1.  Exploring Gui Applications

(See also Devel)

Examining or exploring a Wize application is easy. Just use the key/mouse sequence:

  <Control-Alt-Shift-2>

This opens the window config-editor, allowing you to explore various aspects of the running program.

2.  A Sample Session

What follows is a sample session that explores the bigtable.gui demo.

 % wize -Wall bigtable.gui

or use:

 % wize -Wall /

and run bigtable from Gui.

2.1  Widget Configuration

When you bring up the window editor using mouse/key sequence <Control-Alt-Shift-2>, [Tk::editwin] is invoked as shown below:

You can then double-click on the Value column to edit widget values.

You may also try the following:

• hit <Control-c> to copy window path (at bottom).
• open the console from the Menu.
• in the console, type set t, space, then paste with <Control-v>.

Now try some commands in the console, eg: $t conf -bd 4.

2.2  The Menu

Hit <F10> or click on Menu in [Tk::editwin] to bring up the menu:

This menu has numerous facilities which are discussed in detail below.

2.3  Edit Source

Select the menu entry Edit Source: bigtable.gui.

This will bring up the source in Geditor.

2.4  Procs

The Procs menu entry will invoke [Tk::editproc] to allow you to edit code dynamically, right in the running program.

From the menu, select 'Procs in ::app::bigtable:

Then select EditStart and hit Enter (or double click):

Insert a line of code in the proc, eg. puts "Editing: $row" and click Eval.

Now go back to bigtable and edit a cell by double clicking. Note how your output appears in the xterm.

Alternatively, you can open the console window and use putc.

2.5  Variables

The Vars menu entry invokes [Tk::editvar] letting you examine and change variables in the running program.

When you select 'Vars in ::app::bigtable you will see:

Then select _tod_1 and hit Enter:

Double click or hit enter to change any variable.

2.6  Window Tree

Selecting Window Tree from the Menu will invoke:

  Tk::editwin .*

The current window will be selected. You can then select a different window and hit enter to edit it.

2.7  Namespace Tree

Selecting Namespace Tree from the Menu will invoke [Tk::editns ::*] letting you browse the namespace tree, eg:

By default the current namespace is selected. You can then double-click on the Procs column to edit procs, or the Vars column to edit variables (in that namespace).

2.8  Introspect

Introspect is a graphical application for examining and modifying the program state of Tk applications.

The default is ot start introspect inside the application process you are debugging.

The exec option however starts introspect as an external process.

2.9  Edit

Edit invokes the editor on the runtime file. See Start Ted.

2.10  Start Ted

Ted is a programming editor with builtin command completion for Tcl/Tk.

If ted is running when you invoke Edit, then the file will be edited in Ted. Otherwise, the builtin editor will be used.

2.11  Admin

Admin is the administrative interface into Wize.

2.12  The Status Line

Arguments can be appended to the path in the editwin status line to be evaluated, eg:

• add space, style names and hit enter.
• change above to style conf alt and hit enter.

Note, if the last or second last argument matches pattern *conf then 'Tk::editwin'' is invoked to edit widget items.

Otherwise, the results are displayed in a popup.

3.  Console

A console can be opened from the editwin menu or by typing the key sequence <Control-Alt-Shift-space>, eg:

Any Tcl command can be typed into the console. However, the following are most useful:

• Tk::find - search for window by name or class.
• Tk::editproc - edit running procs
• Tk::editvar - visual variable editor
• Tk::editwin - visual widget editor/browser
• Tk::editns - visual namespace browser.

© 2008 Peter MacDonald