XEmacs 21.4.19 (Constant Variable).

[chise/xemacs-chise.git.1] / info / widget.info

This is ../info/widget.info, produced by makeinfo version 4.8 from
widget.texi.

INFO-DIR-SECTION XEmacs Editor
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* Widgets: (widget).            The Emacs Widget Library.
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY

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File: widget.info,  Node: Top,  Next: Introduction,  Prev: (dir),  Up: (dir)

The Emacs Widget Library
************************

* Menu:

* Introduction::
* User Interface::
* Programming Example::
* Setting Up the Buffer::
* Basic Types::
* Sexp Types::
* Widget Properties::
* Defining New Widgets::
* Widget Browser::
* Widget Minor Mode::
* Utilities::
* Widget Wishlist::
* Widget Internals::

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File: widget.info,  Node: Introduction,  Next: User Interface,  Prev: Top,  Up: Top

Introduction
============

Most graphical user interface toolkits, such as Motif and XView, provide
a number of standard user interface controls (sometimes known as
`widgets' or `gadgets').  Emacs doesn't really support anything like
this, except for an incredible powerful text "widget".  On the other
hand, Emacs does provide the necessary primitives to implement many
other widgets within a text buffer.  The `widget' package simplifies
this task.

   The basic widgets are:

`link'
     Areas of text with an associated action.  Intended for hypertext
     links embedded in text.

`push-button'
     Like link, but intended for stand-alone buttons.

`editable-field'
     An editable text field.  It can be either variable or fixed length.

`menu-choice'
     Allows the user to choose one of multiple options from a menu, each
     option is itself a widget.  Only the selected option will be
     visible in the buffer.

`radio-button-choice'
     Allows the user to choose one of multiple options by activating
     radio buttons.  The options are implemented as widgets.  All
     options will be visible in the buffer.

`item'
     A simple constant widget intended to be used in the `menu-choice'
     and `radio-button-choice' widgets.

`choice-item'
     A button item only intended for use in choices.  When invoked, the
     user will be asked to select another option from the choice widget.

`toggle'
     A simple `on'/`off' switch.

`checkbox'
     A checkbox (`[ ]'/`[X]').

`editable-list'
     Create an editable list.  The user can insert or delete items in
     the list.  Each list item is itself a widget.

   Now of what possible use can support for widgets be in a text editor?
I'm glad you asked.  The answer is that widgets are useful for
implementing forms.  A "form" in emacs is a buffer where the user is
supposed to fill out a number of fields, each of which has a specific
meaning.  The user is not supposed to change or delete any of the text
between the fields.  Examples of forms in Emacs are the `forms' package
(of course), the customize buffers, the mail and news compose modes,
and the HTML form support in the `w3' browser.

   The advantages for a programmer of using the `widget' package to
implement forms are:

  1. More complex fields than just editable text are supported.

  2. You can give the user immediate feedback if he enters invalid data
     in a text field, and sometimes prevent entering invalid data.

  3. You can have fixed sized fields, thus allowing multiple field to be
     lined up in columns.

  4. It is simple to query or set the value of a field.

  5. Editing happens in buffer, not in the mini-buffer.

  6. Packages using the library get a uniform look, making them easier
     for the user to learn.

  7. As support for embedded graphics improve, the widget library will
     extended to support it.  This means that your code using the widget
     library will also use the new graphic features by automatic.

   In order to minimize the code that is loaded by users who does not
create any widgets, the code has been split in two files:

`widget.el'
     This will declare the user variables, define the function
     `define-widget', and autoload the function `widget-create'.

`wid-edit.el'
     Everything else is here, there is no reason to load it explicitly,
     as it will be autoloaded when needed.

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File: widget.info,  Node: User Interface,  Next: Programming Example,  Prev: Introduction,  Up: Top

User Interface
==============

A form consists of read only text for documentation and some fields,
where each of the fields contains two parts, a tag and a value.  The
tags are used to identify the fields, so the documentation can refer to
the foo field, meaning the field tagged with `Foo'. Here is an example
form:

     Here is some documentation.

     Name: My Name     *Choose*: This option
     Address:  Some Place
     In some City
     Some country.

     See also _other work_ for more information.

     Numbers: count to three below
     [INS] [DEL] One
     [INS] [DEL] Eh, two?
     [INS] [DEL] Five!
     [INS]

     Select multiple:

     [X] This
     [ ] That
     [X] Thus

     Select one:

     (*) One
     ( ) Another One.
     ( ) A Final One.

     [Apply Form] [Reset Form]

   The top level widgets in is example are tagged `Name', `Choose',
`Address', `_other work_', `Numbers', `Select multiple', `Select one',
`[Apply Form]', and `[Reset Form]'.  There are basically two thing the
user can do within a form, namely editing the editable text fields and
activating the buttons.

Editable Text Fields
--------------------

In the example, the value for the `Name' is most likely displayed in an
editable text field, and so are values for each of the members of the
`Numbers' list.  All the normal Emacs editing operations are available
for editing these fields.  The only restriction is that each change you
make must be contained within a single editable text field.  For
example, capitalizing all text from the middle of one field to the
middle of another field is prohibited.

   Editing text fields are created by the `editable-field' widget.

   The editing text fields are highlighted with the `widget-field-face'
face, making them easy to find.

 -- Face: widget-field-face
     Face used for other editing fields.

Buttons
-------

Some portions of the buffer have an associated "action", which can be
"invoked" by a standard key or mouse command.  These portions are
called "buttons".  The default commands for activating a button are:

`<RET>'
      -- Command: widget-button-press POS &optional EVENT
          Invoke the button at POS, defaulting to point.  If point is
          not located on a button, invoke the binding in
          `widget-global-map' (by default the global map).

`mouse-2'
      -- Command: widget-button-click EVENT
          Invoke the button at the location of the mouse pointer.  If
          the mouse pointer is located in an editable text field,
          invoke the binding in `widget-global-map' (by default the
          global map).

   There are several different kind of buttons, all of which are
present in the example:

_The Option Field Tags._
     When you invoke one of these buttons, you will be asked to choose
     between a number of different options.  This is how you edit an
     option field.  Option fields are created by the `menu-choice'
     widget.  In the example, `Choose' is an option field tag.

_The `[INS]' and `[DEL]' buttons._
     Activating these will insert or delete elements from an editable
     list.  The list is created by the `editable-list' widget.

_Embedded Buttons._
     The `_other work_' is an example of an embedded button. Embedded
     buttons are not associated with a fields, but can serve any
     purpose, such as implementing hypertext references.  They are
     usually created by the `link' widget.

_The `[ ]' and `[X]' buttons._
     Activating one of these will convert it to the other.  This is
     useful for implementing multiple-choice fields.  You can create it
     wit

_The `( )' and `(*)' buttons._
     Only one radio button in a `radio-button-choice' widget can be
     selected at any time.  When you invoke one of the unselected radio
     buttons, it will be selected and the previous selected radio
     button will become unselected.

_The `[Apply Form]' `[Reset Form]' buttons._
     These are explicit buttons made with the `push-button' widget.
     The main difference from the `link' widget is that the buttons are
     will be displayed as GUI buttons when possible.  enough.

   To make them easier to locate, buttons are emphasized in the buffer.

 -- Face: widget-button-face
     Face used for buttons.

 -- User Option: widget-mouse-face
     Face used for buttons when the mouse pointer is above it.

Navigation
----------

You can use all the normal Emacs commands to move around in a form
buffer, plus you will have these additional commands:

`<TAB>'
      -- Command: widget-forward &optional count
          Move point COUNT buttons or editing fields forward.

`<M-TAB>'
      -- Command: widget-backward &optional count
          Move point COUNT buttons or editing fields backward.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: Programming Example,  Next: Setting Up the Buffer,  Prev: User Interface,  Up: Top

Programming Example
===================

Here is the code to implement the user interface example (see *Note
User Interface::).

     (require 'widget)

     (eval-when-compile
       (require 'wid-edit))

     (defvar widget-example-repeat)

     (defun widget-example ()
       "Create the widgets from the Widget manual."
       (interactive)
       (kill-buffer (get-buffer-create "*Widget Example*"))
       (switch-to-buffer (get-buffer-create "*Widget Example*"))
       (kill-all-local-variables)
       (make-local-variable 'widget-example-repeat)
       (widget-insert "Here is some documentation.\n\nName: ")
       (widget-create 'editable-field
                      :size 13
                      "My Name")
       (widget-create 'menu-choice
                      :tag "Choose"
                      :value "This"
                      :help-echo "Choose me, please!"
                      :notify (lambda (widget &rest ignore)
                                (message "%s is a good choice!"
                                         (widget-value widget)))
                      '(item :tag "This option" :value "This")
                      '(choice-item "That option")
                      '(editable-field :menu-tag "No option" "Thus option"))
       (widget-insert "Address: ")
       (widget-create 'editable-field
                      "Some Place\nIn some City\nSome country.")
       (widget-insert "\nSee also ")
       (widget-create 'link
                      :notify (lambda (&rest ignore)
                                (widget-value-set widget-example-repeat
                                                  '("En" "To" "Tre"))
                                (widget-setup))
                      "other work")
       (widget-insert " for more information.\n\nNumbers: count to three below\n")
       (setq widget-example-repeat
             (widget-create 'editable-list
                            :entry-format "%i %d %v"
                            :notify (lambda (widget &rest ignore)
                                      (let ((old (widget-get widget
                                                             ':example-length))
                                            (new (length (widget-value widget))))
                                        (unless (eq old new)
                                          (widget-put widget ':example-length new)
                                          (message "You can count to %d." new))))
                            :value '("One" "Eh, two?" "Five!")
                            '(editable-field :value "three")))
       (widget-insert "\n\nSelect multiple:\n\n")
       (widget-create 'checkbox t)
       (widget-insert " This\n")
       (widget-create 'checkbox nil)
       (widget-insert " That\n")
       (widget-create 'checkbox
                      :notify (lambda (&rest ignore) (message "Tickle"))
                      t)
       (widget-insert " Thus\n\nSelect one:\n\n")
       (widget-create 'radio-button-choice
                      :value "One"
                      :notify (lambda (widget &rest ignore)
                                (message "You selected %s"
                                         (widget-value widget)))
                      '(item "One") '(item "Another One.") '(item "A Final One."))
       (widget-insert "\n")
       (widget-create 'push-button
                      :notify (lambda (&rest ignore)
                                (if (= (length (widget-value widget-example-repeat))
                                       3)
                                    (message "Congratulation!")
                                  (error "Three was the count!")))
                      "Apply Form")
       (widget-insert " ")
       (widget-create 'push-button
                      :notify (lambda (&rest ignore)
                                (widget-example))
                      "Reset Form")
       (widget-insert "\n")
       (use-local-map widget-keymap)
       (widget-setup))

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: Setting Up the Buffer,  Next: Basic Types,  Prev: Programming Example,  Up: Top

Setting Up the Buffer
=====================

Widgets are created with `widget-create', which returns a "widget"
object.  This object can be queried and manipulated by other widget
functions, until it is deleted with `widget-delete'.  After the widgets
have been created, `widget-setup' must be called to enable them.

 -- Function: widget-create type [ keyword argument ]...
     Create and return a widget of type TYPE.  The syntax for the TYPE
     argument is described in *Note Basic Types::.

     The keyword arguments can be used to overwrite the keyword
     arguments that are part of TYPE.

 -- Function: widget-delete widget
     Delete WIDGET and remove it from the buffer.

 -- Function: widget-setup
     Setup a buffer to support widgets.

     This should be called after creating all the widgets and before
     allowing the user to edit them.


   If you want to insert text outside the widgets in the form, the
recommended way to do that is with `widget-insert'.

 -- Function: widget-insert
     Insert the arguments, either strings or characters, at point.  The
     inserted text will be read only.

   There is a standard widget keymap which you might find useful.

 -- Const: widget-keymap
     A keymap with the global keymap as its parent.
     <TAB> and `C-<TAB>' are bound to `widget-forward' and
     `widget-backward', respectively.  `<RET>' and `mouse-2' are bound
     to `widget-button-press' and `widget-button-'.

 -- Variable: widget-global-map
     Keymap used by `widget-button-press' and `widget-button-click'
     when not on a button.  By default this is `global-map'.

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File: widget.info,  Node: Basic Types,  Next: Sexp Types,  Prev: Setting Up the Buffer,  Up: Top

Basic Types
===========

The syntax of a type specification is given below:

     NAME ::= (NAME [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... ARGS)
          |   NAME

   where NAME is a widget name, KEYWORD is the name of a property,
ARGUMENT is the value of the property, and ARGS are interpreted in a
widget specific way.

   There following keyword arguments that apply to all widgets:

`:value'
     The initial value for widgets of this type.

`:format'
     This string will be inserted in the buffer when you create a
     widget.  The following `%' escapes are available:

    `%['
    `%]'
          The text inside will be marked as a button.

          By default, the text will be shown in `widget-button-face',
          and surrounded by brackets.

           -- User Option: widget-button-prefix
               String to prefix buttons.

           -- User Option: widget-button-suffix
               String to suffix buttons.

    `%{'
    `%}'
          The text inside will be displayed in the face specified by
          `:sample-face'.

    `%v'
          This will be replaced with the buffer representation of the
          widget's value.  What this is depends on the widget type.

    `%d'
          Insert the string specified by `:doc' here.

    `%h'
          Like `%d', with the following modifications: If the
          documentation string is more than one line, it will add a
          button which will toggle between showing only the first line,
          and showing the full text.  Furthermore, if there is no
          `:doc' property in the widget, it will instead examine the
          `:documentation-property' property.  If it is a lambda
          expression, it will be called with the widget's value as an
          argument, and the result will be used as the documentation
          text.

    `%t'
          Insert the string specified by `:tag' here, or the `princ'
          representation of the value if there is no tag.

    `%%'
          Insert a literal `%'.

`:button-face'
     Face used to highlight text inside %[ %] in the format.

`:button-prefix'
`:button-suffix'
     Text around %[ %] in the format.

     These can be
    _nil_
          No text is inserted.

    _a string_
          The string is inserted literally.

    _a symbol_
          The value of the symbol is expanded according to this table.

`:doc'
     The string inserted by the `%d' or `%h' escape in the format
     string.

`:tag'
     The string inserted by the `%t' escape in the format string.

`:tag-glyph'
     Name of image to use instead of the string specified by `:tag' on
     Emacsen that supports it.

`:help-echo'
     Message displayed whenever you move to the widget with either
     `widget-forward' or `widget-backward'.

`:indent'
     An integer indicating the absolute number of spaces to indent
     children of this widget.

`:offset'
     An integer indicating how many extra spaces to add to the widget's
     grandchildren compared to this widget.

`:extra-offset'
     An integer indicating how many extra spaces to add to the widget's
     children compared to this widget.

`:notify'
     A function called each time the widget or a nested widget is
     changed.  The function is called with two or three arguments.  The
     first argument is the widget itself, the second argument is the
     widget that was changed, and the third argument is the event
     leading to the change, if any.  In editable fields, this includes
     all insertions, deletions, _etc_.  To watch only for "final"
     actions, redefine the `:action' callback.

`:menu-tag'
     Tag used in the menu when the widget is used as an option in a
     `menu-choice' widget.

`:menu-tag-get'
     Function used for finding the tag when the widget is used as an
     option in a `menu-choice' widget.  By default, the tag used will
     be either the `:menu-tag' or `:tag' property if present, or the
     `princ' representation of the `:value' property if not.

`:match'
     Should be a function called with two arguments, the widget and a
     value, and returning non-nil if the widget can represent the
     specified value.

`:validate'
     A function which takes a widget as an argument, and returns nil if
     the widget's current value is valid for the widget.  Otherwise it
     should return the widget containing the invalid data, and set that
     widget's `:error' property to a string explaining the error.

     The following predefined function can be used:

      -- Function: widget-children-validate widget
          All the `:children' of WIDGET must be valid.

`:tab-order'
     Specify the order in which widgets are traversed with
     `widget-forward' or `widget-backward'.  This is only partially
     implemented.

       a. Widgets with tabbing order `-1' are ignored.

       b. (Unimplemented) When on a widget with tabbing order N, go to
          the next widget in the buffer with tabbing order N+1 or `nil',
          whichever comes first.

       c. When on a widget with no tabbing order specified, go to the
          next widget in the buffer with a positive tabbing order, or
          `nil'

`:parent'
     The parent of a nested widget (e.g. a `menu-choice' item or an
     element of an `editable-list' widget).

`:sibling-args'
     This keyword is only used for members of a `radio-button-choice' or
     `checklist'.  The value should be a list of extra keyword
     arguments, which will be used when creating the `radio-button' or
     `checkbox' associated with this item.


 -- User Option: widget-glyph-directory
     Directory where glyphs are found.  Widget will look here for a
     file with the same name as specified for the image, with either a
     `.xpm' (if supported) or `.xbm' extension.

 -- User Option: widget-glyph-enable
     If non-nil, allow glyphs to appear on displays where they are
     supported.

* Menu:

* link::
* url-link::
* info-link::
* push-button::
* editable-field::
* text::
* menu-choice::
* radio-button-choice::
* item::
* choice-item::
* toggle::
* checkbox::
* checklist::
* editable-list::
* group::

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File: widget.info,  Node: link,  Next: url-link,  Prev: Basic Types,  Up: Basic Types

The `link' Widget
-----------------

Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (link [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...  [ VALUE ])

   The VALUE, if present, is used to initialize the `:value' property.
The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the buffer.

   By default the link will be shown in brackets.

 -- User Option: widget-link-prefix
     String to prefix links.

 -- User Option: widget-link-suffix
     String to suffix links.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: url-link,  Next: info-link,  Prev: link,  Up: Basic Types

The `url-link' Widget
---------------------

Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (url-link [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...  URL)

   When this link is invoked, the WWW browser specified by
`browse-url-browser-function' will be called with URL.

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File: widget.info,  Node: info-link,  Next: push-button,  Prev: url-link,  Up: Basic Types

The `info-link' Widget
----------------------

Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (info-link [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...  ADDRESS)

   When this link is invoked, the built-in info browser is started on
ADDRESS.

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File: widget.info,  Node: push-button,  Next: editable-field,  Prev: info-link,  Up: Basic Types

The `push-button' Widget
------------------------

Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (push-button [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...  [ VALUE ])

   The VALUE, if present, is used to initialize the `:value' property.
The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the buffer.

   By default the tag will be shown in brackets.

 -- User Option: widget-push-button-prefix
     String to prefix push buttons.

 -- User Option: widget-push-button-suffix
     String to suffix push buttons.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: editable-field,  Next: text,  Prev: push-button,  Up: Basic Types

The `editable-field' Widget
---------------------------

Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (editable-field [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... [ VALUE ])

   The VALUE, if present, is used to initialize the `:value' property.
The value should be a string, which will be inserted in field.  This
widget will match all string values.

   The following extra properties are recognized.

`:size'
     The minimum width of the editable field.
     By default the field will reach to the end of the line.  If the
     content is too large, the displayed representation will expand to
     contain it.  The content is not truncated to size.

`:value-face'
     Face used for highlighting the editable field.  Default is
     `widget-field-face'.

`:secret'
     Character used to display the value.  You can set this to e.g. `?*'
     if the field contains a password or other secret information.  By
     default, the value is not secret.

`:valid-regexp'
     By default the `:validate' function will match the content of the
     field with the value of this attribute.  The default value is `""'
     which matches everything.

`:keymap'
     Keymap used in the editable field.  The default value is
     `widget-field-keymap', which allows you to use all the normal
     editing commands, even if the buffer's major mode suppress some of
     them.  Pressing return invokes the function specified by `:action'.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: text,  Next: menu-choice,  Prev: editable-field,  Up: Basic Types

The `text' Widget
-----------------

This is just like `editable-field', but intended for multiline text
fields.  The default `:keymap' is `widget-text-keymap', which does not
rebind the return key.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: menu-choice,  Next: radio-button-choice,  Prev: text,  Up: Basic Types

The `menu-choice' Widget
------------------------

Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (menu-choice [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... TYPE ... )

   The TYPE argument represents each possible choice.  The widget's
value will be that of the chosen TYPE argument.  This widget will match
any value matching at least one of the specified TYPE arguments.

`:void'
     Widget type used as a fallback when the value does not match any
     of the specified TYPE arguments.

`:case-fold'
     Set this to nil if you don't want to ignore case when prompting
     for a choice through the minibuffer.

`:children'
     A list whose car is the widget representing the currently chosen
     type in the buffer.

`:choice'
     The current chosen type

`:args'
     The list of types.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: radio-button-choice,  Next: item,  Prev: menu-choice,  Up: Basic Types

The `radio-button-choice' Widget
--------------------------------

Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (radio-button-choice [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...  TYPE ... )

   The TYPE argument represents each possible choice.  The widget's
value will be that of the chosen TYPE argument.  This widget will match
any value matching at least one of the specified TYPE arguments.

   The following extra properties are recognized.

`:entry-format'
     This string will be inserted for each entry in the list.  The
     following `%' escapes are available:
    `%v'
          Replaced with the buffer representation of the TYPE widget.

    `%b'
          Replace with the radio button.

    `%%'
          Insert a literal `%'.

`button-args'
     A list of keywords to pass to the radio buttons.  Useful for
     setting e.g. the `:help-echo' for each button.

`:buttons'
     The widgets representing the radio buttons.

`:children'
     The widgets representing each type.

`:choice'
     The current chosen type

`:args'
     The list of types.

   You can add extra radio button items to a `radio-button-choice'
widget after it has been created with the function
`widget-radio-add-item'.

 -- Function: widget-radio-add-item widget type
     Add to `radio-button-choice' widget WIDGET a new radio button item
     of type TYPE.

   Please note that such items added after the `radio-button-choice'
widget has been created will *not* be properly destructed when you call
`widget-delete'.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: item,  Next: choice-item,  Prev: radio-button-choice,  Up: Basic Types

The `item' Widget
-----------------

Syntax:

     ITEM ::= (item [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... VALUE)

   The VALUE, if present, is used to initialize the `:value' property.
The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the buffer.
This widget will only match the specified value.

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File: widget.info,  Node: choice-item,  Next: toggle,  Prev: item,  Up: Basic Types

The `choice-item' Widget
------------------------

Syntax:

     ITEM ::= (choice-item [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... VALUE)

   The VALUE, if present, is used to initialize the `:value' property.
The value should be a string, which will be inserted in the buffer as a
button.  Activating the button of a `choice-item' is equivalent to
activating the parent widget.  This widget will only match the
specified value.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: toggle,  Next: checkbox,  Prev: choice-item,  Up: Basic Types

The `toggle' Widget
-------------------

Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (toggle [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...)

   The widget has two possible states, `on' and `off', which correspond
to a `t' or `nil' value respectively.

   The following extra properties are recognized.

`:on'
     String representing the `on' state.  By default the string `on'.

`:off'
     String representing the `off' state.  By default the string `off'.

`:on-glyph'
     Name of a glyph to be used instead of the `:on' text string, on
     emacsen that supports it.

`:off-glyph'
     Name of a glyph to be used instead of the `:off' text string, on
     emacsen that supports it.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: checkbox,  Next: checklist,  Prev: toggle,  Up: Basic Types

The `checkbox' Widget
---------------------

The widget has two possible states, `selected' and `unselected', which
corresponds to a `t' or `nil' value.

   Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (checkbox [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...)

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: checklist,  Next: editable-list,  Prev: checkbox,  Up: Basic Types

The `checklist' Widget
----------------------

Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (checklist [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...  TYPE ... )

   The TYPE arguments represents each checklist item.  The widget's
value will be a list containing the values of all ticked TYPE
arguments.  The checklist widget will match a list whose elements all
match at least one of the specified TYPE arguments.

   The following extra properties are recognized.

`:entry-format'
     This string will be inserted for each entry in the list.  The
     following `%' escapes are available:
    `%v'
          Replaced with the buffer representation of the TYPE widget.

    `%b'
          Replace with the checkbox.

    `%%'
          Insert a literal `%'.

`:greedy'
     Usually a checklist will only match if the items are in the exact
     sequence given in the specification.  By setting `:greedy' to
     non-nil, it will allow the items to appear in any sequence.
     However, if you extract the values they will be in the sequence
     given in the checklist.  I.e. the original sequence is forgotten.

`button-args'
     A list of keywords to pass to the checkboxes.  Useful for setting
     e.g. the `:help-echo' for each checkbox.

`:buttons'
     The widgets representing the checkboxes.

`:children'
     The widgets representing each type.

`:args'
     The list of types.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: editable-list,  Next: group,  Prev: checklist,  Up: Basic Types

The `editable-list' Widget
--------------------------

Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (editable-list [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... TYPE)

   The value is a list, where each member represents one widget of type
TYPE.

   The following extra properties are recognized.

`:entry-format'
     This string will be inserted for each entry in the list.  The
     following `%' escapes are available:
    `%v'
          This will be replaced with the buffer representation of the
          TYPE widget.

    `%i'
          Insert the [INS] button.

    `%d'
          Insert the [DEL] button.

    `%%'
          Insert a literal `%'.

`:insert-button-args'
     A list of keyword arguments to pass to the insert buttons.

`:delete-button-args'
     A list of keyword arguments to pass to the delete buttons.

`:append-button-args'
     A list of keyword arguments to pass to the trailing insert button.

`:buttons'
     The widgets representing the insert and delete buttons.

`:children'
     The widgets representing the elements of the list.

`:args'
     List whose car is the type of the list elements.


\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: group,  Prev: editable-list,  Up: Basic Types

The `group' Widget
------------------

This widget simply groups other widgets together.

   Syntax:

     TYPE ::= (group [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]... TYPE...)

   The value is a list, with one member for each TYPE.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: Sexp Types,  Next: Widget Properties,  Prev: Basic Types,  Up: Top

Sexp Types
==========

A number of widgets for editing s-expressions (lisp types) are also
available.  These basically fall in the following categories.

* Menu:

* constants::
* generic::
* atoms::
* composite::

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: constants,  Next: generic,  Prev: Sexp Types,  Up: Sexp Types

The Constant Widgets.
---------------------

The `const' widget can contain any lisp expression, but the user is
prohibited from editing it, which is mainly useful as a component of one
of the composite widgets.

   The syntax for the `const' widget is

     TYPE ::= (const [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...  [ VALUE ])

   The VALUE, if present, is used to initialize the `:value' property
and can be any s-expression.

 -- Widget: const
     This will display any valid s-expression in an immutable part of
     the buffer.

   There are two variations of the `const' widget, namely
`variable-item' and `function-item'.  These should contain a symbol
with a variable or function binding.  The major difference from the
`const' widget is that they will allow the user to see the variable or
function documentation for the symbol.

 -- Widget: variable-item
     An immutable symbol that is bound as a variable.

 -- Widget: function-item
     An immutable symbol that is bound as a function.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: generic,  Next: atoms,  Prev: constants,  Up: Sexp Types

Generic Sexp Widget.
--------------------

The `sexp' widget can contain any lisp expression, and allows the user
to edit it inline in the buffer.

   The syntax for the `sexp' widget is

     TYPE ::= (sexp [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...  [ VALUE ])

 -- Widget: sexp
     This will allow you to edit any valid s-expression in an editable
     buffer field.

     The `sexp' widget takes the same keyword arguments as the
     `editable-field' widget.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: atoms,  Next: composite,  Prev: generic,  Up: Sexp Types

Atomic Sexp Widgets.
--------------------

The atoms are s-expressions that does not consist of other
s-expressions.  A string is an atom, while a list is a composite type.
You can edit the value of an atom with the following widgets.

   The syntax for all the atoms are

     TYPE ::= (NAME [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...  [ VALUE ])

   The VALUE, if present, is used to initialize the `:value' property
and must be an expression of the same type as the widget.  I.e. the
string widget can only be initialized with a string.

   All the atom widgets take the same keyword arguments as the
`editable-field' widget.

 -- Widget: string
     Allows you to edit a string in an editable field.

 -- Widget: regexp
     Allows you to edit a regular expression in an editable field.

 -- Widget: character
     Allows you to enter a character in an editable field.

 -- Widget: file
     Allows you to edit a file name in an editable field.  If you invoke
     the tag button, you can edit the file name in the mini-buffer with
     completion.

     Keywords:
    `:must-match'
          If this is set to non-nil, only existing file names will be
          allowed in the minibuffer.

 -- Widget: directory
     Allows you to edit a directory name in an editable field.  Similar
     to the `file' widget.

 -- Widget: symbol
     Allows you to edit a lisp symbol in an editable field.

 -- Widget: function
     Allows you to edit a lambda expression, or a function name with
     completion.

 -- Widget: variable
     Allows you to edit a variable name, with completion.

 -- Widget: integer
     Allows you to edit an integer in an editable field.

 -- Widget: number
     Allows you to edit a number in an editable field.

 -- Widget: boolean
     Allows you to edit a boolean.  In lisp this means a variable which
     is either nil meaning false, or non-nil meaning true.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: composite,  Prev: atoms,  Up: Sexp Types

Composite Sexp Widgets.
-----------------------

The syntax for the composite are

     TYPE ::= (NAME [KEYWORD ARGUMENT]...  COMPONENT...)

   Where each COMPONENT must be a widget type.  Each component widget
will be displayed in the buffer, and be editable to the user.

 -- Widget: cons
     The value of a `cons' widget is a cons-cell where the car is the
     value of the first component and the cdr is the value of the second
     component.  There must be exactly two components.

 -- Widget: list
     The value of a `list' widget is a list containing the value of
     each of its component.

 -- Widget: vector
     The value of a `vector' widget is a vector containing the value of
     each of its component.

   The above suffice for specifying fixed size lists and vectors.  To
get variable length lists and vectors, you can use a `choice', `set' or
`repeat' widgets together with the `:inline' keywords.  If any
component of a composite widget has the `:inline' keyword set, its
value must be a list which will then be spliced into the composite.
For example, to specify a list whose first element must be a file name,
and whose remaining arguments should either by the symbol `t' or two
files, you can use the following widget specification:

     (list file
           (choice (const t)
                   (list :inline t
                         :value ("foo" "bar")
                         string string)))

   The value of a widget of this type will either have the form `(file
t)' or `(file string string)'.

   This concept of inline is probably hard to understand.  It was
certainly hard to implement so instead of confusing you more by trying
to explain it here, I'll just suggest you meditate over it for a while.

 -- Widget: choice
     Allows you to edit a sexp which may have one of a fixed set of
     types.  It is currently implemented with the `choice-menu' basic
     widget, and has a similar syntax.

 -- Widget: set
     Allows you to specify a type which must be a list whose elements
     all belong to given set.  The elements of the list is not
     significant.  This is implemented on top of the `checklist' basic
     widget, and has a similar syntax.

 -- Widget: repeat
     Allows you to specify a variable length list whose members are all
     of the same type.  Implemented on top of the `editable-list' basic
     widget, and has a similar syntax.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: Widget Properties,  Next: Defining New Widgets,  Prev: Sexp Types,  Up: Top

Properties
==========

You can examine or set the value of a widget by using the widget object
that was returned by `widget-create'.

 -- Function: widget-value widget
     Return the current value contained in WIDGET.  It is an error to
     call this function on an uninitialized widget.

 -- Function: widget-value-set widget value
     Set the value contained in WIDGET to VALUE.  It is an error to
     call this function with an invalid VALUE.

   *Important:* You _must_ call `widget-setup' after modifying the
value of a widget before the user is allowed to edit the widget again.
It is enough to call `widget-setup' once if you modify multiple
widgets.  This is currently only necessary if the widget contains an
editing field, but may be necessary for other widgets in the future.

   If your application needs to associate some information with the
widget objects, for example a reference to the item being edited, it
can be done with `widget-put' and `widget-get'.  The property names
must begin with a `:'.

 -- Function: widget-put widget property value
     In WIDGET set PROPERTY to VALUE.  PROPERTY should be a symbol,
     while VALUE can be anything.

 -- Function: widget-get widget property
     In WIDGET return the value for PROPERTY.  PROPERTY should be a
     symbol, the value is what was last set by `widget-put' for
     PROPERTY.

 -- Function: widget-member widget property
     Non-nil if WIDGET has a value (even nil) for property PROPERTY.

   Occasionally it can be useful to know which kind of widget you have,
i.e. the name of the widget type you gave when the widget was created.

 -- Function: widget-type widget
     Return the name of WIDGET, a symbol.

   Widgets can be in two states: active, which means they are
modifiable by the user, or inactive, which means they cannot be
modified by the user.  You can query or set the state with the
following code:

     ;; Examine if WIDGET is active or not.
     (if (widget-apply WIDGET :active)
         (message "Widget is active.")
       (message "Widget is inactive.")

     ;; Make WIDGET inactive.
     (widget-apply WIDGET :deactivate)

     ;; Make WIDGET active.
     (widget-apply WIDGET :activate)

   A widget is inactive if itself or any of its ancestors (found by
following the `:parent' link) have been deactivated.  To make sure a
widget is really active, you must therefore activate both itself and
all its ancestors.

     (while widget
       (widget-apply widget :activate)
       (setq widget (widget-get widget :parent)))

   You can check if a widget has been made inactive by examining the
value of the `:inactive' keyword.  If this is non-nil, the widget itself
has been deactivated.  This is different from using the `:active'
keyword, in that the latter tells you if the widget *or* any of its
ancestors have been deactivated.  Do not attempt to set the `:inactive'
keyword directly.  Use the `:activate' `:deactivate' keywords instead.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: Defining New Widgets,  Next: Widget Browser,  Prev: Widget Properties,  Up: Top

Defining New Widgets
====================

You can define specialized widgets with `define-widget'.  It allows you
to create a shorthand for more complex widgets.  This includes
specifying component widgets and new default values for the keyword
arguments.

 -- Function: define-widget name class doc &rest args
     Define a new widget type named NAME from `class'.

     NAME and class should both be symbols, `class' should be one of
     the existing widget types.

     The third argument DOC is a documentation string for the widget.

     After the new widget has been defined the following two calls will
     create identical widgets:

        *      (widget-create NAME)

        *      (apply widget-create CLASS ARGS)


   Using `define-widget' just stores the definition of the widget type
in the `widget-type' property of NAME, which is what `widget-create'
uses.

   If you just want to specify defaults for keywords with no complex
conversions, you can use `identity' as your `:convert-widget' function.

   The following additional keyword arguments are useful when defining
new widgets:
`:convert-widget'
     Method to convert type-specific components of a widget type before
     instantiating a widget of that type.  Not normally called from user
     code, it is invoked by `widget-convert'.  Typical operations
     include converting types of child widgets to widget instances and
     converting values from external format (_i.e._, as expected by the
     calling code) to internal format (which is often different for the
     convenience of widget manipulation).  It takes a widget type as an
     argument, and returns the converted widget type.  When a widget is
     created, the value of this property is called for the widget type,
     then for all the widget's parent types, most derived first.  (The
     property is reevaluated for each parent type.)

     The following predefined functions can be used here:

      -- Function: widget-types-convert-widget widget
          Convert each member of `:args' in WIDGET from a widget type
          to a widget.

      -- Function: widget-value-convert-widget widget
          Initialize `:value' from `(car :args)' in WIDGET, and reset
          `:args'.

`:copy'
     A method to implement deep copying of the type.  Any member of the
     widget which might be changed in place (rather than replaced)
     should be copied by this method.  (`widget-copy' uses
     `copy-sequence' to ensure that the top-level list is a copy.)
     This particularly applies to child widgets.

`:value-to-internal'
     Function to convert the value to the internal format.  The function
     takes two arguments, a widget and an external value.  It returns
     the internal value.  The function is called on the present `:value'
     when the widget is created, and on any value set later with
     `widget-value-set'.

`:value-to-external'
     Function to convert the value to the external format.  The function
     takes two arguments, a widget and an internal value, and returns
     the internal value.  The function is called on the present `:value'
     when the widget is created, and on any value set later with
     `widget-value-set'.

`:create'
     Function to create a widget from scratch.  The function takes one
     argument, a widget, and inserts it in the buffer.  Not normally
     called from user code.  Instead, call `widget-create' or related
     functions, which take a type argument, (usually) convert it to a
     widget, call the `:create' function to insert it in the buffer,
     and then return the (possibly converted) widget.

     The default, `widget-default-create', is invariably appropriate.
     (None of the standard widgets specify `:create'.)

`:delete'
     Function to delete a widget.  The function takes one argument, a
     widget, and should remove all traces of the widget from the buffer.

`:value-create'
     Function to expand the `%v' escape in the format string.  It will
     be called with the widget as its argument and should insert a
     representation of the widget's value in the buffer.

`:value-delete'
     Should remove the representation of the widget's value from the
     buffer.  It will be called with the widget as its argument.  It
     doesn't have to remove the text, but it should release markers and
     delete nested widgets if such have been used.

     The following predefined function can be used here:

      -- Function: widget-children-value-delete widget
          Delete all `:children' and `:buttons' in WIDGET.

`:value-get'
     Function to extract the value of a widget, as it is displayed in
     the buffer.

     The following predefined function can be used here:

      -- Function: widget-value-value-get widget
          Return the `:value' property of WIDGET.

`:format-handler'
     Function to handle unknown `%' escapes in the format string.  It
     will be called with the widget and the escape character as
     arguments.  You can set this to allow your widget to handle
     non-standard escapes.

     You should end up calling `widget-default-format-handler' to handle
     unknown escape sequences.  It will handle the `%h' and any future
     escape sequences as well as give an error for unknown escapes.

`:action'
     Function to handle user initiated events.  By default, `:notify'
     the parent.  Actions normally do not include mere edits, but refer
     to things like invoking buttons or hitting enter in an editable
     field.  To watch for any change, redefine the `:notify' callback.

     The following predefined function can be used here:

      -- Function: widget-parent-action widget &optional event
          Tell `:parent' of WIDGET to handle the `:action'.
          Optional EVENT is the event that triggered the action.

`:prompt-value'
     Function to prompt for a value in the minibuffer.  The function
     should take four arguments, WIDGET, PROMPT, VALUE, and UNBOUND and
     should return a value for widget entered by the user.  PROMPT is
     the prompt to use.  VALUE is the default value to use, unless
     UNBOUND is non-nil.  In this case there is no default value.  The
     function should read the value using the method most natural for
     this widget and does not have to check whether it matches.

   If you want to define a new widget from scratch, use the `default'
widget as its base.

 -- Widget: default
     Widget used as a base for other widgets.

     It provides most of the functionality that is referred to as "by
     default" in this text.

   In implementing complex hierarchical widgets (_e.g._, using the
`group' widget), the following functions may be useful.  The syntax for
the TYPE arguments to these functions is described in *Note Basic
Types::.

 -- Function: widget-create-child-and-convert parent type &rest args
     As a child of PARENT, create a widget with type TYPE and value
     VALUE.  TYPE is copied, and the `:widget-contvert' method is
     applied to the optional keyword arguments from ARGS.

 -- Function: widget-create-child parent type
     As a child of PARENT, create a widget with type TYPE.  TYPE is
     copied, but no conversion method is applied.

 -- Function: widget-create-child-value parent type value
     As a child of PARENT, create a widget with type TYPE and value
     VALUE.  TYPE is copied, but no conversion method is applied.

 -- Function: widget-convert type &rest args
     Convert TYPE to a widget without inserting it in the buffer.  The
     optional ARGS are additional keyword arguments.

     The widget's `:args' property is set from the longest tail of ARGS
     whose `cdr' is not a keyword, or if that is null, from the longest
     tail of TYPE's `:args' property whose cdr is not a keyword.
     Keyword arguments from ARGS are set, and the `:value' property (if
     any) is converted from external to internal format.

   `widget-convert' is typically not called from user code; rather it
is called implicitly through the `widget-create*' functions.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: Widget Browser,  Next: Widget Minor Mode,  Prev: Defining New Widgets,  Up: Top

Widget Browser
==============

There is a separate package to browse widgets.  This is intended to help
programmers who want to examine the content of a widget.  The browser
shows the value of each keyword, but uses links for certain keywords
such as `:parent', which avoids printing cyclic structures.

 -- Command: widget-browse WIDGET
     Create a widget browser for WIDGET.  When called interactively,
     prompt for WIDGET.

 -- Command: widget-browse-other-window WIDGET
     Create a widget browser for WIDGET and show it in another window.
     When called interactively, prompt for WIDGET.

 -- Command: widget-browse-at POS
     Create a widget browser for the widget at POS.  When called
     interactively, use the position of point.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: Widget Minor Mode,  Next: Utilities,  Prev: Widget Browser,  Up: Top

Widget Minor Mode
=================

There is a minor mode for manipulating widgets in major modes that
doesn't provide any support for widgets themselves.  This is mostly
intended to be useful for programmers doing experiments.

 -- Command: widget-minor-mode
     Toggle minor mode for traversing widgets.  With arg, turn widget
     mode on if and only if arg is positive.

 -- Variable: widget-minor-mode-keymap
     Keymap used in `widget-minor-mode'.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: Utilities,  Next: Widget Wishlist,  Prev: Widget Minor Mode,  Up: Top

Utilities.
==========

 -- Function: widget-prompt-value widget prompt [ value unbound ]
     Prompt for a value matching WIDGET, using PROMPT.
     The current value is assumed to be VALUE, unless UNBOUND is
     non-nil.

 -- Function: widget-get-sibling widget
     Get the item WIDGET is assumed to toggle.
     This is only meaningful for radio buttons or checkboxes in a list.

\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: Widget Wishlist,  Next: Widget Internals,  Prev: Utilities,  Up: Top

Wishlist
========

   * It should be possible to add or remove items from a list with `C-k'
     and `C-o' (suggested by RMS).

   * The `[INS]' and `[DEL]' buttons should be replaced by a single
     dash (`-').  The dash should be a button that, when invoked, ask
     whether you want to add or delete an item (RMS wanted to git rid of
     the ugly buttons, the dash is my idea).

   * The `menu-choice' tag should be prettier, something like the
     abbreviated menus in Open Look.

   * Finish `:tab-order'.

   * Make indentation work with glyphs and proportional fonts.

   * Add commands to show overview of object and class hierarchies to
     the browser.

   * Find a way to disable mouse highlight for inactive widgets.

   * Find a way to make glyphs look inactive.

   * Add `property-list' widget.

   * Add `association-list' widget.

   * Add `key-binding' widget.

   * Add `widget' widget for editing widget specifications.

   * Find clean way to implement variable length list.  See
     `TeX-printer-list' for an explanation.

   * `C-h' in `widget-prompt-value' should give type specific help.

   * A mailto widget.

   * `C-e e' in a fixed size field should go to the end of the text in
     the field, not the end of the field itself.

   * Use an overlay instead of markers to delimit the widget.  Create
     accessors for the end points.

   * Clicking on documentation links should call `describe-function' or
     `widget-browse-other-window' and friends directly, instead of going
     through `apropos'.  If more than one function is valid for the
     symbol, it should pop up a menu.


\1f
File: widget.info,  Node: Widget Internals,  Prev: Widget Wishlist,  Up: Top

Internals
=========

This (very brief!) section provides a few notes on the internal
structure and implementation of Emacs widgets.  Avoid relying on this
information.  (We intend to improve it, but this will take some time.)
To the extent that it actually describes APIs, the information will be
moved to appropriate sections of the manual in due course.

The "Widget" and "Type" Structures
----------------------------------

Widgets and types are currently both implemented as lists.

   A symbol may be defined as a "type name" using `define-widget'.
*Note Defining New Widgets::.  A "type" is a list whose car is a
previously defined type name, nil, or (recursively) a type.  The car is
the "class" or parent type of the type, and properties which are not
specified in the new type will be inherited from ancestors.  Probably
the only type without a class should be the `default' type.  The cdr of
a type is a plist whose keys are widget property keywords.

   A type or type name may also be referred to as an "unconverted
widget".

   A "converted widget" or "widget instance" is a list whose car is a
type name or a type, and whose cdr is a property list.  Furthermore,
all children of the converted widget must be converted.  Finally, in the
process of appropriate parts of the list structure are copied to ensure
that changes in values of one instance do not affect another's.


\1f
Tag Table:
Node: Top\7f211
Node: Introduction\7f612
Node: User Interface\7f4087
Node: Programming Example\7f8943
Node: Setting Up the Buffer\7f13075
Node: Basic Types\7f14795
Node: link\7f21005
Node: url-link\7f21518
Node: info-link\7f21827
Node: push-button\7f22115
Node: editable-field\7f22687
Node: text\7f24167
Node: menu-choice\7f24462
Node: radio-button-choice\7f25312
Node: item\7f26877
Node: choice-item\7f27262
Node: toggle\7f27757
Node: checkbox\7f28491
Node: checklist\7f28794
Node: editable-list\7f30235
Node: group\7f31415
Node: Sexp Types\7f31701
Node: constants\7f32011
Node: generic\7f33085
Node: atoms\7f33616
Node: composite\7f35571
Node: Widget Properties\7f38044
Node: Defining New Widgets\7f41102
Node: Widget Browser\7f49277
Node: Widget Minor Mode\7f50135
Node: Utilities\7f50691
Node: Widget Wishlist\7f51174
Node: Widget Internals\7f52895
\1f
End Tag Table