docking IDE

[Paolo]

ok, thanks for the suggestion (anyway I'm trying something little different...)

[Martin_fr]

AnchorDokingDesgn 1.0
DockedFormEditor 0.0
(but I see there is also available: anchordocking 1.0, I have to install this one?)

AnchorDokingDsgn  is the correct one.

AnchorDoking is for your own app, if you want to write an app in which the user of your app can move individual parts of the GUI around.

3)   This should be the most effective for me, but playing with visual component is crazy, again move to Obj-inp -> the form disappear, typing in it (blindly, maybe I have selected the wrong component) -> then come back to the code editor and click on it -> finally F12. Try yourself this just for 4 buttons in sequence… (NB: the form hiding happen even clicking on other area of the IDE, and to resee the form I have to click two times in the code editor, one time is not enough then F12) (See two more picture in the subsequent replay).

I report another issue I see now for option-3. I have noticed that when I put a visual component on the form it flashes well visibly, it happens when you click on a component in the component palette (did you confirm this ?) .
What do you suggest to me to accomplish this task : docked elements (obj-inp, message, code..) to keep the desktop well ordered by leaving the form floating at its full size as per option-1 above (and not disappearing when working on it)?

As I said, I can't see how.

How to determine "when you working on it" =>  I have clicked the OI many times when I was NOT working on the form, but working on the source. So as soon as someone clicks the OI => How do we know they are working on the form?

And worse, if the form is big, then it may overlap the OI. Also when working with a team that happens because diff people have the OI on different screen positions. So when I work on a form, and I use the OI, I need the OI to come forword, or I can't work on the part of the OI that is behind the form.

But when OI and source-edit are the same form => they come both forward.

How, can I ensure the above needs that I have, and that I feel must work, and at the same time keep the form (designer) on top?

Disclaimer: I don't use docking 99% of the time, as my IDE is spread over several monitors. But the overlap of OI and form exist either way.

If and when I use docking, I also use the docked-form edit (2). But I accept it doesn't fit your needs.

Just how can your suggestion be added, without breaking other needs. (e.g. those that I described)?


As I said: Docking does not force to dock all into one main window. You can dock into several groups.

Have a main window with titlebar/menu/source/watches/find-result/messages/....
Have a 2nd window with the Object inspector only (or the view-compontent too).

Then if you click the OI, only that 2nd window comes to front => that is much smaller (as it does not have the sources). So it wont hide your form (or only a tiny overlapping section, if your form covers that much of the screen)

[Paolo]

How to determine "when you working on it" =>  I have clicked the OI many times when I was NOT working on the form, but working on the source. So as soon as someone clicks the OI => How do we know they are working on the form?

it si not necessary, just keep the current visual aspect : if you have the code edit active keep it, if you the form keep it.. .
When I report the flickering effect, I imagine that "someone" has implemented this feature: when you have the form active and click on the component palette, IDE swaps to code, but suddenly it reverts to the form, that is logical, you are attempitng to add something to the form. try to add more than one component and you'll see this.
Hovewer the form hiding happens almost always even if you click in other parts of the IDE, is this not strange ? try yourself.

in any case, I'll remove this and come back to full floating approach.. more caotic but more confortable for visual design and final aspect representativeness.

As I said: Docking does not force to dock all into one main window. You can dock into several groups.

Have a main window with titlebar/menu/source/watches/find-result/messages/....
Have a 2nd window with the Object inspector only (or the view-compontent too).

Then if you click the OI, only that 2nd window comes to front => that is much smaller (as it does not have the sources). So it wont hide your form (or only a tiny overlapping section, if your form covers that much of the screen)

thanks Martin, there some example showing how to do that ?

many thanks

[Paolo]

waht is about this option (See picture)

[Martin_fr]

thanks Martin, there some example showing how to do that ?

Eh, you are aware that you can freely arrange the layout? Click any of the "dock headers" and drag it to a new position?

If you drag it to a position outside the main window (make sure the IDE isn't maximized, and doesn't cover your entire desktop) and you get a 2nd window.


Of course if you locked the layout, then unlock it first (red marker in image), after right click the dock header.

And, if you can't find a free bit of desktop to which to drag for undocking => use the "undock" menu item (green).

Once undocked, position the window with its normal window header (not with the dock handle inside it).


If you right click the component palette you will see "view all" (same as menu > view > components).
You can undock that too, or dock it into the new 2nd window of the OI. (tabbed, tiled, as you prefer)

[Paolo]

undocking OI e form editor, now the form even pressing F12 or clicking on it  does not come up

[Paolo]

yes, thanks I saw how do that

[Martin_fr]

waht is about this option (See picture)

AFAIK, that doesn't affect the designer. If it would, you could never get the source editor on top of the designer. That would be rather bad.

Once you undocked the OI, then that 2nd window with the OI that is afaik handled as "floating window" => so that could stay on top (if you place it side by side with the rest of the IDE. (or only overlap borders, that can be hidden)

But I haven't used that option myself....

[Martin_fr]

undocking OI e form editor, now the form even pressing F12 or clicking on it  does not come up

Strange, I just tested that (to take the image) => and I now tested
- F12 works: switches between floating design form, and the big-docked window containing the source editor (of course a unit with form must be selected in the tabs of the source editor... otherwise nothing)
- F11 gets me the OI, in case that got hidden
  (even switches tabs, as I docked the "component list" as tabbed to the OI)

I tested
- with anchor dock (obviously)
- WITHOUT "docked form edit" (so the designer is free floating)

[Martin_fr]

About F12 => depending what was previously brought up (design form or source edit), if I am focused on neither of them (e.g. the OI) then the other (the non previous) will come up first. A 2nd press then goes to toggle again.

That is however the F12 behaviour, also in a non-docked IDE

[Martin_fr]

In your image you seem to also have undocked the source editor? You can do that (your preference).

But for my example you don't need to.

I.e. my proposal was
- 1 docked main form, with everything (main menu, sources, debug win, search, msgs, .... except for the 2 below)
- 1 2nd docked window with: Object inspector, and Component list (so you don't need the one in the main menu bar)

And then the undocked free floating form designer.

[Paolo]

I'll see, but now Lazarus doesn't start anymore, reinstalled right now,

I'll keep safer floating windows...

thank to all for suggestions.

[Martin_fr]

Ok that error is a bug. Some of the config files is incorrect.

If you have your conf files (I think environment opts contain the desktops / but that needs to be checked)

- Copy your xml conf files (primary config path)
- temp remove them one by one, see the removed of which one fixes the error
- create an issue, attach the file

I can't currently dive into that error myself. To many other things to do.

[Paolo]

the bug appaered after:

- desktop was a mess
- uncheked the "Docking/docking ancorato" e "Docking form editor"
- restat lazaus (As suggested)
- crash. 

[Paolo]

at first attempt it was this one (See attached file) reanmed and IDE reestarsshowing the slection form for docking or not