Here is the definition for a template control, which allows you to cycle through a list of pre-defined values:
<template name="multitext">
<stringcontrolX>
<statelabels mergerule="resetandadd">
<state>On</state>
<state>Off</state>
</statelabels>
<static />
<script>
local sourcelessvalue = 1;
local enabled = true;
function setState(state)
if self.beforeStateChanged then
state = self.beforeStateChanged(state);
end
if state == nil or state == false then
state = 1;
end
if source then
source.setValue(state);
else
sourcelessvalue = state;
update();
end
end
function update()
if source then
setValue(statelabels[1].state[source.getValue()]);
else
setValue(statelabels[1].state[sourcelessvalue]);
end
if self.onStateChanged then
self.onStateChanged();
end
end
function getState()
if source then
return source.getValue();
else
return sourcelessvalue;
end
end
function onClickDown(button, x, y)
if enabled then
local newstate = getState() + 1;
if newstate > table.getn(statelabels[1].state) then
newstate = 1;
end
setState(newstate);
end
end
function onInit()
if super
and super.onInit then
super.onInit();
end
setValue(statelabels[1].state[1]);
if not sourceless and window.getDatabaseNode() then
if sourcename then
source = window.getDatabaseNode().createChild(sourcename[1], "number");
else
source = window.getDatabaseNode().createChild(getName(), "number");
end
if source then
source.onUpdate = update;
update();
end
if window.getDatabaseNode().isStatic() then
enabled = false;
end
else
if state then
sourcelessvalue = state[1];
update();
end
end
if readonly then
enabled = false;
end
end
function setEnabled(state)
if not sourceless and window.getDatabaseNode() then
if window.getDatabaseNode().isStatic() then
state = false;
end
end
enabled = state;
end
</script>
</stringcontrolX>
</template>
The following shows how this might be used in an NPC sheet:
<multitext name="npctype">
<anchored>
... some anchoring ...
</anchored>
<font>sheettextsmall</font>
<script>
function onInit()
if super and super.onInit then
super.onInit();
end
if getState() < 1 then
setState(1);
elseif getState() > 3 then
setState(3);
end
end
function onStateChanged()
... change the layout of the sheet ...
end
</script>
<statelabels>
<state>Normal NPC</state>
<state>Evil Monster</state>
<state>Special NPC</state>
</statelabels>
</multitext>
There are three things to take account of, when creating sheets with dynamic layout:
Showing/hiding the right controls;
Ensuring that the flow of layout doesn't create gaps; and
Tab order.
Assuming you use the multitext control (although if you only have two types of NPC you can use a checkbox, like C&C) the first of these is dealt with in the onStateChanged event handler. By examing the getState() result (which returns a number between 1 and n, where n is the number of different text labels), you can selectively show or hide the controls and labels on the NPC sheet.
Flow layout can be handled in two ways. If life is kind to you, the different NPC fields will just replace each other (maybe a normal NPC has a HP field, but a Monster has a Hit Dice field) in which case you set their anchoring/bounds to the same place and show either one or the other.
If life is less kind, you can use relative anchoring, which works a bit like HTML flow, putting a control on the windowclass at the 'next position' relative to some starting point. Having other controls above or below it just causes the layout to change automatically. A great example of this can be found in the Combat Tracker code, where dynamic windows for attacks, defences and effects flow one after the other.
The final item (tab order) is more of a pain. The short answer is that tab order cannot be set dynamically, so removing and adding fields causes the windowclass to behave oddly (you still tab to a field, even though it isn't shown).
The longer answer involves using stringcontrols, which have an onTab event that can be wired to redirect the focus to the next field. Unfortunately there is no such event for numbercontrols, and you have to fudge it by placing hidden stringcontrols before and after the numbercontrols, to bounce the focus on or back. Unless this is really essential, I suggest you leave it to a later release.
Hope this is some help!
Stuart