Prep for wxPython 2.1b3 release

[wxWidgets.git] / docs / latex / wx / frame.tex

\section{\class{wxFrame}}\label{wxframe}

A frame is a window whose size and position can (usually) be changed by the user. It usually has
thick borders and a title bar, and can optionally contain a menu bar, toolbar and
status bar. A frame can contain any window that is not a frame or dialog.

A frame that has a status bar and toolbar created via the CreateStatusBar/CreateToolBar functions
manages these windows, and adjusts the value returned by GetClientSize to reflect
the remaining size available to application windows.

\wxheading{Derived from}

\helpref{wxWindow}{wxwindow}\\
\helpref{wxEvtHandler}{wxevthandler}\\
\helpref{wxObject}{wxobject}

\wxheading{Include files}

<wx/frame.h>

\wxheading{Window styles}

\twocolwidtha{5cm}
\begin{twocollist}\itemsep=0pt
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxICONIZE}}{Display the frame iconized (minimized). Windows only. }
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxCAPTION}}{Puts a caption on the frame.}
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxDEFAULT\_FRAME\_STYLE}}{Defined as {\bf wxMINIMIZE\_BOX \pipe wxMAXIMIZE\_BOX \pipe wxTHICK\_FRAME \pipe wxSYSTEM\_MENU \pipe wxCAPTION}.}
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxMINIMIZE}}{Identical to {\bf wxICONIZE}. Windows only. }
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxMINIMIZE\_BOX}}{Displays a minimize box on the frame. }
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxMAXIMIZE}}{Displays the frame maximized. Windows only. }
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxMAXIMIZE\_BOX}}{Displays a maximize box on the frame. }
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxSTAY\_ON\_TOP}}{Stay on top of other windows. Windows only. }
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxSYSTEM\_MENU}}{Displays a system menu. }
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxTHICK\_FRAME}}{Displays a thick frame around the window. Windows and Motif only.}
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxSIMPLE\_BORDER}}{Displays no border or decorations. GTK and Windows only (?). }
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxRESIZE\_BORDER}}{Displays a resizeable border around the window (Unix only).}
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxFRAME\_FLOAT\_ON\_PARENT}}{Causes the frame to be above the parent window in the
z-order and not shown in the taskbar. Without this style, frames are created as top-level windows that may be obscured by
the parent window, and frame titles are shown in the taskbar. Windows only. }
\twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxFRAME\_TOOL\_WINDOW}}Causes a frame with a small titlebar to be created;
the frame title does not appear in the taskbar. Windows only. }
\end{twocollist}

See also \helpref{window styles overview}{windowstyles}.

\wxheading{Remarks}

An application should normally define an \helpref{OnCloseWindow}{wxwindowonclosewindow} handler for the
frame to respond to system close events, for example so that related data and subwindows can be cleaned up.

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxMDIParentFrame}{wxmdiparentframe}, \helpref{wxMDIChildFrame}{wxmdichildframe},\rtfsp
\helpref{wxMiniFrame}{wxminiframe}, \helpref{wxDialog}{wxdialog}

\latexignore{\rtfignore{\wxheading{Members}}}

\membersection{wxFrame::wxFrame}\label{wxframeconstr}

\func{}{wxFrame}{\void}

Default constructor.

\func{}{wxFrame}{\param{wxWindow* }{parent}, \param{wxWindowID }{id},\rtfsp
\param{const wxString\& }{title}, \param{const wxPoint\&}{ pos = wxDefaultPosition},\rtfsp
\param{const wxSize\&}{ size = wxDefaultSize}, \param{long}{ style = wxDEFAULT\_FRAME\_STYLE},\rtfsp
\param{const wxString\& }{name = ``frame"}}

Constructor, creating the window.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{parent}{The window parent. This may be NULL. If it is non-NULL, the frame will
always be displayed on top of the parent window on Windows.}

\docparam{id}{The window identifier. It may take a value of -1 to indicate a default value.}

\docparam{title}{The caption to be displayed on the frame's title bar.}

\docparam{pos}{The window position. A value of (-1, -1) indicates a default position, chosen by
either the windowing system or wxWindows, depending on platform.}

\docparam{size}{The window size. A value of (-1, -1) indicates a default size, chosen by
either the windowing system or wxWindows, depending on platform.}

\docparam{style}{The window style. See \helpref{wxFrame}{wxframe}.}

\docparam{name}{The name of the window. This parameter is used to associate a name with the item,
allowing the application user to set Motif resource values for
individual windows.}

\wxheading{Remarks}

For Motif, MWM (the Motif Window Manager) should be running for any window styles to work
(otherwise all styles take effect).

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::Create}{wxframecreate}

\membersection{wxFrame::\destruct{wxFrame}}

\func{void}{\destruct{wxFrame}}{\void}

Destructor. Destroys all child windows and menu bar if present.

\membersection{wxFrame::Centre}\label{wxframecentre}

\func{void}{Centre}{\param{int}{ direction = wxBOTH}}

Centres the frame on the display.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{direction}{The parameter may be {\tt wxHORIZONTAL}, {\tt wxVERTICAL} or {\tt wxBOTH}.}

\membersection{wxFrame::Command}\label{wxframecommand}

\func{void}{Command}{\param{int }{id}}

Simulate a menu command.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{id}{The identifier for a menu item.}

\membersection{wxFrame::Create}\label{wxframecreate}

\func{bool}{Create}{\param{wxWindow* }{parent}, \param{wxWindowID }{id},\rtfsp
\param{const wxString\& }{title}, \param{const wxPoint\&}{ pos = wxDefaultPosition},\rtfsp
\param{const wxSize\&}{ size = wxDefaultSize}, \param{long}{ style = wxDEFAULT\_FRAME\_STYLE},\rtfsp
\param{const wxString\& }{name = ``frame"}}

Used in two-step frame construction. See \helpref{wxFrame::wxFrame}{wxframeconstr}\rtfsp
for further details.

\membersection{wxFrame::CreateStatusBar}\label{wxframecreatestatusbar}

\func{virtual wxStatusBar*}{CreateStatusBar}{\param{int}{ number = 1},
 \param{long}{ style = 0},
 \param{wxWindowID}{ id = -1}, \param{const wxString\&}{ name = "statusBar"}}

Creates a status bar at the bottom of the frame.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{number}{The number of fields to create. Specify a
value greater than 1 to create a multi-field status bar.}

\docparam{style}{The status bar style. See \helpref{wxStatusBar}{wxstatusbar} for a list
of valid styles.}

\docparam{id}{The status bar window identifier. If -1, an identifier will be chosen by
wxWindows.}

\docparam{name}{The status bar window name.}

\wxheading{Return value}

A pointer to the the status bar if it was created successfully, NULL otherwise.

\wxheading{Remarks}

The width of the status bar is the whole width of the frame (adjusted automatically when
resizing), and the height and text size are chosen by the host windowing system.

By default, the status bar is an instance of wxStatusBar. To use a different class,
override \helpref{wxFrame::OnCreateStatusBar}{wxframeoncreatestatusbar}.

Note that you can put controls and other windows on the status bar if you wish.

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::SetStatusText}{wxframesetstatustext},\rtfsp
\helpref{wxFrame::OnCreateStatusBar}{wxframeoncreatestatusbar},\rtfsp
\helpref{wxFrame::GetStatusBar}{wxframegetstatusbar}

\membersection{wxFrame::CreateToolBar}\label{wxframecreatetoolbar}

\func{virtual wxToolBar*}{CreateToolBar}{\param{long}{ style = wxNO\_BORDER \pipe wxTB\_HORIZONTAL},
 \param{wxWindowID}{ id = -1}, \param{const wxString\&}{ name = "toolBar"}}

Creates a toolbar at the top or left of the frame.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{style}{The toolbar style. See \helpref{wxToolBar}{wxtoolbar} for a list
of valid styles.}

\docparam{id}{The toolbar window identifier. If -1, an identifier will be chosen by
wxWindows.}

\docparam{name}{The toolbar window name.}

\wxheading{Return value}

A pointer to the the toolbar if it was created successfully, NULL otherwise.

\wxheading{Remarks}

By default, the toolbar is an instance of wxToolBar (which is defined to be
a suitable toolbar class on each platform, such as wxToolBar95). To use a different class,
override \helpref{wxFrame::OnCreateToolBar}{wxframeoncreatetoolbar}.

When a toolbar has been created with this function, or made known to the frame
with \helpref{wxFrame::SetToolBar}{wxframesettoolbar}, the frame will manage the toolbar
position and adjust the return value from \helpref{wxWindow::GetClientSize}{wxwindowgetclientsize} to
reflect the available space for application windows.

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::CreateStatusBar}{wxframecreatestatusbar},\rtfsp
\helpref{wxFrame::OnCreateToolBar}{wxframeoncreatetoolbar},\rtfsp
\helpref{wxFrame::SetToolBar}{wxframesettoolbar},\rtfsp
\helpref{wxFrame::GetToolBar}{wxframegettoolbar}

\membersection{wxFrame::GetMenuBar}\label{wxframegetmenubar}

\constfunc{wxMenuBar*}{GetMenuBar}{\void}

Returns a pointer to the menubar currently associated with the frame (if any).

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::SetMenuBar}{wxframesetmenubar}, \helpref{wxMenuBar}{wxmenubar}, \helpref{wxMenu}{wxmenu}

\membersection{wxFrame::GetStatusBar}\label{wxframegetstatusbar}

\func{wxStatusBar*}{GetStatusBar}{\void}

Returns a pointer to the status bar currently associated with the frame (if any).

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::CreateStatusBar}{wxframecreatestatusbar}, \helpref{wxStatusBar}{wxstatusbar}

\membersection{wxFrame::GetTitle}\label{wxframegettitle}

\func{wxString\&}{GetTitle}{\void}

Gets a temporary pointer to the frame title. See
\helpref{wxFrame::SetTitle}{wxframesettitle}.

\membersection{wxFrame::GetToolBar}\label{wxframegettoolbar}

\func{wxToolBar*}{GetToolBar}{\void}

Returns a pointer to the toolbar currently associated with the frame (if any).

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::CreateToolBar}{wxframecreatetoolbar}, \helpref{wxToolBar}{wxtoolbar},\rtfsp
\helpref{wxFrame::SetToolBar}{wxframesettoolbar}

\membersection{wxFrame::Iconize}\label{wxframeiconize}

\func{void}{Iconize}{\param{const bool}{ iconize}}

Iconizes or restores the frame. Windows only.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{izonize}{If TRUE, iconizes the frame; if FALSE, shows and restores it.}

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::IsIconized}{wxframeisiconized}, \helpref{wxFrame::Maximize}{wxframemaximize}.

\membersection{wxFrame::IsIconized}\label{wxframeisiconized}

\constfunc{bool}{IsIconized}{\void}

Returns TRUE if the frame is iconized. Windows only.

\membersection{wxFrame::IsMaximized}\label{wxframeismaximized}

\constfunc{bool}{IsMaximized}{\void}

Returns TRUE if the frame is maximized.

\membersection{wxFrame::Maximize}\label{wxframemaximize}

\func{void}{Maximize}{\param{const bool }{maximize}}

Maximizes or restores the frame.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{maximize}{If TRUE, maximizes the frame, otherwise it restores it}.

\wxheading{Remarks}

This function only works under Windows.

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::Iconize}{wxframeiconize}

\membersection{wxFrame::OnActivate}

\func{void}{OnActivate}{\param{wxActivateEvent\&}{ event}}

Called when a window is activated or deactivated (MS Windows
only). See also \helpref{wxActivateEvent}{wxactivateevent}.

\membersection{wxFrame::OnCreateStatusBar}\label{wxframeoncreatestatusbar}

\func{virtual wxStatusBar*}{OnCreateStatusBar}{\param{int }{number},
 \param{long}{ style},
 \param{wxWindowID}{ id}, \param{const wxString\&}{ name}}

Virtual function called when a status bar is requested by \helpref{wxFrame::CreateStatusBar}{wxframecreatestatusbar}.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{number}{The number of fields to create.}

\docparam{style}{The window style. See \helpref{wxStatusBar}{wxstatusbar} for a list
of valid styles.}

\docparam{id}{The window identifier. If -1, an identifier will be chosen by
wxWindows.}

\docparam{name}{The window name.}

\wxheading{Return value}

A status bar object.

\wxheading{Remarks}

An application can override this function to return a different kind of status bar. The default
implementation returns an instance of \helpref{wxStatusBar}{wxstatusbar}.

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::CreateStatusBar}{wxframecreatestatusbar}, \helpref{wxStatusBar}{wxstatusbar}.

\membersection{wxFrame::OnCreateToolBar}\label{wxframeoncreatetoolbar}

\func{virtual wxToolBar*}{OnCreateToolBar}{\param{long}{ style},
 \param{wxWindowID}{ id}, \param{const wxString\&}{ name}}

Virtual function called when a toolbar is requested by \helpref{wxFrame::CreateToolBar}{wxframecreatetoolbar}.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{style}{The toolbar style. See \helpref{wxToolBar}{wxtoolbar} for a list
of valid styles.}

\docparam{id}{The toolbar window identifier. If -1, an identifier will be chosen by
wxWindows.}

\docparam{name}{The toolbar window name.}

\wxheading{Return value}

A toolbar object.

\wxheading{Remarks}

An application can override this function to return a different kind of toolbar. The default
implementation returns an instance of \helpref{wxToolBar}{wxtoolbar}.

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::CreateToolBar}{wxframecreatetoolbar}, \helpref{wxToolBar}{wxtoolbar}.

\membersection{wxFrame::OnMenuCommand}\label{wxframeonmenucommand}

\func{void}{OnMenuCommand}{\param{wxCommandEvent\&}{ event}}

See \helpref{wxWindow::OnMenuCommand}{wxwindowonmenucommand}.

\membersection{wxFrame::OnMenuHighlight}\label{wxframeonmenuhighlight}

\func{void}{OnMenuHighlight}{\param{wxMenuEvent\&}{ event}}

See \helpref{wxWindow::OnMenuHighlight}{wxwindowonmenuhighlight}.

\membersection{wxFrame::OnSize}\label{wxframeonsize}

\func{void}{OnSize}{\param{wxSizeEvent\& }{event}}

See \helpref{wxWindow::OnSize}{wxwindowonsize}.

The default {\bf wxFrame::OnSize} implementation looks for a single subwindow,
and if one is found, resizes it to fit
inside the frame. Override this member if more complex behaviour
is required (for example, if there are several subwindows).

\membersection{wxFrame::SetIcon}\label{wxframeseticon}

\func{void}{SetIcon}{\param{const wxIcon\& }{icon}}

Sets the icon for this frame.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{icon}{The icon to associate with this frame.}

\wxheading{Remarks}

The frame takes a `copy' of {\it icon}, but since it uses reference
counting, the copy is very quick. It is safe to delete {\it icon} after
calling this function.

Under Windows, instead of using {\bf SetIcon}, you can add the
following lines to your MS Windows resource file:

\begin{verbatim}
wxSTD_MDIPARENTFRAME ICON icon1.ico
wxSTD_MDICHILDFRAME  ICON icon2.ico
wxSTD_FRAME          ICON icon3.ico
\end{verbatim}

where icon1.ico will be used for the MDI parent frame, icon2.ico
will be used for MDI child frames, and icon3.ico will be used for
non-MDI frames.

If these icons are not supplied, and {\bf SetIcon} is not called either,
then the following defaults apply if you have included wx.rc.

\begin{verbatim}
wxDEFAULT_FRAME               ICON std.ico
wxDEFAULT_MDIPARENTFRAME      ICON mdi.ico
wxDEFAULT_MDICHILDFRAME       ICON child.ico
\end{verbatim}

You can replace std.ico, mdi.ico and child.ico with your own defaults
for all your wxWindows application. Currently they show the same icon.

{\it Note:} a wxWindows application linked with subsystem equal to 4.0
(i.e. marked as a Windows 95 application) doesn't respond properly
to wxFrame::SetIcon. To work around this until a solution is found,
mark your program as a 3.5 application. This will also ensure
that Windows provides small icons for the application automatically.

See also \helpref{wxIcon}{wxicon}.

\membersection{wxFrame::SetMenuBar}\label{wxframesetmenubar}

\func{void}{SetMenuBar}{\param{wxMenuBar* }{menuBar}}

Tells the frame to show the given menu bar.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{menuBar}{The menu bar to associate with the frame.}

\wxheading{Remarks}

If the frame is destroyed, the
menu bar and its menus will be destroyed also, so do not delete the menu
bar explicitly (except by resetting the frame's menu bar to another
frame or NULL).

Under Windows, a call to \helpref{wxFrame::OnSize}{wxframeonsize} is generated, so be sure to initialize
data members properly before calling {\bf SetMenuBar}.

Note that it is not possible to call this function twice for the same frame object.

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::GetMenuBar}{wxframegetmenubar}, \helpref{wxMenuBar}{wxmenubar}, \helpref{wxMenu}{wxmenu}.

\membersection{wxFrame::SetStatusBar}\label{wxframesetstatusbar}

\func{void}{SetStatusBar}{\param{wxStatusBar*}{ statusBar}}

Associates a status bar with the frame.

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::CreateStatusBar}{wxframecreatestatusbar}, \helpref{wxStatusBar}{wxstatusbar},\rtfsp
\helpref{wxFrame::GetStatusBar}{wxframegetstatusbar}

\membersection{wxFrame::SetStatusText}\label{wxframesetstatustext}

\func{virtual void}{SetStatusText}{\param{const wxString\& }{ text}, \param{int}{ number = 0}}

Sets the status bar text and redraws the status bar.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{text}{The text for the status field.}

\docparam{number}{The status field (starting from zero).}

\wxheading{Remarks}

Use an empty string to clear the status bar.

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::CreateStatusBar}{wxframecreatestatusbar}, \helpref{wxStatusBar}{wxstatusbar}

\membersection{wxFrame::SetStatusWidths}\label{wxframesetstatuswidths}

\func{virtual void}{SetStatusWidths}{\param{int}{ n}, \param{int *}{widths}}

Sets the widths of the fields in the status bar.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\wxheading{n}{The number of fields in the status bar. It must be the
same used in \helpref{CreateStatusBar}{wxframecreatestatusbar}.}

\docparam{widths}{Must contain an array of {\it n} integers, each of which is a status field width
in pixels. A value of -1 indicates that the field is variable width; at least one
field must be -1. You should delete this array after calling {\bf SetStatusWidths}.}

\wxheading{Remarks}

The widths of the variable fields are calculated from the total width of all fields,
minus the sum of widths of the non-variable fields, divided by the number of 
variable fields.

\membersection{wxFrame::SetToolBar}\label{wxframesettoolbar}

\func{void}{SetToolBar}{\param{wxToolBar*}{ toolBar}}

Associates a toolbar with the frame.

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::CreateToolBar}{wxframecreatetoolbar}, \helpref{wxToolBar}{wxtoolbar},\rtfsp
\helpref{wxFrame::GetToolBar}{wxframegettoolbar}

\membersection{wxFrame::SetTitle}\label{wxframesettitle}

\func{virtual void}{SetTitle}{\param{const wxString\& }{ title}}

Sets the frame title.

\wxheading{Parameters}

\docparam{title}{The frame title.}

\wxheading{See also}

\helpref{wxFrame::GetTitle}{wxframegettitle}