Xdialog: here's how to create a color message

[don570]

A simple way to create a color message is to use Xdialog
This is explained at the website supporting Xdialog
http://xdialog.free.fr/doc/common.html#RCFILE

The example they give is

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 Xdialog --rc-file bluebox.rc --msgbox "--rc-file demonstration." 0 0

bluebox.rc file contents:

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        style 'blue_background' {
                bg[NORMAL] = { 0.0, 0.3, 0.8 }
                fg[NORMAL] = { 1.0, 1.0, 1.0 }
        }
        widget '*' style 'blue_background'

The result is blue background and white text.

rcfile.png (4.28 KiB) Viewed 2513 times

________________________________________________

Here is a more detailed example based on what I used in baconrecorder...
I gave the path to find the rc file as /root/.config/pclock/yellowbox.rc
So this file must exist!!! Hide it somewhere in /root.

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  Xdialog --title "$(gettext 'Recording')"  --rc-file /root/.config/pclock/yellowbox.rc  --wrap --left  --center  --ok-label "$(gettext 'Close')" --msgbox "\n$(gettext 'You are ready to make a new recording.')\n$(gettext 'Enter new settings.')\n"    0 0 100  &

Here is the contents of the rc-file

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style 'yellow_background' {
                bg[NORMAL] = { 0.99, 0.99, 0.50 }
                fg[NORMAL] = { 0, 0, 0 }
}
widget '*' style 'yellow_background'

The result is yellow background and black text.

screenshot-warning.png (13.61 KiB) Viewed 2513 times

For more examples look at the script for baconrecorder or ptmtimer
baconrecorder download
ptmtimer download

[MochiMoppel]

The result is yellow background and black text.

Maybe not.
Apparently doesn't work in GTK3 environments like in Bookworm64 or VanillaPup. Also default dimensions differ in GTK2 and GTK3. Don't know if a GTK3 compliant stylesheet would help.

XdialogGTK3.png (10.17 KiB) Viewed 2483 times

 
 
If it has to be a colored message dialog then IMHO gxmessage is a better and much simpler choice. No extra files required.

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gxmessage -title "$(gettext 'Recording')" -bg yellow -wrap -center -button "$(gettext 'Close')" -default "$(gettext 'Close')"   "
	$(gettext 'You are ready to make a new recording.')
	$(gettext 'Enter new settings.')
"

gxdialogGTK3.png (10.01 KiB) Viewed 2483 times

 
 
Using more options can make the result even prettier, here without borders (window decorations):

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gxmessage -bo -fn "bold 14" -bg \#900 -fg white -c -but "$(gettext 'Close')" -de "$(gettext 'Close')"   "
	$(gettext 'You are ready to make a new recording.')
	$(gettext 'Enter new settings.')
"

gxdialogGTK3_borderless.png (13.67 KiB) Viewed 2468 times

[Sofiya]

in KLA-OT2 Arch works and so and so GTK3

[jamesbond]

Xdialog maintainer here.

Apparently doesn't work in GTK3 environments like in Bookworm64 or VanillaPup.

You are right it doesn't. That's one of the last item I've put off the table during Xdialog's migration to GTK3. I have now implemented it in version 2.3.4, you'll just need to wait until it gets included in the next Puppy builds.

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window {
background-color: #0000ff;
color: #ffffff;
}

Xdialog --rc-file bluebox.css --msgbox "test" 0 0
should work by then for version 2.3.4.

Or you can of course, use the GTK2 version of Xdialog.

[dimkr]

or VanillaPup.

10.0.21 (next Saturday) will include Xdialog 2.3.4

[step]

@jamesbond, for backward compatibility wouldn't it be better to add a new option --style-file file.css, ignored in GTK2 builds, similarly ignoring --rc-file in GTK3 builds?

[jamesbond]

@step, I did consider that, however, I was under the impression that Xdialog will blow up if we pass ian unknown option to it. So that's why I stuck using the same --rc-file for both GTK2 and GTK3. But I just tested, it in fact does not do that, so passing an unknown option is safe (and is ignored). I will modify Xdialog and good thing dimkr doesn't rush to build it yet

Updated 2.3.4 coming along, be back shortly ...

EDIT: 2.3.4 is re-released. Please compile ahead. When compiled with GTK2, it will support --rc-file and ignore --style-file. When built with GTK3, --style-file and ignore --rc-file, so you can specify both options for both versions and whichever one sticks will be used.

For forward compatibility, I have also added --feature-check.

[rcrsn51]

@jamesbond: Is there a "git clone" command for downloading this? That's the only way I know how to get sources from github.

Edit: found the tarball

[rockedge]

@rcrsn51 There should be a download option for a zip file of the source on the main code page on the top right of the page.

[fredx181]

@rcrsn51 There should be a download option for a zip file of the source on the main code page on the top right of the page.

And which page is that ? (or is it top-secret ? )

[rockedge]

@fredx181 Here is the github page (I think) -> https://github.com/wdlkmpx/Xdialog

Screenshot(8).jpg (36.9 KiB) Viewed 2323 times

[rcrsn51]

https://www.lightofdawn.org/blog/?viewDetailed=00230

[fredx181]

https://www.lightofdawn.org/blog/?viewDetailed=00230

Thanks.
And @jamesbond Thanks.

[rcrsn51]

OK. I logged in as anonymous and found the tarball.

[Update] It compiled easily against gtk3 and works in some quick tests.

But the numbers that define the size of a box work differently, especially "0 0".

They would need to be recoded. It might be better to switch them to the "WxH" format.

[don570]

Have those size numbers ever worked??
In puppy linux users leave the numbers as 0 0
and the code does the magic.
_________________________________

[rcrsn51]

Have those size numbers ever worked??

In the gtk2 version, "0 0" auto-sizes the box to fit the stuff inside. But you can explicitly set the size with other numbers. The Xdialog help explains how.

In the gtk3 version, "0 0" creates a much larger box. You can control the size with "width x height" in pixels.

[jamesbond]

https://www.lightofdawn.org/blog/?viewDetailed=00230

You can also find them here: https://github.com/puppylinux-woof-CE/Xdialog
Might be easier for someone who prefers git/github.

[rcrsn51]

Might be easier for someone who prefers git/github.

Thanks. It is a great relief to see that Xdialog will survive into gtk3.

Is there any chance that the "0 0" issue can be resolved?

[MochiMoppel]

Regarding the size issue I noticed that Xdialog in GTK3 specifies a minimum size of 176x80, and the window manager honors it, so the following settings have the same result. 1px windows are not possible anymore.

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Xdialog -y A 1 1        #GTK2:7x14 GTK3:176x80 
Xdialog -y A 1x1        #GTK2:1x1  GTK3:176x80
Xdialog -y A 176x80     #GTK2/GTK3:     176x80

XdialogGTK3minimum.png (5 KiB) Viewed 2204 times

In GTK2 there is no window minimum size specified. Could it be that in GTK3 values like '0 0' or '0x0' are interpreted by the window manager as invalid values, resulting in this strange default (?) of 206x206?

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Xdialog -y A 0 0        #GTK2:176x67 GTK3:206x206 
Xdialog -y A 0x0        #GTK2:176x67 GTK3:206x206 
Xdialog -y A x          #GTK2:176x67 GTK3:206x206
Xdialog -y A 206x206    #GTK2/GTK3:       206x206

[jamesbond]

The problem is GTK3 doesn't autoshrink windows to fit content by default, like GTK2 did.

Please try the following, and especially, see if there is any **bad** unforeseen side effects. I remember I already tried this before and I remember I had problems with it, although I couldn't recall what exactly was the problem. But I maybe wrong. If it really works well I'll merge it.

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diff -ur Xdialog-orig/src/interface.c Xdialog/src/interface.c
--- Xdialog-orig/src/interface.c	2023-07-22 17:00:02.712644132 +1000
+++ Xdialog/src/interface.c	2023-07-23 13:57:13.024231904 +1000
@@ -221,6 +221,13 @@
 						    Xdialog.xsize*xmult,
 						    Xdialog.ysize*ymult);
 	}
+#ifdef USE_GTK3
+	else
+	{
+		// GTK3 does not auto-shrink, so we do it ourselvs, to simulate GTK2 behaviour
+		gtk_window_set_default_size(GTK_WINDOW(Xdialog.window), 1, 1);
+	}		
+#endif
 
 	/* Allow the window to grow, shrink and auto-shrink */
 	gtk_window_set_resizable(GTK_WINDOW(Xdialog.window), TRUE);

Though personally, I like the GTK3 version (without autoshrink) better, as it is more attention-grabbing as a dialog should. I always find that the GTK2's version cramped window is a bit underwhelming.

[rcrsn51]

If I replace "0 0" with "100x50", it appears to auto-size.

If you prefer a bigger message box, increase the numbers.

[MochiMoppel]

If I replace "0 0" with "100x50", it appears to auto-size.

Yes, in GTK3 auto-expands to 176x80 (or larger, depending on contents), but not in GTK2.

[rcrsn51]

Yes, in GTK3 auto-expands to 176x80 (or larger, depending on contents).

This is good. If I have a gtkdialog app with lots of Xdialog pop-up messages, I just need a global search-and-replace of "0 0" to "100x50".

This should convert the app to gtk3.

[MochiMoppel]

Yes, in GTK3 auto-expands to 176x80 (or larger, depending on contents).

This is good. If I have a gtkdialog app with lots of Xdialog pop-up messages, I just need a global search-and-replace of "0 0" to "100x50".

This should convert the app to gtk3.

But then they become unusable in GTK2. Characters would be unreadable because 50 is an insufficient height, apart from the fact that text exceeding a few characters would be truncated.

[rcrsn51]

But then they become unusable in GTK2. Characters would be unreadable because 50 is an insufficient height, apart from the fact that text exceeding a few characters would be truncated.

My objective is to make a SECOND version of the app that works in an all-gtk3 platform. That's the future.

If someone is still using a gtk2 platform, they can get the gtk2 version from that platform's repo.

[dimkr]

The future is GTK+ 4 and beyond

[fredx181]

The future is GTK+ 4 and beyond

So.. it seems I'm always behind, just learned a bit how to modify gtkdialog/Xdialog scripts for GTK3, then must learn for GTK4, but... then GTK5... GTK6..., it's becoming disheartening altogether.
I'm would vote trying to keep full support for GTK2 (and GTK3 too, ok), easy to say for me though , but: question: does anyone think that can be possible ? (e.g. for supporting the existence of typical Puppy programs e.g. using gtkdialog, Xdialog or yad in scripts).
Needs energy and time to focus on that, but perhaps worth it (not only going with the flow of "new is often better") and I think it's not realistic to expect that all contributors want to follow all the changes everytime.

Just some thoughts.

[dimkr]

follow all the changes everytime

Correct me if I'm wrong, but GTK+ 4.0 was released 9 years after GTK+ 3.0, which was released 9 years after GTK+ 2.0.

I think a decade is enough to fix a small bunch of scripts

[don570]

Gtk 5 might drop X11 support, says GNOME dev
Linux's Wayland-only future takes a tentative step closer
One of the GNOME developers has suggested that the next major release of Gtk could drop support for the X window system.

https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/05/ ... _drop_x11/
___________________________________

[rcrsn51]

@jamesbond I cannot get the --default-item option to work with a menubox widget in the new gtk3 Xdialog.

This is not a big problem - I replaced the menubox with a radiolist.

All my other conversions are going well.

In places where I have used "height width" numbers other than "0 0" , I just replace them with pixel values like "600x400".

Thanks.