[news.eclipse.platform.swt] Re: About GUI SWT Builder

["Konstantin Scheglov" <scheglov_ke@xxxxxxx>]

kite <yipeng97@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


> Looks very nice,but I cann't setup it in Eclipse 2.1. 
  Sorry, current version is not designed to be public version. This is
template, which can be usefull, or not usefull, depending on what people
need.
  What I need is ideas about how and in what direction to develop
it. Would be great if potential users describe, what they need from
designer. After this I can develop designer in this direction. Currently
I just don't know where to go.


> Konstantin Scheglov wrote:

>> Dave Tirak <dtirak@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>> > The screenshots provided look very promising.  I am excited to see
>> > development on this plugin continue.  This would be an invaluable tool for
>> > people just starting out in SWT or for quickly generating a GUI starting
>> > point.  And having a "two-way" tool is highly desirable.
>>   I hope, that I will receive some input from community about asked
> questions, but
>> it seems, that nobody wants to discuss this. :-(


>> > /dt


>> > Konstantin Scheglov wrote:

>> >> draco <dracodoc@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

>> >>   I have plans for building SWT GUI builder. I did some basic things like:
>> >> 1. Parsing Java code (using AST of course) for SWT widgets;
>> >> 2. Convinient (I hope) property table with support of any property editor;
>> >> 3. Widget tree;
>> >> 4. Visual view using GEF. You see real images of real controls, i.e. as
> your
>> >> window will look when you will start it (well, only when all properties
> are
>> >> detected);

>> >>   You can see some screenshots on http://eclipsedesigner.sourceforge.net

>> >>   Currently I don't have much time (I have enough work with Eclipse
> profiler
>> > plugin
>> >> http://eclipsecolorer.sourceforge.net). But I would like to hear, what
>> > people think
>> >> about current state (source are only in CVS and it is not so easy to test,
>> > so most
>> >> probably you will have only screenshots). And what is most interesting -
>> > where to
>> >> go, which features are needed. 

>> >> 1. Do you think, that current idea about 2-way tool is good?
>> >>    I parse one method for Control's creation, calls of setXXX and then
>> >> use this information. When user changes property in editor I modify Java
>> >> code by changeing or adding call of setXXX.
>> >>    Or may be I should just edit some model and then generate Java code
>> >> from template (i.e. implement one-way tool)?
>> >>    Or may be I should as WSAD generate field members for each control and
>> >> method creating of each control?

>> >> 2. How to implement layout edit support?
>> >>    Currently it is almost impossible to add controls to composites using
>> >> designer. Yes, you can place control from palette, but this is just hack.
>> >>    I have one idea. I think, that would be convinient to place controls
> with
>> >> absolute locations and sizes, and then generate set of Layout's and
>> >> Composite's, which approximate these locations and sizes. However I am
>> >> not sure about algorithm.
>> >>    For editing you could place control directly with layout or "break"
>> > layout,
>> >> add control with absolute location and size and then regenerate layout.
>> >>    What do you think about this?

>> >> 3. How do you think, is designer for SWT needed at all?
>> >>    Personally I feel, that would be usefull at least to see before start,
> how
>> >> dialog will like like. But may be you have another idea...


>> >> > 	I liked SWT very much, it seemed like the major defect of Java desktop 
>> >> > application had been complemented.
>> >> > 	However, it seemed that there is no plan of a GUI builder for SWT...
>> >> > 	I read some gossip said:

>> >> > Eclipse can't even call
>> >> > itself a Java IDE, and Sun have made threats of legal moves to stop IBM
>> >> > from ever calling Eclipse a Java IDE.  One result of this is the fact
> the
>> >> > IBM created GUI builder that runs on Eclipse lets you build Swing/AWT
> GUIs,
>> >> > but doesn't let you drag and drop SWT widgets. 

>> >> > 	Is this the reason? But I can't see the connection.
>> >> > 	There is a company trying to develop a commercial GUI SWT builder
>> >> > 	http://www.swtworkbench.com/index.shtml
>> >> > 	But we don't know when will it appear.

>> >> > 	What's your opinion?

>> >> > Cheers
>> >> > draco

>> >> -- 
>> >> SY, Konstantin.




>> -- 
>> SY, Konstantin.




-- 
SY, Konstantin.