Lazarus Object Inspector is inactive

[dbannon]

https://gitlab.com/freepascal.org/lazarus/lazarus/-/issues/35446

While acknowledging that bug report, I don't really think existing GUI is the cause of the current discussion, that's about either informing a new user that are in the wrong place or providing beginner with a small subset of beginner grade examples.  Currently examples are categorized by the directory they live in, we have 'example' and 'examples'. That's not very user friendly and not intuitive. Most don't have a readme so only metadata is project title.

So, do we want a quick and easy fix or a full coverage -
* redesign the GUI
* provide a category system for all examples, maybe in the (compulsory) readme file ?
* Copy the deb/rpm installed example to user space when 'chosen' by the user.

Thats quite a significant change, I'm not keen to get stared unless there is some indication its the way we really want to go ??

(and probably move this to a new thread ?)

Davo

[Martin_fr]

There is some work being done on the examples by WP currently.
Anyone interested in helping, can contact him on the mail list (maybe he is on the forum too, I do not know).

There are several points that may need attention, and/or be kept in mind.

- Some examples are "used" within the tests. (Probably just to check, if they compile, but I have not looked further)
- There is a Makefile to build "all" examples. On a cursory look, it appears outdated, and not to include "all".
   But, if example should be moved, the Makefile needs to be updated for at least those (edit Makefile.fpc, then use fpcmake from current fpc 3.3.1)


It appears some examples are older than the designer in the IDE. Hence they create forms in code. (and maybe some newer ones copied that behaviour?).
There should be no issue to change those examples to have their form as LFM.

If anyone is interested, I guess many examples could showcase a lot more of the component for which they are made (or more examples for each component could be added, if there is too much to be demonstrated.)

Ensuring the two points above (tests/makefile) are taken care of => restructuring of the example folder could also take place.

Other ideas can be brought forward.

[dbannon]

There is some work being done on the examples by WP currently.
Anyone interested in helping, can contact him on the mail list (maybe he is on the forum too, I do not know).

Oh, he's definitely on the forum !

> Some examples are "used" within the tests. (Probably just to check, if they compile, but I have not looked further)
> But, if example should be moved, the Makefile needs to be updated for at least those ...

There should be absolutely no need to move or change existing Examples, demos, test....

I was suggesting a keyword be added to the readme files that catagorised the various projects. That would have no effect on existing behaviour.

> Ensuring the two points above (tests/makefile) are taken care of => restructuring of the example folder could also take place.

I don't see the need, as you note, restructuring would risk bad things happening to at least the tests.

I did suggest that we need a way to copy an example project out of read only space, into user space when a user decides to have a play with it, but that would be on a as needed basis. And only for those Lazarus installs that end up read only.

If WP is on its case, he will do a far better job than I !

Davo

[Blavatsky]

I think I found a FIX
Tools>>>Options>>>Environment>>>
IDE CoolBar >>> Configure>>>View Menu Commands
on top menubar for the following
Remove Open Unit
Remove Open Form
Add Toggle Form/Unit and  shuffle it up under object inspector button.
VOIR-LA

 keyboard shortcuts:
CTRL+F12  View Units
SHIFT+F12 View Forms to open Form then it works

Also select main menu:
View>Toggle Form/Unit