GadTools Library - Revision history

Daniel Jedlicka: Added note that GadTools menus are now replaced by the Menu Class.

2024-12-07T07:59:40Z

Added note that GadTools menus are now replaced by the Menu Class.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:59, 7 December 2024
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	For more information on tags and tag-based functions, be sure to see the [[Utility_Library\|Utility Library]].		For more information on tags and tag-based functions, be sure to see the [[Utility_Library\|Utility Library]].

	== GadTools ~~Menus~~ ==		== GadTools Gadgets ==

			[[GadTools Gadgets]] are now largely superseded by [[BOOPSI Gadgets\|gadgets]] based on the object-oriented [[BOOPSI - Object Oriented Intuition\|BOOPSI framework]].
	GadTools menus are the preferred way to manage menus on AmigaOS.

	~~See~~ [[GadTools Menus]] ~~for more information on how to use them.~~		== GadTools Menus ==

	== GadTools Gadgets ==

	GadTools gadgets are largely superseded by BOOPSI-based GUI systems are to be avoided.

			[[GadTools Menus]] are now largely superseded by [[Intuition Menu Class\|menus]] based on the object-oriented [[BOOPSI - Object Oriented Intuition\|BOOPSI framework]].
	See [[GadTools Gadgets]] for more information about this obsolete GUI system.

	== Function Reference ==		== Function Reference ==

Steven Solie: /* Function Reference */

2015-11-03T20:43:53Z

Function Reference

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:43, 3 November 2015
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	== Function Reference ==		== Function Reference ==

	The following are brief descriptions of the Intuition functions discussed in this ~~chapter~~. See the SDK for details on each function call.		The following are brief descriptions of the Intuition functions discussed in this article. See the SDK for details on each function call.

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"

Daniel Jedlicka: Reworded the chapter introduction to reflect the current situation in AmigaOS.

2015-09-13T16:13:56Z

Reworded the chapter introduction to reflect the current situation in AmigaOS.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:13, 13 September 2015
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	== GadTools Library ==		== GadTools Library ==

	~~GadTools~~ is ~~designed~~ to ~~simplify~~ ~~the~~ ~~task~~ of ~~creating~~ ~~user~~ ~~interfaces~~ ~~with~~ ~~Intuition~~. GadTools ~~offers~~ a ~~flexible~~ ~~and~~ ~~varied~~ ~~selection~~ of ~~gadgets~~ ~~and~~ ~~menus~~ to help programmers through what used to be a difficult chore.		Originally, programming even straightforward user interfaces in [[Intuition_Library\|Intuition]] could be rather complicated, and certainly difficult for first-time programmers. The GadTools toolkit was introduced in AmigaOS 2.x to simplify the task. It provided relatively easy-to-use, higher-level chunks to build [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_user_interface GUIs] from, and to help programmers through what used to be a difficult chore.

			{{Note\|title=Note\|text=As of AmigaOS 4.1 Final Edition, GadTools is basically a legacy toolkit retained for compatibility. Due to its inherent limitations, using GadTools in modern applications can no longer be recommended. Prefer using the object-oriented GUI programming framework based on [[BOOPSI]].}}
	Intuition, the Amiga's graphical user interface, is a powerful and flexible environment. It allows a software designer a great degree of flexibility in creating dynamic and powerful user interfaces. However, the drawback of this flexibility is that programming even straightforward user interfaces can be complicated, and certainly difficult for first-time Intuition programmers.

	What the Gadget Toolkit (GadTools) attempts to do is harness the power of Intuition by providing easy-to-use, high-level chunks of user interface. GadTools doesn't pretend to answer all possible user interface needs of every application but by meeting the user interface needs of most applications, GadTools greatly simplifies the problem of designing user-friendly software on the Amiga.

	For applications with special needs, custom solutions can be created with Intuition's already-familiar gadgets or its new BOOPSI object-oriented custom gadget system; GadTools is compatible with these.

	== Elements of GadTools ==		== Elements of GadTools ==

Steven Solie: /* Function Reference */

2014-03-26T20:55:48Z

Function Reference

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:55, 26 March 2014
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	! Description		! Description
	\|-		\|-
	\| CreateGadgetA()		\| CreateGadgetA()<br/>CreateGadget()
	\| Allocate GadTools gadget~~, tag array form~~.		\| Allocate GadTools gadget.
	\|-
	\| CreateGadget()
	\| Allocate GadTools gadget, varargs form.
	\|-		\|-
	\| FreeGadgets()		\| FreeGadgets()
	\| Free all GadTools gadgets.		\| Free all GadTools gadgets.
	\|-		\|-
	\| GT_SetGadgetAttrsA()		\| GT_SetGadgetAttrsA()<br/>GT_SetGadgetAttrs()
	\| Update gadget~~, tag array form~~.		\| Update gadget.
	\|-
	\| GT_SetGadgetAttrs()
	\| Update gadget, varargs form.
	\|-		\|-
	\| CreateContext()		\| CreateContext()
	\| Create a base for adding GadTools gadgets.		\| Create a base for adding GadTools gadgets.
	\|-		\|-
	\| CreateMenusA()		\| CreateMenusA()<br/>CreateMenus()
	\| Allocate GadTools menu structures~~, tag array form~~.		\| Allocate GadTools menu structures.
	\|-
	\| CreateMenus()
	\| Allocate GadTools menu structures, varargs form.
	\|-		\|-
	\| FreeMenus()		\| FreeMenus()
	\| Free menus allocated with CreateMenus().		\| Free menus allocated with CreateMenus().
	\|-		\|-
	\| LayoutMenuItemsA()		\| LayoutMenuItemsA()<br/>LayoutMenuItems()
	\| Format GadTools menu items~~, tag array form~~.		\| Format GadTools menu items.
	\|-		\|-
		⚫	\| LayoutMenusA()<br/>LayoutMenus()
	\| LayoutMenuItems()
	\| Format GadTools ~~menu items, varargs form~~.		\| Format GadTools menus.
	\|-
⚫	\| LayoutMenusA()
	\| Format GadTools menus, tag array form.
	\|-
	\| LayoutMenus()
	\| Format GadTools menus, varargs form.
	\|-		\|-
	\| GT_GetIMsg()		\| GT_GetIMsg()
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	\| GadTools gadget compatible version of EndRefresh().		\| GadTools gadget compatible version of EndRefresh().
	\|-		\|-
	\| DrawBevelBoxA()		\| DrawBevelBoxA()<br/>DrawBevelBox()
	\| Draw a 3D box~~, tag array form~~.		\| Draw a 3D box.
	\|-
	\| DrawBevelBox()
	\| Draw a 3D box, varargs form.
	\|-
	\| GetVisualInfoA()
	\| Get drawing information for GadTools, tag array form.
	\|-		\|-
	\| GetVisualInfo()		\| GetVisualInfoA()<br/>GetVisualInfo()
	\| Get drawing information for GadTools~~, varargs form~~.		\| Get drawing information for GadTools.
	\|-		\|-
	\| FreeVisualInfo()		\| FreeVisualInfo()

Steven Solie: /* Elements of GadTools */

2014-03-26T20:52:03Z

Elements of GadTools

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:52, 26 March 2014
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	GadTools provides a significant degree of visual consistency across multiple applications that use it. There is also internal consistency between different elements of GadTools; the look is clean and orderly. Depth is used not just for visual embellishment, but as an important cue. For instance, the user is free to select symbols that appear inside a "raised" area, but "recessed" areas are informational only, and clicking in them has no effect.		GadTools provides a significant degree of visual consistency across multiple applications that use it. There is also internal consistency between different elements of GadTools; the look is clean and orderly. Depth is used not just for visual embellishment, but as an important cue. For instance, the user is free to select symbols that appear inside a "raised" area, but "recessed" areas are informational only, and clicking in them has no effect.

	GadTools is not amenable to creative post-processing or hacking by programmers looking to achieve a result other than what GadTools currently offers. Software developers whose needs extend beyond the standard features of GadTools should create custom gadgets that share the look and feel of GadTools by using either BOOPSI or by directly programming gadgets at a lower level. See [[Intuition_Gadgets\|Intuition Gadgets]] and [[BOOPSI_-_Object_Oriented_Intuition\|BOOPSI]] for more information~~. Follow the GadTools rules. Only in this way may GadTools grow and improve without hindrance, even allowing new features to automatically appear in future software when reasonable~~.		GadTools is not amenable to creative post-processing or hacking by programmers looking to achieve a result other than what GadTools currently offers. Software developers whose needs extend beyond the standard features of GadTools should create custom gadgets that share the look and feel of GadTools by using either BOOPSI or by directly programming gadgets at a lower level. See [[Intuition_Gadgets\|Intuition Gadgets]] and [[BOOPSI_-_Object_Oriented_Intuition\|BOOPSI]] for more information.

	=== GadTools Tags ===		=== GadTools Tags ===

Steven Solie: /* Function Reference */

2013-05-24T18:15:38Z

Function Reference

Show changes

Steven Solie at 18:21, 5 April 2013

2013-04-05T18:21:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:21, 5 April 2013
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	{{CodeReview}}
	== GadTools Library ==		== GadTools Library ==

Steven Solie: /* GadTools Gadgets */

2013-04-05T18:17:47Z

GadTools Gadgets

Show changes

Steven Solie: /* GadTools Menus */

2013-04-05T18:14:59Z

GadTools Menus

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:14, 5 April 2013
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	== GadTools Menus ==		== GadTools Menus ==

			GadTools menus are the preferred way to manage menus on AmigaOS.
	[[GadTools Menus]]

			See [[GadTools Menus]] for more information on how to use them.

	== GadTools Gadgets ==		== GadTools Gadgets ==

Steven Solie at 18:11, 5 April 2013

2013-04-05T18:11:41Z

Show changes