 <label>Test label</label>
480 </object>
481 </object>
482 <object class="sizeritem">
483 <object class="wxButton" name="B">
484 <label>Test button</label>
485 </object>
486 </object>
487 </object>
488 </object>
489 </resource>
490
491
492 class TestWnd_Base : public wxFrame
493 {
494 protected:
495 wxTextCtrl* A;
496 wxButton* B;
497
498 private:
499 void InitWidgetsFromXRC()
500 {
501 wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadObject(this, NULL, "TestWnd", "wxFrame");
502 A = XRCCTRL(*this, "A", wxTextCtrl);
503 B = XRCCTRL(*this, "B", wxButton);
504 }
505 public:
506 TestWnd::TestWnd()
507 {
508 InitWidgetsFromXRC();
509 }
510 };
511 @endcode
512
513 The generated window class can be used as basis for the full window class. The
514 class members which represent widgets may be accessed by name instead of using
515 @c XRCCTRL every time you wish to reference them (note that they are
516 @c protected class members), though you must still use @c XRCID to refer to
517 widget IDs in the event table.
518
519 Example:
520
521 @code
522 #include "resource.h"
523
524 class TestWnd : public TestWnd_Base
525 {
526 public:
527 TestWnd()
528 {
529 // A, B already initialised at this point
530 A->SetValue("Updated in TestWnd::TestWnd");
531 B->SetValue("Nice :)");
532 }
533 void OnBPressed(wxEvent& event)
534 {
535 Close();
536 }
537 DECLARE_EVENT_TABLE();
538 };
539
540 BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(TestWnd,TestWnd_Base)
541 EVT_BUTTON(XRCID("B"), TestWnd::OnBPressed)
542 END_EVENT_TABLE()
543 @endcode
544
545 It is also possible to access the wxSizerItem of a sizer that is part of a
546 resource. This can be done using @c XRCSIZERITEM as shown.
547
548 The resource file can have something like this for a sizer item.
549
550 @code
551 <object class="spacer" name="area">
552 <size>400, 300</size>
553 </object>
554 @endcode
555
556 The code can then access the sizer item by using @c XRCSIZERITEM and @c XRCID
557 together.
558
559 @code
560 wxSizerItem* item = XRCSIZERITEM(*this, "area");
561 @endcode
562
563
564 @section overview_xrc_newresourcehandlers Adding New Resource Handlers
565
566 Adding a new resource handler is pretty easy.
567
568 Typically, to add an handler for the @c MyControl class, you'll want to create
569 the @c xh_mycontrol.h and @c xh_mycontrol.cpp files.
570
571 The header needs to contains the @c MyControlXmlHandler class definition:
572
573 @code
574 class MyControlXmlHandler : public wxXmlResourceHandler
575 {
576 public:
577 // Constructor.
578 MyControlXmlHandler();
579
580 // Creates the control and returns a pointer to it.
581 virtual wxObject *DoCreateResource();
582
583 // Returns true if we know how to create a control for the given node.
584 virtual bool CanHandle(wxXmlNode *node);
585
586 // Register with wxWidgets' dynamic class subsystem.
587 DECLARE_DYNAMIC_CLASS(MyControlXmlHandler)
588 };
589 @endcode
590
591 The implementation of your custom XML handler will typically look as:
592
593 @code
594 // Register with wxWidgets' dynamic class subsystem.
595 IMPLEMENT_DYNAMIC_CLASS(MyControlXmlHandler, wxXmlResourceHandler)
596
597 MyControlXmlHandler::MyControlXmlHandler()
598 {
599 // this call adds support for all wxWindows class styles
600 // (e.g. wxBORDER_SIMPLE, wxBORDER_SUNKEN, wxWS_EX_* etc etc)
601 AddWindowStyles();
602
603 // if MyControl class supports e.g. MYCONTROL_DEFAULT_STYLE
604 // you should use:
605 // XRC_ADD_STYLE(MYCONTROL_DEFAULT_STYLE);
606 }
607
608 wxObject *MyControlXmlHandler::DoCreateResource()
609 {
610 // the following macro will init a pointer named "control"
611 // with a new instance of the MyControl class, but will NOT
612 // Create() it!
613 XRC_MAKE_INSTANCE(control, MyControl)
614
615 // this is the point where you'll typically need to do the most
616 // important changes: here the control is created and initialized.
617 // You'll want to use the wxXmlResourceHandler's getters to
618 // do most of your work.
619 // If e.g. the MyControl::Create function looks like:
620 //
621 // bool MyControl::Create(wxWindow *parent, int id,
622 // const wxBitmap &first, const wxPoint &posFirst,
623 // const wxBitmap &second, const wxPoint &posSecond,
624 // const wxString &theTitle, const wxFont &titleFont,
625 // const wxPoint &pos, const wxSize &size,
626 // long style = MYCONTROL_DEFAULT_STYLE,
627 // const wxString &name = wxT("MyControl"));
628 //
629 // Then the XRC for your component should look like:
630 //
631 // <object class="MyControl" name="some_name">
632 // <first-bitmap>first.xpm</first-bitmap>
633 // <second-bitmap>text.xpm</second-bitmap>
634 // <first-pos>3,3</first-pos>
635 // <second-pos>4,4</second-pos>
636 // <the-title>a title</the-title>
637 // <title-font>
638 // <!-- Standard XRC tags for a font: <size>, <style>, <weight>, etc -->
639 // </title-font>
640 // <!-- XRC also accepts other usual tags for wxWindow-derived classes:
641 // like e.g. <name>, <style>, <size>, <position>, etc -->
642 // </object>
643 //
644 // And the code to read your custom tags from the XRC file is just:
645 control->Create(m_parentAsWindow, GetID(),
646 GetBitmap(wxT("first-bitmap")),
647 GetPosition(wxT("first-pos")),
648 GetBitmap(wxT("second-bitmap")),
649 GetPosition(wxT("second-pos")),
650 GetText(wxT("the-title")),
651 GetFont(wxT("title-font")),
652 GetPosition(), GetSize(), GetStyle(), GetName());
653
654 SetupWindow(control);
655
656 return control;
657 }
658
659 bool MyControlXmlHandler::CanHandle(wxXmlNode *node)
660 {
661 // this function tells XRC system that this handler can parse
662 // the <object class="MyControl"> tags
663 return IsOfClass(node, wxT("MyControl"));
664 }
665 @endcode
666
667 You may want to check the wxXmlResourceHandler documentation to see how many
668 built-in getters it contains. It's very easy to retrieve also complex
669 structures out of XRC files using them.
670
671 */
672