Freelog 65/Freelog065.iso/BAS/Bureautique/Gnumeric/gnumeric-1.3.92-rc1.exe/graphics-widgets.xml

Text File | 2004-11-01 | 24KB | 774 lines

<sect1 id="sect-graphics-widgets">
  <title>GUI Widgets</title>

  <para>
    A <application>Gnumeric</application> worksheet can graphical user
    interface (GUI) elements, commonly called 'widgets', which can be
    tied to the data contents of worksheet cells. For example, users
    can add a slider widget which, when the position of the slider
    moves, alters the numeric value in a worksheet cell.
  </para>

  <warning>
    <title> Widgets are currently experimental!</title>
    <para>
      The current implementation of these widgets is incomplete. Some
      of the obvious configuration settings for these widgets do not
      exist and much of the functionality that these widgets should
      exhibit has not been implemented. Future versions of
      <application>Gnumeric</application> will complete these widgets
      and make them functional.
    </para>
  </warning>

  <note>
    <title>
      Widgets do not currently stack properly on the worksheet
    </title>
    <para>
      Widgets currently stay above all the other graphical elements
      because they use a different system to calculate their positions
      than the other graphical elements do. This will also be fixed in
      future updates.
    </para>
  </note>

<!-- This section is identical to that in graphics-drawings.xml -->

  <para>
    Each of these elements can be added by selecting the appropriate
    icon on the object toolbar and using the thin cross-hair mouse
    pointer to place the element on the worksheet by clicking or by
    click-dragging with the primary mouse button. This process is
    explained in greater detail in <xref
    linkend="sect-graphical-overview-adding" />.
  </para>

  <para>
    Each of these elements can be configured using the context menu
    and its <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> menu item, as
    explained in <xref linkend="sect-graphical-overview-modifing" />.
  </para>

  <para>
    Each of these elements can be moved and resized on the worksheet, as
    explained in <xref linkend="sect-graphical-overview-moveNresize" />.
  </para>

  <para>
    The stacking order, from the front to the back, which determines
    which widgets obscure each other, can be changed using the entries
    in the context menu, as explained in <xref
    linkend="sect-graphical-overview-restacking" />. However, as
    explained in the note above, the widgets do not currently stack
    under the other graphical elements.
  </para>

  <para>
    Each of these elements can be deleted using the context menu and
    its <guimenuitem>Delete</guimenuitem> menu item, as
    explained in <xref linkend="sect-graphical-overview-deleting" />.
  </para>

<!-- End of identical section. -->







  <sect2 id="sect-graphics-widgets-label">
    <title>Labels.</title>

    <para>
      Labels are intended to be small text elements which can be added
      to the worksheet. Since it is currently not possible to edit the
      text field, these widgets are not currently usable. The
      properties of the border and background of the widget can be
      changed but, because the word "Label" is always present, the
      rectangle drawing element, presented in <xref
      linkend="sect-graphics-drawings-rectangle" /> will be more
      useful.
    </para>

    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-label-example">
      <title>
        A label widget.
      </title>
      <screenshot>
        <mediaobject>
          <imageobject>
            <imagedata fileref="figures/widget-label.png"
                       format="PNG"/>
          </imageobject>
          <textobject>
            <phrase>
               An image of a label widget.
            </phrase>
          </textobject>
        </mediaobject>
      </screenshot>
    </figure>

   <sect3 id="sect-graphics-widgets-label-configure">
      <title>Configuring the properties of the label</title>

      <para>
        The properties of the label can be altered with the
        <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> menu item in the
        context menu which appears when the mouse cursor is placed
        over the label and one of the secondary mouse buttons is
        pressed.
      </para>

      <para>
        The label outline color and width, as well as the background,
        "fill", color can be changed.
      </para>

    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-label-properties">
    <title>
      The configuration dialog for label properties.
    </title>
    <screenshot>
      <mediaobject>
        <imageobject>
          <imagedata fileref="figures/dialog-properties-label.png"
              format="PNG"/>
        </imageobject>
        <textobject>
          <phrase>
             An image of the dialog used to configure checkbox widget
             elements.
          </phrase>
        </textobject>
      </mediaobject>
    </screenshot>
    </figure>

      <para>
        The color of the label outline can be altered by moving the mouse
        pointer over the button with the icon of a small,
        black, downward pointing arrow and then clicking with the
        primary mouse button. This will open up a panel with a number
        of standard colors presented as small squares. Any of these
        colors can be selected by moving the mouse pointer over the
        desired color and pressing once with the primary mouse
        button. Alternatively, a custom color can be chosen by
        clicking on the button at the bottom of the panel. This will
        open up the color chooser dialog. In this dialog colors can be
        defined using the numeric boxes or can be selected using the
        color triangle. The color can be selected by Clicking on the
        outer circle while the darkness or lightness can be selected
        by clicking inside the triangle. Once the desired color has
        been configured, this color can be used for the label outline
        by clicking on the <guibutton>OK</guibutton> button.
      </para>

      <para>
        The border width can be changed either by typing a new number
        into the text box or by using the up and down arrows to
        increment or decrement the width number.
      </para>

      <para>
        The color of the background fill can be changed in the same
        way as the color of the outline border, which was explained
        above.
      </para>


    </sect3>

  </sect2>








  <sect2 id="sect-graphics-widgets-frame">
    <title>Frames.</title>

    <para>
      Frames are intended to be transparent boxes with a title that
      can be placed around part of the worksheet to highlight that
      area. Because the format of the border of these widgets cannot
      be altered, they are less visible than they could be. A similar
      frame, without the title, can be made with the rectangle drawing
      element, which is presented in <xref
      linkend="sect-graphics-drawings-rectangle" />.
    </para>

    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-frame-example">
      <title>
        A frame widget.
      </title>
      <screenshot>
        <mediaobject>
          <imageobject>
            <imagedata fileref="figures/widget-frame.png"
                       format="PNG"/>
          </imageobject>
          <textobject>
            <phrase>
               An image of a frame widget.
            </phrase>
          </textobject>
        </mediaobject>
      </screenshot>
    </figure>

   <sect3 id="sect-graphics-widgets-frame-configure">
      <title>Configuring the properties of the checkbox</title>

      <para>
        The properties of the frame can be altered with the
        <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> menu item in the
        context menu which appears when the mouse cursor is placed
        over the frame and one of the secondary mouse buttons is
        pressed.
      </para>

      <para>
        Currently, only the word that appears in the frame can be
        altered.
      </para>


    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-frame-properties">
    <title>
      The configuration dialog for frame properties.
    </title>
    <screenshot>
      <mediaobject>
        <imageobject>
          <imagedata fileref="figures/dialog-properties-frame.png"
              format="PNG"/>
        </imageobject>
        <textobject>
          <phrase>
             An image of the dialog used to configure frame widget
             elements.
          </phrase>
        </textobject>
      </mediaobject>
    </screenshot>
    </figure>

    <para>
      The word displayed in the frame can be altered by typing new
      text in the textbox next to the word "Label".
    </para>

    </sect3>

  </sect2>









  <sect2 id="sect-graphics-widgets-checkbox">
    <title>Checkboxes.</title>

    <para>
      Checkboxes are widgets which allow a user to visually see the
      state of an entity, whether it is checked or not, and tie this
      state to the truth value of a Boolean cell, "TRUE" if the
      checkbox is checked and "FALSE" the checkbox is not. The check
      box can be used to alter the value of a cell, which will alter
      any other cells whose values are computed based on the dependent
      cell. This provides a simple way to alter a whole series of
      computations.
    </para>

    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-checkbox-example">
      <title>
        A checkbox widget.
      </title>
      <screenshot>
        <mediaobject>
          <imageobject>
            <imagedata fileref="figures/widget-checkbox.png"
                       format="PNG"/>
          </imageobject>
          <textobject>
            <phrase>
               An image of a checkbox widget.
            </phrase>
          </textobject>
        </mediaobject>
      </screenshot>
    </figure>

    <sect3 id="sect-graphics-widgets-checkbox-configure">
      <title>Configuring the properties of the checkbox</title>

      <para>
        The properties of the checkbox can be altered with the
        <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> menu item in the
        context menu which appears when the mouse cursor is placed
        over the checkbox and one of the secondary mouse buttons is
        pressed.
      </para>

      <para>
        Checkboxes have two properties which can be configured: the
        worksheet cell whose value will be altered by clicking in the
        checkbox and the text displayed on the checkbox.
      </para>


    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-checkbox-properties">
    <title>
      The configuration dialog for checkbox properties.
    </title>
    <screenshot>
      <mediaobject>
        <imageobject>
          <imagedata fileref="figures/dialog-properties-checkbox.png"
              format="PNG"/>
        </imageobject>
        <textobject>
          <phrase>
             An image of the dialog used to configure checkbox widget
             elements.
          </phrase>
        </textobject>
      </mediaobject>
    </screenshot>
    </figure>

    <para>
      The "Link to:" field allows the user to select a cell that will
      be changed in response to changes in the state of the widget. A
      user can type the name of a cell in the text box or may click in
      the text box to activate it and then click on the worksheet to
      select the desired cell and <application>Gnumeric</application>
      will automatically add a reference to the cell.
    </para>

    <para>
      The "Label" field accepts a text value which will appear next to
      the checkbox. This text can indicate what the checkbox field
      alters, for instance in <xref
      linkend="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-checkbox-example" /> the
      checkbox could be used to alter a series of calculations, between
      including interest or excluding it, from the computation.
    </para>

    </sect3>


  </sect2>






  <sect2 id="sect-graphics-widgets-scrollbar">
    <title>Scrollbars.</title>


    <para>
      Scrollbars are widgets that allow the changing of a numeric
      value by click-dragging with the mouse.
    </para>

    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-scrollbar-example">
      <title>
        A scrollbar widget.
      </title>
      <screenshot>
        <mediaobject>
          <imageobject>
            <imagedata fileref="figures/widget-scrollbar.png"
                       format="PNG"/>
          </imageobject>
          <textobject>
            <phrase>
               An image of a scrollbar widget.
            </phrase>
          </textobject>
        </mediaobject>
      </screenshot>
    </figure>

    <para>
      The scrollbar widget can be used in three ways: by dragging the
      'thumb', by clicking on the arrows, or by clicking in the
      'channel'. The 'thumb' is the small rectangular element between
      the two arrow buttons. The 'thumb' can be dragged by placing the
      mouse pointer over the thumb, clicking and holding with the
      primary mouse button and then dragging the mouse pointer up or
      down. Clicking on the arrow buttons will scroll the thumb in the
      direction of the arrow. The 'channel' is the area between the
      arrows that is not the 'thumb'. A mouse click with the primary
      mouse button when the mouse pointer is over the 'channel' will
      cause the scrollbar to move a 'page'. The motion of the 'thumb'
      will cause a numeric value to change based on the configuration
      of the widget, as is explained below.

    </para>

   <sect3 id="sect-graphics-widgets-scrollbar-configure">
      <title>Configuring the properties of the scrollbar</title>

      <para>
        The properties of the scrollbar can be altered with the
        <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> menu item in the
        context menu which appears when the mouse cursor is placed
        over the scrollbar and one of the secondary mouse buttons is
        pressed.
      </para>

      <para>
        Scrollbars have five properties which can be configured: the
        worksheet cell whose value will be altered by movement of the
        scrollbar 'thumb', the minimum value when the thumb is at the
        top of its channel, the maximum value reached when the thumb
        is at the bottom of its channel, the smallest increment of
        change which is the change caused by clicking on the arrows,
        and the page increment which is the change which occurs when
        the channel is clicked.
      </para>


      <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-scrollbar-properties">
        <title>
          The configuration dialog for scrollbar properties.
        </title>
        <screenshot>
          <mediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata fileref="figures/dialog-properties-scrollbar.png"
                         format="PNG"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>
                 An image of the dialog used to configure scrollbar widget
                 elements.
              </phrase>
            </textobject>
          </mediaobject>
        </screenshot>
      </figure>

      <para>
        The "Link to:" field allows the user to select a cell that will
        be changed in response to changes in the state of the
        widget. A user can type the name of a cell in the text box or
        may click in the text box to activate it and then click on the
        worksheet to select the desired cell and
        <application>Gnumeric</application> will automatically add a
        reference to the cell.
      </para>

      <para>
        The other properties can be changed either by typing a new number
        into the text box or by using the up and down arrows to
        increment or decrement the width number.
      </para>

    </sect3>



  </sect2>







  <sect2 id="sect-graphics-widgets-spinbutton">
    <title>Spinbuttons.</title>

    <para>
      Spinbuttons, like sliders, are widgets that allow a user to
      change the numeric value in the cell by interacting with a
      widget. The value of spinbuttons can be changed either by typing
      a new number into the text box or by clicking on the arrow
      buttons. If the buttons are clicked and held, the numeric value
      will spin, incrementing or decrementing depending on the arrow
      being held.
    </para>

    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-spinbutton-example">
      <title>
        A spinbutton widget.
      </title>
      <screenshot>
        <mediaobject>
          <imageobject>
            <imagedata fileref="figures/widget-spinbutton.png"
                       format="PNG"/>
          </imageobject>
          <textobject>
            <phrase>
               An image of a spinbutton widget.
            </phrase>
          </textobject>
        </mediaobject>
      </screenshot>
    </figure>

   <sect3 id="sect-graphics-widgets-spinbutton-configure">
      <title>Configuring the properties of the spinbutton</title>

      <para>
        The properties of the spinbutton can be altered with the
        <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> menu item in the
        context menu which appears when the mouse cursor is placed
        over the spinbutton and one of the secondary mouse buttons is
        pressed.
      </para>

      <para>
        Spinbuttons have five properties which can be configured: the
        worksheet cell whose value will be altered by the spinbutton,
        the minimum value when the thumb is at the top of its channel,
        the maximum value reached when the thumb is at the bottom of
        its channel, the smallest increment of change which is the
        change caused by clicking on the arrows, and the page
        increment which is the change which occurs when the channel is
        clicked.
      </para>


      <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-spinbutton-properties">
        <title>
          The configuration dialog for spinbutton properties.
        </title>
        <screenshot>
          <mediaobject>
            <imageobject>
          <!-- NB this is a shared dialog. -->
              <imagedata fileref="figures/dialog-properties-scrollbar.png"
                         format="PNG"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>
                 An image of the dialog used to configure spinbutton widget
                 elements.
              </phrase>
            </textobject>
          </mediaobject>
        </screenshot>
      </figure>

      <para>
        The "Link to:" field allows the user to select a cell that will
        be changed in response to changes in the state of the
        widget. A user can type the name of a cell in the text box or
        may click in the text box to activate it and then click on the
        worksheet to select the desired cell and
        <application>Gnumeric</application> will automatically add a
        reference to the cell.
      </para>

      <para>
        The other properties can be changed either by typing a new number
        into the text box or by using the up and down arrows to
        increment or decrement the width number.
      </para>

    </sect3>


  </sect2>







  <sect2 id="sect-graphics-widgets-slider">
    <title>Sliders.</title>

    <para>
      Sliders, like scrollbars and spinbuttons, allow a cell value to
    be changed based on user interaction with a widget on the screen.
    </para>

    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-slider-example">
      <title>
        A slider widget.
      </title>
      <screenshot>
        <mediaobject>
          <imageobject>
            <imagedata fileref="figures/widget-slider.png"
                       format="PNG"/>
          </imageobject>
          <textobject>
            <phrase>
               An image of a slider widget.
            </phrase>
          </textobject>
        </mediaobject>
      </screenshot>
    </figure>

    <para>
      The slider widget can be used in two ways: by dragging the
      'thumb' or by clicking in the 'channel'. The 'thumb' is the
      small rectangular element between the two arrow buttons. The
      'thumb' can be dragged by placing the mouse pointer over the
      thumb, clicking and holding with the primary mouse button and
      then dragging the mouse pointer up or down. The 'channel' is the
      area between the arrows that is not the 'thumb'. A mouse click
      with the primary mouse button when the mouse pointer is over the
      'channel' will cause the scrollbar to move a 'page'. The motion
      of the 'thumb' will cause a numeric value to change based on the
      configuration of the widget, as is explained below.
    </para>

   <sect3 id="sect-graphics-widgets-slider-configure">
      <title>Configuring the properties of the slider</title>

      <para>
        The properties of the slider can be altered with the
        <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> menu item in the
        context menu which appears when the mouse cursor is placed
        over the slider and one of the secondary mouse buttons is
        pressed.
      </para>

      <para>
        Sliders have five properties which can be configured: the
        worksheet cell whose value will be altered by movement of the
        scrollbar 'thumb', the minimum value when the thumb is at the
        top of its channel, the maximum value reached when the thumb
        is at the bottom of its channel, the smallest increment of
        change, and the page increment which is the change which
        occurs when the channel is clicked.
      </para>


      <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-slider-properties">
        <title>
          The configuration dialog for slider properties.
        </title>
        <screenshot>
          <mediaobject>
            <imageobject>
          <!-- NB this is a shared dialog. -->
              <imagedata fileref="figures/dialog-properties-scrollbar.png"
                         format="PNG"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>
                 An image of the dialog used to configure slider  widget
                 elements.
              </phrase>
            </textobject>
          </mediaobject>
        </screenshot>
      </figure>

      <para>
        The "Link to:" field allows the user to select a cell that will
        be changed in response to changes in the state of the
        widget. A user can type the name of a cell in the text box or
        may click in the text box to activate it and then click on the
        worksheet to select the desired cell and
        <application>Gnumeric</application> will automatically add a
        reference to the cell.
      </para>

      <para>
        The other properties can be changed either by typing a new number
        into the text box or by using the up and down arrows to
        increment or decrement the width number.
      </para>

    </sect3>


  </sect2>






  <sect2 id="sect-graphics-widgets-list">
    <title>Lists.</title>

    <para>
      List widget elements are currently unusable because they cannot
      be configured.
    </para>

    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-list-example">
      <title>
        A list widget.
      </title>
      <screenshot>
        <mediaobject>
          <imageobject>
            <imagedata fileref="figures/widget-list.png"
                       format="PNG"/>
          </imageobject>
          <textobject>
            <phrase>
               An image of a list widget.
            </phrase>
          </textobject>
        </mediaobject>
      </screenshot>
    </figure>


  </sect2>






  <sect2 id="sect-graphics-widgets-combobox">
    <title>Combination Boxes.</title>

    <para>
      Combination box widgets are currently unusable because they
      cannot be configured.
    </para>

    <figure id="fig-gnumeric-graphics-widgets-combobox-example">
      <title>
        A combination box widget.
      </title>
      <screenshot>
        <mediaobject>
          <imageobject>
            <imagedata fileref="figures/widget-combobox.png"
                       format="PNG"/>
          </imageobject>
          <textobject>
            <phrase>
               An image of a combination box widget.
            </phrase>
          </textobject>
        </mediaobject>
      </screenshot>
    </figure>

  </sect2>


</sect1>