1 Introduction

Magic User Interface (also known as MUI) is a complete system to create and maintain graphical user interfaces. The creating GUIs has been a big problem for a very long time. Mainly because the programmer got only a minuscule amount of support from the operating system. Beginning with Kickstart 2.0, the `gadtools library' was a step in the right direction, however, even using this library to generate complex and flexible interfaces remained difficult and still required a great deal of patience.

Today there are tools available that make the use of `gadtools library' much more simplified, but even these alternatives are not often satisfying.

The largest problem in existing tools for the creation of user interfaces is the inflexible output. Most of the programs are still using built-in fonts and window sizes, thus making the use of high resolution graphics hardware adaptors nearly unbearable. Its been said that Amiga users have had to live with such similar shortcomings all along. Even the preference programs on the Workbench are still only using the default font, topaz/8!

MUI corrects all these disadvantages! The central scheme behind MUI assumes that only the user (and not the programmer) of an application knows how the program he is using best fits his personal needs, and that of his computer system. Because MUI applications don't contain any absolute values for sizes or positions, the programmer instead only defines objects and groups of objects. Such objects are defined on run time by MUI according to the users settings.

Consequently, an MUI application gives the user many more important advantages:

• Font sensitivity In MUI Its possible for the font to be set in every application. No more times where the A2024 users had to suffer from the programs that only used the tiny topaz/8 font. Even better, MUI gives the user no restrictions on which fonts he may use, especially proportional fonts! The proportional fonts make a program much more appealing and even reduces the space a program's window uses.

• Changeable window sizes All MUI windows have a sizing gadget which allows users to change the window size until it suits their needs. The smaller a window becomes, the closer control items within the window come together. The larger the window, the more space that will be used for displaying information (e.g. in list-views). The size and position of every window can be saved, thus giving you your favorite setting every time you start the program.

• Flexibility Almost all elements can be changed by the user regarding their own personal tastes. The user can define the thickness of borders, how the scroll-bars look, mhich images have to be used, and how much space should be inserted between the lines of a list-view. MUI gives the user a lot of options to change the look and feel of an MUI based application.

• Controlling by keyboard Most of the time it is expected that graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and of course MUI applications as well, are controlled by the mouse. However, many users prefer the use of the keyboard for faster execution of operations, and because it can be more comfortable. Because of this, all MUI objects (e.g. string gadgets, radio buttons, or list-views) can be controlled by the keyboard as well as by the mouse! You can even put away your mouse completely if you wish! Its no longer needed!

• System integration MUI applications cooperate with the operating system in many ways. Every program can be iconified and uniconified by pushing a gadget or by using the Commodities exchange program. Furthermore, every MUI application has an ARexx-Port that allows you full remote control (and more) over the user interface.

• Adjusting to its environment It doesn't matter which screen or screen size your MUI applications run on. Workbench or public, 640x200 or 1280x1024 pixels, 4 or 256 colors, it doesn't matter! Every application can be made to open on any screen, and adapts itself to it's environment.

All of the MUI settings listed above (and more) can be changed by the user via the MUI preferences program. This can be set for every program in one setting (global) or can be set for each and every single application.

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