As discussed in the previous sections, the area of the window that you can resize is called the client area. Essentially, the screen is the window less decorative properties, or decorations. To give your pictures a custom design and look, you can select or modify the following window decorations:
- Title bars – Adds a title bar to your picture.
- System menus – Adds system menus to your picture.
- Sizing borders – Adds sizing borders so that you can resize (or scroll) your window.
To show or hide the decorations listed above, select or deselect the appropriate check boxes in the Edit Picture dialog box. The window decorations enabled by default appear on the Picture Preferences tabbed page when you open a new picture.
Additionally, you can add the following window properties to your picture:
- Always on Top – Configures the window so that it is always on top when you open it. You can select this feature in the Edit Picture dialog box, from the picture preferences tab in the User Preferences dialog box and the Property Window.
- Click and Stick Enabled – Allows you to view which objects can be selected, can perform actions, or can have actions performed on them. You can select this feature from the picture preferences tab in the User Preferences dialog box. You cannot select this feature from the Property Window.
- Grid Enabled – Displays a grid on the window. You can select this feature in the Edit Picture dialog box, from the picture preferences tab in the User Preferences dialog box and the Property Window.
- Snap to Grid – Allows objects to snap to a grid point in a grid. You can select this feature from the picture preferences tab in the User Preferences dialog box and the Property Window.
- Runtime Visible – Allows you to run a picture in memory without a visible display in the run-time environment. You can select this feature in the Edit Picture dialog box and the Property Window.
- Disable caching for this picture – allows you to disable picture caching for an individual picture. You can select this feature in the Edit Picture dialog box. See the Using Picture Caching section for more information about picture caching.
Each of the available properties can be turned on or off, allowing you to create the exact look and feel you want. For example, you can:
- Simulate dialog boxes by creating a window with the title bar and system menu enabled.
- Create a tool palette for operators using a window with the sizing borders and system menu disabled.
- Create an opening title screen by creating a window with the full screen enabled, and the other window properties disabled.
- Simulate an alarm condition where an object makes a sound when the cursor passes over an object. Do this by creating a window with Click and Stick Enabled selected.
Creating Picture Types Using Window Properties
Use the following table as a guideline to help you define your picture properties.
For more information on the window and screen in an iFIX document, refer to the section, The Window.
