GBPVRUIElements - skinnable user interface widget libary

[McBainUK]

(previous posts here.)

OK, I plan to have a gbpvruielements.dll that I'm happy with going public ready soon. I've got a list of changes I want to do.

• Add change caption support to buttons.
  
• Add onclick() functionality
  
• Redesign some internal workings to make it easier to add new elements
  
• Write some html docs explaining use of each element and how I think they fit in with plugins and skins - this will in turn help me with design of the elements.
  
• If possible use the lookup translation method all on strings rendered.
  

(will add more I'm sure)

Would be greatfull if people could look at the demo app, dll and skin and post on the developers section if they have any comments, suggestions

[dottore]

will there be something to download then? sounds good!

[McBainUK]

Yes download and try and use in your own plugin. Thats the idea anyway

[dottore]

ok, where can i have those files then?

[McBainUK]

An old version can be found here

I will post the new version, together with an example here soon (week or so).

[McBainUK]

Made good progress last night, cleaned up internal workings to make it ready for public release. I have also made it quite easy to add new elements (ideas include option buttons, number tickers, scrolling text boxes...).

During the week I'm going to implement the ideas I had to make the elements easier to skin (as well as allowing multiple elements of the same type to be made, each with different widths - will explain more in the docs). Once this is done I think the base of the dll is ready for release.

I also want to work on a 'CustomList' element. At the moment, a list is made up of a text string and an assoicated object. The text is displayed to the user, and when the user selects an item in the list, the assoicated object is returned to the plugin for it to use.
A CustomList would allow multiple strings and image refs to be added for each item in the list, these would then be sent as args[] to the renderer. This way a GbppvrUiElement can be used to handle scrolling, display, and user input on a list such as the UKCinemas film list.

As always, suggestions and comments welcome from skinners and plugin writers .

dottore, I've added a EditButtonTitle(old title , new title) method to the buttonList class, should be useful for your CD player's open/close button.

[dottore]

why is there an old title? ;-) thanks for the work, sounds really good!

[McBainUK]

why is there an old title? ;-) thanks for the work, sounds really good!

You can't currently access buttons directly (the element manages those). If a list needs to be edited it must be cleared and remade.

I've changed the behavior a little for the ButtonList element. It will look for a button called OldTitle and change the title of that button to NewTitle.

Thanks, I'm really pleased with how it's going

[DaveC]

Very interested in this work, the more we can help the plugin developer stay away from the UI drudgery the better. Also likely to get more common looking skin elements etc. (and more in baseskin!)

McBain ... I tried to get the alpha from the old post, but seems corrupt, is there a newer version, -- even if it does not work? ... interested in the approach and functionality you envision.

I actually have my own classes for screen items to abstract the UI stuff ... not ready for prime time as a screen item manager, but supports the homeseer plugin as an ordinary button manager -- provides the standard button management (2-dimensional), creation, up/down/left/right movement, rendering menu or OSD, etc. support. Currently extending to support lists of any items desired by the developer. I could pack it up and share if anyone is interested.

We all seem to be going the same direction ... dc

[McBainUK]

the more we can help the plugin developer stay away from the UI drudgery the better. Also likely to get more common looking skin elements etc.

These are the main goals .

The zips in the old post test ok, have you tried using different zip program to open them? Will be posting the new version during the week if you can wait until then . Will also write some docs covering how I think it can be used. I've made a plugin that demo's all the elements, hopefully developers can use this to help them.

The classes you have done, I would like to make it possible to add new elements to the dll, if you want in on this let me know. May be an idea to merge to help others with development. Will send you the source if you want to take a look?