DESCRIPTION

MDI stands for Multiple Document Interface, and is a Microsoft Windows user interface, that consists of multiple non-toplevel windows belonging to an application window. The module contains classes that provide similar functionality; sub-window widgets realize a set of operations, close to those of the real top-level windows, - iconize, maximize, cascade etc.

The basic classes required to use the MDI are "Prima::MDIOwner" and "Prima::MDI", which are, correspondingly, sub-window owner class and sub-window class. "Prima::MDIWindowOwner" is exactly the same as "Prima::MDIOwner" but is a "Prima::Window" descendant: the both owner classes are different only in their first ascendants. Their second ascendant is "Prima::MDIMethods" package, that contains all the owner class functionality.

Usage of "Prima::MDI" class extends beyond the multi-document paradigm. "Prima::DockManager" module uses the class as a base of a dockable toolbar window class ( see Prima::DockManager.

SYNOPSIS

use Prima::MDI;
my $owner = Prima::MDIWindowOwner-> create();
my $mdi = $owner-> insert( 'Prima::MDI');
$mdi-> client-> insert( 'Prima::Button' => centered => 1 );

Prima::MDI

Implements MDI window functionality. A subwindow widget consists of a titlebar, titlebar buttons, and a client widget. The latter must be used as an insertion target for all children widgets.

A subwindow can be moved and resized, both by mouse and keyboard. These functions, along with maximize, minimize, and restore commands are accessible via the toolbar-anchored popup menu. The default set of commands is as follows:

        Close window              - Ctrl+F4
        Restore window            - Ctrl+F5 or a double click on the titlebar
        Maximize window           - Ctrl+F10 or a double click on the titlebar 
        Go to next MDI window     - Ctrl+Tab
        Go to previous MDI window - Ctrl+Shift+Tab
        Invoke popup menu         - Ctrl+Space

The class mimics API of "Prima::Window" class, and in some extent Prima::Window and this page share the same information.

Properties

borderIcons INTEGER

Selects window decorations, which are buttons on titlebar and the titlebar itself. Can be 0 or a combination of the following "mbi::XXX" constants, which are supreset of "bi::XXX" constants ( see ``borderIcons'' in Prima::Window ) and are interchangeable.

        mbi::SystemMenu  - system menu button with icon is shown
        mbi::Minimize    - minimize button 
        mbi::Maximize    - maximize ( and eventual restore )
        mbi::TitleBar    - window title 
        mbi::Close       - close button
        mbi::All         - all of the above

Default value: "mbi::All"

borderStyle INTEGER

One of "bs::XXX" constants, selecting the window border style. The constants are:

        bs::None      - no border
        bs::Single    - thin border
        bs::Dialog    - thick border
        bs::Sizeable  - thick border with interactive resize capabilities

"bs::Sizeable" is an unique mode. If selected, the user can resize the window interactively. The other border styles disallow resizing and affect the border width and design only.

Default value: "bs::Sizeable"

client OBJECT

Selects the client widget at runtime. When changing the client, the old client children are not reparented to the new client. The property cannot be used to set the client during the MDI window creation; use "clientClass" and "clientProfile" properties instead.

When setting new client object, note that is has to be named "MDIClient" and the window is automatically destroyed after the client is destroyed.

clientClass STRING

Assigns client widget class.

Create-only property.

Default value: "Prima::Widget"

clientProfile HASH

Assigns hash of properties, passed to the client during the creation.

Create-only property.

dragMode SCALAR

A three-state variable, which governs the visual feedback style when the user moves or resizes a window. If 1, the window is moved or resized simultaneously with the user mouse or keyboard actions. If 0, a marquee rectangle is drawn, which is moved or resized as the user sends the commands; the window is actually positioned and / or resized after the dragging session is successfully finished. If "undef", the system-dependant dragging style is used. ( See ``get_system_value'' in Prima::Application ).

The dragging session can be aborted by hitting Esc key or calling "sizemove_cancel" method.

Default value: "undef".

icon HANDLE

Selects a custom image to be drawn in the left corner of the toolbar. If 0, the default image ( menu button icon ) is drawn.

Default value: 0

iconMin HANDLE

Selects minimized button image in normal state.

iconMax HANDLE

Selects maximized button image in normal state.

iconClose HANDLE

Selects close button image in normal state.

iconRestore HANDLE

Selects restore button image in normal state.

iconMinPressed HANDLE

Selects minimize button image in pressed state.

iconMaxPressed HANDLE

Selects maximize button image in pressed state.

iconClosePressed HANDLE

Selects close button image in pressed state.

iconRestorePressed HANDLE

Selects restore button image in pressed state.

tileable BOOLEAN

Selects whether the window is allowed to participate in cascading and tiling auto-arrangements, performed correspondingly by "cascade" and "tile" methods. If 0, the window is never positioned automatically.

Default value: 1

titleHeight INTEGER

Selects height of the title bar in pixels. If 0, the default system value is used.

Default value: 0

windowState STATE

A three-state property, that governs the state of a window. STATE can be one of three "ws::XXX" constants:

        ws::Normal
        ws::Minimized
        ws::Maximized

The property can be changed either by explicit set-mode call or by the user. In either case, a "WindowState" notification is triggered.

The property has three convenience wrappers: "maximize()", "minimize()" and "restore()".

Default value: "ws::Normal"

See also: "WindowState"

Methods

arrange_icons

Arranges geometrically the minimized sibling MDI windows.

cascade

Arranges sibling MDI windows so they form a cascade-like structure: the lowest window is expanded to the full owner window inferior rectangle, window next to the lowest occupies the inferior rectangle of the lowest window, etc.

Only windows with "tileable" property set to 1 are processed.

client2frame X1, Y1, X2, Y2

Returns a rectangle that the window would occupy if its client rectangle is assigned to X1, Y1, X2, Y2 rectangle.

frame2client X1, Y1, X2, Y2

Returns a rectangle that the window client would occupy if the window rectangle is assigned to X1, Y1, X2, Y2 rectangle.

get_client_rect [ WIDTH, HEIGHT ]

Returns a rectangle in the window coordinate system that the client would occupy if the window extensions are WIDTH and HEIGHT. If WIDTH and HEIGHT are undefined, the current window size is used.

keyMove

Initiates window moving session, navigated by the keyboard.

keySize

Initiates window resizing session, navigated by the keyboard.

mdis

Returns array of sibling MDI windows.

maximize

Maximizes window. A shortcut for "windowState(ws::Maximized)".

minimize

Minimizes window. A shortcut for "windowState(ws::Minimized)".

post_action STRING

Posts an action to the windows; the action is deferred and executed in the next message loop. This is used to avoid unnecessary state checks when the action-executing code returns. The current implementation accepts following string commands: "min", "max", "restore", "close".

repaint_title [ STRING = "title" ]

Invalidates rectangle on the title bar, corresponding to STRING, which can be one of the following:

        left    - redraw the menu button
        right   - redraw minimize, maximize, and close buttons
        title   - redraw the title

restore

Restores window to normal state from minimized or maximized state. A shortcut for "windowState(ws::Normal)".

sizemove_cancel

Cancels active window moving or resizing session and returns the window to the state before the session.

tile

Arranges sibling MDI windows so they form a grid-like structure, where all windows occupy equal space, if possible.

Only windows with "tileable" property set to 1 are processed.

xy2part X, Y

Maps a point in (X,Y) coordinates into a string, corresponding to a part of the window: titlebar, button, or part of the border. The latter can be returned only if "borderStyle" is set to "bs::Sizeable". The possible return values are:

        border   - window border; the window is not sizeable
        client   - client widget
        caption  - titlebar; the window is not moveable
        title    - titlebar; the window is movable
        close    - close button
        min      - minimize button
        max      - maximize button
        restore  - restore button
        menu     - menu button
        desktop  - the point does not belong to the window

In addition, if the window is sizeable, the following constants can be returned, indicating part of the border:

        SizeN    - upper side
        SizeS    - lower side
        SizeW    - left side
        SizeE    - right side
        SizeSW   - lower left corner
        SizeNW   - upper left corner
        SizeSE   - lower right corner
        SizeNE   - upper right corner

Events

Activate

Triggered when the user activates a window. Activation mark is usually resides on a window that contains keyboard focus.

The module does not provide the activation function; "select()" call is used instead.

Deactivate

Triggered when the user deactivates a window. Window is usually marked inactive, when it contains no keyboard focus.

The module does not provide the de-activation function; "deselect()" call is used instead.

WindowState STATE

Triggered when window state is changed, either by an explicit "windowState()" call, or by the user. STATE is the new window state, one of three "ws::XXX" constants.

Prima::MDIMethods

Methods

The package contains several methods for a class that is to be used as a MDI windows owner. It is enough to add class inheritance to "Prima::MDIMethods" to use the functionality. This step, however, is not required for a widget to become a MDI windows owner; the package contains helper functions only, which mostly mirror the arrangement functions of "Prima::MDI" class.

mdi_activate

Repaints window title in all children MDI windows.

mdis

Returns array of children MDI windows.

arrange_icons

Same as "Prima::MDI::arrange_icons".

cascade

Same as "Prima::MDI::cascade".

tile

Same as "Prima::MDI::tile".

Prima::MDIOwner

A predeclared descendant class of "Prima::Widget" and "Prima::MDIMethods".

Prima::MDIWindowOwner

A pre-declared descendant class of "Prima::Window" and "Prima::MDIMethods".

AUTHOR

Dmitry Karasik, <[email protected]>.