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CHAPTER 10 : The Project Window


Introduction

The project window, shown in Figure 10-1, provides an area where you can specify the files you wish to work on.


Note - If you are running Visaj from within an IDE (Integrated Development Environment), the project window may not be accessible from Visaj as the IDE may wish to control file handling. The ability to make and edit projects should then be available from the IDE.

Figure  10-1 The Project Window

You may group these files together in a way which will help you develop your project; for example, you may wish to put all the files which control the user interface together in one group and all the files which handle output in another. In this way, the files are easier to find and access. The project window is supplied as an extra level of convenience, but you do not have to use it. It is displayed by either selecting "New project" from the File menu of the Class Editor or by opening a project save file. Here is a list of the functions which can be performed from this window:

  1. Create, save and open project files
  2. Add and remove files
  3. Add and remove groups
  4. Create new classes
  5. Create new resource bundles
  6. Edit a class or a resource bundle

Each of these functions is described in the following sections.

See Appendix  B, "Quick Reference", starting on page 199, for a diagram and brief description of the toolbar buttons and menu items in each of Visaj's windows, including the project window.


Creating, Saving and Opening Projects

You may create a list of filenames, arbitrarily grouped, by following the instructions in the sections below entitled Adding, Removing and Renaming Groups and Adding and Removing Files. This list of filenames constitutes your project. Save your project by choosing "Save" (or "Save As...") from the File menu or by pressing the Save button on the toolbar. You will be prompted for a filename - by convention, Visaj project files have the suffix "vpj". This is important because, when you open a file, Visaj uses the suffix to know what sort of file it is opening. Open a project file by choosing the "Open" item from the File menu or by pressing the Open icon on the toolbar.


Adding, Removing and Renaming Groups

The central area of the Visaj project window shows a tree of filenames. The filenames can be grouped together in any way which suits your way of working. This is purely for your convenience and has no impact on the way Visaj's tools work. To add a group, select "Add Group" from the Edit menu. The group is added with the default name "Group". To change the group name, either select "Group name" from the Edit menu or double-click over the group name in the tree area. A dialog appears prompting you for the new name. Press "Ok" when you have entered the new name. To remove a group from your project, select "Remove group" from the Edit menu.


Adding and Removing Files

Add files to your project by selecting "Add file" from the Edit menu. You will be prompted for the filename. The filename is added to the currently selected group. Remove a file by selecting it and choosing "Remove file" from the Edit menu. This only removes the filename from your project, the file itself is not removed from its place on your disk.


Creating Files

You may create any of the following types of file from the project window:

  1. Another project file
  2. A resource bundle file
  3. A class file

Create these files by either selecting the appropriate option from the pullright menu under "New" in the File menu or by selecting the relevant toolbar button.


Editing Files

Double-clicking over a filename in the tree area (or selecting a filename and then choosing "Edit" from the Edit menu) displays the editor appropriate for the selected file. The following editing tools are available:

  1. The Class Editor. This is the most powerful part of Visaj, allowing you to create complete classes with methods defining your user interface, add functionality to the user interface and generate source code. The Class Editor is described in Chapter 4, "The Class Editor", starting on page 37.
  2. The Resource Bundle Editor. This tool allows you to create resource bundles containing keys linked to values in any number of languages. This is described in Chapter 9, "Resource Bundle Editor", starting on page 139.


The Windows Menu

The Windows menu appears in the Visaj project window and in Visaj's editing tool windows. This menu provides a means of cycling between all currently open windows.




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