Package org.eclipse.ui.forms.widgets

Class Form

java.lang.Object
org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Widget
org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Control
org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Scrollable
org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Composite
org.eclipse.ui.forms.widgets.Form
All Implemented Interfaces:
Drawable
public class Form extends Composite
Form is a custom control that renders a title and an optional background image above the body composite. It can be used alone when part of parents that are scrolled. If scrolling is required, use ScrolledForm instead because it has an instance of Form and adds scrolling capability.

Form can have a title if set. If not set, title area will not be left empty - form body will be resized to fill the entire form. In addition, an optional title image can be set and is rendered to the left of the title (since 3.2).

Form can have a title drop down menu if the menu bar manager is not empty (since 3.3).

Form title can support drag and drop if drag and drop support methods are invoked. When used, additional decoration is rendered behind the title to reinforce the drag and drop ability (since 3.3).

The form supports status messages. These messages can have various severity (error, warning, info or none). If status hyperlink handler is specified, the messages with the specified severity other than none will be rendered as hyperlinks.

Form can have a background image behind the title text. The image is tiled as many times as needed to fill the title area. Alternatively, gradient background can be painted vertically or horizontally.

Form can be put in a 'busy' state. While in this state, title image is replaced with an animation that lasts as long as the 'busy' state is active.

It is possible to create an optional head client control. When created, this control is placed in the form heading as a second row.

Form has a custom layout manager that is wrap-enabled. If a form is placed in a composite whose layout manager implements ILayoutExtension, the body of the form will participate in wrapping as long as its layout manager implements ILayoutExtension as well.

Children of the form should typically be created using FormToolkit to match the appearance and behaviour. When creating children, use the form body as a parent by calling 'getBody()' on the form instance. Example: 

 FormToolkit toolkit = new FormToolkit(parent.getDisplay());
 Form form = toolkit.createForm(parent);
 form.setText("Sample form");
 form.getBody().setLayout(new GridLayout());
 toolkit.createButton(form.getBody(), "Checkbox", SWT.CHECK);

No layout manager has been set on the body. Clients are required to set the desired layout manager explicitly.

Although the class is not final, it should not be subclassed.

Since:
3.0
Restriction:
This class is not intended to be subclassed by clients.

  • Constructor Details

    • Form

      public Form(Composite parent, int style)
      Creates the form content control as a child of the provided parent.
      Parameters:
      parent - the parent widget

  • Method Details

    • setMenu

      public void setMenu(Menu menu)
      Passes the menu to the form body.
      Overrides:
      setMenu in class Control
      Parameters:
      menu - the parent menu

    • setLayout

      public final void setLayout(Layout layout)
      Prevents from changing the custom control layout.
      Overrides:
      setLayout in class Composite
      Parameters:
      layout - the receiver's new layout or null

    • getText

      public String getText()
      Returns the title text that will be rendered at the top of the form.
      Returns:
      the title text

    • getImage

      public Image getImage()
      Returns the title image that will be rendered to the left of the title.
      Returns:
      the title image or null if not set.
      Since:
      3.2

    • setForeground

      public void setForeground(Color fg)
      Sets the foreground color of the form. This color will also be used for the body.
      Overrides:
      setForeground in class Control
      Parameters:
      fg - the foreground color

    • setBackground

      public void setBackground(Color bg)
      Sets the background color of the form. This color will also be used for the body.
      Overrides:
      setBackground in class Control
      Parameters:
      bg - the background color

    • setFont

      public void setFont(Font font)
      Sets the font of the header text.
      Overrides:
      setFont in class Control
      Parameters:
      font - the new font

    • setText

      public void setText(String text)
      Sets the text to be rendered at the top of the form above the body as a title.

      Note: Mnemonics are indicated by an '&' that causes the next character to be the mnemonic. Mnemonics are not applicable in the case of the form title but need to be taken into account due to the usage of the underlying widget that renders mnemonics in the title area. The mnemonic indicator character '&' can be escaped by doubling it in the string, causing a single '&' to be displayed.

      Parameters:
      text - the title text

    • setTitleTextSelectable

      public void setTitleTextSelectable(boolean selectable)
      Sets whether ther text in the title region should be selectable.

      Note: If drag support is also enabled, text selection has priority. Dragging still works in the non-text parts of the title area.

      Parameters:
      selectable - whether the title text should be selectable
      Since:
      3.8

    • setImage

      public void setImage(Image image)
      Sets the image to be rendered to the left of the title. This image will be temporarily hidden in two cases:
      1. When the form is busy - replaced with a busy animation
      2. When the form has message set - replaced with the image indicating message severity
      Parameters:
      image - the title image or null to show no image.
      Since:
      3.2

    • setTextBackground

      public void setTextBackground(Color[] gradientColors, int[] percents, boolean vertical)
      Sets the background colors to be painted behind the title text in a gradient. Note that this method will reset color previously set by setBackground(Color). This is necessary for the simulated transparency of the heading in all of its children control.
      Parameters:
      gradientColors - the array of colors that form the gradient
      percents - the partition of the overall space between the gradient colors
      vertical - of true, the gradient will be rendered vertically, if false the orientation will be horizontal.

    • getBackgroundImage

      public Image getBackgroundImage()
      Returns the optional background image of the form head.
      Overrides:
      getBackgroundImage in class Control
      Returns:
      the background image or null if not specified.

    • setBackgroundImage

      public void setBackgroundImage(Image backgroundImage)
      Sets the optional background image to be rendered behind the title starting at the position 0,0. If the image is smaller than the container in any dimension, it will be tiled. As of version 3.2, this method only supports SWT.BITMAP image types. This is because the rendering is now delegated to SWT which imposes this restriction on background images,
      Overrides:
      setBackgroundImage in class Control
      Parameters:
      backgroundImage - the head background image.

    • getToolBarManager

      public IToolBarManager getToolBarManager()
      Returns the tool bar manager that is used to manage tool items in the form's title area.
      Returns:
      form tool bar manager

    • setToolBarVerticalAlignment

      public void setToolBarVerticalAlignment(int alignment)
      Sets the tool bar vertical alignment relative to the header. Can be useful when there is more free space at the second row (with the head client).
      Parameters:
      alignment - SWT.TOP or SWT.BOTTOM
      Since:
      3.3

    • getToolBarVerticalAlignment

      public int getToolBarVerticalAlignment()
      Returns the current tool bar alignment (if used).
      Returns:
      SWT.TOP or SWT.BOTTOM
      Since:
      3.3

    • getMenuManager

      public IMenuManager getMenuManager()
      Returns the menu manager that is used to manage title area drop-down menu items.
      Returns:
      title area drop-down menu manager
      Since:
      3.3

    • updateToolBar

      public void updateToolBar()
      Updates the local tool bar manager if used. Does nothing if local tool bar manager has not been created yet.

    • getHead

      public Composite getHead()
      Returns the container that occupies the head of the form (the form area above the body). Use this container as a parent for the head client.
      Returns:
      the head of the form.
      Since:
      3.2

    • getHeadClient

      public Control getHeadClient()
      Returns the optional head client if set.
      Returns:
      the head client or null if not set.
      Since:
      3.2
      See Also:

    • setHeadClient

      public void setHeadClient(Control headClient)
      Sets the optional head client. Head client is placed after the form title. This option causes the tool bar to be placed in the second raw of the header (below the head client).

      The head client must be a child of the composite returned by getHead() method.

      Parameters:
      headClient - the optional child of the head
      Since:
      3.2

    • getBody

      public Composite getBody()
      Returns the container that occupies the body of the form (the form area below the title). Use this container as a parent for the controls that should be in the form. No layout manager has been set on the form body.
      Returns:
      Returns the body of the form.

    • isBackgroundImageTiled

      public boolean isBackgroundImageTiled()
      Tests if the background image is tiled to cover the entire area of the form heading.
      Returns:
      true if heading background image is tiled, false otherwise.

    • setBackgroundImageTiled

      public void setBackgroundImageTiled(boolean backgroundImageTiled)
      Sets whether the header background image is repeated to cover the entire heading area or not.
      Parameters:
      backgroundImageTiled - set true to tile the image, or false to paint the background image only once at 0,0

    • getBackgroundImageAlignment

      @Deprecated public int getBackgroundImageAlignment()
      Deprecated.
      due to the underlying widget limitations, background image is either painted at 0,0 and/or tiled.
      Returns the background image alignment.
      Returns:
      SWT.LEFT

    • setBackgroundImageAlignment

      @Deprecated public void setBackgroundImageAlignment(int backgroundImageAlignment)
      Deprecated.
      due to the underlying widget limitations, background image is always tiled and alignment cannot be controlled.
      Sets the background image alignment.
      Parameters:
      backgroundImageAlignment - The backgroundImageAlignment to set.
      Since:
      3.1

    • isBackgroundImageClipped

      @Deprecated public boolean isBackgroundImageClipped()
      Deprecated.
      due to the underlying widget limitations, background image is always clipped.
      Tests if background image is clipped.
      Returns:
      true
      Since:
      3.1

    • setBackgroundImageClipped

      @Deprecated public void setBackgroundImageClipped(boolean backgroundImageClipped)
      Deprecated.
      due to the underlying widget limitations, background image is always clipped.
      Sets whether the background image is clipped.
      Parameters:
      backgroundImageClipped - the value to set
      Since:
      3.1

    • isSeparatorVisible

      public boolean isSeparatorVisible()
      Tests if the form head separator is visible.
      Returns:
      true if the head/body separator is visible, false otherwise
      Since:
      3.2

    • setSeparatorVisible

      public void setSeparatorVisible(boolean addSeparator)
      If set, adds a separator between the head and body. Since 3.3, the colors that are used to render it are IFormColors.H_BOTTOM_KEYLINE1 and IFormColors.H_BOTTOM_KEYLINE2.
      Parameters:
      addSeparator - true to make the separator visible, false otherwise.
      Since:
      3.2

    • getSeparatorColor

      @Deprecated public Color getSeparatorColor()
      Deprecated.
      use getHeadColor(IFormColors.H_BOTTOM_KEYLINE2)
      Returns the color used to render the optional head separator. If gradient text background is used additional colors from the gradient will be used to render the separator.
      Returns:
      separator color or null if not set.
      Since:
      3.2

    • setSeparatorColor

      @Deprecated public void setSeparatorColor(Color separatorColor)
      Deprecated.
      use setHeadColor(IFormColors.H_BOTTOM_KEYLINE2, separatorColor)
      Sets the color to be used to render the optional head separator.
      Parameters:
      separatorColor - the color to render the head separator or null to use the default color.
      Since:
      3.2

    • setHeadColor

      public void setHeadColor(String key, Color color)
      Sets the color used to paint an aspect of the form heading.
      Parameters:
      key - a valid form heading color key as defined in IFormColors. Relevant keys all start with an H_ prefix.
      color - the color to use for the provided key
      Since:
      3.3

    • getHeadColor

      public Color getHeadColor(String key)
      Returns the color that is currently use to paint an aspect of the form heading, or null if not defined.
      Parameters:
      key - the color key
      Returns:
      the color object or null if not set.
      Since:
      3.3

    • setMessage

      public void setMessage(String message)
      Sets the message for this form. Message text is rendered in the form head when shown.
      Parameters:
      message - the message, or null to clear the message
      Since:
      3.2
      See Also:

    • setMessage

      public void setMessage(String newMessage, int newType)
      Sets the message for this form with an indication of what type of message it is.

      The valid message types are one of NONE, INFORMATION,WARNING, or ERROR defined in IMessageProvider interface.

      Parameters:
      newMessage - the message, or null to clear the message
      newType - the message type
      Since:
      3.2
      See Also:

    • setMessage

      public void setMessage(String newMessage, int newType, IMessage[] children)
      Sets the message for this form with an indication of what type of message it is.

      The valid message types are one of NONE, INFORMATION,WARNING, or ERROR defined in IMessageProvider interface.

      In addition to the summary message, this method also sets an array of individual messages.

      Parameters:
      newMessage - the message, or null to clear the message
      newType - the message type
      children - the individual messages that contributed to the overall message
      Since:
      3.3
      See Also:

    • addMessageHyperlinkListener

      public void addMessageHyperlinkListener(IHyperlinkListener listener)
      Adds a message hyperlink listener. If at least one listener is present, messages will be rendered as hyperlinks.
      Parameters:
      listener - the listener to add; not null
      Since:
      3.3
      See Also:

    • removeMessageHyperlinkListener

      public void removeMessageHyperlinkListener(IHyperlinkListener listener)
      Remove the message hyperlink listener.
      Parameters:
      listener - the listener to remove; not null
      Since:
      3.3
      See Also:

    • isBusy

      public boolean isBusy()
      Tests if the form is in the 'busy' state. Busy form displays 'busy' animation in the area of the title image.
      Returns:
      true if busy, false otherwise.
      Since:
      3.2

    • setBusy

      public void setBusy(boolean busy)
      Sets the form's busy state. Busy form will display 'busy' animation in the area of the title image.
      Parameters:
      busy - the form's busy state
      Since:
      3.2

    • addTitleDragSupport

      public void addTitleDragSupport(int operations, Transfer[] transferTypes, DragSourceListener listener)
      Adds support for dragging items out of the form title area via a user drag-and-drop operation.
      Parameters:
      operations - a bitwise OR of the supported drag and drop operation types ( DROP_COPY,DROP_LINK, and DROP_MOVE)
      transferTypes - the transfer types that are supported by the drag operation
      listener - the callback that will be invoked to set the drag data and to cleanup after the drag and drop operation finishes
      Since:
      3.3
      See Also:

    • addTitleDropSupport

      public void addTitleDropSupport(int operations, Transfer[] transferTypes, DropTargetListener listener)
      Adds support for dropping items into the form title area via a user drag-and-drop operation.
      Parameters:
      operations - a bitwise OR of the supported drag and drop operation types ( DROP_COPY,DROP_LINK, and DROP_MOVE)
      transferTypes - the transfer types that are supported by the drop operation
      listener - the callback that will be invoked after the drag and drop operation finishes
      Since:
      3.3
      See Also:

    • getMessage

      public String getMessage()

    • getMessageType

      public int getMessageType()

    • getChildrenMessages

      public IMessage[] getChildrenMessages()
      Returns the children messages that the cause of the summary message currently set on the form.
      Returns:
      an array of children messages or null if not set.
      Since:
      3.3
      See Also:

    • getMessageManager

      public IMessageManager getMessageManager()
      Returns the message manager that will keep track of messages in this form.
      Returns:
      the message manager instance
      Since:
      org.eclipse.ui.forms 3.4