DockedFormEditor: what changed
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| 1 | + | The DockedFormEditor is a package for the Lazarus IDE that docks a form next to source editor unit. This package is shipped with Lazarus version 2.1 upwards. | |
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | ## Why is it useful? | |
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| 5 | - | ||
| 5 | + | If you don't like to search a form related to a unit, you can switch in the source editor pages. There you find the form docked as tab. Useful is a combination of packages **[[AnchorDockingDsgn]]** with **DockedFormEditor** , if you don't like the default "separate windows" look of the Lazarus IDE and prefer a single window. | |
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| 7 | + | DockedFormEditor is the replacement and initially forked form Sparta_DockedFormEditor. If you have used this package in the past, please switch to DockedFormEditor as all Sparta packages are deprecated and have been removed from Lazarus. | |
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| 9 | 9 | ## Installation | |
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| 11 | + | * Uninstall any other docking managers (e.g., easydockmgrdsgn) and especially **Sparta_DockedFormEditor**! | |
| 12 | + | * Install this package (and maybe **[[AnchorDockingDsgn]]**) per MainMenu -> Package -> Install/Uninstall Packages... -> check the package **dockedformeditor**. | |
| 13 | + | * Now recompile Lazarus IDE. | |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ## Layout | |
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| 17 | - | ||
| 17 | + | After installation there are the design tabs docked next to source editor unit: | |
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| 19 | - | ||
| 19 | + | [](</File:DockedLayout1.png>) | |
| 20 | 20 | ||
| 21 | 21 | ## Pages | |
| 22 | 22 | ||
| 23 | 23 | ### Code | |
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| 25 | + | In the tab Code is the source editor, where you can implement the logic of your app. | |
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| 27 | + | [](</File:DockedCode.png>) | |
| 28 | 28 | ||
| 29 | 29 | ### Form | |
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| 31 | + | In the tab Form is the default form designer. Without this package it is a separate window. | |
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| 33 | - | ||
| 33 | + | [](</File:DockedForm.png>) | |
| 34 | 34 | ||
| 35 | 35 | ### Anchors | |
| 36 | 36 | ||
| 37 | - | ||
| 37 | + | In the tab Anchors is a optional anchor designer. It's follows the WYSIWYG concept and your form reacts at runtime the same as at designtime. It can be used simultaneously with default Anchor Editor: | |
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| 39 | + | * You can snap a control border or point with the grips and anchor it to a next or parent control. | |
| 40 | + | * Sizing or positioning without anchoring are possible with mouse. | |
| 41 | + | * With <Ctrl> \+ mouse you can change the border around a control. | |
| 42 | + | * Constraints of a control are noted. | |
| 43 | + | * Per popup menu a control can simply fixed on paranet or this fixing can be removed. | |
| 44 | + | * All properties affected per Anchor Designer are shown in hint of control. | |
| 45 | 45 | ||
| 46 | - | ||
| 46 | + | [](</File:DockedAnchors.png>) | |
| 47 | 47 | ||
| 48 | 48 | ## Options | |
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| 50 | - | ||
| 50 | + | There are some options, found after package installation, under MainMenu -> Tools -> Options ... -> Docked Form Editor. Next to some color definitions you find: | |
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| 52 | + | * Tab position: defines the position of the tabs Code, Form, Anchors | |
| 53 | + | * Force Refreshing At Sizing: if the resizing eats to much time, this option can be deactivated | |
| 54 | + | * Capture Distance: this is the minimal distance in pixel to catch a control with mouse | |
| 55 | + | * Automatically treat Align properties: the Anchor Designer can only work with Anchors, so Aligns are translated to Anchors when this option is activated | |
| 56 | + | * Automatically treat BorderSpacing properties: allow Anchor designer to change all Borders (Around, Left, Top, Right, Bottom) to fit in | |
| 57 | + | * Allow size changing: you can change the size of a control or you can really only set or remove Anchors and BorderSpacing | |
| 58 | 58 | ||
| 59 | 59 | ## Limits | |
| 60 | 60 | ||
| 61 | - | ||
| 61 | + | * Tested on Windows7, 10, Linux Mint Cinnamon with GTK2, QT4, QT5. | |
| 62 | 62 | ||
| 63 | 63 | ## Known Issues | |
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| 65 | + | * When the designed form / frame is moved out of screen, there the form has no designer grid (dots). | |
| 66 | + | * Qt5 shows own menu in form, this isn't shown in the anchor designer. | |
| 67 | + | * Designer: mouse wheel to scroll content doesn't work - csDesigning is set and form doesn't get a LM_MOUSEWHEEL message. | |
| 68 | + | * If main menu is visible, the height of the client area is wrong, see [Issue #38701](<https://bugs.freepascal.org/view.php?id=38701>) | |
| 69 | + | * Form size is limited to screen size | |
| 70 | + | * AnchorDesigner: Child controls of some controls like TPageControl aren't visible | |
| 71 | 71 | ||
| 72 | 72 | ## See also | |
| 73 | 73 | ||
| 74 | - | ||
| 75 | - | ||
| 74 | + | * [[Docking]] in general | |
| 75 | + | * [[Anchor Docking]] in your application | |
| 76 | 76 | ||
| 77 | 77 | --- | |
| 78 | - | ||
| 79 | - | ||
| 78 | + | *From the Free Pascal wiki, page "DockedFormEditor", as the Internet Archive kept it on 2024-12-07, last changed on 2024-08-30. Copyright stays with the author who wrote it, according to the old wiki's [[Licensing]] page. If you have concerns about this material, [message the admin](/wiki-contact).* |