wxWidgets/docs/latex/wx/txrc.tex

\section{XML-based resource system overview}\label{xrcoverview}

Classes: \helpref{wxXmlResource}{wxxmlresource}, \helpref{wxXmlResourceHandler}{wxxmlresourcehandler}

{\bf IMPORTANT NOTE:} XRC is not yet a part of the core wxWindows library, so
please see the next section for how to compile and link it. Otherwise if you
try to use it, you will get link errors.

The XML-based resource system, known as XRC, allows user interface elements such as
dialogs, menu bars and toolbars, to be stored in text files and loaded into
the application at run-time. XRC files can also be compiled into binary XRS files or C++
code (the former makes it possible to store all resources in since file and the latter
is useful when you want to embed the resources into the executable).

There are several advantages to using XRC resources.

\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
\item Recompiling and linking an application is not necessary if the
resources change.
\item If you use a dialog designers that generates C++ code, it can be hard
to reintegrate this into existing C++ code. Separation of resources and code
is a more elegant solution.
\item You can choose between different alternative resource files at run time, if necessary.
\item The XRC format uses sizers for flexibility, allowing dialogs to be resizable
and highly portable.
\item The XRC format is a wxWindows standard,
and can be generated or postprocessed by any program that understands it. As it is based
on the XML standard, existing XML editors can be used for simple editing purposes.
\end{itemize}

XRC was written by Vaclav Slavik.

\subsection{Compiling and using XRC}\label{compilingxrc}

XRC can be found under the 'contrib' hierarchy, in the following directories:

\begin{verbatim}
  contrib/src/xrc           ; XRC source
  contrib/include/wx/xrc    ; XRC headers
  contrib/samples/xrc       ; XRC sample
  contrib/utils/wxrc        ; XRC resource compiler
  contrib/utils/wxrcedit    ; XRC editor (in progress)
\end{verbatim}

To compile XRC:

\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
\item Under Windows using VC++, open the contrib/src/xrc/XrcVC.dsw project
and compile. Also compile contrib/utils/wxrc using wxBase if you wish to compile
resource files.
\item Under Unix, XRC should be configured when you configured
wxWindows. Make XRC by changing directory to contrib/src/xrc and
type 'make'.  Similarly compile contrib/utils/wxrc using wxBase if you wish to compile
resource files. {\bf Note:} there is currently a
problem with the wxWindows build system that means that
only the static version of library can be built at present.
\end{itemize}

To use XRC:

\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
\item Under Windows using VC++, link with wxxrc[d].lib.
\item Under Unix, link with libwxxrc[d].a.
\end{itemize}

\subsection{XRC concepts}\label{xrcconcepts}

These are the typical steps for using XRC files in your application.

\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
\item Include the appropriate headers: normally "wx/xrc/xmlres.h" will suffice;
\item If you are going to use \helpref{XRS files}{binaryresourcefiles}, install
wxFileSystem ZIP handler first with {\tt wxFileSystem::AddHandler(new wxZipFSHandler);}
\item call {\tt wxXmlResource::Get()->InitAllHandlers()} from your wxApp::OnInit function,
and then call {\tt wxXmlResource::Get()->Load("myfile.xrc")} to load the resource file;
\item to create a dialog from a resource, create it using the default constructor, and then
load using for example {\tt wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadDialog(\&dlg, this, "dlg1");}
\item set up event tables as usual but use the {\tt XRCID(str)} macro to translate from XRC string names
to a suitable integer identifier, for example {\tt EVT\_MENU(XRCID("quit"), MyFrame::OnQuit)}.
\end{itemize}

To create an XRC file, use one of the following methods.

\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
\item Create the file by hand;
\item use \urlref{wxDesigner}{http://www.roebling.de}, a commercial dialog designer/RAD tool;
\item use \urlref{XRCed}{http://www.mema.ucl.ac.be/~rolinsky/xrced/}, a wxPython-based
dialog editor that you can find in the {\tt wxPython/tools} subdirectory of the wxWindows
CVS archive;
\item use \urlref{wxWorkshop}{http://wxworkshop.sourceforge.net} (under development);
\item use wxrcedit ({\tt utils/contrib/wxrcedit}) (under development);
\item convert WIN32 RC files to XRC with the tool in {\tt contrib/utils/convertrc}.
\end{itemize}

It is highly recommended that you use a tool such as wxDesigner, since it's fiddly writing
XRC files by hand.

You can use \helpref{wxXmlResource::Load}{wxxmlresourceload} in a number of ways.
You can pass an XRC file (XML-based text resource file)
or a \helpref{zip-compressed file}{binaryresourcefiles} (extension ZIP or XRS) containing other XRC.

You can also use \helpref{embedded C++ resources}{embeddedresource}

\subsection{Using binary resource files}\label{binaryresourcefiles}

To compile binary resource files, use the command-line wxrc utility. It takes one or more file parameters
(the input XRC files) and the following switches and options:
\begin{itemize}\itemsep=0pt
\item -h (--help): show a help message
\item -v (--verbose): show verbose logging information
\item -c (--cpp-code): write C++ source rather than a XRS file
\item -u (--uncompressed): do not compress XML files (C++ only)
\item -g (--gettext): output .po catalog (to stdout, or a file if -o is used)
\item -n (--function) <name>: specify C++ function name (use with -c)
\item -o (--output) <filename>: specify the output file, such as resource.xrs or resource.cpp
\item -l (--list-of-handlers) <filename>: output a list of necessary handlers to this file
\end{itemize}

For example:
\begin{verbatim}
  % wxrc resource.wrc
  % wxrc resource.wrc -o resource.wrs
  % wxrc resource.wrc -v -c -o resource.cpp
\end{verbatim}

\wxheading{Note}

XRS file is esentially a renamed ZIP archive which means that you can manipulate
it with standard ZIP tools. Note that if you are using XRS files, you have
to initialize \helpref{wxFileSystem}{wxfilesystem} ZIP handler first! It is a simple
thing to do:
\begin{verbatim}
  #include <wx/filesys.h>
  #include <wx/fs_zip.h>
  ...
  wxFileSystem::AddHandler(new wxZipFSHandler);
\end{verbatim}

\subsection{Using embedded resources}\label{embeddedresource}

It is sometimes useful to embed resources in the executable itself instead
of loading external file (e.g. when your app is small and consists only of one
exe file). XRC provides means to convert resources into regular C++ file that
can be compiled and included in the executable. 

Use the {\tt -c} switch to
{\tt wxrc} utility to produce C++ file with embedded resources. This file will
contain a function called {\it InitXmlResource} (unless you override this with
a command line switch). Use it to load the resource:
\begin{verbatim}
  wxXmlResource::Get()->InitAllHandlers();
  InitXmlResource();
  ...
\end{verbatim}

\subsection{XRC C++ sample}\label{xrccppsample}

This is the C++ source file (xrcdemo.cpp) for the XRC sample.

\begin{verbatim}
#include "wx/wx.h"
#include "wx/image.h"
#include "wx/xrc/xmlres.h"

// the application icon
#if defined(__WXGTK__) || defined(__WXMOTIF__) || defined(__WXMAC__)
    #include "rc/appicon.xpm"
#endif

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// private classes
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

// Define a new application type, each program should derive a class from wxApp
class MyApp : public wxApp
{
public:
    // override base class virtuals
    // ----------------------------

    // this one is called on application startup and is a good place for the app
    // initialization (doing it here and not in the ctor allows to have an error
    // return: if OnInit() returns false, the application terminates)
    virtual bool OnInit();
};

// Define a new frame type: this is going to be our main frame
class MyFrame : public wxFrame
{
public:
    // ctor(s)
    MyFrame(const wxString& title, const wxPoint& pos, const wxSize& size);

    // event handlers (these functions should _not_ be virtual)
    void OnQuit(wxCommandEvent& event);
    void OnAbout(wxCommandEvent& event);
    void OnDlg1(wxCommandEvent& event);
    void OnDlg2(wxCommandEvent& event);

private:
    // any class wishing to process wxWindows events must use this macro
    DECLARE_EVENT_TABLE()
};

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// event tables and other macros for wxWindows
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(MyFrame, wxFrame)
    EVT_MENU(XRCID("menu_quit"),  MyFrame::OnQuit)
    EVT_MENU(XRCID("menu_about"), MyFrame::OnAbout)
    EVT_MENU(XRCID("menu_dlg1"), MyFrame::OnDlg1)
    EVT_MENU(XRCID("menu_dlg2"), MyFrame::OnDlg2)
END_EVENT_TABLE()

IMPLEMENT_APP(MyApp)

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// the application class
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

// 'Main program' equivalent: the program execution "starts" here
bool MyApp::OnInit()
{
    wxImage::AddHandler(new wxGIFHandler);
    wxXmlResource::Get()->InitAllHandlers();
    wxXmlResource::Get()->Load("rc/resource.xrc");

    MyFrame *frame = new MyFrame("XML resources demo",
                                 wxPoint(50, 50), wxSize(450, 340));
    frame->Show(true);
    return true;
}

// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// main frame
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

// frame constructor
MyFrame::MyFrame(const wxString& title, const wxPoint& pos, const wxSize& size)
       : wxFrame((wxFrame *)NULL, -1, title, pos, size)
{
    SetIcon(wxICON(appicon));

    SetMenuBar(wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadMenuBar("mainmenu"));
    SetToolBar(wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadToolBar(this, "toolbar"));
}

// event handlers
void MyFrame::OnQuit(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
{
    // true is to force the frame to close
    Close(true);
}

void MyFrame::OnAbout(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
{
    wxString msg;
    msg.Printf( _T("This is the about dialog of XML resources demo.\n")
                _T("Welcome to %s"), wxVERSION_STRING);

    wxMessageBox(msg, "About XML resources demo", wxOK | wxICON_INFORMATION, this);
}

void MyFrame::OnDlg1(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
{
    wxDialog dlg;
    wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadDialog(&dlg, this, "dlg1");
    dlg.ShowModal();
}

void MyFrame::OnDlg2(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
{
    wxDialog dlg;
    wxXmlResource::Get()->LoadDialog(&dlg, this, "dlg2");
    dlg.ShowModal();
}
\end{verbatim}

\subsection{XRC resource file sample}\label{xrcsample}

This is the XML file (resource.xrc) for the XRC sample.

\begin{verbatim}
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<resource version="2.3.0.1">
  <object class="wxMenuBar" name="mainmenu">
    <style>wxMB_DOCKABLE</style>
    <object class="wxMenu" name="menu_file">
      <label>_File</label>
      <style>wxMENU_TEAROFF</style>
      <object class="wxMenuItem" name="menu_about">
        <label>_About...</label>
        <bitmap>filesave.gif</bitmap>
      </object>
      <object class="separator"/>
      <object class="wxMenuItem" name="menu_dlg1">
        <label>Dialog 1</label>
      </object>
      <object class="wxMenuItem" name="menu_dlg2">
        <label>Dialog 2</label>
      </object>
      <object class="separator"/>
      <object class="wxMenuItem" name="menu_quit">
        <label>E_xit\tAlt-X</label>
      </object>
    </object>
  </object>
  <object class="wxToolBar" name="toolbar">
    <style>wxTB_FLAT|wxTB_DOCKABLE</style>
    <margins>2,2</margins>
    <object class="tool" name="menu_open">
      <bitmap>fileopen.gif</bitmap>
      <tooltip>Open catalog</tooltip>
    </object>
    <object class="tool" name="menu_save">
      <bitmap>filesave.gif</bitmap>
      <tooltip>Save catalog</tooltip>
    </object>
    <object class="tool" name="menu_update">
      <bitmap>update.gif</bitmap>
      <tooltip>Update catalog - synchronize it with sources</tooltip>
    </object>
    <separator/>
    <object class="tool" name="menu_quotes">
      <bitmap>quotes.gif</bitmap>
      <toggle>1</toggle>
      <tooltip>Display quotes around the string?</tooltip>
    </object>
    <object class="separator"/>
    <object class="tool" name="menu_fuzzy">
      <bitmap>fuzzy.gif</bitmap>
      <tooltip>Toggled if selected string is fuzzy translation</tooltip>
      <toggle>1</toggle>
    </object>
  </object>
  <object class="wxDialog" name="dlg1">
    <object class="wxBoxSizer">
      <object class="sizeritem">
        <object class="wxBitmapButton">
          <bitmap>fuzzy.gif</bitmap>
          <focus>fileopen.gif</focus>
        </object>
      </object>
      <object class="sizeritem">
        <object class="wxPanel">
          <object class="wxStaticText">
            <label>fdgdfgdfgdfg</label>
          </object>
          <style>wxSUNKEN_BORDER</style>
        </object>
        <flag>wxALIGN_CENTER</flag>
      </object>
      <object class="sizeritem">
        <object class="wxButton">
          <label>Buttonek</label>
        </object>
        <border>10d</border>
        <flag>wxALL</flag>
      </object>
      <object class="sizeritem">
        <object class="wxHtmlWindow">
          <htmlcode>&lt;h1&gt;Hi,&lt;/h1&gt;man</htmlcode>
          <size>100,45d</size>
        </object>
      </object>
      <object class="sizeritem">
        <object class="wxNotebook">
          <object class="notebookpage">
            <object class="wxPanel">
              <object class="wxBoxSizer">
                <object class="sizeritem">
                  <object class="wxHtmlWindow">
                    <htmlcode>Hello, we are inside a &lt;u&gt;NOTEBOOK&lt;/u&gt;...</htmlcode>
                    <size>50,50d</size>
                  </object>
                  <option>1</option>
                </object>
              </object>
            </object>
            <label>Page</label>
          </object>
          <object class="notebookpage">
            <object class="wxPanel">
              <object class="wxBoxSizer">
                <object class="sizeritem">
                  <object class="wxHtmlWindow">
                    <htmlcode>Hello, we are inside a &lt;u&gt;NOTEBOOK&lt;/u&gt;...</htmlcode>
                    <size>50,50d</size>
                  </object>
                </object>
              </object>
            </object>
            <label>Page 2</label>
          </object>
          <usenotebooksizer>1</usenotebooksizer>
        </object>
        <flag>wxEXPAND</flag>
      </object>
      <orient>wxVERTICAL</orient>
    </object>
  </object>
  <object class="wxDialog" name="dlg2">
    <object class="wxBoxSizer">
      <orient>wxVERTICAL</orient>
      <object class="sizeritem" name="dfgdfg">
        <object class="wxTextCtrl">
          <size>200,200d</size>
          <style>wxTE_MULTILINE|wxSUNKEN_BORDER</style>
          <value>Hello, this is an ordinary multiline\n         textctrl....</value>
        </object>
        <option>1</option>
        <flag>wxEXPAND|wxALL</flag>
        <border>10</border>
      </object>
      <object class="sizeritem">
        <object class="wxBoxSizer">
          <object class="sizeritem">
            <object class="wxButton" name="wxID_OK">
              <label>Ok</label>
              <default>1</default>
            </object>
          </object>
          <object class="sizeritem">
            <object class="wxButton" name="wxID_CANCEL">
              <label>Cancel</label>
            </object>
            <border>10</border>
            <flag>wxLEFT</flag>
          </object>
        </object>
        <flag>wxLEFT|wxRIGHT|wxBOTTOM|wxALIGN_RIGHT</flag>
        <border>10</border>
      </object>
    </object>
    <title>Second testing dialog</title>
  </object>
</resource>
\end{verbatim}

\subsection{XRC file format}\label{xrcfileformat}

Please see Technical Note 14 (docs/tech/tn0014.txt) in your wxWindows
distribution.

\subsection{Adding new resource handlers}\label{newresourcehandlers}

Coming soon.