Creating and Editing Prototype Instances in Panels

2D Graphics > Prototypes > Using Rogue Wave Views Studio to Create BGOs > Creating and Editing Prototype Instances in Panels

This section explains how to instantiate the prototypes that you have defined or loaded, in order to create panels.

Choosing a Buffer Type

Prototypes Studio has 2 types of buffer windows that can be made into panels: 2D Graphics and Grapher. When the Gadgets extension is installed, a Gadget buffer window is also available.

Use a 2D Graphics buffer window for graphics-intensive applications: that is, if your prototypes contain 2D graphic objects such as lines, rectangles, and splines.

Use a Grapher buffer window if you need Grapher features to connect graphic objects in prototype instances, using Grapher links.

If you have the Rogue Wave Views Controls package and your prototypes contain gadgets, use a Gadget buffer window.

To create a panel in which to use prototype instances, choose the appropriate buffer type from the menu File > New.

Creating a Prototype Instance

To create a prototype instance:

1. Select a prototype library in the upper pane of the Palettes panel.

2. Drag the icon of the desired prototype to the buffer window.

OR:

1. Click the icon representing a prototype to select it.

2. Click and drag a rectangle in a buffer window. An instance of the prototype whose bounding box is defined by the rectangle you just drew will be created.

The prototype is instantiated in the form of an IlvProtoGraphic object encapsulating the prototype instance.

Editing Prototype Instances

Prototype instances are edited using the Group Inspector. To display the Group Inspector, choose Group Inspector from the Tools menu or double-click a prototype instance. When an instance is selected, its attributes are displayed in the Attributes notebook page of the Group Inspector.


Note: The Behavior and Interaction pages are disabled for prototype instances. They can only be used when editing prototypes. See Defining Graphic Behaviors for an explanation on how to edit accessor values with the Group Inspector.

Loading and Saving Panels

Panels containing prototype instances are loaded and saved as standard .ilv files using the Open, Save, and Save As commands from the File menu.

Version 5.8