Configuration of windom

WinDom Configuration is performed via an unique file that we call the WinDom Configuration file.

The main idea is: as WinDom is a GEM front end, the choice of window, object, ... apparence should not be fixed by the program but only by the user. For that purpose, WinDom reads an external file, the WinDom configuration file, the parameters of look and feel of the library.

In addition, WinDom offers to the programmer an easy way to store, read, and handle a configuration setup. Specific variable can be written and read from the windom configuration file.

The configuration is a text editable file. The syntaxe is very simple. However, a special application, WinConf written by Dominique BEREZIAT, allows users to create and handle their configuration file. From WinConf version 2, any variables is handled (from WinDom or from specific application). The interaction is completly graphical (with buttons, popup menus, objects selectors). WinDom application can communicate with WinConf using a GEM protocol and the settings can be updated in real time.

Location of the configuration file

The configuration file is a file 'windom.cnf' or '.windomrc' if your file system supports the long file name. This file can be placed in the following directories :

• the application directory,
• the $HOME\Defaults directory,
• the $HOME directory,
• the $ETCDIR directory,
• the $PATH directories (can be multiple),
• the 'C:\' directory

The application directory allow to have a direct configuration of your application when a user install a first time your application.

The $HOME directories allow a personnal configuration in a multi user environnement.

The $ETCDIR directories allow WinDom application to live happily in an UniX-like file system organization. Perhaps it is better to read directly in the U:\ETC (or /etc) directory, i don't know, i'm waiting for users feedbacks.

Where applications are defined

First of all, commented lines begin by the '#' character. Example:

# This variable forces application to display the windom version
windom.version = true

The settings of an application are grouped in the same place between two special keywords: the application tag and the end tag. An application tag is just the application name (with higher characters) between brackets. Example:

[WINCONF] # begin of the configuration area of WINCONF application
# body of the application configuration 
[end]     # end of configuration

Because a configuration addresses a specific application, it could be interesting to have a global settings addressing all applications. It is possible with the special tag [Default Settings]. An application not defined in the configuration file will read its settings in this area.

Variables of the config file

For the list of variables, refer to _config structure reference documentation. This structure stores the configuration of the windom application.

Windom2 applications are skinnable

TODO: add some notes about customisation of form objects thanks to userdef LDG.

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