Palette Questions

[Kerry]

With Build 6.0.0.15
with Ac2010

The Palette is described as

The palette form displays a modeless dialog that can either remain floating or be docked to the AutoCAD window. Palettes have a vertical title bar, and feature the ability to collapse and expand automatically in response to cursor movement.

How do I get the palette to collapse and 'expand automatically in response to cursor movement.'
ie how do I hide the Palette when the mouse is not on it?

With the  Palette NOT docked :
Then when I select the Auto-Hide icon on the vertical bar, the palette will close and show manually.
The Auti-Hide toggle accessed from right click on the Vertical bar seems to have no affect


With the  Palette  docked :
Then when I select the Auto-Hide icon on the vertical bar, the palette become Un-docked.

Code (autolisp) Select Expand



(vl-load-com)
(command "OPENDCL")

;;(if (not (vl-symbol-value 'kglobal:librarybuild))
;;  (load "KDUB_LIBRARY.VLX")
;;)
;;;---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;;;
;; (findfile "Pal.ODCL")

;|<<MAIN>>|;

(defun c:pal (/ dialogreturn)
 ;; (dcl_project_load "Pal.ODCL" t)
 (dcl_project_load "Pal.ODCL")
 ;; Show the main form  
 (setq dialogreturn (dcl_form_show Pal_main))
 ;;------  
 (princ)
)

;;;---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;;;
;|<<SUPPORT>>|;

;;;---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;;;
;|<<OPENDCL Handlers Event>>|;

;;;-------------------------------------------
;|
This event is triggered immediately before the dialog is closed.
UpperLeftX, UpperLeftY is the coordinate of the upper left corner of the dialog.
|;
(defun c:Pal_Main_OnClose (UpperLeftX UpperLeftY /)
 (dcl_MessageBox "To Do: code must be added to event handler\r\nc:Pal_Main_OnClose" "To do")
)
;;;-------------------------------------------
;|
The OnInitialize event is called immediately before a form is shown on the screen.
This event handler can initialize the form and its controls before they are displayed.
|;
(defun c:Pal_Main_OnInitialize (/)
 ;; (dcl_MessageBox "To Do: code must be added to event handler\r\nc:Pal_Main_OnInitialize" "To do")
 (dcl_Control_SetCaption Pal_Main_Label1 (getvar "DWGNAME"))
 (princ)
)
;;;-------------------------------------------
;|
This event is triggered when the user closes the last open AutoCAD drawing.
If any of the modeless dialog's controls are dependent on the state or contents of the current drawing file,
they should be cleared at this time. Once the drawing is closed, no AutoLISP code can execute since there
is no document context for it to execute in.
This event handler will be the last opportunity to execute code until a new document is opened.
|;
(defun c:Pal_Main_OnEnteringNoDocState (/)
 (if (dcl_Form_IsActive Pap)
   (dcl_form_close Pal)
 )
)

;;;-------------------------------------------
;|
This event is triggered when the user switches to a different open AutoCAD drawing.
Note that opening a new drawing will not trigger any event. An application that uses modeless dialogs
must be installed so that its code is loaded into each newly created drawing document,
and the application's initialization code must check for already active dialogs that it must manage.
|;
(defun c:Pal_Main_OnDocActivated (/)
 (dcl_MessageBox "To Do: code must be added to event handler\r\nc:Pal_Main_OnDocActivated" "To do")
)
;;;---------------------------------------------------------------------------
;;;Attached is the ODCL I'm using:

[Fred Tomke]

Hi, Kerry, a very interesting question and a very easy answer:
The palette has a property KeepFocus. It must be set to false. Otherwise autocollapse won't work (because the form keeps always the focus).
I solved this by using OnMouseEntered and OnMouseOff events from the palette form to Change the KeepFocus value.

Fred

[Kerry]

Thanks fred,
I had a scribble note to try that in the morning ... great to know I have a workable option.

I'll bookmark this for a possible series of tutorials on palettes (when I make time)

Regards
Kerry

[velasquez]

Hi, Fred, 
Can you post an example of how this works?

Regards
Velasquez

[owenwengerd]

Fred, in what way is your solution different than just leaving KeepFocus set to false?

[Kerry]

Owen,
If KeepFocus set to false, we are unable to enter text into the TextBox ... the keystrokes are diverted to the commandLine.

[owenwengerd]

If KeepFocus set to false, we are unable to enter text into the TextBox ... the keystrokes are diverted to the commandLine.

That should only be the case if the mouse leaves the palette.  If I understand Fred's solution, it would have the same problem.

[Kerry]

no, not the case. the docs are correct

If this property is False, controls on the form do not keep the keyboard input focus; all keyboard input is sent to the AutoCAD command line instead. Set this property to True when a form contains controls that accept keyboard input.

[Kerry]

< .. >
Can you post an example of how this works?

Regards
Velasquez

Velasquez,
This is VERY basic

manually set the Auto-hide property at Right-Click on the Palette Vertical TitleBar

Kerry

code attached:

[velasquez]

Thanks, Kerry


Regards
Velasquez

[owenwengerd]

Kerry, did you get this resolved?  Should there be a change made to the way the keepfocus property works so that the workaround isn't necessary? Or said another way, is there any good reason *not* to change it?

[Kerry]

The OnMouseEntered and OnMouseOff events fire a lot .. very busy .
I'm happy with the current method ... but I'll have a think about any changes.
I imagine any changes will have ramifications elsewhere and to existing code, ... thats a good reason not to change I 'spose :)

[Kerry]

Owen
I've been testing some Palettes .. build 6.0.0.18
The MouseEntered MouseMovedOff Events don't seem to be needed to let the Palette AutoHide .. Has this changed recently ??  :)
Works great !!!


Fred's FAQ sample may need to be changed.

[Fred Tomke]

Hi, haven't tested yet.

Fred's FAQ sample may need to be changed.

In that case I'd rather delete this FAQ unless it is needed for other cases...

Fred

[owenwengerd]

Hmm, I don't recall intentionally changing anything.