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Diffstat (limited to 'lib/interfaces/external/Mainpage.dox')
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diff --git a/lib/interfaces/external/Mainpage.dox b/lib/interfaces/external/Mainpage.dox new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4618c3d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/lib/interfaces/external/Mainpage.dox @@ -0,0 +1,57 @@ +/** +@mainpage The %KInterfaceDesigner Library + +This library contains all %KInterfaceDesigner classes and interfaces which form the core of +GUI Designer integration framework. + +<b>Link with</b>: -lkinterfacedesigner + +<b>Include path</b>: -I\$(kde_includes)/kinterfacedesigner + +\section designerintegration Overview of GUI designer integration process +Each KPart that wants to act as a GUI Designer must implement @ref KInterfaceDesigner::Designer +interface. It defines necessary signals to communicate with an IDE and abstract virtual +functions to determine designer type. + +If a part which can "design" user interface files of a certain mimetype +implements this interface and sets itself as a default handler for that +mimetype then it becomes automatically integrated into KDevelop IDE. + +When a part is embedded into KDevelop shell, its signals (defined in @ref +KInterfaceDesigner::Designer interface): +@code + void addedFunction(DesignerType type, const QString &formName, Function function) + void removedFunction(DesignerType type, const QString &formName, Function function) + void editedFunction(DesignerType type, const QString &formName, Function oldFunction, Function function) + void editFunction(DesignerType type, const QString &formName, const QString &functionName) + void editSource(DesignerType type, const QString &formName); +@endcode +are connected to corresponding slots of KDevelop designer integration engine which can be implemented in KDevelop language support plugin. + +Each language support which wants to use integrated designer, must reimplement +@code +virtual KDevDesignerIntegration *KDevLanguageSupport::designer(KInterfaceDesigner::DesignerType type) +@endcode +method and return designer integration object. + +Convenience designer integration support library is available for programming language support +developers. With the convenience library writing %Qt designer integration for the language is a +trivial task. + + +\section kdevdesigner KDevelop Designer technical overview +KDevelop version >= 3.1 comes with a customized version (fork ;)) of %Qt Designer. It is called KDevelop Designer (KDevDesigner, kdevdesigner from the command line). KDevDesigner has some important differences: +- KDevDesigner provides a read/write KPart which can be embedded into any application which wants to edit .ui files. KDevelop IDE embeds KDevDesigner this way. +- KDevDesigner uses %KDE icons and dialogs and thus provides better integration with a system. +. + +It is safe to preview forms with some %KDE widgets from kdeui and kio libraries - KDevDesigner part is linked to those libraries so it will not crash under some circumstances. + +KDevDesigner will not create .ui.h files - this feature is completely disabled. Integrated KDevDesigner will use subclassing approach, standalone does not allow to enter code. + +\section other Other information + +@note It is technically possible to integrate not only %Qt Designer, but also, for example, Glade. Glade-3 can be compiled as a library and probably be embedded via XParts technology. + +*/ + |