[wxwidgets] create a complex button

[baert]

Hi,

I am new to wxwindows (I come from Java),

I need to create a complex button, I mean a button which can have several lines, this line containing different kind of objects, for exemple:-
- 1st line: an icon on the left + text on the right
-2nd line: Text in bold + specific color
-3rd line: text (font1) on the left, text font2 on the middel, and another text on the right.

I already developed this kind of button under Java, it was easy because in Java a button contain a Panel, and in a Panel you can do what ever you want (using a specific layout, insert child panels, etc...)

I am shure this can be possible, but I dont know how !

Thanks for your help !

Bart

[caseyodonnell]

Take a look at the implementation for wxBitmapButton...it is a custom button derived from wxButton. Theoretically you can derive from wxButton and have your own custom control.

CKO

I need to create a complex button, I mean a button which can have several lines, this line containing different kind of objects, for exemple:-
- 1st line: an icon on the left + text on the right
-2nd line: Text in bold + specific color
-3rd line: text (font1) on the left, text font2 on the middel, and another text on the right.

I already developed this kind of button under Java, it was easy because in Java a button contain a Panel, and in a Panel you can do what ever you want (using a specific layout, insert child panels, etc...)

[baert]

Thanks for your help,

The probleme in my case is that Data are dynamic: I can't put all the data in a fixed bitmap, and display the bitmap.
Text ad Icon on the buttons are dynamic, they can automatially change due to some events.

[caseyodonnell]

Right. What I meant was that you could use wxBitmapButton as a means to better understanding how to do this. And the bitmaps and text on buttons can be changed dynamically now. No modification needed.

Thanks for your help,

The probleme in my case is that Data are dynamic: I can't put all the data in a fixed bitmap, and display the bitmap.
Text ad Icon on the buttons are dynamic, they can automatially change due to some events.

[baert]

you mean, I should look at the implementation of wxBitmapButton ?
I'll try thiis and let you know what I can learn with that !

[caseyodonnell]

you mean, I should look at the implementation of wxBitmapButton ?
I'll try thiis and let you know what I can learn with that !

Yeah...I was also thinking...

wxButton is a wxWindow, which you can place new elements into. So you could (I think) add a sizer and sub-elements to a wxButton. Should work just fine.

CKO

[baert]

I try this method,
yet I added a Sizer and a Panel inside, the button stay empty ....

[Jorg]

You have to understand where wxWidgets is built on. The wxButton, wxTextCtrl etc are all native components. Which means the wxButton is a wrapper .. since it is a native control you can't really insert something inside a button like a panel or a sizer because the button in Windows cannot be treated that way as well ..

If you want this, you will have to compose your own button from a panel and sizer, and make it look like a button by catching mouse up and down events..

Regards,
- Jorgen

[Avi]

You have to understand where wxWidgets is built on. The wxButton, wxTextCtrl etc are all native components. Which means the wxButton is a wrapper .. since it is a native control you can't really insert something inside a button like a panel or a sizer because the button in Windows cannot be treated that way as well ..

If you want this, you will have to compose your own button from a panel and sizer, and make it look like a button by catching mouse up and down events..

Regards,
- Jorgen

Question, then why is it derived from wxWindow then? Shouldn't a correct way it to derive it only from wxControl (which is derived from wxObject and wxEventHandler)? Surely, the wxControl class would also need to contain more generic methods like Show(), Hide(), Enable(), Disable(), and so on...

[Jorg]

I guess because it does implement some of the wxWindow based methods like sizing etc. Also, there is one base class needed to add all those elements to a panel or frame. It might have been given some more consideration, but hey MFC also did it like this. CButton was in no way extendible when it was in fact a wrapped control like al wxButton would be

I guess it is common sense for most people who know that the wxButton is a native component, and thus cannot be extended. But I can understand the confusion. Maybe they should at least perform checks in debug mode if people are trying to do "the impossible"

Regards,
- Jorgen