Short:        GadTools based GUI layout engine
Author:       mberg@datashopper.dk (Michael Berg)
Uploader:     mberg datashopper dk (Michael Berg)
Type:         dev/gui
Version:      1.2
Replaces:     dev/gui/gfront*
Architecture: m68k-amigaos


                                 GUIFront

                    A GadTools based GUI layout engine

                                Release 1.2
                           Library version 38.1

                 Copyright (C) 1994, 1995 by Michael Berg
                            All rights Reserved


1. Brief description

2. History


1. Brief description
--------------------

GUIFront is a shared library which provides a means of creating fully font
sensitive graphic user interfaces (GUIs) with a minimum of programming
efford. It also provides a couple of visual enhancements over GadTools, and
a more convenient method of handling gadget hotkey shortcuts. It includes a
preferences editor which allows per-application GUI configurations.

The most important features of GUIFront is:

* GadTools foundation, very easy to come to grips with
* Generates fully font sensitive interfaces
* Automatic hotkey handling, including shift-cancellable buttons
* Easy backfilling of windows
* Automatic group framing
* Frame headlines
* Public screen support
* New GETALT_KIND with images for file, dir, font, screenmode and "other"
* Automatic ASL requesters
* Hotkey aliasing - use ENTER or even F10 as gadget hotkeys
* Offers attractive new XEN look
* Easy to program, tags with suitable default values used most everywhere
* Executables are generally small, most code embedded in the library itself
* Fully supports localizing, including gadget labels and menus
* Preferences editor (localized) allowing customization of applications
* Simple installation (only one library and the preferences editor)
* Small - library ~40k, prefs editor ~30k

The preferences editor allows you to customize...

* Gadget fonts
* Frame headline fonts
* Frame headline style (text style, color, left/center/right leading etc)
* Gadget rendering style for each gadget kind (XEN or normal)
* Refreshing (simple or smart)
* Backfill patterns
* Public screen information

Every setting is controllable on a per-application basis, allowing the user
full control over visual appearance for each application.

2. History
----------

The following denotes the most signifficant changes made to the library.
The most recent version is listed first.

For a history of the preferences editor, please refer to GUIFront.guide in
the Prefs directory.

11.10.95 - Release 1.2, library version 38.1 (Public release)
    - All source recompiled with SAS/C 6.55.
    - Fixed problems with layouting empty groups
    - Minor problems with the autodocs fixed (Mike Barsoom, Volker Stolz)
    - Public Screen support! Hooray! :-)
    - Added autoinit code for SAS/C 6.x users
    - Added GUI_LockGUI tag (works like GF_LockGUI())
    - Added masking control tags (GUI_GadgetMask, GUI_GroupMask,
        GUIL_GadgetMask, GUIL_GroupMask)
    - Fixed serious layout problem with GUILF_EqualSize (Arthur Choung)
    - Added missing documentation for ALT_AslTags
    - Various optimizations in layout engine
    - Added GNU support (Gunther Nikl, gnikl@informatik.uni-rostock.de)
    - Added Oberon support (Volker Stolz, vok@tindrum.tng.oche.de)
    - Added Modula-2 support (Stefan Schulz, schulz@rhrk.uni-kl.de)