NAME
itk - framework for building mega-widgets in Tcl/Tk
_________________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION
Mega-widgets are high-level widgets that are constructed
using Tk widgets as component parts, usually without any C
code. A fileselectionbox, for example, may have a few
listboxes, some entry widgets and some control buttons.
These individual widgets are put together in a way that
makes them act like one big widget. A fileselectionbox
mega-widget can be created with a command like:
fileselectionbox .fsb -background blue -foreground white
Once it has been created, it can be reconfigured with a
command like:
.fsb configure -background green -foreground black
and all of its internal components will change color.
Each mega-widget has a set of methods that can be used to
manipulate it. For example, the current selection can be
queried from a fileselectionbox like this:
set fileName [.fsb get]
In effect, a mega-widget looks and acts exactly like a Tk
widget, but is considerably easier to implement.
[incr Tk] is a framework for building mega-widgets. It
uses [incr Tcl] to support the object paradigm, and adds
base classes which provide default widget behaviors.
All [incr Tk] widgets are derived from the Archetype base
class. This class manages internal component widgets, and
provides methods like "configure" and "cget" to access
configuration options.
The Widget base class inherits everything from Archetype,
and adds a Tk frame which acts as a container for the
mega-widget. It is used to build mega-widgets that sit
inside of other frames and toplevels. Derived classes
create other internal components and pack them into the
"hull" frame created by the Widget base class.
The Toplevel base class inherits everything from
Archetype, but adds a Tk toplevel which acts as a con
tainer for the mega-widget. It is used to build mega-wid
gets, such as dialog boxes, that have their own toplevel
window. Derived classes create other internal components
and pack them into the "hull" toplevel created by the
Toplevel base class.
[incr Widgets] LIBRARY
[incr Widgets] is a mega-widget library built using
tains more than 30 different widget classes, including:
- fileselectiondialog
- tabnotebook
- panedwindow
- combobox
- optionmenu
- scrolledlistbox
- scrolledframe
- messagedialog
- and many others...
The catalog demo in the "iwidgets/demos" directory shows
all of the available widgets in action. Each widget class
has its own man page describing the features available.
KEYWORDS
class, object, object-oriented, mega-widget
Man(1) output converted with
man2html