Each preference is handled by a PreferenceHandler, which provides the means of updating the GUI with the existing preference value and to get any change that the user introduces, and more.
Changed:
< <
You may consider to extend AbstractPreferenceHandler instead of implementing the interface directly.
> >
You may consider to extend AbstractPreferenceHandler or use one of its basic extensions, instead of implementing the interface directly.
makeContent:
Line: 181 to 181
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
Changed:
< <
private JTextField _fieldA; // text field associated to preference keyA
private JIntegerField _fieldB; // text field associated to preference keyB
> >
private JTextField fieldA; // text field associated to preference keyA
private IntegerField fieldB; // text field associated to preference keyB
@Override
protected void registerHandlers() {
// Preference keyA with type String and default value "text"
Changed:
< <
registerHandler("keyA", new AbstractPreferenceHandler<String>("text") {
public String getValue() { return _fieldA.getText(); }
public void setValue(String value) { _fieldA.setText(value); }
});
The framework creates here an empty panel for you, with a message saying that preferences can be found in children categories.
Deleted:
< <
Note:
Preferences are just released. The still unused fields in the Extension when registering may be used in the future, although for the time being the only foreseen (probable) change is to provide an icon to each category.
Read preferences
Line: 340 to 337
Listen to changes in preferences
Changed:
< <
Suppose the user opens an editor component you have developed, then open the preferences dialog, changes some preference related to the presentation of your editor, and press OK.
> >
Suppose the user opens an editor component you have developed, then opens the preferences dialog, changes some preference related to the presentation of your editor, and presses OK.
The user would expect that these changes would be applied to the opened editor, not only to editors opened from that moment on.
Line: 362 to 359
The more common situation may be that you want to migrate some existing property to the new preferences mechanism.
This means that the preference should take the value of the associated property while the user doesn't override it.
Changed:
< <
After overriden, the saved preference is used and the property is not taken into account.
> >
After being overridden, the saved preference is used and the property will not be taken into account.
If this is the case, the only thing you need to do is to add few code when registering the handler of the associated preference. Something like this:
From one side, if you want to introduce a new category, you need to write a preferences panel, and then register it.
Changed:
< <
Afterwards, client code would want to read those preferences, which is done through the UserPreferences class.
> >
Afterwards, client code would want to read those preferences, which is done through the UserPreferences class.
Probably it would also want to listen to modifications, so the user doesn't need to restart HIPE for his changes being applied.
Optionally, you may want to link a preference to an existing property that you just want to migrate to the preferences framework.
Line: 262 to 264
The next step is to use the preferences in client code.
Changed:
< <
This is very easy and just implies using UserPreferences where you would use Configuration.
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The user would expect that these changes would be applied to the opened editor, not only to editors opened from that moment on.
Changed:
< <
To solve this situation, your editor should listen to preference changes by implementing PreferenceListener and registering with UserPreferences.addListener.
Note: The PreferenceListener is called in a non-GUI thread. If you need to call some GUI code in your listener, put your code into a Runnable and use one of the following methods:
SwingUtilities.invokeAndWait(Runnable r)
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(Runnable r)
SiteUtil.execAndWait(Runnable r)
SiteUtil.execLater(Runnable r)
> >
To solve this situation, your editor should listen to preference changes by implementing PreferenceListener and registering with UserPreferences.addListener.
Therefore we don't consider system preferences, which are used by developers for introducing some flexibility in the functionality they provide, but users shouldn't be concerned of. The existing properties mechanism may still suffice for them.
Changed:
< <
The preferences framework is decoupled from the old configuration properties, so that it could be developed while not being dependent on the property roadmap.
> >
<-- The preferences framework is decoupled from the old configuration properties, so that it could be developed while not being dependent on the property roadmap.-->
Nevertheless, preferences can reuse properties and even be just a wrapper for them if needed, as explained later. This way, the break is not dramatic, although replacing properties by preferences is encouraged.
Line: 71 to 71
Preferences lie under a particular category. They are identified by a name called key, which must be unique within that category, but can be reused in other categories.
The following set of HIPE preferences (mostly based on Eclipse/IDLDE's preferences) has been agreed upon as a starter to populate the HIPE preferences window:
Help To be provided by Marco Soldati
Jython
Code Automatic import statements, working and output directories
Interpreter Error handling, line by line, error codes
Install & Update To be defined
Changed:
< <
Automatic update Update server, frequency of update checks, notification
> >
Automatic Update Update server, frequency of update checks, notification
Data Access
HSA URL, temporary retrieval directory (possible SCR), delay/retry times
Local Store Absolute path, cache configuration
Preferences in HIPE respond to the request of customizing the tool in a user friendly way, from the User Vision document :
Line: 407 to 409
The reason is that Configuration provides methods for getting the property as boolean, int, double or String, but doesn't provide methods for the other types.
In this case, your panel should be written in a module that can depend on ia_gui_kernel; however, herschel.versant.store (in this example) can only use Configuration for reading the preferences values.
Changed:
< <
The solution is to provide the PreferenceHandler the name of the associated property, so the framework would override the property in user.propsin addition to being saved as a preference.
> >
The solution is to provide the PreferenceHandler the name of the associated property, so the framework would override the property in hipe.props.
// The event class
class SplitLocationChangeEvent extends SiteEvent {
private final int _location;
SplitLocationChangeEvent(Object source, int location) {
super(source);
_location = location;
}
int getLocation() { return _location; }
}
// The notifier class
public class SplittedEditor extends AbstractEditorComponent<SomeSelection> {
// Suppose we detect changes in the split pane here
To solve this situation, your editor should listen to preference changes by implementing PreferenceListener and registering with UserPreferences.addListener.
Added:
> >
Note: The PreferenceListener is called in a non-GUI thread. If you need to call some GUI code in your listener, put your code into a Runnable and use one of the following methods:
Fonts Already in 1.1: general font sizes
Window Already in 1.1: size window and position at startup
Logs & History Size of log, auto-save time
Added:
> >
Key shortcuts Possible SCR
File Associations File associations for automatic importing of .py, .fits, .txt
Perspectives list of perspectives, save/load customized perspectives (possible SCR)
Startup & Shutdown Memory @ start-up, save session dir/name, tips&tricks (possible SCR)
Editors & Viewers
Text editor 80 columns, line number on/off, rectangle cut&paste option
Jython editor 80 columns, line number on/off, colors, tabs, completion mode
Editors & Viewers
Text editor 80 columns, line number on/off, rectangle cut&paste option
Jython editor 80 columns, line number on/off, colors, tabs, completion mode
General/Appearance
General/Appearance/Console Already in 1.1: buffer size and prompt
extras: redline and buffer for history recovery (i.e. 0 brings up command 0 on history)
General/Appearance/Fonts Already in 1.1: general font sizes
General/Appearance/Window Already in 1.1: size window and position at startup
General/Appearance/Logs & History size of log, auto-save time
General/Editors & Viewers/
General/Editors & Viewers/File Associations File associations for automatic importing of .py, .fits, .txt
General/Editors & Viewers/Text editor 80 columns, line number on/off, rectangle cut&paste option
General/Editors & Viewers/Jython editor 80 columns, line number on/off, colors, tabs, completion mode
General/Editors & Viewers/File Associations File associations for automatic importing of .py, .fits, .txt
General/Editors & Viewers/Key shortcuts Possible SCR
General/Editors & Viewers/Image viewer Initial zoom, lookup table, cut values, orientation, task properties
General/Editors & Viewers/Spectrum explorer Initial zoom, linestyle (histogram), zoom-mode, task properties
General/Editors & Viewers/Cube analysis tool Initial zoom, lookup table, cut values, orientation, linestyle, task properties
General/Perspectives list of perspectives, save/load customized perspectives (possible SCR)
General/Startup & Shutdown Memory @ start-up, save session dir/name, tips&tricks (possible SCR)
Help/ To be provided by Marco Soldati
> >
Appearance
Console Already in 1.1: buffer size and prompt. Extras: readline and buffer for history recovery (i.e. 0 brings up command 0 on history)
Fonts Already in 1.1: general font sizes
Window Already in 1.1: size window and position at startup
Logs & History Size of log, auto-save time
Editors & Viewers
Text editor 80 columns, line number on/off, rectangle cut&paste option
Jython editor 80 columns, line number on/off, colors, tabs, completion mode
Image viewer Initial zoom, lookup table, cut values, orientation, task properties
Spectrum explorer Initial zoom, linestyle (histogram), zoom-mode, task properties
Cube analysis tool Initial zoom, lookup table, cut values, orientation, linestyle, task properties
File Associations File associations for automatic importing of .py, .fits, .txt
Key shortcuts Possible SCR
Perspectives list of perspectives, save/load customized perspectives (possible SCR)
Startup & Shutdown Memory @ start-up, save session dir/name, tips&tricks (possible SCR)
Help To be provided by Marco Soldati
Jython
Changed:
< <
Jython/Code automatic import statements, working and output directories
Jython/Interpreter Error handling, line by line, error codes
> >
Code Automatic import statements, working and output directories
Interpreter Error handling, line by line, error codes
Install & Update To be defined
Changed:
< <
Install & Update/Automatic update Update server, frequency of update checks, notification
> >
Automatic update Update server, frequency of update checks, notification
Data Access
Changed:
< <
Data Access/HSA URL, temporary retrieval directory (possible SCR), delay/retry times
Data Access/Local Store absolute path, cache configuration
Data Access/Import FITS requested metadata for importing images, spectra, cubes and tables
Data Access/Import ASCII ascii table formats handling with AsciiTableReader, defaults
> >
HSA URL, temporary retrieval directory (possible SCR), delay/retry times
Local Store Absolute path, cache configuration
Import FITS Requested metadata for importing images, spectra, cubes and tables
Import ASCII Ascii table formats handling with AsciiTableReader, defaults
General/Appearance/Fonts Already in 1.1: general font sizes
General/Appearance/Window Already in 1.1: size window and position at startup
General/Appearance/Logs & History size of log, auto-save time
Deleted:
< <
General/Content Types File associations for automatic importing of .py, .fits, .txt
General/Editors & Viewers/
General/Editors & Viewers/File Associations File associations for automatic importing of .py, .fits, .txt
General/Editors & Viewers/Text editor 80 columns, line number on/off, rectangle cut&paste option
Preferences lie under a particular category. They are identified by a name called key, which must be unique within that category, but can be reused in other categories.
Added:
> >
-- BrunoMerin - 25 Aug 2009
The following set of HIPE preferences (mostly based on Eclipse/IDLDE's preferences) has been agreed upon as a starter to populate the HIPE preferences window:
General
General/Appearance
General/Appearance/Console Already in 1.1: buffer size and prompt
extras: redline and buffer for history recovery (i.e. !0 brings up command 0 on history)
General/Appearance/Fonts Already in 1.1: general font sizes
General/Appearance/Window Already in 1.1: size window and position at startup
General/Appearance/Logs & History size of log, auto-save time
General/Content Types File associations for automatic importing of .py, .fits, .txt
General/Editors & Viewers/
General/Editors & Viewers/File Associations File associations for automatic importing of .py, .fits, .txt
General/Editors & Viewers/Text editor 80 columns, line number on/off, rectangle cut&paste option
General/Editors & Viewers/Jython editor 80 columns, line number on/off, colors, tabs, completion mode
General/Editors & Viewers/File Associations File associations for automatic importing of .py, .fits, .txt
General/Editors & Viewers/Key shortcuts Possible SCR
General/Editors & Viewers/Image viewer Initial zoom, lookup table, cut values, orientation, task properties
General/Editors & Viewers/Spectrum explorer Initial zoom, linestyle (histogram), zoom-mode, task properties
General/Editors & Viewers/Cube analysis tool Initial zoom, lookup table, cut values, orientation, linestyle, task properties
General/Perspectives list of perspectives, save/load customized perspectives (possible SCR)
General/Startup & Shutdown Memory @ start-up, save session dir/name, tips&tricks (possible SCR)
Help/ To be provided by Marco Soldati
Jython
Jython/Code automatic import statements, working and output directories
Jython/Interpreter Error handling, line by line, error codes
Install & Update To be defined
Install & Update/Automatic update Update server, frequency of update checks, notification
Data Access
Data Access/HSA URL, temporary retrieval directory (possible SCR), delay/retry times
Data Access/Local Store absolute path, cache configuration
Data Access/Import FITS requested metadata for importing images, spectra, cubes and tables
Data Access/Import ASCII ascii table formats handling with AsciiTableReader, defaults
Preferences dialog
The explained approach leads to a preferences dialog in which the user may navigate between categories, select one of them, see and change any of its associated preferences, and accept or cancel the changes.
Preferences are supposed to be changed only by users, within the preferences dialog.
This is the reason why UserPreferences just provides methods for reading preferences, but not for changing them.
Now, it may be the case that you need to update preferences from some user action.
For instance, user presses Ctrl-+, so all font sizes must be increased.
This communication can be performed through events: the requester code triggers an event, which is listened and handled by the corresponding preferences panel.
Example:
We have an editor with a split panel, and want to detect any drag in the split separator by the user, so its new position is saved as a preference.
// The event class
class SplitLocationChangeEvent extends SiteEvent {
private final int _location;
SplitLocationChangeEvent(Object source, int location) {
super(source);
_location = location;
}
int getLocation() { return _location; }
}
// The notifier class
public class SplittedEditor extends AbstractEditorComponent<SomeSelection> {
// Suppose we detect changes in the split pane here
private void splitMoved(int newLocation) {
SiteEvent event = new SplitLocationChangeEvent(this, newLocation);
getPart().getEventHandler().trigger(event);
}
}
// The preferences panel
public class SomePreferencesPanel extends PreferencesPanel implements SiteEventListener {
@Override
protected void makeContent() {
// Fill the panel ...
// and register to split changes
SiteEventHandler eventHandler = SiteUtil.getSite().getEventHandler();
eventHandler.addEventListener(SplitLocationChangeEvent.class, this);
}
@Override
public void selectionChanged(SiteEvent event) {
int location = ((SplitLocationChangeEvent)event).getLocation();
setValue("splitLocation", location);
saveChanges();
}
}
Listen to changes in preferences
Suppose the user opens an editor component you have developed, then open the preferences dialog, changes some preference related to the presentation of your editor, and press OK.
If you create new preferences that have no correspondence to existing properties, all we have seen till now should be enough for you; you don't need to worry about properties.
Changed:
< <
Take a property as default value
> >
2. Take a property as default value
The more common situation may be that you want to migrate some existing property to the new preferences mechanism.
Line: 277 to 278
Changed:
< <
Maintain the old property mechanism
> >
3. Maintain the old property mechanism
Although the previous two approaches are recommended, it may be the case that you cannot use UserPreferences in your client code, for example because your module cannot depend on ia_gui_kernel, but still want to provide a panel for the user in the preferences window.
Line: 299 to 300
In this case, the property would also be used as default value, if existing.
// Preference keyB with type Integer and default value 3
registerHandler("keyB", new AbstractPreferenceHandler<Integer>(3) {
Changed:
< <
public Integer getValue() { return _fieldB.getvalue(); }
> >
public Integer getValue() { return _fieldB.getValue(); }
public void setValue(Integer value) { _fieldB.setValue(value); }
});
}
Line: 194 to 194
Changed:
< <
If you want to organize your categories under a common parent category, and don't have any preference associated to that parent category, it may even be easier. Just skip the creation of the panel and write:
> >
You may want to organize your categories under a common parent category, but don't have any preference associated to that parent category.
In this case, you don't need to create a panel for the parent category:
In this case, the framework creates an empty panel for you, with a message saying that preferences can be found in children categories.
> >
The framework creates here an empty panel for you, with a message saying that preferences can be found in children categories.
Note:
Changed:
< <
Preferences are just released. The still unused fields in the extension may be used in the future, although for the time being the only foreseen (probable) change is to provide an icon to each category.
> >
Preferences are just released. The still unused fields in the Extension when registering may be used in the future, although for the time being the only foreseen (probable) change is to provide an icon to each category.
If you create new preferences that have no correspondence to existing properties, all we have seen till now should be enough for you; you don't need to worry about properties. Lucky you!
> >
If you create new preferences that have no correspondence to existing properties, all we have seen till now should be enough for you; you don't need to worry about properties.
Take a property as default value
Line: 269 to 269
String def = Configuration.getProperty("hcss.some.property", "text"); // default value
public String getValue() { return _fieldA.getText(); }
public void setValue(String value) { _fieldA.setText(value); }
});
Line: 284 to 284
In this case, your panel should be written in a module that can depend on ia_gui_kernel; however, herschel.versant.store (in this example) can only use Configuration for reading the preferences values.
Changed:
< <
The solution is to provide the PreferenceHandler the name of the associated property, so the preference would override the property in user.propsin addition to being saved as a preference.
> >
The solution is to provide the PreferenceHandler the name of the associated property, so the framework would override the property in user.propsin addition to being saved as a preference.
Preferences in HIPE respond to the request of customizing the tool in a user friendly way, from the User Vision document :
«The Main Interface (...) should provide a new pull-down menu accessible from the top bar with label “Properties” to allow user to change the configuration during the session.
This should not be done with Propgen.»
That menu option is called "Preferences" instead of "Properties", since it is a more common label in GUI applications, and a standard in Mac OS X.
The preferences dialog can be accessed in three different ways:
By clicking on the preferences icon in the Welcome view
By pressing the menu option Edit > Preferences
By pressing Alt+Enter at any moment
We talk here about user preferences, meaning those preferences affecting the session that the user may want to change in a user friendly way.
Therefore we don't consider system preferences, which are used by developers for introducing some flexibility in the functionality they provide, but users shouldn't be concerned of. The existing properties mechanism may still suffice for them.
The preferences framework is decoupled from the old configuration properties, so that it could be developed while not being dependent on the property roadmap.
Nevertheless, preferences can reuse properties and even be just a wrapper for them if needed, as explained later. This way, the break is not dramatic, although replacing properties by preferences is encouraged.
Categories
Preferences are organized in categories, which have a hierarchical structure.
Each category may have a parent category (at most one). A category with no parent is called a root category.
It is like a tree, where more than one root is allowed.
Every category is identified by a string that contains its whole path, including its ancestors. This full path must be unique.
The path of a category is similar to an absolute path in Unix, with the difference that the leading '/' is omitted. For example:
General A root category
General/Appearance A child category under General
General/Appearance/Window A child category under General/Appearance
General/Appearance/Console Another child category under General/Appearance
Graphics Another root category
Preferences lie under a particular category. They are identified by a name called key, which must be unique within that category, but can be reused in other categories.
Preferences dialog
The explained approach leads to a preferences dialog in which the user may navigate between categories, select one of them, see and change any of its associated preferences, and accept or cancel the changes.
The preferences dialog then looks like this:
How to contribute
Adding and using preferences has few simple steps.
From one side, if you want to introduce a new category, you need to write a preferences panel, and then register it.
Afterwards, client code would want to read those preferences, which is done through UserPreferences class.
Probably it would also want to listen to modifications, so the user doesn't need to restart HIPE for his changes being applied.
Optionally, you may want to link a preference to an existing property that you just want to migrate to the preferences framework.
Step by step:
Develop a preferences panel
When the user clicks on a category within the tree, the corresponding panel is shown at the right side of the dialog.
Creating a panel requires to extend PreferencesPanel -basically reproduced here- by implementing a couple of methods:
public abstract class PreferencesPanel extends JPanel {
protected PreferencesPanel() {}
protected abstract void makeContent();
protected abstract void registerHandlers();
protected final void registerHandler(String key, PreferenceHandler<?> handler) { ... }
}
registerHandlers:
In this method you call registerHandler once per preference. This is how you specify the keys belonging to the associated category.
Each preference is handled by a PreferenceHandler, which provides the means of updating the GUI with the existing preference value and to get any change that the user introduces, and more.
You may consider to extend AbstractPreferenceHandler instead of implementing the interface directly.
makeContent:
Here you create and add to the panel the graphical components for showing and changing the preferences associated to this category.
Example:
public class SimplePreferencesPanel extends PreferencesPanel {
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
private JTextField _fieldA; // text field associated to preference keyA
private JIntegerField _fieldB; // text field associated to preference keyB
@Override
protected void registerHandlers() {
// Preference keyA with type String and default value "text"
registerHandler("keyA", new AbstractPreferenceHandler<String>("text") {
public String getValue() { return _fieldA.getText(); }
public void setValue(String value) { _fieldA.setText(value); }
});
// Preference keyB with type Integer and default value 3
registerHandler("keyB", new AbstractPreferenceHandler<Integer>(3) {
public Integer getValue() { return _fieldB.getvalue(); }
public void setValue(Integer value) { _fieldB.setValue(value); }
});
}
@Override
protected void makeContent() {
setLayout(new GridLayout(2, 2, 5, 5)); // just for the example; you may consider to use a better layout
_fieldA = new JTextField();
add(new JLabel("Key A:"));
add(_fieldA);
_fieldB = new JIntegerField();
add(new JLabel("Key B:"));
add(_fieldB);
}
}
Register the category and the panel
If you have developed the preferences panel, you have done the hard work.
Registering the category and its associated panel is straightforward. As usual, it is done in the Extension Registry within a __init__.py file.
Example:
If you want to organize your categories under a common parent category, and don't have any preference associated to that parent category, it may even be easier. Just skip the creation of the panel and write:
In this case, the framework creates an empty panel for you, with a message saying that preferences can be found in children categories.
Note:
Preferences are just released. The still unused fields in the extension may be used in the future, although for the time being the only foreseen (probable) change is to provide an icon to each category.
Read preferences
The next step is to use the preferences in client code.
This is very easy and just implies using UserPreferences where you would use Configuration.
Example:
The preferences defined in the previous example could be accessed like this:
String preferenceA = UserPreferences.get("Some/Category", "keyA");
int preferenceB = UserPreferences.getInt("Some/Category", "keyB");
Suppose the user opens an editor component you have developed, then open the preferences dialog, changes some preference related to the presentation of your editor, and press OK.
The user would expect that these changes would be applied to the opened editor, not only to editors opened from that moment on.
To solve this situation, your editor should listen to preference changes by implementing PreferenceListener and registering with UserPreferences.addListener.
Link to properties
Now, what happens with plain old properties?
There may be three different situations:
Brand new preferences
If you create new preferences that have no correspondence to existing properties, all we have seen till now should be enough for you; you don't need to worry about properties. Lucky you!
Take a property as default value
The more common situation may be that you want to migrate some existing property to the new preferences mechanism.
This means that the preference should take the value of the associated property while the user doesn't override it.
After overriden, the saved preference is used and the property is not taken into account.
If this is the case, the only thing you need to do is to add few code when registering the handler of the associated preference. Something like this:
String def = Configuration.getProperty("hcss.some.property", "text"); // default value
registerHandler("keyA", new AbstractPreferenceHandler(def) {
public String getValue() { return _fieldA.getText(); }
public void setValue(String value) { _fieldA.setText(value); }
});
Maintain the old property mechanism
Although the previous two approaches are recommended, it may be the case that you cannot use UserPreferences in your client code, for example because your module cannot depend on ia_gui_kernel, but still want to provide a panel for the user in the preferences window.
For instance, you want to add a panel for letting the user to set the Versant server and a database name.
In this case, your panel should be written in a module that can depend on ia_gui_kernel; however, herschel.versant.store (in this example) can only use Configuration for reading the preferences values.
The solution is to provide the PreferenceHandler the name of the associated property, so the preference would override the property in user.propsin addition to being saved as a preference.
As simple as:
registerHandler("keyA", new AbstractPreferenceHandler("text", "hcss.some.property") {
public String getValue() { return _fieldA.getText(); }
public void setValue(String value) { _fieldA.setText(value); }
});
In this case, the property would also be used as default value, if existing.
Allowed types for preferences
As seen above, you can specify the type you want for each preference. The PreferenceHandler enforces you to provide the correct types when writing their implementations.
The valid types for preferences depend on whether their associated handler uses a property (PreferenceHandler.getProperty() returns not null) or not, that is, if you provide a property when constructing AbstractPreferenceHandler or not (see examples above).
If you don't provide a property to the handler, the valid types are Boolean, Integer, Long, Float, Double, String and byte[].
If you provide a property to the handler, the valid types are reduced to Boolean, Integer, Double and String.
The reason is that Configuration provides methods for getting the property as boolean, int, double or String, but doesn't provide methods for the other types.
-- JaimeSaiz - 23 Mar 2009