[Solved] Adding a named separator

[sarad]

Hello freaks 

How I can add a named separator (menu group) to a T*Menu?
My desired sytax is - Name -.

[VisualLab]

Hello freaks 

How I can add a named separator (menu group) to a T*Menu?
My desired sytax is - Name -.

This cannot be done easily in classes (TMainMenu, TPopupMenu) responsible for displaying individual menu items (TMenuItem). You would probably need to refer to WinAPI (Windows) or to the functions contained in the Qt or GTK libraries (Linux). Another solution is to create your own class that displays the menu.

There is one more issue. I suspect that these separators are intended to play two roles:

• real separator,
• a description for the set of commands included below this spearator.

If this is the case, I advise against this solution. This is an example of bad GUI design. A multi-level menu is provided for this purpose, i.e. a higher-level menu item groups and describes lower-level items. Users are well familiar with this solution. However, various "fancy" or "contrived" menu options will irritate users. Unless it's a program for your own needs, then it's OK.

[Thaddy]

I am ot quite sure, but if a name is required, simply use a macro.

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. {$macro on }{$define name :=-}

[sarad]

There is one more issue. I suspect that these separators are intended to play two roles:

• real separator,
• a description for the set of commands included below this spearator.

If this is the case, I advise against this solution. This is an example of bad GUI design. A multi-level menu is provided for this purpose, i.e. a higher-level menu item groups and describes lower-level items. Users are well familiar with this solution. However, various "fancy" or "contrived" menu options will irritate users. Unless it's a program for your own needs, then it's OK.

Thank you for your answer.
I think it's good that you are taking this into account.

My idea is just a compromise between many levels and clarity.

I want to prevent the menu from being more than three levels deep.
And above all, I hope that it will provide an overview.
Like a separator, but with a clear indication of what's being separated.

So, you are right.

[wp]

Maybe a menu is not the kind of GUI that you need? A bit more complex is the ribbon-like TSpkToolbar which provides at least three well-separated levels of access: the ribbon tabs, the panes, and the buttons, and when you have buttons with ButtonKind bkButtonDropDown or bkDropDown you can even provide a standard dropdown menu which, of course, can have its submenus: https://wiki.freepascal.org/SpkToolbar. Several panes can be available in a tab, and each pane is labeled.

[440bx]

How I can add a named separator (menu group) to a T*Menu?
My desired sytax is - Name -.

Correct me if I'm wrong but, it sounds like what you want is to have a "title"/"heading" for some menu items.  Did I understand what you want correctly ?

[cdbc]

Hi
Use an empty(handler) menuitem with a name/caption like '---SomeName---'
Regards Benny

[sarad]

Correct me if I'm wrong but, it sounds like what you want is to have a "title"/"heading" for some menu items.
Did I understand what you want correctly ?

Exactly, that is what I want.

[sarad]

Hi
Use an empty(handler) menuitem with a name/caption like '---SomeName---'
Regards Benny

(Like CudaText?)
No, that's ugly.

[440bx]

Exactly, that is what I want.

The only way that comes to mind to have a nice looking result is by making the menu items ownerdraw.

I'm fairly sure it can be done with the LCL but, since I know very little about the LCL, someone else will have to provide example code as to how to do ownerdrawn menu items.    With ownerdrawn menu items, the nice thing is that the "heading"/"title" doesn't get "visually selected" (different background when the mouse is on the item.)

You may find the information and example code in the following thread useful: https://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,48805.msg351924.html#msg351924

It doesn't create a "heading" but, it's likely that modifying the code a bit would allow you to implement headings.

HTH.

[sarad]

Thanks to all for your replies!