Combining GuiMLTextCtrl with GuiTextList?

#1 I too do want a similar control, but more in line of recreating the Windows like ListCtrl(known as in Report view mode) that was used in the Tribes 2 server browser:

dottools.net/~tron/imgs/Tribes2_Browser.png

I've looked into it before but I was kind of discouraged once I looked at the quite messing item array code used in GuiTextList.

Edit: Changed embedded image to a link instead.

#2 Consider not using the text list, but a stack of guicontainers created dynamically in script. Each guicontainer would be a 'row'.

You can assign the colors by switching the profiles of the row elements.

No source changes required.

#3 That was another one of my options, but here's the issued problem.

What happens when you exceed the size of the list (IE: say I max out the players (18-24). You would the need to have it scrolled.

Any input on that route? I would definitely be interested in trimming out source editing from this if possible.

*edit*

I mentioned earlier that profiles on the elements was not a possible route here

my fields would be as so:

[color:clanTagcolor]ClanTag[/color][img:rankicon]UserName

#4 The stack goes within a guiscrollctrl.

Why can't you use profiles, and when did you mention that? Not sure I understand. Profiles can be dynamically generated also.

I use the technique I describe for all list like elements in my game, have different colors based on status and and whether or not it is selected. Works well and easy to use/modify.

for instance a fcn to return a gui element and assign a profile (shortened for brevity):

function addPlayerListItem(%clanprofile){
   
   %playerrow = new GuiContainer() {
                              ...
   };
   

   %playerrow.datablockselector = new GuiPopUpMenuCtrl() {
      profile = "GuiPopUpMenuProfile";
      position = "220 5";
      extent = "150 20";...
   };
   %playerrow.deletebutton = new GuiButtonCtrl() {
      text = "X";...
   };
   %playerrow.camerabutton = new GuiButtonCtrl() {
      text = "C";...
   };
   %playerrow.selectbutton = new GuiButtonCtrl() {
      text = "select";...
   };
   
   %playerrow.name = new GuiTextCtrl() {
      text = "Name";
      profile = %clanprofile;...
   };
   
   %playerrow.add(%playerrow.name);
   %playerrow.add(%playerrow.datablockselector);
   %playerrow.add(%playerrow.selectbutton);
   %playerrow.add(%playerrow.camerabutton);
   %playerrow.add(%playerrow.deletebutton);
   
   return %playerrow;

}

The internal gui elements can be addressed using the var names I've assigned them (ie in a loop). So to change the profile for the name element (assuming you assign guielement to the row you are addressing):

%guielement.name.setProfile("NewProfile");

For ease of creation, I use the gui editor to create a row visually to get it to look as I want, then copy/paste the relevant bits into my code.

#5 Wow.... I really need to learn more advanced things with torque's gui System. I didn't even notice you could do it that way before x_x. Sorry about that.

I'll give this method a shot and report back.

#6 One very useful aspect I didnt mention but I use all the time is adding other vars to the row you may need ie:

function addPlayerListItem(%clanprofile, %somevar, %someothervar){  
    ...
   %playerrow.add(%playerrow.deletebutton);  

   %playerrow.ausefulvar = %somevar;
   %playerrow.anothervar = %someothervar;
 
   return %playerrow;    


}

You can then get/set these vars as you need them. ie:

somefcnthatneedsthevar(%guirowelement.ausefulvar);

Super extra handy.

#7 well, after getting the code updated, I'm pleased to say that it's looking great.


Don't mind ze fake players I made up just to test it :P

Thanks for the help.

#8 I figured I would post an update here to show off my progress on the very control I've always wanted in Torque since it was gutted out from Tribes 2 codebase that I've been working on in my spare time which is a reimplementation of ShellFancyTextList control:

Can grab the actual video file here. (H264 - 1.33MBytes)

Currently Working:

• Columns with headers.
• Per column text alignment attributes, controlled via text keyword flags when using addColumn().
• Columns are now properly draw clipped and columns that are not visible in scroll client space are skipped during rendering.

TODO:

• Reuse torque markup language in row contents to support multicolor text and bitmap images. Might just go ahead and do the same thing for column headers too.
• Sort order rules which are rules that can be added/edited/removed to control how all the columns are ordered instead of the most typical implementation of only one or two columns can be specified for sorting order.
• others that I might be forgetting.

And to put things into perspective is the torquescript that populated the test server list during the test video:

function GameBrowserGui::onDialogPush(%this)
{
	
	%obj = GServerList;
	
	if(%obj.getColumnCount())
		return;
	
//	%obj.clearRows();
//	%obj.clearColumns();
//	%obj.clearSortOrders();
	
	%key = 0;	
	%obj.addColumn(%key++, "Server Name", 281, 25, 300, "center");
	%obj.addColumn(%key++, "Favorite", 50, 25, 75, "center");
	%obj.addColumn(%key++, "Status", 50, 25, 75, "center");
	%obj.addColumn(%key++, "Ping", 45, 25, 120, "numeric");
	%obj.addColumn(%key++, "Mission Name", 100, 25, 300, "center");
	%obj.addColumn(%key++, "# Players (Bots)", 155, 25, 150, "center");
	%obj.addColumn(%key++, "CPU", 80, 25, 120, "numeric");
	%obj.addColumn(%key++, "Address:Port", 170, 25, 200, "right");
	%obj.addColumn(%key++, "Game Type", 80, 25, 200, "center");
	%obj.addColumn(%key++, "Version", 80, 52, 200, "numeric");
	
	%key = 0;
	for(%i=0; %i<50; %i++)
	{
		%this.AddServer(%key++, "Test Server" @ %key, "Good", getRandom(42, 168), "Mars - Section" @ getRandom(1, 9),
						getRandom(0, 28) @ "/28 (00)", getRandom(900, 3300) @ " MHz", "192.168.100.117" @ ":" @ (28000 + %i),
						"Team Deathmatch", "201107b");
	}
}

function GameBrowserGui::AddServer(%this, %id, %name, %status, %ping, %mission, %players, %cpu, %addr, %type, %version)
{
	%fav = "";
	
	%text = %name TAB %fav TAB %status TAB %ping TAB %mission TAB %players TAB %cpu TAB %addr TAB %type TAB %version;
	GServerList.addRow(%id, %text);
}

function GTestSlider::OnMouseDragged(%this)
{
	// change column Game Type's width size
	GServerList.setColumnWidth(8, GTestSlider.getValue());
}

:)

#9 Very cool, keep us posted on this. You should resource it when it's done to make it a community enhancement. I'm sure many (including myself) would find a use for it.

#10 That would be VERY useful!

#11 I've been making good progress for the past week during my spare time, so here's what it currently looks like:

I plan on posting this as a resource and a blog post explaining how it works anywhere from this weekend to another week or two depending on how much free time I have available to me to get it finished and documented. Until then enjoy the eye candy. :)

#12 Looks sweet. I'm working on a data heavy project and have had to fix or modify a number of GUI controls to get them to do what I want. Looking forward to trying this out.

#13 Looking forward to this, looks really good so far.

#14 It took me over two weeks later, but I finally did it. I introduce to you GuiModernTextListCtrl. Have fun :)