NAME
TixIntro - Introduction to the Tix library
_________________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION
Tix, which stands for Tk Interface Extension, is an exten
sion library for Tcl/Tk. Tix adds many new widgets, image
types and other commands that allows you to create com
pelling Tcl/Tk-based GUI applications.
One advantage of Tix over other Tk widget libraries is
many of the Tix standard widgets are implemented in native
code. This enhances performance and provides native look-
and-feel for your applications.
This version of Tix works with Tcl/Tk version 8.0 or
above. If Tix has been installed properly on your system,
you can load the package into any Tk script by invoking
the command
package require Tix
After this command has successfully returned, you can
start using the functionalities of the Tix library. See
the EXAMPLES section below for example scripts that use
Tix.
If the "package require Tix" command fails, you probably
need to install a new copy of Tix on your system. You can
download the latest version of Tix from the web site
http://tixlibrary.sourceforge.net/.
STANDARD WIDGETS
Tix includes the following standard widgets which, like
their counterparts in Tk, are implemented in native code
to achieve high performance and native look-and-feel.
tixGrid
The tixGrid widget displays items in a spread-sheet
format.
tixHList
Hierarchical listbox widget. This widget display
entries in a tree-like format.
tixInputOnly
A transparent window that can be used to cover
another widget so as to disable mouse input.
tixNBFrame
The tixNBFrame widget is used internally by the
tixNoteBook widget to display choices among a set
of overlapping pages.
Tabular listbox widget. This widget is similar to
the built-in Tk listbox widget but provides more
flexibility in displaying the list entries.
MEGA WIDGETS
Tix provides many new types of mega widgets: these are
widgets that are composed of built-in Tk widgets and the
Tix standard widgets mentioned above.
tixBalloon
The tixBalloon widget provides context-sensitive
on-screen help.
tixButtonBox
A convenience class for creating a box of button
widgets.
tixCheckList
A subclass of tixTree that presents single- or mul
tiple choices to the user in a tree-like format.
tixComboBox
A combination of the listbox and entry widgets that
allows the user to input an item by typing or by
selecting from a list of items.
tixControl
The tixControl widget allows the user to adjust a
value using arrow buttons.
tixDirList
A directory selection widget that displays the file
system as a cascading list.
tixDirSelectDialog
A dialog for selecting a directory. This widget is
deprecated. Use tk_chooseDirectory instead.
tixDirTree
A directory selection widget that displays the file
system in a tree format.
tixExFileSelectBox
A widget for selecting a file. This widget is dep
recated. Use tk_getOpenFile instead.
tixExFileSelectDialog
A dialog for selecting a file. This widget is dep
recated. Use tk_getOpenFile instead.
tixFileEntry
A special entry widget that allows the user to
choose a file by typing in its name or by selecting
tixFileSelectBox
A widget for selecting a file. This widget is dep
recated. Use tk_getOpenFile instead.
tixFileSelectDialog
A dialog for selecting a file. This widget is dep
recated. Use tk_getOpenFile instead.
tixLabelEntry
A convenience class for creating an entry with an
associated label widget.
tixLabelFrame
A labeled frame widget for grouping together a set
of related widgets.
tixListNoteBook
The tixListNoteBook widget allows the user to
choose from a set of over-lapping pages by select
ing from a list box.
tixMeter
The tixMeter widget displays a bar graph to indi
cate progress.
tixNoteBook
The tixNoteBook widget allows the user to choose
from a set of over-lapping pages with a tabbed
notebook metaphor.
tixOptionMenu
The tixOptionMenu widget allows the user to choose
a value from a pop-up menu.
tixPanedWindow
The tixPanedWindow widgets allows the user to
adjust the visible size of several frame widgets
with handle bars.
tixPopupMenu
The tixPopupMenu widget can be used to implement
context-sensitive pop-up menu.
tixScrolledHList
A tixHList widget with smart scrollbars. Like other
Tix scrolled widgets, the scroll bars can be dis
played on an as-needed basis.
tixScrolledListBox
A Tk listbox widget with smart scrollbars.
A Tk text widget with smart scrollbars.
tixScrolledWindow
A Tk frame widget with smart scrollbars.
tixSelect
The tixSelect widget uses a set of buttons to pre
sent single- or multiple selection options to the
user.
tixStdButtonBox
A subclass of tixButtonBox that provides four stan
dard buttons (OK, Apply, Cancel Help) for
Motif(TM)-like dialog boxes.
tixTree
A subclass of tixScrolledHList that supports
expanding and collapsing of entries in a hierarchi
cal list.
DISPLAY ITEMS
Three Tix standard widgets tixGrid, tixHList and tixTList
support the Display Items mechanism. Display items are
created by the widget command of these standard widgets.
You can customize the items using styles objects.
tixDisplayStyle
Create style objects to customize display items.
IMAGE TYPES
Tix provides two additional image types to the Tk image
framework.
compound
The compound image type allows you to combine
images, widgets, and text strings into a single Tk
image object.
pixmap The pixmap image type supports the XPM format.
OTHER COMMANDS
The following Tcl command are also included in the Tix
library to perform various functions.
tixDestroy
Destroy Tix objects instances of classes defined by
tixClass construct.
tixForm
A geometry manager based on attachment rules. This
geometry manager is deprecated. Use the Tk grid
geometry manager instead.
Motif(TM) Window Manager. Works on Unix only.
tix The tix command controls the Tix application con
text.
tixGetBoolean
The tixGetBoolean command converts a string to a
boolean value.
tixGetInt
The tixGetInt command converts a string to a inte
ger value.
tixUtils
The tixUtils manual page describes some utility Tix
commands.
EXECUTABLE PROGRAM
tixwish
The tixwish program can be used to execute Tix-
based applications. tixwish is deprecated. You
should use the standard wish program from Tk and
access Tix via the "package require Tix" command.
EXAMPLES
The following is an example script that uses a tixTree
widget.
set tree [tixTree .t]
pack $tree -expand yes -fill both
for {set i 0} {$i < 2} {incr i} {
$tree subwidget hlist add $i -itemtype imagetext \
-text "Folder $i" -image [tix getimage folder]
for {set j 0} {$j < 5} {incr j} {
$tree subwidget hlist add $i.$j -itemtype imagetext \
-text "File $i.$j" -image [tix getimage textfile]
}
}
$tree autosetmode
KEYWORDS
Tix, mega widgets
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