Alteros desktops (ADESK files) serves for building the interfaces in the program view zone. Desktop consists of panel for elements and elements themselves (there are 4 types of them):
- Graphical Button,
- Text Button,
- Image,
- Text Box.
Relocation of desktop elements can be dome by dragging them and pressing "Ctrl" key at the same time.
Alteros toolbar in the desktop mode contains File menu with the following commands:
New - creates new ADESK file.
Open - opens ADESK file.
Save - saves ADESK file.
Lock Desktop - locks desktop changes (dragging the elements and floating menu).
Autostart - makes the current document to be automatically launched at the program start up.
Options – opens Options window.
Floating menu for desktop elements contains the following commands:
New - creates new element (button, text link, picture).
Copy - copies the element.
Paste - inserts element.
Delete - deletes element.
Send to Back - sends element to the back.
Bring to Front - brings element on the top of all other elements.
Properties&ldots; - opens the properties window of current element.
Desktop can have different sizes or can occupy the whole view zone of Alteros. Besides, desktop panel can be centred in the view zone of Alteros or can be left and right aligned. Align buttons in the desktop properties window are responsible for distribution and aligning. .
Desktop panel can have a background image. It can be centred, tiled or extended all over the desktop.
Graphical buttons have 3 display modes: standard, highlighted, pressed.
In order to use all 3 modes in your desktop it is necessary to prepare BMP file with 3 images horizontally situated one after the other. Then you have to rename the extension of that file to BTN3. The same you can do in order to prepare button with 2 modes (BTN2 extension) and one mode (BTN1 extension or BMP).
When using in the button simple BMP file only one image is displayed.
Text buttons have only 2 modes: standard and highlighted. These modes differ only by text colour.
To create a new ADESK file use the "Main Menu > New... > Alteros Desktop " command.