issues, giving applications the kind of docking facilities
that Visual C++ and Netscape Navigator possess.
+FL was written by Aleksandras Gluchovas, and is heavily used in
+wxWorkshop which he also wrote the bulk of.
+
+{\bf Please note} that this guide is in its infancy, and contributions
+from FL users are very welcome.
+
The following screenshot (from fl\_demo1) shows a frame with a number of
bars that can be dragged around. The vertical grippers with
two lines allow a bar to be dragged in that row, changing the
Other features: the splitter bar shows a dotted thick line as
it's dragged. Single-clicking on a row handle minimizes it to
a horizontal tab which is given its own narrow row. This allows
-the user to temporarily hide a row whilst allowing quick access
+the user to temporarily hide a row while allowing quick access
to it when required.
A close button (x) hides a bar completely. You can get it back again
by right-clicking and selecting the appropriate menu item.
-A left or right pointing arrow button expands the pane in that direction.
+A left, right, up or down arrow button expands the pane in that direction.
\center{\image{}{screen01.bmp}}
contrib/src/fl
contrib/include/wx/fl
contrib/samples/fl
- contrib/docs/latex/wx
+ contrib/docs/latex/fl
docs/html/fl
docs/htmlhelp/fl.chm
docs/pdf/fl.pdf
and compile.
\item Under Unix, FL should be configured when you configured
wxWindows. Make FL by changing directory to contrib/src/fl and
-type 'make'.
+type 'make'. {\bf Note:} there is currently a
+problem with the wxWindows build system that means that
+only the static version of library can be built at present.
\end{itemize}
To use FL:
\section{FL concepts}
-The following is taken from fl\_demo1 and shows the main code implementing the
-user interface as illustrated in \helpref{What is FL?}{whatisfl}.
-
-Notable points in the code:
+These are typical steps when adding FL functionality to your application.
\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
-\item creating a new \helpref{wxFrameLayout}{wxframelayout} passing the top-level frame and the window that
+\item include the appropriate header files;
+\item create a new \helpref{wxFrameLayout}{wxframelayout} passing the top-level frame and the window that
is interpreted as the main 'client' window;
-\item setting an updates manager for optimizing drag operations;
-\item adding plugins for implementing various features;
-\item adding bars;
-\item enabling floating mode.
+\item set an updates manager for optimizing drag operations;
+\item add plugins for implementing various features;
+\item add bars;
+\item enable floating mode for the layout if required;
+\item delete the frame layout in the main frame's destructor.
\end{itemize}
+The following is taken from fl\_demo1 and shows the main code implementing the
+user interface as illustrated in \helpref{What is FL?}{whatisfl}.
+
\begin{verbatim}
+// fl headers
+#include "wx/fl/controlbar.h" // core API
+
+// extra plugins
+#include "wx/fl/barhintspl.h" // bevel for bars with "X"s and grooves
+#include "wx/fl/rowdragpl.h" // NC-look with draggable rows
+#include "wx/fl/cbcustom.h" // customization plugin
+#include "wx/fl/hintanimpl.h"
+
+// beauty-care
+#include "wx/fl/gcupdatesmgr.h" // smooth d&d
+#include "wx/fl/antiflickpl.h" // double-buffered repaint of decorations
+#include "wx/fl/dyntbar.h" // auto-layout toolbar
+#include "wx/fl/dyntbarhnd.h" // control-bar dimension handler for it
+
MyFrame::MyFrame(wxFrame *frame)
: wxFrame( frame, -1, "wxWindows 2.0 wxFrameLayout Test Application", wxDefaultPosition,
wxSize( 700, 500 ),
sizes0, FL_ALIGN_TOP, // alignment ( 0-top,1-bottom, etc)
0, // insert into 0th row (vert. position)
0, // offset from the start of row (in pixels)
- "InfoViewer1", // name to refere in customization pop-ups
+ "InfoViewer1", // name for reference in customization pop-ups
TRUE
);
sizes0, FL_ALIGN_TOP, // alignment ( 0-top,1-bottom, etc)
1, // insert into 0th row (vert. position)
0, // offset from the start of row (in pixels)
- "InfoViewer2", // name to refere in customization pop-ups
+ "InfoViewer2", // name for reference in customization pop-ups
TRUE
);
sizes1, FL_ALIGN_TOP, // alignment ( 0-top,1-bottom, etc)
0, // insert into 0th row (vert. position)
0, // offset from the start of row (in pixels)
- "ToolBar1", // name to refer in customization pop-ups
+ "ToolBar1", // name for reference in customization pop-ups
TRUE
);
sizes2, FL_ALIGN_TOP, // alignment ( 0-top,1-bottom, etc)
0, // insert into 0th row (vert. position)
0, // offset from the start of row (in pixels)
- "ToolBar2", // name to refere in customization pop-ups
+ "ToolBar2", // name for reference in customization pop-ups
FALSE
);
mpLayout->EnableFloating( TRUE ); // off, thinking about wxGtk...
}
+
+MyFrame::~MyFrame()
+{
+ if ( mpLayout)
+ delete mpLayout; // should be destroyed manually
+}
+\end{verbatim}
+
+\section{Controlling dragging behaviour}\label{controllingdragbehav}
+
+Various pane-dragging behaviours are supported. FL can
+show an outline of where the window would be docked
+if you stopped dragging at that point.
+
+This is a list of properties of interest in the cbCommonPaneProperties
+structure:
+
+\begin{verbatim}
+ bool mRealTimeUpdatesOn; // default: ON
+ bool mOutOfPaneDragOn; // default: ON
+ bool mExactDockPredictionOn; // default: OFF
+ bool mNonDestructFrictionOn; // default: OFF
+\end{verbatim}
+
+To get behaviour similar to Microsoft's DevStudio drag-ghost behaviour,
+mRealTimeUpdatesOn have to be set to FALSE, for example:
+
+\begin{verbatim}
+ cbCommonPaneProperties props;
+ ....
+ ....
+ props.mRealTimeUpdatesOn = FALSE;
+ fl->SetPaneProperties( props, wxALL_PANES );
\end{verbatim}
+{\it mOutOfPaneDragOn} specifies whether bars can be dragged
+away from this pane. (Note: this may not currently be working.)
+
+{\it mExactDockPredictionOn} is only relevant when {\it mRealTimeUpdatesOn} is FALSE,
+and then the hint rectangle behaves a little jumpily. It tries to show
+exatly how the bar would look and where it would be docked if the dragging finished right
+now, i.e. the final position, with all the 'friction-physics' calculated.
+Otherwise the hint flies smothly above the surface only hinting whether the bar
+will be docked vertically or horizontally if dropped now.
+This is a feature you won't find anywhere else!
+{\it mNonDestructFirctionOn} causes the bars not being dragged
+to stay where they are, while the currently dragged one is 'diving'
+through the underlaying panes, docking itself in and out in real time.
+Otherwise the stationary bars would be pushed around messing up the composition permanently.
+This flag is irelevant when {\it mRealTimeUpdatesOn} is FALSE, as the ghost-rect
+does not do any docking until the drag finishes.