User Interface Objects

The iTool user interface object is an instance of the class IDLitUI. The UI object provides a way for the iTool to communicate with interface elements created using the IDL widget toolkit. As the center of communication between the user interface and the underlying iTool functionality, the UI object provides the following functionality:

Access to and communication with the underlying iTool object.

Registration and management of dialogs and other sub-elements of the user interface that are used by the iTool to perform specific tasks.

Registration of user interface elements that are part of the iTool display itself.

One of the key features of the iTool user interface is the ability to adapt to the contents of the tool, sensitizing and desensitizing menu items or displaying dialogs or user interface panels as necessary. The IDLitUI object makes this adaptability possible while maintaining the slender link between tool functionality and user interface. The following features of the IDLitUI object make these features possible:

GetTool Method

The IDLitUI::GetTool method provides the means to retrieve an object reference to the underlying iTool object from user interface code. The retrieved reference can then be used to access data stored in iTool objects (property values, for example) and to call other iTool object methods.

UI Service Registration Methods

The IDLitUI::RegisterUIService and IDLitUI::UnRegisterUIService methods allow user interface code to register (and unregister) user interface services as being available for use by the iTool interface.

Note
User interface services are more normally registered by an iTool launch routine, using the IREGISTER procedure.

User interface services are discussed in detail in Creating a User Interface Service.

Widget Registration Methods

The IDLitUI::RegisterWidget and IDLitUI::UnRegisterWidget methods allow user interface code to register (and unregister) widget callback routines as the target of OnNotify messages. Registration allows the user interface to receive messages generated by iTool components and to react accordingly.

Widget registration is discussed in detail in Creating a User Interface Panel.

AddOnNotifyObserver Method

The IDLitUI::AddOnNotifyObserver method allows user interface code to register to receive messages sent via calls to the OnNotify methods of iTool components. This mechanism allows the user interface to change in response to changes in the underlying iTool.

Use of the iTool messaging system is discussed in detail in Creating a User Interface Panel.

DoAction Method

The IDLitUI::DoAction method makes it possible for a user interface element to launch execution of an operation within the underlying iTool.

Use of the DoAction method to initiate execution of operations is discussed in Creating a User Interface Service.