XmComboBox (3)

#include <Xm/ComboBox.h>

XmComboBox combines the capabilities of a single-line TextField widget and a List widget. It allows users to perform opoerations like typing and pasting information, and it also provides a list of possible choices that the user can select from to complete the TextField entry field. The list can either be displayed at all times or can be dropped down by the user. When the list portion of the ComboBox is hidden, users are given a visual cue (a downward-pointing arrow) next to the TextField field. The position of the arrow relative to the TextField field depends on the XmNlayoutDirection resource of the widget. This version of the ComboBox is called the "drop-down" ComboBox. Drop-down ComboBoxes are useful when screen space is limited, or when users will complete the text entry field more often by typing text than by selecting the entry field text from the list. The user can access the drop-down ComboBox in either one of two ways:

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By clicking and releasing <Btn1> on the downward-pointing arrow, which pops the list up, and the list stays up. A later selection of an item in the list will cause the item to appear in the text entry field, and the list will unpost itself.

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By pressing <Btn1> on the downward-pointing arrow, dragging it to a list item, and then releasing it there, which selects that item. The list disappears, and the selected item appears in the text entry field.

The application provides an array of strings that fill the list. At creation time, string items can be passed to the ComboBox via an arglist. Each string becomes an item in the list, with the first string becoming the item in position 1, the second string becoming the item in position 2, and so on. The size of the list is set by specifying the number of items that are visible in the list (XmNvisibleItemCount). If the number of items in the list exceeds the number of items that are visible, a vertical scroll bar will automatically appear that allows the user to scroll through a large number of items.

ComboBox creates two child widgets: a TextField widget for entering text and a ScrolledWindow containing a List for the list of items. The name of the items list itself is List, and the name of the TextField is Text. The application or user can specify resource values for these widgets in a resource file, and the application can use XtNameToWidget (specifying "*List" for the items list or "*Text" for the TextField widget) to obtain the widget IDs of the descendant widgets. At creation time, ComboBox passes appropriate resource values in the creation arglist, including XmNitems, to the items list. Note that the result of providing the XmNdestroyCallback resource in the creation arglist is unspecified. The application should use the XtAddCallback function to add callbacks to the appropriate widget (TextField or List) after creating it.

ComboBox forces the following resource values on its List child:

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If XmNcomboBoxType is XmCOMBO_BOX, XmNtraversalOn is forced to False.

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XmNhighlightThickness is forced to 2 in a drop-down ComboBox and to 0 in other types of ComboBoxes.

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XmNborderWidth is forced to 0.

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XmNnavigationType is forced to XmNONE.

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XmNselectionPolicy is forced to XmBROWSE_SELECT.

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XmNlistSizePolicy is forced to XmVARIABLE.

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XmNspacing is forced to 0.

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XmNvisualPolicy is forced to XmVARIABLE.

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XmNselectedPositions is forced to NULL.

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XmNselectedPositionsCount is forced to 0.

When XmNcomboBoxType is XmDROP_DOWN_LIST, ComboBox forces the following resource values on its TextField child:

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XmNeditable is forced to False.

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XmNcursorPositionVisible is forced to False.

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XmNshadowThickness is forced to 0.

By contrast, when XmNcomboBoxType is XmCOMBO_BOX or XmDROP_DOWN_COMBO_BOX, ComboBox forces the following resource values on its TextField child:

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XmNeditable is forced to True.

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XmNcursorPositionVisible is forced to True.

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XmNeditMode is forced to XmSINGLE_LINE_EDIT.

ComboBox always forces the values of the following resources on the TextField:

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XmNnavigationType is forced to XmNONE.

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XmNhighlightThickness is forced to 0.

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XmNborderWidth is forced to 0.

ComboBox allows a single item to be selected in two ways: by selecting the desired item from the List or by entering text into the TextField. ComboBox does not automatically select a list item if the user types that string into the TextField. It selects the item when the user presses KActivate or moves the focus. ComboBox supports the Browse Select selection model of List (see the XmList reference page for a description of this model), so selections are mutually exclusive. Selecting an item from the list causes that item to be displayed in the TextField portion of the ComboBox. If an application sets the XmNvalue resource of TextField, that string is shown in the TextField. If the application has not provided any list items, or if there is no current selection, the TextField is empty.

The TextField in the ComboBox widget can be either editable or noneditable, depending on the value of the XmNcomboBoxType resource.

If the TextField is editable, the user can type into it. When the user presses the Return key, the ComboBox will compare the typed entry to the items in the List. If there is an exact match, then the matched List item is selected. If the application wishes to validate the entered text (for example, to ensure that the typed selection is a valid one), it can do so by setting XmNmodifyVerifyCallback on the TextField widget.

If the TextField is noneditable, typing text may invoke a matching algorithm that will attempt to match the entered text with items in the list. The specific matching algorithm applied, which may be none, is determined by the value of the XmNmatchBehavior resource in ComboBox, which can be either XmNONE or XmQUICK_NAVIGATE. A value of XmNONE indicates that no matching algorithm will occur. A value of XmQUICK_NAVIGATE indicates that when the List widget has focus, one-character navigation is supported. In this algorithm, if the typed character is the initial character of some item in the List, this algorithm causes that item to be navigated to and selected, and the item is displayed in the TextField. Subsequently typing the same character will cycle among the items with the same first character.

Regardless of the selection mechanism used (either selected directly from the List or typed into the TextField), when an item in the List is selected, that item is highlighted in the List. In addition, the selected item is displayed in the TextField of the ComboBox. If the user performs an action that would move focus away from ComboBox, or selects a List item, the XmNselectionCallback callbacks are invoked to notify the application of the current contents of the TextField (or choice). The application then takes whatever action is required based on those contents (or choice).

ComboBox uses the XmQTspecifyRenderTable trait and holds the XmQTaccessTextual trait.

Classes

XmComboBox inherits behavior, resources, and traits from Core, Composite, and XmManager classes.

The class pointer is xmComboBoxWidgetClass.

The class name is XmComboBox.

New Resources

The following table defines a set of widget resources used by the programmer to specify data. The programmer can also set the resource values for the inherited classes to set attributes for this widget. To reference a resource by name or by class in a .Xdefaults file, remove the XmN or XmC prefix and use the remaining letters. To specify one of the defined values for a resource in a .Xdefaults file, remove the Xm prefix and use the remaining letters (in either lowercase or uppercase, but include any underscores between words). The codes in the access column indicate if the given resource can be at creation time (C), set by using XtSetValues (S), retrieved by using XtGetValues (G), or is not applicable (N/A).

XmNarrowSize

Specifies the width of the arrow. The default size depends on the size of the text, as well as the size of the ComboBox.

XmNarrowSpacing

Specifies the space between the text and arrow visual in pixels. The default value is obtained from the XmNmarginWidth resource.

XmNcolumns

Specifies the number of columns in the text field. If unset, the text field's value is used. Refer to the XmTextField man page for more detailed information.

XmNcomboBoxType

Specifies the type of ComboBox to be created. This can be one of the following:

XmCOMBO_BOX

Generates a ComboBox where the list is always displayed, and the text entry field is editable.

XmDROP_DOWN_COMBO_BOX

Generates a ComboBox where the list is hidden unless specifically requested, and the text entry field is editable.

XmDROP_DOWN_LIST

Generates a ComboBox where the list is hidden unless specifically requested, and the text entry field is noneditable.

XmNfontList

Specifies the fontlist associated with XmComboBox. The fontlist is an obsolete construct, and has been superseded by the render table. It is included for compatibility with earlier versions of Motif, and for applications that do not easily support render tables. The default fontlist is derived from the default render table, and if both a fontlist and a render table are specified, the render table takes precedence.

XmNhighlightThickness

Specifies the thickness of the highlighting rectangle.

XmNitemCount

Specifies the number of items in the list. If unset, the lists's value is used. Refer to the XmList man page for more detailed information.

XmNitems

Specifies the items in the list. If unset, the lists's value is used. Refer to the XmList man page for more detailed information.

XmNlist

The list widget.

XmNmarginWidth

Specifies the horizontal spacing between the child widgets and the boundary of the ComboBox.

XmNmarginHeight

Specifies the vertical spacing between the child widgets and the boundary of the ComboBox.

XmNmatchBehavior

Defines the matching algorithm applied to match the text typed by the user in the TextField field with items in the list. The current values are XmNONE and XmQUICK_NAVIGATE, as follows:

XmNONE

Indicates that there is no assigned matching algorithm.

XmQUICK_NAVIGATE

Is only valid for noneditable ComboBoxes (XmNcomboBoxType resource value XmDROP_DOWN_LIST). This algorithm supports 1-character navigation when the List widget has focus. If the typed character is the initial character of some item in the List, this algorithm causes that item to be navigated to and selected. Subsequently typing the same character will cycle among the items with the same first character.

XmNpositionMode

Specifies how the value of the XmNselectedPosition resource and the item_position field of the callback structure are to be interpreted. Note that the convenience functions XmComboBoxDeletePos and XmComboBoxAddItem are not affected by this resource, and (like XmList) always use 1-based positions. Valid values for this resource are:

XmZERO_BASED

(DtComboBox compatibility mode: default) XmNselectedPosition is in [0,itemcount-1]. The item_position in the XmComboBoxCallbackStruct is 0 if the first element in the list was selected. Note that 0 is also returned if no element in the list was selected (that is, a new item was entered in the text field).

XmONE_BASED

(Motif mode) Both the resource value and the callback fields are 1-based. This is consistent with other Motif widgets.

XmNrenderTable

Specifies the render table associated with ComboBox. This render table is used in both the TextField field and the List in the ComboBox. This is used in conjunction with the XmNvisibleItemCount resource of the List to determine the height of the ComboBox widget.

If this value is NULL at initialization, and if the widget parent is XmBulletinBoard or its subclasses, VendorShell or its subclasses, or XmMenuShell, then the widget parent provides the default render table associated with the widget. If both a render table and a fontlist are specified, the render table will take precedence.

XmNselectedItem

Specifies a compound string that represents the current selection of the ComboBox. The selected item is the content of the ComboBox text entry field.

XmNselectedPosition

If the selection in the ComboBox is an item in the list, this is the index of the selected item in the list. If no item in the list is selected, this is 0.

XmNselectionCallback

Specifies the list of callbacks called when an item is selected. The reason field in the XmComboBoxCallbackStruct is XmCR_SELECT.

XmNtextField

The text field widget.

XmNvisibleItemCount

Specifies the number of visible items in the list. This will override any value specified for the list. Refer to the XmList man page for more detailed information.

Inherited Resources

ComboBox inherits behavior and resources from superclasses described in the following tables. For a complete description of each resource, refer to the reference page for that superclass.

Callback Information

A pointer to the following structure is passed to each callback. The callback structure is defined as follows:

typedef struct
{
        int reason;
        XEvent *event;
        XmString item_or_text;
        int item_position;
} XmComboBoxCallbackStruct;

reason

Indicates why the callback was invoked.

event

Points to the XEvent that triggered the callback. It can be NULL.

item_or_text

The contents of the text field at the time the event caused the callback. The item_or_text parameter points to a temporary storage space that is reused after the callback is finished. If an application needs to save the item, it should copy item_or_text into its own data space.

item_position

The position of item in the list's XmNitems 1-based array. If this is 0, it means that the item_or_text was not selected from the List.

Translations

The ComboBox translations are listed below.

The following key names are listed in the X standard key event translation table syntax. This format is the one used by Motif to specify the widget actions corresponding to a given key. A brief overview of the format is provided under VirtualBindings(3). For a complete description of the format, please refer to the X Toolkit Instrinsics Documentation.

Note:

The KPageUp and KPageDown translations do not take effect unless the List child widget is posted.

<Btn1Down>:

CBArmAndDropDownList()

<Btn1Up>:

CBDisarm()

The following lists the List translations in the drop-down list. When ComboBox XmNcomboBoxType is XmDROP_DOWN_LIST, <osfActivate>, <osfCancel>, and Return are overridden by ComboBox actions.

:c <Key><osfDown>:

CBDropDownList()

:c <Key><osfUp>:

CBDropDownList()

:<Key><osfCancel>:

CBCancel()

:<Key><osfActivate>:

CBActivate()

\(aps \(apm \(apa<Key>Return:

CBActivate()

Accelerators

The following accelerators are added to ComboBox and its children. The accelerators may not directly correspond to a translation table. If the translation is not listed below, it may depend on the context of the event.

:c <Key><osfUp>:

CBDropDownList()

:<Key><osfUp>:

CBListAction(Up)

:c <Key><osfDown>:

CBDropDownList()

:<Key><osfDown>:

CBListAction(Down)

:c <Key><osfBeginLine>:

CBListAction(ListBeginData)

:c <Key><osfEndLine>:

CBListAction(ListEndData)

:<Key><osfPageUp>:

CBListAction(ListPrevPage)

:<Key><osfPageDown>:

CBListAction(ListNextPage)

A drop-down ComboBox also adds accelerators to its List child. Aside from the accelerators that are already listed in this section, those accelerators are the default TextField key translations.

Action Routines

The XmComboBox action routines are as follows:

CBActivate():

Calls the XmNselectionCallback callbacks. If the XmNcomboBoxType is XmDROP_DOWN_COMBO_BOX or XmDROP_DOWN_LIST, it unposts the list. If the parent is a manager, passes the event to the parent.

CBArmAndDropDownList():

If the pointer is within the down arrow, draws the shadow of the arrow in the selected state, and then posts the list.

CBCancel():

If the XmNcomboBoxType is XmDROP_DOWN_COMBO_BOX or XmDROP_DOWN_LIST, pops down the list. If the parent is a manager, passes the event to the parent.

CBDisarm():

Redraws the arrow in an unselected state.

CBDropDownList():

If XmNcomboBoxType is XmDROP_DOWN or XmDROP_DOWN_LIST, and list is not displayed, posts the list. If list is displayed, it unposts the list.

CBListAction(ListBeginData):

Moves the location cursor to the first item in the list. In Normal Mode, this also deselects any current selection, selects the first item in the list, and calls the XmNbrowseSelectionCallback selection callback.

CBListAction(ListEndData):

Moves the location cursor to the last item in the list. In Normal Mode, this also deselects any current selection, selects the last item in the list, and calls the XmNbrowseSelectionCallback selection callback.

CBListAction(ListPrevPage):

Scrolls the list to the previous page, moving the location cursor to a new item. This action also selects the new item, deselects any current selection, and calls the XmNbrowseSelectionCallback callbacks. If the ComboBox is not a drop-down type, then this action does nothing.

CBListAction(ListNextPage):

Scrolls the list to the next page, moving the location cursor to a new item. This action also selects the new item, deselects any current selection, and calls the XmNbrowseSelectionCallback callbacks. If the ComboBox is not a drop-down type, then this action does nothing.

CBListAction(Up):

Moves the location cursor to the previous item in the list. This action also selects the previous item, deselects any current selection, and calls the XmNbrowseSelectionCallback callbacks. Note that, unlike the List ListPrevItem action, this action wraps around.

CBListAction(Down):

Moves the location cursor to the next item in the list. This action also selects the next item, deselects any current selection, and calls the XmNbrowseSelectionCallback callbacks. Note that, unlike the List ListNextItem action, this action wraps around.

Virtual Bindings

The bindings for virtual keys are vendor specific. For information about bindings for virtual buttons and keys, see VirtualBindings(3).

The toolkit will display a warning if the application tries to set the value of XmNlist or the XmNtextField resource, which are read-only (marked G in the resource table).

Composite(3), Core(3), XmCreateComboBox(3), XmList(3), XmManager(3), XmTextField(3), XmVaCreateComboBox(3), and XmVaCreateManagedComboBox(3).