Common Desktop Environment

This user guide introduces the Application Builder (App Builder), a development tool designed to simplify the creation and prototyping of user interfaces for DIGITAL UNIX. It allows users, including programmers, UI designers, and project managers, to build and modify interfaces without writing extensive code, enabling more time for design and testing.

The document systematically covers the entire process of using App Builder, from initial setup to application deployment:

1. Getting Started: Provides an overview of App Builder's primary window, its fundamental processes, object types (windows, panes, controls), and rules for dragging and dropping objects to lay out a user interface.
2. Managing Projects and Modules: Explains how to create, open, save, rename, import, export, show, hide, and remove both projects and their constituent modules.
3. Laying Out a User Interface: Details the drag-and-drop mechanism for placing windows, panes, and controls, along with instructions for selecting, editing (cut, copy, paste, delete), aligning, and distributing interface objects.
4. Editing Properties: Describes how to customize the appearance and behavior of interface objects using the Revolving Property Editor, including color selection and setting various object-specific characteristics.
5. Creating Panes, Menus, and Messages: Covers the creation and editing of more complex UI elements such as child panes, layered panes, paned windows, comprehensive menus (including submenus and help menus), and message dialog boxes, including examples of integrating custom code for messages.
6. Adding Functionality: Focuses on connecting interactive elements, including creating and linking on-item help and help volumes, establishing programmatic connections between objects, and defining drag-and-drop behavior and application framework settings (e.g., internationalization, session management, ToolTalk message handling).
7. Grouping and Attaching Objects: Explains how to group control objects and attach them to each other to ensure dynamic layout behavior and consistent spacing during resizing or text changes.
8. Testing: Guides users through testing menus, help features, and connections in App Builder's test mode before full code generation.
9. Generating Code and Building an Application: Outlines the process of generating application code, incorporating user-written code, compiling, and running the application, including options for code generation and environment settings.

Appendices provide detailed descriptions of App Builder's windows, dialog boxes, palettes, and various property editors.