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 choose. 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 *)
| 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)
| 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 *)
| 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 *)
| 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)
| 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:

#include <FL/Fl_Native_File_Chooser.H>

The following example shows how to pick a single file:

// Create and post the local native file chooser
#include <FL/Fl_Native_File_Chooser.H>
[..]
Fl_Native_File_Chooser fnfc;
fnfc.title("Pick a file");
fnfc.type(Fl_Native_File_Chooser::BROWSE_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

- Under X windows, it's best if you call Fl_File_Icon::load_system_icons() at the start of main(), to enable the nicer looking file browser widgets. Use the static public attributes of class Fl_File_Chooser to localize the browser.
- Some operating systems support certain OS specific options; see Fl_Native_File_Chooser::options() for a list.

The Fl_Native_File_Chooser on different platforms.

## Member Enumeration Documentation

enum Fl_Native_File_Chooser::Option

Enumerator
NO_OPTIONS | no options enabled
SAVEAS_CONFIRM | Show native 'Save As' overwrite confirm dialog (if supported)
NEW_FOLDER | Show 'New Folder' icon (if supported)
PREVIEW | enable preview mode
USE_FILTER_EXT | Chooser filter pilots the output file extension.

enum Fl_Native_File_Chooser::Type

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 choose.

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 * | val | ) |

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 | val | ) |

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 | val | ) |

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 * | val | ) |

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 * | val | ) |

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:

- Fl_Native_File_Chooser.H
- Fl_Native_File_Chooser.cxx
- Fl_Native_File_Chooser_FLTK.cxx

- © 1998-2012 by Bill Spitzak and others.