FLTK 1.3.3
Fl_Native_File_Chooser Class Reference

This class lets an FLTK application easily and consistently access the operating system's native file chooser. More...

#include <Fl_Native_File_Chooser.H>

Public Types

enum  Option {
  NO_OPTIONS = 0x0000, SAVEAS_CONFIRM = 0x0001, NEW_FOLDER = 0x0002, PREVIEW = 0x0004,
  USE_FILTER_EXT = 0x0008
}
 
enum  Type {
  BROWSE_FILE = 0, BROWSE_DIRECTORY, BROWSE_MULTI_FILE, BROWSE_MULTI_DIRECTORY,
  BROWSE_SAVE_FILE, BROWSE_SAVE_DIRECTORY
}
 

Public Member Functions

int count () const
 Returns the number of filenames (or directory names) the user selected. More...
 
void directory (const char *val)
 Preset the directory the browser will show when opened. More...
 
const char * directory () const
 Returns the current preset directory() value.
 
const char * errmsg () const
 Returns a system dependent error message for the last method that failed. More...
 
const char * filename () const
 Return the filename the user chose. More...
 
const char * filename (int i) const
 Return one of the filenames the user selected. More...
 
const char * filter () const
 Returns the filter string last set. More...
 
void filter (const char *f)
 Sets the filename filters used for browsing. More...
 
void filter_value (int i)
 Sets which filter will be initially selected. More...
 
int filter_value () const
 Returns which filter value was last selected by the user. More...
 
int filters () const
 Gets how many filters were available, not including "All Files".
 
 Fl_Native_File_Chooser (int val=BROWSE_FILE)
 The constructor. More...
 
void options (int o)
 Sets the platform specific chooser options to val. More...
 
int options () const
 Gets the platform specific Fl_Native_File_Chooser::Option flags.
 
void preset_file (const char *f)
 Sets the default filename for the chooser. More...
 
const char * preset_file () const
 Get the preset filename.
 
int show ()
 Post the chooser's dialog. More...
 
void title (const char *t)
 Set the title of the file chooser's dialog window. More...
 
const char * title () const
 Get the title of the file chooser's dialog window. More...
 
void type (int t)
 Sets the current Fl_Native_File_Chooser::Type of browser.
 
int type () const
 Gets the current Fl_Native_File_Chooser::Type of browser.
 
 ~Fl_Native_File_Chooser ()
 Destructor. More...
 

Static Public Attributes

static const char * file_exists_message = "File exists. Are you sure you want to overwrite?"
 Localizable message.
 

Detailed Description

This class lets an FLTK application easily and consistently access the operating system's native file chooser.

Some operating systems have very complex and specific file choosers that many users want access to specifically, instead of FLTK's default file chooser(s).

In cases where there is no native file browser, FLTK's own file browser is used instead.

To use this widget, use the following include in your code:

The following example shows how to pick a single file:

// Create and post the local native file chooser
[..]
fnfc.title("Pick a file");
fnfc.filter("Text\t*.txt\n"
"C Files\t*.{cxx,h,c}");
fnfc.directory("/var/tmp"); // default directory to use
// Show native chooser
switch ( fnfc.show() ) {
case -1: printf("ERROR: %s\n", fnfc.errmsg()); break; // ERROR
case 1: printf("CANCEL\n"); break; // CANCEL
default: printf("PICKED: %s\n", fnfc.filename()); break; // FILE CHOSEN
}

The Fl_Native_File_Chooser widget transmits UTF-8 encoded filenames to its user. It is recommended to open files that may have non-ASCII names with the fl_fopen() or fl_open() utility functions that handle these names in a cross-platform way (whereas the standard fopen()/open() functions fail on the MSWindows platform to open files with a non-ASCII name).

Platform Specific Caveats

Fl_Native_File_Chooser.png
The Fl_Native_File_Chooser on different platforms.

Member Enumeration Documentation

Enumerator
NO_OPTIONS 

no options enabled

SAVEAS_CONFIRM 

Show native 'Save As' overwrite confirm dialog.

NEW_FOLDER 

Show 'New Folder' icon (if supported)

PREVIEW 

enable preview mode (if supported)

USE_FILTER_EXT 

Chooser filter pilots the output file extension (if supported)

Enumerator
BROWSE_FILE 

browse files (lets user choose one file)

BROWSE_DIRECTORY 

browse directories (lets user choose one directory)

BROWSE_MULTI_FILE 

browse files (lets user choose multiple files)

BROWSE_MULTI_DIRECTORY 

browse directories (lets user choose multiple directories)

BROWSE_SAVE_FILE 

browse to save a file

BROWSE_SAVE_DIRECTORY 

browse to save a directory

Constructor & Destructor Documentation

Fl_Native_File_Chooser::Fl_Native_File_Chooser ( int  val = BROWSE_FILE)

The constructor.

Internally allocates the native widgets. Optional val presets the type of browser this will be, which can also be changed with type().

Fl_Native_File_Chooser::~Fl_Native_File_Chooser ( )

Destructor.

Deallocates any resources allocated to this widget.

Member Function Documentation

int Fl_Native_File_Chooser::count ( ) const

Returns the number of filenames (or directory names) the user selected.

Example:

if ( fnfc->show() == 0 ) {
// Print all filenames user selected
for (int n=0; n<fnfc->count(); n++ ) {
printf("%d) '%s'\n", n, fnfc->filename(n));
}
}
void Fl_Native_File_Chooser::directory ( const char *  val)

Preset the directory the browser will show when opened.

If val is NULL, or no directory is specified, the chooser will attempt to use the last non-cancelled folder.

const char * Fl_Native_File_Chooser::errmsg ( ) const

Returns a system dependent error message for the last method that failed.

This message should at least be flagged to the user in a dialog box, or to some kind of error log. Contents will be valid only for methods that document errmsg() will have info on failures.

const char * Fl_Native_File_Chooser::filename ( ) const

Return the filename the user chose.

Use this if only expecting a single filename. If more than one filename is expected, use filename(int) instead. Return value may be "" if no filename was chosen (eg. user cancelled).

const char * Fl_Native_File_Chooser::filename ( int  i) const

Return one of the filenames the user selected.

Use count() to determine how many filenames the user selected.

Example:

if ( fnfc->show() == 0 ) {
// Print all filenames user selected
for (int n=0; n<fnfc->count(); n++ ) {
printf("%d) '%s'\n", n, fnfc->filename(n));
}
}
const char * Fl_Native_File_Chooser::filter ( ) const

Returns the filter string last set.

Can be NULL if no filter was set.

void Fl_Native_File_Chooser::filter ( const char *  f)

Sets the filename filters used for browsing.

The default is NULL, which browses all files.

The filter string can be any of:

  • A single wildcard (eg. "*.txt")
  • Multiple wildcards (eg. "*.{cxx,h,H}")
  • A descriptive name followed by a "\t" and a wildcard (eg. "Text Files\t*.txt")
  • A list of separate wildcards with a "\n" between each (eg. "*.{cxx,H}\n*.txt")
  • A list of descriptive names and wildcards (eg. "C++ Files\t*.{cxx,H}\nTxt Files\t*.txt")

The format of each filter is a wildcard, or an optional user description followed by '\t' and the wildcard.

On most platforms, each filter is available to the user via a pulldown menu in the file chooser. The 'All Files' option is always available to the user.

void Fl_Native_File_Chooser::filter_value ( int  i)

Sets which filter will be initially selected.

The first filter is indexed as 0. If filter_value()==filters(), then "All Files" was chosen. If filter_value() > filters(), then a custom filter was set.

int Fl_Native_File_Chooser::filter_value ( ) const

Returns which filter value was last selected by the user.

This is only valid if the chooser returns success.

void Fl_Native_File_Chooser::options ( int  o)

Sets the platform specific chooser options to val.

val is expected to be one or more Fl_Native_File_Chooser::Option flags ORed together. Some platforms have OS-specific functions that can be enabled/disabled via this method.

Flag Description Win Mac Other
-------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------- ------- -------
NEW_FOLDER Shows the 'New Folder' button. Ignored Used Used
PREVIEW Enables the 'Preview' mode by default. Ignored Ignored Used
SAVEAS_CONFIRM Confirm dialog if BROWSE_SAVE_FILE file exists. Used Used Used
USE_FILTER_EXT Chooser filter pilots the output file extension. Ignored Used Ignored
void Fl_Native_File_Chooser::preset_file ( const char *  f)

Sets the default filename for the chooser.

Use directory() to set the default directory. Mainly used to preset the filename for save dialogs, and on most platforms can be used for opening files as well.

int Fl_Native_File_Chooser::show ( )

Post the chooser's dialog.

Blocks until dialog has been completed or cancelled.

Returns
  • 0 – user picked a file
  • 1 – user cancelled
  • -1 – failed; errmsg() has reason
void Fl_Native_File_Chooser::title ( const char *  t)

Set the title of the file chooser's dialog window.

Can be NULL if no title desired. The default title varies according to the platform, so you are advised to set the title explicitly.

const char * Fl_Native_File_Chooser::title ( ) const

Get the title of the file chooser's dialog window.

Return value may be NULL if no title was set.


The documentation for this class was generated from the following files: