WindowMenu 1.1 - A simple solution for MDI applications
MakeLogic brings out the WindowMenu1.1 component. It provides an easy solution
to arrange internal frames in a Multi Document Interface (MDI) application.
MakeLogic provides a host of development solutions in the Mobile devices
software, XML Web Services and software components and tools areas.
WindowMenu1.1 targets the IDE developers. It is always a good idea to use proven
software components instead of re-writing the code over and over again.
WindowMenu provides features like Tile Horizontally, Tile Vertically, Cascade
and choose the window.
MakeLogic provides similar components that make up the entire editor or IDE.
Please see FileMenu component, which is similar to WindowMenu. WindowMenu is a
good choice for the MDI programmers. It can be plugged in using just two lines
of code.
Usage and Functionality
As already mentioned, WindowMenu is a perfect black box. It can be put to full use by adding just two lines of code to the client application. At the same time, it provides a rich set of API calls which allow complete fine tuning of the component. The component is designed to give a default behavior which is most prevalent in the industry today. Extensive research was conducted while arriving at the default behavior of the component. All the necessary points of customization have been taken into account while writing the API calls that modify the look or behavior of the component.
Fast Facts
The Company: MakeLogic (http://www.makelogic.com) is a wireless/mobile software solutions company that creates software components and development tools to help connect people with their everyday information via mobile devices.The Component: WindowMenu is a java component library that provides the usual WindowMenu functionality seen in any general application. It provides features for Tiling Horizontally, Tiling Vertically, Cascading and choosing the internal frames in an MDI application. Two lines of code is enough to add this component to an application.
Totally customizable GUI
Developers always want to add some value to the component that they are using. WindowMenu takes that factor into consideration. WindowMenu comes with the following MenuItems as the defaults
- Cascade
- TileHorizontally
- TileVertically
- Close All
- Choose a window
Developers can add new menu items to the component at the location/order they desire. The look and feel of the component can be changed to match the look and feel of the client application.
Customizable events
The default behavior of the component can be overriden. Each of the menu items
performs a certain task when they are clicked. However, if needed the user can
suppress this behavior. Further, the user can add a custom behavior that is
needed for the application while a particular menu item is clicked.
All the menu items in the component are assigned accelerators OR short cut keys.
They too can be customized if the application is using the same accelerators for
some other purpose. see sample applications which demonstrate the above
mentioned behavior.
Bottom Line
Overall, the java components provided by the MakeLogic try to address the most
common needs of any application developer. At the same time they do not force
the developer to accept the functionality. They are flexible enough to be
overridden and modified to suit the user requirements.
