Common Desktop Environment: Application Builder User's Guide

Grouping Objects

A group is a collection of objects that can be treated as a unit. Once the objects in a group are positioned as desired, the group can be moved, maintaining the relative positioning of the individual objects. Because groups use dynamic layout for positioning objects, spacing and alignment in the group are maintained if any of the objects in the group change size.

See "Group Property Editor" for a description of the editor and each of its elements.

To Create a Group

Select the control objects you want to be part of the group.

You can select the objects either in the interface or the Module Browser, and you can select the objects in whatever manner is most convenient. See "To Select Control Objects in the Interface or the Browser " for instructions.

Choose Group from the Layout menu or the pop-up menu (displayed by pressing mouse button 3 with the cursor in the window interface or in the Module Browser).

A rectangular box will be drawn around the group in the interface, indicating that the group is selected. Note that Ungroup is active in the Layout and pop-up menus; this is only true when a group is selected.

A new object will be displayed and selected in the Module Browser--an object called "group" (or "group2," and so on, if other groups exist in the module). The group object is the parent of the objects that comprise the group. Group members cannot be moved independently. Any attempt to move an object in a group will cause the entire group to move.

To Edit Group Properties

Group properties, including horizontal or vertical alignment and spacing between objects, are set in the Group Property Editor.

Double-click the group in the interface or in the Module Browser.

The group will be selected in the Revolving Property Editor. In the interface you will have to click in the space between group members to select the group.

Alternatively, you can display the Group Property Editor by choosing Groups from the Editors menu of the primary window. Choosing Groups from the Editors menu is the same as clicking Tear-off in the Revolving Property Editor with Group chosen as Object Type.

Select the group to be edited from the Group Objects list, if necessary.

Type a new name for the group, if necessary.

Choose a border frame style if you want the group to have a border in the completed interface (no border is the default).

Border frame style choices are shadow out, shadow in, etched out, etched in, and none.

Select a Layout Type.

Choices are as-is, vertical, horizontal, and row-column.

Depending on what you select, either the Vert Alignment or Horiz Alignment option menu, or both, will be active. If you select rows-columns, the Rows and Columns radio buttons will be active, also.

Designate the number of Rows or Columns (if row-column layout was selected).

The number of columns will be determined automatically if you designate the number of rows, and the number of rows will be determined automatically if you designate the number of columns.

Choose a vertical alignment (if either vertical alignment or row-column layout type was chosen).

The choices are align on left edge of objects (the default), align on colons/labels, align on middle of objects, or align on right edge of objects.

Designate vertical spacing (if either vertical alignment or row-column layout type was chosen).

The absolute values are in pixels; 10 is the default.

Choose a horizontal alignment (if either horizontal alignment or row-column layout type was chosen).

The choices are align on top edge of objects (the default), align on middle of objects, or align on bottom edge of objects.

Designate horizontal spacing (if either horizontal alignment or row-column layout type was chosen).

The absolute values are in pixels; 10 is the default.

Deselect Visible if you do not want the objects in the group to be visible when the application is opened.

Deselect Active if you do not want the objects in the group to be active when the application is opened.

Click OK or Apply to apply the changes.

The Revolving Property Editor or Group Property Editor will be dismissed if you click OK.

To Ungroup Objects in an Interface

Select the group in the Module Browser or in the interface.

In the interface, click between objects in a group to select the group. You will know the group is selected if a box appears around two or more objects.

If you can't select a group in the interface or if you want to be sure to select the right group in an interface with many groups, open the Module Browser. Groups are shown in the Module Browser by name of group; if you select the group in the Module Browser, it is also selected in the interface.

Choose Ungroup from the Layout menu or the interface pop-up menu (displayed by pressing mouse button 3 in an interface window).

The objects are no longer part of the group. You can now select any of the objects and move it independently of the other objects.

To Create a Border Around an Object

The group function can be used to create a border around an individual object, such as a label.

Select the object in the interface.

Choose Group from the Layout menu or the interface pop-up menu.

The object will be part of a group.

Display the Group Property Editor.

Select the group you want to put a border around.

If you double-click the group in the Module Browser, the Group Property Editor will be displayed, with the group selected.

Choose the Border Frame style you want to add to the object.

Click OK to apply the change and dismiss the Group Property Editor.