GUI and Interaction Messages Manual

About

Communication between different parts of the Cinema 4D GUI happens through multiple messages. These messages are sent to GeDialog and GeUserArea elements:

Messages are represented by BaseContainer objects that store the parameters of the message. The ID of the message is typically the ID of the BaseContainer (BaseContainer::GetId()). See BaseContainer Manual.

For details on GeDialog and GeUserArea see GeDialog Manual and GeUserArea Manual.

// This example catches a message to set the cursor when the mouse is over the user area.
{
// messages are identified by the BaseContainer ID
switch (msg.GetId())
{
{
result.SetString(RESULT_BUBBLEHELP, "This is an example GeUserArea"_s);
return true;
}
}
}
Definition: c4d_basecontainer.h:48
virtual Int32 Message(const BaseContainer &msg, BaseContainer &result)
PyObject PyObject * result
Definition: abstract.h:43
maxon::Int32 Int32
Definition: ge_sys_math.h:56
@ BFM_GETCURSORINFO
Definition: gui.h:560
@ RESULT_BUBBLEHELP
String Bubble help text.
Definition: gui.h:564
@ RESULT_CURSOR
Int32 Mouse cursor: MOUSE
Definition: gui.h:563
static const Int32 MOUSE_POINT_HAND
Point hand cursor.
Definition: ge_prepass.h:2711
const char const char * msg
Definition: object.h:438

Message Redirection

All message are first sent to the object's "Message" function (GeDialog::Message(), GeUserArea::Message()). If the messages are not handled in the implementation of the "Message" function they will be also handled in the base-class. Certain messages are re-directed to dedicated functions.

GeDialog

Several messages sent to a GeDialog will invoke these member functions:

MessageFunction
BFM_INITGeDialog::CreateLayout()
BFM_DESTROYGeDialog::DestroyWindow()
BFM_INITVALUESGeDialog::InitValues()
BFM_SYNC_MESSAGEGeDialog::CoreMessage()
BFM_CORE_MESSAGEGeDialog::CoreMessage()
BFM_ACTIONGeDialog::Command()
BFM_CHECKCLOSEGeDialog::AskClose()
BFM_TIMER_MESSAGEGeDialog::Timer()

GeUserArea

Several messages sent to a GeUserArea will invoke these member functions:

MessageFunction
BFM_INITGeUserArea::Init()
BFM_INITVALUESGeUserArea::InitValues()
BFM_CALCSIZEGeUserArea::GetMinSize()
BFM_SIZEDGeUserArea::Sized()
BFM_DRAWGeUserArea::DrawMsg()
BFM_INPUTGeUserArea::InputEvent()
BFM_TIMER_MESSAGEGeUserArea::Timer()
BFM_SYNC_MESSAGEGeUserArea::CoreMessage()
BFM_CORE_MESSAGEGeUserArea::CoreMessage()

Return Values

Messages can be sent to receive information from the target element. In some cases the message must explicitly state that it requests a result.

// This example in a GeDialog requests the cursor position from a text edit field.
// prepare message
message.SetBool(BFM_REQUIRESRESULT, true);
// send message
const GeData res = this->SendMessage(3000, message);
// get position
const Int32 pos = res.GetInt32();
Definition: c4d_gedata.h:83
static String IntToString(Int32 v)
Definition: c4d_string.h:497
void Py_ssize_t * pos
Definition: dictobject.h:50
const char * message
Definition: pyerrors.h:189
Py_UCS4 * res
Definition: unicodeobject.h:1113
@ BFM_REQUIRESRESULT
Set to true in the passed container for GeDialog::SendMessage to return a value from the message.
Definition: gui.h:1031
@ BFM_EDITFIELD_GETCURSORPOS
Int32 Return the cursor position in an edit field.
Definition: gui.h:992
#define ApplicationOutput(formatString,...)
Definition: debugdiagnostics.h:204

User Interaction

Cursor

When the mouse cursor is moved over a GeDialog or GeUserArea a message is sent to these elements. The reaction to this message allows to define the cursor and some help text.

  • BFM_GETCURSORINFO: Message is sent to a GUI element when the cursor is moved over it.

The parameters of the message are:

Note
The message BFM_GETCURSORINFO also contains BFM_DRAG_SCREENX and BFM_DRAG_SCREENY.
// This example sets the cursor when the mouse is over the current GUI element.
{
result.SetString(RESULT_BUBBLEHELP_TITLE, "Bubblehelp Title"_s);
result.SetString(RESULT_BUBBLEHELP, "This is the bubble help text."_s);
return true;
}
@ RESULT_BUBBLEHELP_TITLE
String Bubble help text title. Printed in bold for the bubble help, not visible in the status bar.
Definition: gui.h:574

Compare also ToolData::GetCursorInfo(), SceneHookData::GetCursorInfo(), etc.

The message BFM_CURSORINFO_REMOVE can be sent by a custom callback function to inform a user area that the cursor has left the area:

// This example user area registers a callback function with RemoveLastCursorInfo().
// This function is called when the cursor leaves the user area. It is used to send the
// message BFM_CURSORINFO_REMOVE back to the user area to inform it about the event.
// declarations
static void RemoveCursorInfo();
class RemoveCursorUserArea;
static RemoveCursorUserArea* g_userArea = nullptr; // static variable storing pointer to a user area
// user area will display a different color depending if the cursor is over the area or not
class RemoveCursorUserArea : public GeUserArea
{
public:
RemoveCursorUserArea()
{
if (g_userArea == this)
g_userArea = nullptr;
};
~RemoveCursorUserArea() { };
{
// messages are identified by the BaseContainer ID
switch (msg.GetId())
{
{
// register RemoveCursorInfo() callback
g_userArea = this;
RemoveLastCursorInfo(RemoveCursorInfo);
_cursorInside = true;
Redraw();
return true;
}
{
// message "BFM_CURSORINFO_REMOVE" sent by RemoveCursorInfo()
_cursorInside = false;
Redraw();
break;
}
}
}
void DrawMsg(Int32 x1, Int32 y1, Int32 x2, Int32 y2, const BaseContainer& msg)
{
SetClippingRegion(x1, y1, x2, y2);
// gadget color is controlled by the cursor position
if (_cursorInside)
DrawSetPen(Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0));
else
DrawSetPen(Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0));
DrawRectangle(x1, y1, x2, y2);
}
private:
Bool _cursorInside = false; // set to true if the cursor is over the user area
};
// function will be called by the user area when the cursor left its area
static void RemoveCursorInfo()
{
if (g_userArea == nullptr)
return;
// send message to the user area
g_userArea->Message(BaseContainer(BFM_CURSORINFO_REMOVE), bc);
}
Bool RemoveLastCursorInfo(LASTCURSORINFOFUNC func)
Definition: c4d_gui.h:172
virtual void DrawMsg(Int32 x1, Int32 y1, Int32 x2, Int32 y2, const BaseContainer &msg)
void Redraw(Bool threaded=false)
void DrawSetPen(const Vector &color)
void DrawRectangle(Int32 x1, Int32 y1, Int32 x2, Int32 y2)
void SetClippingRegion(Int32 x, Int32 y, Int32 w, Int32 h)
Bool OffScreenOn()
maxon::Vec3< maxon::Float64, 1 > Vector
Definition: ge_math.h:141
maxon::Bool Bool
Definition: ge_sys_math.h:51
@ BFM_CURSORINFO_REMOVE
Sent when mouse cursor has left a user area.
Definition: gui.h:576

Focus

A GeDialog or GeUserArea is informed when it receives or looses the focus:

// This example catches focus related messages in GeDialog::Message().
// Depending on the focus, a gadget is enabled or disabled.
{
Enable(1000, true);
break;
}
{
Enable(1000, false);
break;
}
@ BFM_LOSTFOCUS
Item lost the focus.
Definition: gui.h:643
@ BFM_GOTFOCUS
Item got the focus.
Definition: gui.h:642

Close Dialog

A GeDialog is informed when it is about to be closed. One has to return false if it is safe to close the dialog.

GeDialog Gadget Interaction

A GeDialog is informed when any kind of interaction with some hosted gadget starts or ends:

Note
These messages are useful to stop threads that work on the scene or to create undo steps. See Undo System Manual.
// This example catches two messages in GeDialog::Message()
// to check if any interaction with a gadget started or ended.
{
ApplicationOutput("Interaction start"_s);
break;
}
{
ApplicationOutput("Interaction end"_s);
break;
}
@ BFM_INTERACTSTART
Definition: gui.h:924
@ BFM_INTERACTEND
Sent when user interaction ends.
Definition: gui.h:943

When a gadget or custom GUI element is changed by the user it sends the message BFM_ACTION to the parent dialog.

The parameters of the message are:

// This example sends the BFM_ACTION message from a GeUserArea to the parent GUI element.
// This message can be caught in GeDialog::Message() or GeDialog::Command().
action.SetInt32(BFM_ACTION_ID, GetId());
SendParentMessage(action);
@ BFM_ACTION_ID
Int32 ID of the dialog element that triggered the action.
Definition: gui.h:745
@ BFM_ACTION
One of the child elements made any action:
Definition: gui.h:744
// This example sends a message from a GeDialog (iCustomGui)
// to the parent GeDialog to inform about change of stored value.
// construct the message
message.SetInt32(BFM_ACTION_ID, GetId());
message.SetData(BFM_ACTION_VALUE, _value);
// send the message
SendParentMessage(message);
@ BFM_ACTION_VALUE
GeData Action value.
Definition: gui.h:746
// This example catches an interaction with an edit number field in GeDialog::Command().
// If the user clicked with the right mouse button on the number field's arrows,
// the value BFM_ACTION_RESET is set.
if (id == ID_EDIT_NUMBER)
{
if (msg.GetBool(BFM_ACTION_RESET))
{
// right click on the number field's arrows
// set the value to a pre-defined default value
const Float defaultValue = 0.5;
SetPercent(ID_EDIT_NUMBER, defaultValue, 0.0, 100.0, 1.0);
}
else
{
// just pass through the given value
const Float value = msg.GetFloat(BFM_ACTION_VALUE);
SetPercent(ID_EDIT_NUMBER, value, 0.0, 100.0, 1.0);
}
}
PyObject * value
Definition: abstract.h:715
maxon::Float Float
Definition: ge_sys_math.h:62
@ BFM_ACTION_RESET
Bool Reset to default value on right-click of input field arrows.
Definition: gui.h:751

Mouse and Keyboard Interaction

Both GeDialog and GeUserArea are informed on keyboard and mouse user interaction events.

The parameters of the message are:

// This example checks in GeUserArea::InputEvent() if the right mouse button was pressed.
const Int32 device = msg.GetInt32(BFM_INPUT_DEVICE);
const Int32 channel = msg.GetInt32(BFM_INPUT_CHANNEL);
// check if this is a mouse event triggered by the right mouse button
const Bool deviceIsMouse = device == BFM_INPUT_MOUSE;
const Bool channelIsRight = channel == BFM_INPUT_MOUSERIGHT;
if (deviceIsMouse && channelIsRight)
{
ApplicationOutput("Right mouse button pressed.");
const Int32 qualifier = msg.GetInt32(BFM_INPUT_QUALIFIER);
if (qualifier & QCTRL)
ApplicationOutput("Right mouse button with CTRL pressed.");
return true;
}
@ BFM_INPUT_MOUSE
Mouse.
Definition: gui.h:710
@ BFM_INPUT_QUALIFIER
Int32 A bit mask with the qualifiers at the time when the event occurred: QUALIFIER
Definition: gui.h:707
@ BFM_INPUT_CHANNEL
Int32 Contains the key or mouse button. See also KEY.
Definition: gui.h:714
@ BFM_INPUT_DEVICE
Int32 Device:
Definition: gui.h:709
@ BFM_INPUT_MOUSERIGHT
Right mouse button.
Definition: gui.h:716
@ QCTRL
Definition: gui.h:41

The input from keyboard interactions is either a character or some special key:

// This example catches keyboard events in GeUserArea::InputEvent().
const Int32 device = msg.GetInt32(BFM_INPUT_DEVICE);
if (device == BFM_INPUT_KEYBOARD)
{
const Int32 channel = msg.GetInt32(BFM_INPUT_CHANNEL);
if (channel == KEY_ENTER)
ApplicationOutput("Enter!");
const String key = msg.GetString(BFM_INPUT_ASC);
// check if the String contains any content
if (key.IsPopulated())
ApplicationOutput("Key: " + key);
return true;
}
PyObject * key
Definition: abstract.h:289
Definition: c4d_string.h:41
@ BFM_INPUT_KEYBOARD
Keyboard.
Definition: gui.h:711
@ BFM_INPUT_ASC
String Contains the Unicode input from keyboard.
Definition: gui.h:712
@ KEY_ENTER
Definition: gui.h:70

Further details on the event are stored in these parameters:

// This example handles some mouse interaction in GeUserArea::InputEvent().
// get device and channel
const Int32 device = msg.GetInt32(BFM_INPUT_DEVICE);
const Int32 channel = msg.GetInt32(BFM_INPUT_CHANNEL);
// check if this is a mouse event triggered by the left mouse button
const Bool deviceIsMouse = device == BFM_INPUT_MOUSE;
const Bool channelIsLeft = channel == BFM_INPUT_MOUSELEFT;
if (deviceIsMouse && channelIsLeft)
{
// check if double click
if (msg.GetBool(BFM_INPUT_DOUBLECLICK))
{
// get the cursor position
Int32 mx = msg.GetInt32(BFM_INPUT_X);
Int32 my = msg.GetInt32(BFM_INPUT_Y);
Global2Local(&mx, &my);
ApplicationOutput("Double click at " + String::IntToString(mx) + " - " + String::IntToString(my));
return true;
}
}
@ BFM_INPUT_MOUSELEFT
Left mouse button.
Definition: gui.h:715
@ BFM_INPUT_Y
Float Y value.
Definition: gui.h:727
@ BFM_INPUT_DOUBLECLICK
Bool Double click.
Definition: gui.h:739
@ BFM_INPUT_X
Float X value.
Definition: gui.h:726

Drag and Drop

Both GeDialog and GeUserArea are informed on drag and drop operations onto their area:

The parameters of the message are:

Different types of elements can be dragged:

See also Drag and Drop and Drag and Drop.

// This example receives a drag & drop message in GeUserArea::Message().
// If the dragged element is a command (from the "Customize Commands" dialog),
// the command is executed.
{
// check drag area
if (!CheckDropArea(msg, true, true))
break;
void* data = nullptr;
// get the drag data
if (!GetDragObject(msg, &type, &data))
return false;
{
// check if the drag has finished
if (msg.GetInt32(BFM_DRAG_FINISHED))
{
// end of drag
// get command ID and execute the command
const Int32 ID = msg.GetInt32(BFM_DRAG_DATA_NEW);
return true;
}
else
{
// while in drag show cursor with question mark
return SetDragDestination(MOUSE_QUESTION);
}
}
return false;
}
void StopAllThreads()
void CallCommand(Int32 id, Int32 subid=0)
@ BFM_DRAG_FINISHED
Bool Drag finished.
Definition: gui.h:795
@ BFM_DRAG_DATA_NEW
ANY Internal drag data.
Definition: gui.h:799
@ DRAGTYPE_COMMAND
Destination drag for command.
Definition: gui.h:779
@ BFM_DRAGRECEIVE
Drag receive. (See DragAndDrop.)
Definition: gui.h:772
static const Int32 MOUSE_QUESTION
Question cursor.
Definition: ge_prepass.h:2697
PyObject ** type
Definition: pycore_pyerrors.h:34

Description Notifications

A custom GUI element can be used to display a parameter of a NodeData based plugin the in the Attribute Manager. It is possible to send a message from the custom GUI to that NodeData based plugin. This can be used to inform the plugin on what internal data specificity was changed.

See also Attribute Manager Interaction.

// This example shows some part of a custom GUI that has a color picker that defines
// the color of some of it's elements. When this color is changed a message is sent
// to the host NodeData based plugin (assuming that the custom GUI is used by the
// Attribute Manager to display a parameter).
// Update GUI
this->InitValues();
// get the current color
Vector color;
Float brightness;
GetColorField(COLOR_ID, color, brightness);
// store message data
BaseContainer messageContent;
messageContent.SetVector(MSG_DESCRIPTION_COLORSTRING_COLOR, color);
// prepare message
message.SetInt32(BFM_ACTION_ID, GetId());
message.SetInt32(BFM_ACTION_VALUE, MSG_DESCRIPTION_COLORSTRING_COLORCHANGE);
message.SetInt32(MSG_DESCRIPTION_CUSTOMGUI_NOTIFICATION_ID, ID_CUSTOMGUI_COLORSTRING);
// send message
SendParentMessage(message);
void SetVector(Int32 id, const Vector &v)
Definition: c4d_basecontainer.h:637
#define MSG_DESCRIPTION_CUSTOMGUI_NOTIFICATION_ID
The custom GUI ID in the message container for MSG_DESCRIPTION_CUSTOMGUI_NOTIFICATION.
Definition: c4d_baselist.h:426
#define MSG_DESCRIPTION_CUSTOMGUI_NOTIFICATION_CONTENT
The used data in the message container for MSG_DESCRIPTION_CUSTOMGUI_NOTIFICATION.
Definition: c4d_baselist.h:427
#define MSG_DESCRIPTION_CUSTOMGUI_NOTIFICATION
Sent by a custom GUI to the parent. The corresponding data is DescriptionCustomGuiNotification.
Definition: c4d_baselist.h:425

Layout Messages

Layout Change

A GeUserArea can inform the parent dialog when it changed its size:

A GeDialog can be part of a layout and is created when that layout is loaded. To restore a given state of that GeDialog, internal data of that dialog must be stored with the layout. This internal data is received and reset using these messages:

Note
Typically the group weights are stored here. See Weights.
// This example catches two layout messages in GeDialog::Message().
// The messages are sent when the layout is saved to a file or when it is loaded from a file.
{
// store custom data
result.SetInt32(1000, 123);
return true;
}
{
const BaseContainer* bc = msg.GetContainerInstance(BFM_LAYOUT_SETDATA);
if (bc)
{
const Int32 custom = bc->GetInt32(1000);
ApplicationOutput("Got custom data: " + String::IntToString(custom));
return true;
}
break;
}
Int32 GetInt32(Int32 id, Int32 preset=0) const
Definition: c4d_basecontainer.h:348
@ BFM_LAYOUT_SETDATA
Receive the container saved with BFM_LAYOUT_GETDATA when loading a layout.
Definition: gui.h:984
@ BFM_LAYOUT_GETDATA
Definition: gui.h:982

Weights

A GeDialog defines its layout using groups with multiple columns/rows. The weights of a group define the relative scale of these columns/rows. When the user changes the scale a message is sent to the GeDialog:

  • BFM_WEIGHTS_CHANGED: Sent when group weights changed. The group ID is stored with this message ID.

See also GeDialog Groups.

// This example catches in GeDialog::Message() the event when the weights
// of a group are changed. The current weights are stored in a BaseContainer.
// When the layout is saved the weights are stored as custom layout data.
// save the weights
{
GroupWeightsSave(WEIGHT_GROUP, _weights);
break;
}
// store the weights
{
result.SetContainer(10000, _weights);
return true;
}
// restore the weights
{
const BaseContainer* bc = msg.GetContainerInstance(BFM_LAYOUT_SETDATA);
if (bc)
{
// access the sub-container with the ID 10000
const BaseContainer* const weightsContainer = bc->GetContainerInstance(10000);
if (weightsContainer)
_weights = *weightsContainer;
GroupWeightsLoad(WEIGHT_GROUP, _weights);
return true;
}
break;
}
const BaseContainer * GetContainerInstance(Int32 id) const
Definition: c4d_basecontainer.h:478
@ BFM_WEIGHTS_CHANGED
Group weights changed. The group ID is returned.
Definition: gui.h:988

Fading

A GeUserArea can support a dynamic fading effect. After GeUserArea::ActivateFading() was called, Cinema 4D sends the BFM_FADE message to the user area for the duration of the fading operation.

See Drawing Operations.

// This example shows a GeUserArea that is "fading".
// When the cursor is over the user area the fading is activated.
// Cinema 4D will then send the message BFM_FADE to the user area so
// it can interpolate a color and use this color to redraw itself.
class FadingUserArea : public GeUserArea
{
public:
FadingUserArea() { };
~FadingUserArea() { };
{
// messages are identified by the BaseContainer ID
switch (msg.GetId())
{
{
// cursor is over the user area
// start fading
return true;
}
case BFM_FADE:
{
// receive fade message and update the COLOR_BG used in DrawMsg()
const Float percentage = msg.GetFloat(BFM_FADE);
// redraw using the updated COLOR_BG
Redraw();
return true;
}
}
}
void DrawMsg(Int32 x1, Int32 y1, Int32 x2, Int32 y2, const BaseContainer& msg)
{
SetClippingRegion(x1, y1, x2, y2);
// draw background with COLOR_BG
DrawRectangle(x1, y1, x2, y2);
// draw text
DrawText("User Area"_s, 0, 0, DRAWTEXT_HALIGN_LEFT);
}
};
@ COLOR_BG_HIGHLIGHT
Definition: c4d_colors.h:329
@ COLOR_TRANS
Definition: c4d_colors.h:14
@ COLOR_CONSOLE_TEXT
Definition: c4d_colors.h:94
@ COLOR_BG
Definition: c4d_colors.h:16
void DrawSetFont(Int32 fontid)
void AdjustColor(Int32 colorid, Int32 highlightid, Float percent)
void ActivateFading(Int32 milliseconds)
void DrawText(const maxon::String &txt, Int32 x, Int32 y, Int32 flags=(0|(0<< 4)))
void DrawSetTextCol(Int32 fg, Int32 bg)
@ BFM_FADE
Definition: gui.h:1007
#define DRAWTEXT_HALIGN_LEFT
Align to the left.
Definition: c4d_gui.h:189
@ FONT_MONOSPACED
Monospaced font.
Definition: gui.h:26

Draw

The message BFM_DRAW is sent to a GeUserArea to draw into the Cinema 4D GUI. The message will call GeUserArea::DrawMsg().

The clipping dimensions are stored in these parameters:

The draw reason is also stored:

// This example in GeUserArea::DrawMsg() skips the redraw if only the focus has changed.
const Int32 reason = msg.GetInt32(BFM_DRAW_REASON);
// check if DrawMsg() was called because the focus changed
const Bool reasonGotFocus = reason == BFM_GOTFOCUS;
const Bool reasonLostFocurs = reason == BFM_LOSTFOCUS;
if (reasonGotFocus || reasonLostFocurs)
return;
wchar_t size_t const char ** reason
Definition: fileutils.h:23
@ BFM_DRAW_REASON
BaseContainer Message which started the redraw.
Definition: gui.h:587

Visibility

Dialogs and user areas are informed when they become visible:

  • BFM_VISIBLE_ON: Sent when the element comes to front after tabbing invisible.
  • BFM_VISIBLE_OFF: Sent when the element went back (another tab becomes visible).

Specific GUI Elements

Some messages can only be sent to specific elements or are only sent by specific elements.

Text Edit Fields

Text edit field messages:

// This example sets the string of a text edit gadget that is part of a GeDialog.
// Then a message is sent to the gadget to set the cursor position.
// set the text of the edit field.
const String text { "Hello World" };
SetString(ID_TEXTEDIT, text);
// sets the cursor to the end of the new text
bc.SetInt32(1, (Int32)text.GetLength());
SendMessage(ID_TEXTEDIT, bc);
// set focus
Activate(ID_TEXTEDIT);
void SetInt32(Int32 id, Int32 l)
Definition: c4d_basecontainer.h:587
@ BFM_EDITFIELD_SETCURSORPOS
Definition: gui.h:994
PyObject * text
Definition: pycore_traceback.h:70

Multi-line edit fields messages:

Messages to access the internally stored undo stack of a multi-line edit field:

It is also possible to send messages from the IDM list to the multi-line edit field.

// This example GeDialog includes a multi-line edit field and two buttons.
// The two buttons can be used to send "Undo" and "Redo" commands to the
// multi-line field. The buttons are enabled or disabled depending on the
// undo stack of the field.
Bool CreateLayout()
{
SetTitle("Simple Script Manager"_s);
// add a multi line text field
AddMultiLineEditText(ID_MULTILINE_EDIT, BFH_SCALEFIT, 0, 200, style);
// set some python code
SetString(ID_MULTILINE_EDIT, "import c4d\n\nprint(\"hello world\")\n"_s);
// add two buttons for "Undo" and "Redo"
AddButton(ID_UNDO_BUTTON, BFH_SCALEFIT, 0, 10, "Undo"_s);
AddButton(ID_REDO_BUTTON, BFH_SCALEFIT, 0, 10, "Redo"_s);
// use a timer to check the undo stack of the text field
this->SetTimer(250);
return true;
}
Bool Command(Int32 id, const BaseContainer& msg)
{
if (id == ID_UNDO_BUTTON)
{
// when "Undo" button was pressed, send IDM_UNDO
// to the multi line text field
SendMessage(ID_MULTILINE_EDIT, BaseContainer(IDM_UNDO));
CheckUndoState();
}
if (id == ID_REDO_BUTTON)
{
// when "Redo" button was pressed, send IDM_REDO
// to the multi line text field
SendMessage(ID_MULTILINE_EDIT, BaseContainer(IDM_REDO));
CheckUndoState();
}
return GeDialog::Command(id, msg);
}
void Timer(const BaseContainer& msg)
{
CheckUndoState();
}
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Checks the current undo stack of the multi-line edit text.
// Depending on the stack the "Undo" and "Redo" buttons are enabled.
// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
void CheckUndoState()
{
// send message to get data
getUndoLevelMsg.SetBool(BFM_REQUIRESRESULT, true);
const GeData res = SendMessage(ID_MULTILINE_EDIT, getUndoLevelMsg);
// check if the message result is a BaseContainer
if (res.GetType() == DA_CONTAINER)
{
const BaseContainer* stat = res.GetContainer();
if (stat)
{
// get undo stack size and current level
const Int32 undoStackCount = stat->GetInt32(BFM_EDITFIELD_UNDOSTAT_COUNT);
const Int32 currentLevel = stat->GetInt32(BFM_EDITFIELD_UNDOSTAT_UNDOLEVEL);
// enable and disable buttons accordingly
if (currentLevel > 0)
Enable(ID_UNDO_BUTTON, true);
else
Enable(ID_UNDO_BUTTON, false);
// check if the current level is not the latest undo-level
if (currentLevel < (undoStackCount - 1))
Enable(ID_REDO_BUTTON, true);
else
Enable(ID_REDO_BUTTON, false);
}
}
}
void SetBool(Int32 id, Bool b)
Definition: c4d_basecontainer.h:580
virtual Bool Command(Int32 id, const BaseContainer &msg)
@ BFM_EDITFIELD_UNDOSTAT_UNDOLEVEL
Int32 The current undo level.
Definition: gui.h:1029
@ BFM_EDITFIELD_UNDOSTAT_COUNT
Int32 The undo stack size.
Definition: gui.h:1028
@ DA_CONTAINER
BaseContainer.
Definition: c4d_gedata.h:49
#define IDM_REDO
Redo.
Definition: ge_prepass.h:3868
#define IDM_UNDO
Undo.
Definition: ge_prepass.h:3867
@ DR_MULTILINE_MONOSPACED
Monospaced font.
Definition: gui.h:319
@ DR_MULTILINE_PYTHON
Python line return handling.
Definition: gui.h:326
@ DR_MULTILINE_SYNTAXCOLOR
Python syntax highlighting.
Definition: gui.h:320
@ DR_MULTILINE_STATUSBAR
Display a statusbar with the cursor position.
Definition: gui.h:321
@ DR_MULTILINE_WORDWRAP
Word wrap multi-line field.
Definition: gui.h:327
@ BFH_SCALEFIT
Scale fit. BFH_SCALE|BFH_FIT.
Definition: gui.h:316
@ DR_MULTILINE_HIGHLIGHTLINE
Highlight lines.
Definition: gui.h:322

Status Bar

The message BFM_SETSTATUSBAR can be sent to edit the status bar of a scroll group or a progress bar custom GUI element:

The parameters of this message are:

// This example sends a message to a CUSTOMGUI_PROGRESSBAR gadget to update the status bar.
m.SetBool(BFM_STATUSBAR_PROGRESSON, true);
m.SetFloat(BFM_STATUSBAR_PROGRESS, _progress);
m.SetData(BFM_STATUSBAR_TINT_COLOR, Vector(1.0 - _progress, _progress, 0.0));
SendMessage(ID_STATUSBAR, m);
const char * m
Definition: abstract.h:692
@ BFM_STATUSBAR_PROGRESSON
Bool Statusbar active.
Definition: gui.h:840
@ BFM_STATUSBAR_TINT_COLOR
Int32 Color ID for the status bar, or as RGB value (Vector).
Definition: gui.h:846
@ BFM_SETSTATUSBAR
To set a statusbar (e.g. inside a SCROLLGROUP (dialog element)):
Definition: gui.h:838
@ BFM_STATUSBAR_PROGRESS
Float Between 0.0 and 1.0.
Definition: gui.h:842
// This example sends a message to a scroll group to set the text of its status bar.
bc.SetData(BFM_STATUSBAR_TXT, "Some Text");
bc.SetData(BFM_STATUSBAR_HELP, "More Text");
SendMessage(ID_SCROLLGROUP, bc);
Bool SetData(Int32 id, const GeData &n)
Definition: c4d_basecontainer.h:274
@ BFM_STATUSBAR_HELP
String Second text. (Help.)
Definition: gui.h:844
@ BFM_STATUSBAR_TXT
String First text.
Definition: gui.h:841

Pop Up

A message is sent from a popup button:

// This example adds a pop up button to the layout in GeDialog::CreateLayout().
AddPopupButton(ID_POPUP, BFH_LEFT, 10, 10);
AddChild(ID_POPUP, 1, "Child 0"_s);
AddChild(ID_POPUP, 2, "Child 1"_s);
@ BFH_LEFT
Aligned to the left. 1<<3.
Definition: gui.h:312
// This example catches a message in GeDialog::Message() after the pop up button was pressed
// (but before the pop up menu is created).
{
const Int32 ID = msg.GetInt32(BFM_ACTION_ID);
if (ID == ID_POPUP)
{
ApplicationOutput("The pop up button was pressed"_s);
}
break;
}
@ BFM_POPUPNOTIFY
Notification of popup before the menu opens.
Definition: gui.h:922
// This example catches the result in GeDialog::Command() after
// something was selected in the pop up button's pop up menu.
if (id == ID_POPUP)
{
const Int32 selectedItem = msg.GetInt32(BFM_ACTION_VALUE);
ApplicationOutput("The item " + String::IntToString(selectedItem) + " was selected");
}

Scroll Group

A scroll group informs the parent dialog when it was scrolled:

Custom GUI Elements

The base class for custom GUI elements (used to display NodeData parameters in the Attribute Manager) is iCustomGui which is based on GeDialog. Such custom GUI elements receive these messages when the used "User Interface" is changed in the Attribute Manager. The custom GUI can then store the ID of the currently active gadget:

// This example stores the ID of the gadget currently in focus.
{
result.SetInt32(0, _activeID); // store ID of active gadget
return true;
}
{
const Int32 ID = msg.GetInt32(0);
Activate(ID); // active stored ID
return true;
}
@ BFM_SETFOCUSAFTERUPDATE
Definition: gui.h:691
@ BFM_GETFOCUSBEFOREUPDATE
Definition: gui.h:653

Core Messages

Both GeDialog and GeUserArea receive core messages. These messages call GeDialog::CoreMessage() or GeUserArea::CoreMessage().

See the Core Messages Manual.

// This example catches EVMSG_ASYNCEDITORMOVE in a GeDialog.
{
// check if this core message is new
if (CheckCoreMessage(bc))
{
const Int movement = (Int)bc.GetVoid(BFM_CORE_PAR1);
switch (movement)
{
case MOVE_START: { ApplicationOutput("Start Movement"); break; }
case MOVE_CONTINUE: { ApplicationOutput("Continue Movement"); break; }
case MOVE_END: { ApplicationOutput("End Movement"); break; }
}
}
break;
}
void * GetVoid(Int32 id, void *preset=nullptr) const
Definition: c4d_basecontainer.h:388
maxon::Int Int
Definition: ge_sys_math.h:60
@ BFM_CORE_PAR1
ANY Parameter 1.
Definition: gui.h:901
#define MOVE_END
Move ended. par2 == ESC.
Definition: ge_prepass.h:2785
#define EVMSG_ASYNCEDITORMOVE
The user moved something in the editor window. Managers should update things like position fields.
Definition: ge_prepass.h:2779
#define MOVE_CONTINUE
Move continued.
Definition: ge_prepass.h:2784
#define MOVE_START
Move started.
Definition: ge_prepass.h:2783

Further Reading