%% Created: 02.11.99
%% RCS-ID: $Id$
%% Copyright: (c) wxWindows team
-%% Licence: wxWindows licence
+%% License: wxWindows license
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+% NB: please keep the subsections in alphabetic order!
\section{wxWindows samples}\label{samples}
didn't help. They also provide some notes about using the samples and what
features of wxWindows are they supposed to test.
-\subsection{Font sample}\label{samplefont}
+There are currently more than 50 different samples as part of wxWindows and
+this list is not complete. You should start your tour of wxWindows with the
+\helpref{minimal sample}{sampleminimal} which is the wxWindows version of
+"Hello, world!". It shows the basic structure of wxWindows program and is the
+most commented sample of all - looking at its source code is recommended.
-The font sample demonstrates \helpref{wxFont}{wxfont},
-\helpref{wxFontEnumerator}{wxfontenumerator} and
-\helpref{wxFontMapper}{wxfontmapper} classes. It allows you to see the fonts
-available (to wxWindows) on the computer and shows all characters of the
-chosen font as well.
+The next most useful sample is probably the \helpref{controls}{samplecontrols}
+one which shows many of wxWindows standard controls, such as buttons,
+listboxes, checkboxes, comboboxes etc.
+
+Other, more complicated controls, have their own samples. In this category you
+may find the following samples showing the corresponding controls:
+
+\begin{twocollist}\itemsep=0pt
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxCalendarCtrl}{samplecalendar}}{Calendar a.k.a. date picker control}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxListCtrl}{samplelistctrl}}{List view control}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxTreeCtrl}{sampletreectrl}}{Tree view control}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxGrid}{samplegrid}}{Grid control}
+\end{twocollist}
+
+Finally, it might be helpful to do a search in the entire sample directory if
+you can't find the sample you showing the control you are interested in by
+name. Most of wxWindows classes, occur in at least one of the samples.
+
+\subsection{Minimal sample}\label{sampleminimal}
+
+The minimal sample is what most people will know under the term Hello World,
+i.e. a minimal program that doesn't demonstrate anything apart from what is
+needed to write a program that will display a "hello" dialog. This is usually
+a good starting point for learning how to use wxWindows.
+
+\subsection{Calendar sample}\label{samplecalendar}
+
+This font shows the \helpref{calendar control}{wxcalendarctrl} in action. It
+shows how to configure the control (see the different options in the calendar
+menu) and also how to process the notifications from it.
+
+\subsection{Checklist sample}\label{samplechecklist}
+
+This sample demonstrates the use of the \helpref{wxCheckListBox}{wxchecklistbox}
+class intercepting check, select and double click events. It also tests the
+use of various methods modifying the control, such as by deleting items
+from it or inserting new once (these functions are actually implemented in
+the parent class \helpref{wxListBox}{wxlistbox} so the sample tests that class
+as well). The layout of the dialog is created using a \helpref{wxBoxSizer}{wxboxsizer}
+demonstrating a simple dynamic layout.
+
+\subsection{Config sample}\label{sampleconfig}
+
+This sample demonstrates the \helpref{wxConfig}{wxconfigbase} classes in a platform
+indenpedent way, i.e. it uses text based files to store a given configuration under
+Unix and uses the Registry under Windows.
+
+See \helpref{wxConfig overview}{wxconfigoverview} for the descriptions of all
+features of this class.
+
+\subsection{Controls sample}\label{samplecontrols}
+
+The controls sample is the main test program for most simple controls used in
+wxWindows. The sample tests their basic functionality, events, placement,
+modification in terms of colour and font as well as the possibility to change
+the controls programmatically, such as adding item to a list box etc. Apart
+from that, the sample uses a \helpref{wxNotebook}{wxnotebook} and tests most
+features of this special control (using bitmap in the tabs, using
+\helpref{wxSizers}{wxsizer} and \helpref{constraints}{wxlayoutconstraints} within
+notebook pages, advancing pages programmatically and vetoing a page change
+by intercepting the \helpref{wxNotebookEvent}{wxnotebookevent}.
+
+The various controls tested are listed here:
+
+\begin{twocollist}\itemsep=0pt
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxButton}{wxbutton}}{Push button control, displaying text}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxBitmapButton}{wxbitmapbutton}}{Push button control, displaying a bitmap}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxCheckBox}{wxcheckbox}}{Checkbox control}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxChoice}{wxchoice}}{Choice control (a combobox without the editable area)}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxComboBox}{wxcombobox}}{A choice with an editable area}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxGauge}{wxgauge}}{A control to represent a varying quantity, such as time remaining}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxStaticBox}{wxstaticbox}}{A static, or group box for visually grouping related controls}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxListBox}{wxlistbox}}{A list of strings for single or multiple selection}
+\twocolitem{wxSpinCtrl}{A spin ctrl with a text field and a `up-down' control}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxSpinButton}{wxspinbutton}}{A spin or `up-down' control}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxStaticText}{wxstatictext}}{One or more lines of non-editable text}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxStaticBitmap}{wxstaticbitmap}}{A control to display a bitmap}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxRadioBox}{wxradiobox}}{A group of radio buttons}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxRadioButton}{wxradiobutton}}{A round button to be used with others in a mutually exclusive way}
+\twocolitem{\helpref{wxSlider}{wxslider}}{A slider that can be dragged by the user}
+\end{twocollist}
+
+\subsection{Database sample}\label{sampledb}
+
+The database sample is a small test program showing how to use the ODBC
+classes written by Remstar Intl. Obviously, this sample requires a
+database with ODBC support to be correctly installed on your system.
+
+\subsection{Dialogs sample}\label{sampledialogs}
+
+This sample shows how to use the common dialogs available from wxWindows. These
+dialogs are described in details in the \helpref{Common dialogs overview}{commondialogsoverview}.
+
+\subsection{Dialup sample}\label{sampledialup}
+
+This sample shows \helpref{wxDialUpManager}{wxdialupmanager}
+class. It displays in the status bar the information gathered through itsi
+nterface: in particular, the current connection status (online or offline) and
+whether the connection is permanent (in which case a string `LAN' appears in
+the thrid status bar field - but note that you may have be on a LAN not
+connected to the Internet, in which case you will not see this) or not.
+
+Using the menu entries, you may also dial or hang up the line if you have a
+modem attached and (this only makes sense for Windows) list the available
+connections.
\subsection{DnD sample}\label{samplednd}
going on (of course, this only works in debug builds) and may be helpful to see
the sequence of steps of data transfer.
-Finally, the last part is used for two things: you can drag text from it to
-either one of the listboxes (only one will accept it) or another application
-and, also, bitmap pasted from clipboard will be shown there.
+Finally, the last part is used for dragging text from it to either one of the
+listboxes (only one will accept it) or another application. The last
+functionality available from the main frame is to paste a bitmap from the
+clipboard (or, in the case of Windows version, also a metafile) - it will be
+shown in a new frame.
So far, everything we mentioned was implemented with minimal amount of code
using standard wxWindows classes. The more advanced features are demonstrated
paste it or drag and drop (between one and the same or different shapes) from
one sample instance to another (or the same). However, chances are that no
other program supports this format and so shapes can also be rendered as
-bitmaps which allows them to be pasted/dropped in many other applications.
+bitmaps which allows them to be pasted/dropped in many other applications
+(and, under Windows, also as metafiles which are supported by most of Windows
+programs as well - try Write/Wordpad, for example).
Take a look at DnDShapeDataObject class to see how you may use
\helpref{wxDataObject}{wxdataobject} to achieve this.
+\subsection{Dynamic sample}\label{sampledynamic}
+
+This sample is a very small sample that demonstrates the use of the
+\helpref{wxEvtHandler::Connect}{wxevthandlerconnect} method. This method
+should be used whenever it is not known at compile time, which control
+will receive which event or which controls are actually going to be in
+a dialog or frame. This is most typically the case for any scripting
+language that would work as a wrapper for wxWindows or programs where
+forms or similar datagrams can be created by the uses.
+
+See also the \helpref{event sample}{sampleevent}
+
+\subsection{Event sample}\label{sampleevent}
+
+The event sample demonstrates various features of the wxWindows events. It
+shows using dynamic events and connecting/disconnecting the event handlers
+during the run time and also using
+\helpref{PushEventHandler()}{wxwindowpusheventhandler} and
+\helpref{PopEventHandler()}{wxwindowpopeventhandler}.
+
+It replaces the old dynamic sample.
+
+\subsection{Exec sample}\label{sampleexec}
+
+The exec sample demonstrates the \helpref{wxExecute}{wxexecute} and
+\helpref{wxShell}{wxshell} functions. Both of them are used to execute the
+external programs and the sample shows how to do this synchronously (waiting
+until the program terminates) or asynchronously (notification will come later).
+
+It also shows how to capture the output of the child process in both
+synchronous and asynchronous cases and how to kill the processes with
+\helpref{wxProcess::Kill}{wxprocesskill} and test for their existence with
+\helpref{wxProcess::Exists}{wxprocessexists}.
+
+\subsection{Font sample}\label{samplefont}
+
+The font sample demonstrates \helpref{wxFont}{wxfont},
+\helpref{wxFontEnumerator}{wxfontenumerator} and
+\helpref{wxFontMapper}{wxfontmapper} classes. It allows you to see the fonts
+available (to wxWindows) on the computer and shows all characters of the
+chosen font as well.
+
+\subsection{Grid sample}\label{samplegrid}
+
+TODO.
\subsection{HTML samples}\label{samplehtml}
Eight HTML samples (you can find them in directory {\tt samples/html})
cover all features of HTML sub-library.
-{\bf Test} demonstrates how to create \helpref{wxHtmlWindow}{wxhtmlwindow}
+{\bf Test} demonstrates how to create \helpref{wxHtmlWindow}{wxhtmlwindow}
and also shows most of supported HTML tags.
{\bf Widget} shows how you can embed ordinary controls or windows within
handler (ships with wxWindows) allows you to access HTML pages stored
in compressed archive as if they were ordinary files.
-{\bf Virtual} is yet another VFS demo. This one generates pages at run-time.
+{\bf Virtual} is yet another virtual file systems demo. This one generates pages at run-time.
You may find it useful if you need to display some reports in your application.
-{\bf Printing} explains use of \helpref{wxHtmlEasyPrinting}{wxhtmleasyprinting}
+{\bf Printing} explains use of \helpref{wxHtmlEasyPrinting}{wxhtmleasyprinting}
class which serves as as-simple-as-possible interface for printing HTML
documents without much work. In fact, only few function calls are sufficient.
{\bf Help} and {\bf Helpview} are variations on displaying HTML help
-(compatible with MS HTML Help Workshop). {\it Help} shows how to embed
+(compatible with MS HTML Help Workshop). {\it Help} shows how to embed
\helpref{wxHtmlHelpController}{wxhtmlhelpcontroller} in your application
while {\it Helpview} is simple tool that only pops up help window and
displays help books given at command line.
+\subsection{Image sample}\label{sampleimage}
+
+The image sample demonstrates the use of the \helpref{wxImage}{wximage} class
+and shows how to download images in a variety of formats, currently PNG, GIF,
+TIFF, JPEG, BMP, PNM and PCX. The top of the sample shows to rectangles, one
+of which is drawn directly in the window, the other one is drawn into a
+\helpref{wxBitmap}{wxbitmap}, converted to a wxImage, saved as a PNG image
+and then reloaded from the PNG file again so that conversions between wxImage
+and wxBitmap as well as loading and save PNG files are tested.
+
+At the bottom of the main frame is a test for using a monochrome bitmap by
+drawing into a \helpref{wxMemoryDC}{wxmemorydc}. The bitmap is then drawn
+specifying the foreground and background colours with
+\helpref{wxDC::SetTextForeground}{wxdcsettextforeground} and
+\helpref{wxDC::SetTextBackground}{wxdcsettextbackground} (on the left). The
+bitmap is then converted to a wxImage and the foreground colour (black) is
+replaced with red using \helpref{wxImage::Replace}{wximagereplace}.
+
+\subsection{Layout sample}\label{samplelayout}
+
+The layout sample demonstrates the two different layout systems offered
+by wxWindows. When starting the program, you will see a frame with some
+controls and some graphics. The controls will change their size whenever
+you resize the entire frame and the exact behaviour of the size changes
+is determined using the \helpref{wxLayoutConstraints}{wxlayoutconstraints}
+class. See also the \helpref{overview}{constraintsoverview} and the
+\helpref{wxIndividualLayoutConstraint}{wxindividuallayoutconstraint}
+class for further information.
+
+The menu in this sample offers two more tests, one showing how to use
+a \helpref{wxBoxSizer}{wxboxsizer} in a simple dialog and the other one
+showing how to use sizers in connection with a \helpref{wxNotebook}{wxnotebook}
+class. See also \helpref{wxNotebookSizer}{wxnotebooksizer} and
+\helpref{wxSizer}{wxsizer}.
+
+\subsection{Listctrl sample}\label{samplelistctrl}
+
+This sample shows \helpref{wxListCtrl}{wxlistctrl} control. Different modes
+supported by the control (list, icons, small icons, report) may be chosen from
+the menu.
+
+The sample also provides some timings for adding/deleting/sorting a lot of
+(several thousands) controls into the control.
+
+\subsection{Rotate sample}\label{samplerotate}
+
+This is a simple example which demonstrates how to rotate an image with
+the \helpref{wxImage::Rotate}{wximagerotate} method. The rotation can
+be done without interpolation (left mouse button) which will be faster,
+or with interpolation (right mouse button) which is slower but gives
+better results.
+
+\subsection{Scroll subwindow sample}\label{samplescrollsub}
+
+This sample demonstrates the use of the \helpref{wxScrolledWindow}{wxscrolledwindow}
+class including placing subwindows into it and drawing simple graphics. It uses the
+\helpref{SetTargetWindow}{wxscrolledwindowsettargetwindow} method and thus the effect
+of scrolling does not show in the scrolled window itself, but in one of its subwindows.
+
+Additionally, this samples demonstrates how to optimize drawing operations in wxWindows,
+in particular using the \helpref{wxWindow::IsExposed}{wxwindowisexposed} method with
+the aim to prevent unnecessary drawing in the window and thus reducing or removing
+flicker on screen.
+
+\subsection{Sockets sample}\label{samplesockets}
+
+The sockets sample demonstrates how to use the communication facilities
+provided by \helpref{wxSocket}{wxsocketbase}. There are two different
+applications in this sample: a server, which is implemented using a
+\helpref{wxSocketServer}{wxsocketserver} object, and a client, which
+is implemented as a \helpref{wxSocketClient}{wxsocketclient}.
+
+The server binds to the local address, using TCP port number 3000,
+sets up an event handler to be notified of incoming connection requests
+({\bf wxSOCKET\_CONNECTION} events), and stands there, waiting for clients
+({\it listening} in the socket parlance). For each accepted connection,
+a new \helpref{wxSocketBase}{wxsocketbase} object is created. These
+socket objects are independent from the server that created them, so
+they set up their own event handler, and then request to be notified
+of {\bf wxSOCKET\_INPUT} (incoming data) or {\bf wxSOCKET\_LOST}
+(connection closed at the remote end) events. In the sample, the event
+handler is the same for all connections; to find out which socket the
+event is addressed to, the \helpref{GetSocket}{wxsocketeventgetsocket} function
+is used.
+
+Although it might take some time to get used to the event-oriented
+system upon which wxSocket is built, the benefits are many. See, for
+example, that the server application, while being single-threaded
+(and of course without using fork() or ugly select() loops) can handle
+an arbitrary number of connections.
+
+The client starts up unconnected, so you can use the Connect... option
+to specify the address of the server you are going to connect to (the
+TCP port number is hard-coded as 3000). Once connected, a number of
+tests are possible. Currently, three tests are implemented. They show
+how to use the basic IO calls in \helpref{wxSocketBase}{wxsocketbase},
+such as \helpref{Read}{wxsocketbaseread}, \helpref{Write}{wxsocketbasewrite},
+\helpref{ReadMsg}{wxsocketbasereadmsg} and \helpref{WriteMsg}{wxsocketbasewritemsg},
+and how to set up the correct IO flags depending on what you are going to
+do. See the comments in the code for more information. Note that because
+both clients and connection objects in the server set up an event handler
+to catch {\bf wxSOCKET\_LOST} events, each one is immediately notified
+if the other end closes the connection.
+
+There is also an URL test which shows how to use
+the \helpref{wxURL}{wxurl} class to fetch data from a given URL.
+
+The sockets sample is work in progress. Some things to do:
+
+\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
+\item More tests for basic socket functionality.
+\item More tests for protocol classes (wxProtocol and its descendants).
+\item Tests for the recently added (and still in alpha stage) datagram sockets.
+\item New samples which actually do something useful (suggestions accepted).
+\end{itemize}
+
+\subsection{Statbar sample}\label{samplestatbar}
+
+This sample shows how to create and use wxStatusBar. Although most of the
+samples have a statusbar, they usually only create a default one and only
+do it once.
+
+Here you can see how to recreate the statusbar (with possibly different number
+of fields) and how to use it to show icons/bitmaps and/or put arbitrary
+controls into it.
+
+\subsection{Text sample}\label{sampletext}
+
+This sample demonstrates four features: firstly the use and many variants of
+the \helpref{wxTextCtrl}{wxtextctrl} class (single line, multi line, read only,
+password, ignoring TAB, ignoring ENTER).
+
+Secondly it shows how to intercept a \helpref{wxKeyEvent}{wxkeyevent} in both
+the raw form using the {\tt EVT\_KEY\_UP} and {\tt EVT\_KEY\_DOWN} macros and the
+higher level from using the {\tt EVT\_CHAR} macro. All characters will be logged
+in a log window at the bottom of the main window. By pressing some of the function
+keys, you can test some actions in the text ctrl as well as get statistics on the
+text ctrls, which is useful for testing if these stastitics actually are correct.
+
+Thirdly, on platforms which support it, the sample will offer to copy text to the
+\helpref{wxClipboard}{wxclipboard} and to paste text from it. The GTK version will
+use the so called PRIMARY SELECTION, which is the pseudo clipboard under X and
+best known from pasting text to the XTerm program.
+
+Last not least: some of the text controls have tooltips and the sample also shows
+how tooltips can be centrally disabled and their latency controlled.
+
+\subsection{Thread sample}\label{samplethread}
+
+This sample demonstrates the use of threads in connection with GUI programs.
+There are two fundamentally different ways to use threads in GUI programs and
+either way has to take care of the fact that the GUI library itself usually
+is not multi-threading safe, i.e. that it might crash if two threads try to
+access the GUI class simultaneously. One way to prevent that is have a normal
+GUI program in the main thread and some worker threads which work in the
+background. In order to make communication between the main thread and the
+worker threads possible, wxWindows offers the \helpref{wxPostEvent}{wxpostevent}
+function and this sample makes use of this function.
+
+The other way to use a so called Mutex (such as those offered in the \helpref{wxMutex}{wxmutex}
+class) that prevent threads from accessing the GUI classes as long as any other
+thread accesses them. For this, wxWindows has the \helpref{wxMutexGuiEnter}{wxmutexguienter}
+and \helpref{wxMutexGuiLeave}{wxmutexguileave} functions, both of which are
+used and tested in the sample as well.
+
+See also \helpref{Multithreading overview}{wxthreadoverview} and \helpref{wxThread}{wxthread}.
+
+\subsection{Toolbar sample}\label{sampletoolbar}
+
+The toolbar sample shows the \helpref{wxToolBar}{wxtoolbar} class in action.
+
+The following things are demonstrated:
+
+\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
+\item Creating the toolbar using \helpref{wxToolBar::AddTool}{wxtoolbaraddtool}
+and \helpref{wxToolBar::AddControl}{wxtoolbaraddcontrol}: see
+MyApp::InitToolbar in the sample.
+\item Using {\tt EVT\_UPDATE\_UI} handler for automatically enabling/disabling
+toolbar buttons without having to explicitly call EnableTool. This is done
+in MyFrame::OnUpdateCopyAndCut.
+\item Using \helpref{wxToolBar::DeleteTool}{wxtoolbardeletetool} and
+\helpref{wxToolBar::InsertTool}{wxtoolbarinserttool} to dynamically update the
+toolbar.
+\end{itemize}
+
+\subsection{Treectrl sample}\label{sampletreectrl}
+
+This sample demonstrates using \helpref{wxTreeCtrl}{wxtreectrl} class. Here
+you may see how to process various notification messages sent by this control
+and also when they occur (by looking at the messages in the text control in
+the bottom part of the frame).
+
+Adding, inserting and deleting items and branches from the tree as well as
+sorting (in default alphabetical order as well as in custom one) is
+demonstrated here as well - try the corresponding menu entries.
+
+\subsection{Wizard sample}\label{samplewizard}
+
+This sample shows so-called wizard dialog (implemented using
+\helpref{wxWizard}{wxwizard} and related classes). It shows almost all
+features supported:
+
+\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
+\item Using bitmaps with the wizard and changing them depending on the page
+shown (notice that wxValidationPage in the sample has a different image from
+the other ones)
+\item Using \helpref{TransferDataFromWindow}{wxwindowtransferdatafromwindow}
+to verify that the data entered is correct before passing to the next page
+(done in wxValidationPage which forces the user to check a checkbox before
+continuing).
+\item Using more elaborated techniques to allow returning to the previous
+page, but not continuing to the next one or vice versa (in wxRadioboxPage)
+\item This (wxRadioboxPage) page also shows how the page may process {\tt
+Cancel} button itself instead of relying on the wizard parent to do it.
+\item Normally, the order of the pages in the wizard is known at compile-time,
+but sometimes it depends on the user choices: wxCheckboxPage shows how to
+dynamically decide which page to display next (see also
+\helpref{wxWizardPage}{wxwizardpage})
+\end{itemize}
+