IDE Coolbar lazarus / 11-Options ---------------------------------------------------------------------- balazsszekely · 2015-03-19 20:33 Hi, I almost finished the coolbar implementation: http://youtu.be/qOwAQVqaG5E Any ideas, suggestions are welcomed. Question: Should we make a "Layout profile" setting for the whole IDE? regards, GetMem ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Zoran · 2015-03-19 20:55 GetMem, this looks very nice! Thank you! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- balazsszekely · 2015-03-19 21:19 @Zoran Thank you! The credits goes to:  TCoolbar(@JuhaManninen and @Blaazen), Config Window(@Graeme)!  I just put all the pieces together. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wp · 2015-03-19 21:26 Impressive! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- zamtmn · 2015-03-19 21:47 GetMem Looks very cool! Thanks! How about a vertical panels? with the ability dock to either side docked IDE? and the possibility of float panels? >>Question: Should we make a "Layout profile" setting for the whole IDE? Yes! But do not forget AnchorDocking package http://bugs.freepascal.org/view.php?id=21076 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JanRoza · 2015-03-19 22:00 Very well done! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JuhaManninen · 2015-03-20 07:23 Quote from: zamtmn on March 19, 2015, 10:47:36 pm>>Question: Should we make a "Layout profile" setting for the whole IDE? Yes! But do not forget AnchorDocking package http://bugs.freepascal.org/view.php?id=21076 There is the Mantis issue. I remembered there is one but didn't find it. Note, this "Layout profile" or however we call it is not restricted to AnchorDocking. It can be used for the default floating windows, too. Now the windows' visibility and location are stored in session, they would be stored in some profiles, too. I think the coming IDE toolbar config should be part of the layout profile config. How to implement it? This new IDE Coolbar can be the first feature to use these profiles but the config GUI and storage should be designed before that. How does the Delphi' configuration GUI look like? I don't have any recent Delphi available now. I don't say we should imitate it but just get ideas. Screenshots maybe ... Anyone? Other Lazarus developers didn't have ideas, at least I didn't get answers. GetMem, the feature can be done in pieces. You can send a patch without the layout profile thingy. The Coolbar solution looks cool! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- zamtmn · 2015-03-20 11:27 >>How does the Delphi' configuration GUI look like? I also not have delphi to answer this question. I think it should be a uniform mechanism for storing\restoring the panels settings and installed dockmanager state ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JuhaManninen · 2015-03-20 11:38 Quote from: zamtmn on March 20, 2015, 12:27:44 pm>>How does the Delphi' configuration GUI look like? I also not have delphi to answer this question. I think it should be a uniform mechanism for storing\restoring the panels settings and installed dockmanager state There already is a uniform mechanism for storing\restoring IDE windows, docked or not docked. I am now asking a little more specific ideas about how the configuration GUI for "layout profile" should look like and where it should be located. Is the IDE window + toolbar layout enough or should this "layout profile" thingy be extended with something else? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- gonz0 · 2015-11-26 13:35 I am sorry for bringing up this old thread. I really like this concept and i am wondering if it was released? I can't find it anywhere. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JuhaManninen · 2015-11-26 14:06 Quote from: gonz0 on November 26, 2015, 02:35:19 pmI really like this concept and i am wondering if it was released? I can't find it anywhere. You can find it in trunk.  svn co http://svn.freepascal.org/svn/lazarus/trunk lazarus or the same thing using TortoiseSVN. Then just build with "make bigide" and run it. No need to install the binaries anywhere else. Easy and fun! And yes, the new desktop feature works beautifully. Kudos goes mostly to Ondrej Pokorny. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- gonz0 · 2015-11-26 15:44 Thanks, works nice and looks fantastic! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- staratel20 · 2016-01-26 08:14 Nice work, looks cool! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- staratel20 · 2026-04-04 22:44 balazsszekely: can I contact you somehow to discuss a huge improvement? All will be grateful to us if this will be implemented. Write me a DM if you read it or something... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wp · 2026-04-04 23:36 Balasz has not been active for quite a while now. If you have an idea for improvement why don't you discuss it in public? Or, when you even have code for it, send a ticket to the bug tracker (find the link on the left side-bar). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- staratel20 · 2026-04-05 17:57 I have no problem discussing this in public. I just wanted the right person to see it — someone who can actually implement it 🙂 I have some code that was generated by “my friend” (the first letter is 'A' and the last one, you can guess, is 'I' )) ). I’ve tried to make it work and made some improvements — mainly fixing some errors. But to make it fully work, you really need to see the whole picture. I’m sure that if I had written Lazarus myself, I would have implemented this feature without much difficulty. I like a lot the function Desktops, which is very convenient for debugging in different cases. And one time I thought - oh, it would be nice to have the similar feature for the project with the same interface ( I mean - the dedicated button next to the Desktops, named Layouts and absolutely the same popup menu for it ). But the concept of Layouts is essentially - saving the 'current vision' of editor with IDE break points and watch lists - so you  can activate them for certain issues (and you can name issues and you name desktops). It’s a kind of quick solution for when too many units are open and you want to get back to debugging exactly the same issue. We can only guess how much time it will save — no IDE has such a feature today (or at least I’m not aware of any). So I’m gladly posting the code here and welcome anyone who would like to take it and integrate it into the IDE. I would create a ticket, but I probably did that a long time ago (if I did it at all), so I’ll just attach the code here and hope it will be helpful. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Martin_fr · 2026-04-05 18:10 Quote from: staratel20 on April 05, 2026, 07:57:22 pm saving the 'current vision' of editor with IDE break points and watch lists - so you  can activate them for certain issues (and you can name issues and you name desktops). It’s a kind of quick solution for when too many units are open and you want to get back to debugging exactly the same issue. I think you mean the  "session". That is everything that is stored in the *.lps file (if you didn't select to have it stored as part of the lpi). You can easily test it, by - backing the lps up - making changes - switch to another project, while switched restore the lps - switch back => and all that should be restored. Actually: nice idea. (no, I hadn't had time to look at your attached sample, sorry...) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- staratel20 · 2026-04-06 00:20 Thanks Martin. I hope people like it and someone experienced will integrate/implement it. I believe that the guy is here)). I believe, humanity thanks to him in advance) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- staratel20 · 2026-04-18 17:02 So, I’m wondering if someone is trying to implement it. I can help if needed ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JuhaManninen · 2026-04-20 06:20 Quote from: staratel20 on April 18, 2026, 07:02:23 pmSo, I’m wondering if someone is trying to implement it. I can help if needed Sorry but Open Source does not work like that. You throw out an idea and then expect others to implement it. No, you must implement it yourself. Then if others see it as good they may contribute. You get help when you ask specific questions with code proving that you really try. QuoteI’m sure that if I had written Lazarus myself, I would have implemented this feature without much difficulty. Yeah. Lazarus is written by many people during decades. I don't think any one single person could write such a big piece of SW. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Martin_fr · 2026-04-20 17:40 Quote from: JuhaManninen on April 20, 2026, 08:20:24 amQuote from: staratel20 on April 18, 2026, 07:02:23 pmSo, I’m wondering if someone is trying to implement it. I can help if needed Sorry but Open Source does not work like that. You throw out an idea and then expect others to implement it. No, you must implement it yourself. Then if others see it as good they may contribute. You get help when you ask specific questions with code proving that you really try. QuoteI’m sure that if I had written Lazarus myself, I would have implemented this feature without much difficulty. Yeah. Lazarus is written by many people during decades. I don't think any one single person could write such a big piece of SW. Well, looking at "unleashed" => people throw out ideas (ok they were invited to do so), and they get done... That said, it is rare... IMHO, the thing about ideas is not that they get presented. But managing expectations. I have in the past picked up some ideas, but usually for stuff that I anyway work on. There I am actually glad for ideas, because I don't know how other use the tools I write (and yet I mean those tools to be used by all). This idea... Well, I wont pick it up myself, because I have to many ideas (my own and others) on other areas already. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- staratel20 · 2026-04-21 11:00 I think another purpose of sharing ideas is to avoid working on something that someone else is already implementing. It doesn’t make much sense if two people work on the same problem and end up with nearly identical results. So my message is basically: “Hey, I’m thinking about implementing this (not 100% sure yet). Has anyone already started working on something similar?” I think there’s nothing wrong with being a bit lazy, especially when it comes to programming 🙂 Essentially, this improvement was inspired by laziness 🙂 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dreihirn · 2026-06-18 15:37 Quote from: wp on April 05, 2026, 01:36:41 amBalasz has not been active for quite a while now. If you have an idea for improvement why don't you discuss it in public? Or, when you even have code for it, send a ticket to the bug tracker (find the link on the left side-bar). I may be wrong, but apparently the Lazarus 4.8 IDE Coolbar and all Components Palette bars lack tool tips.  At least I did not enjoy these and did not find an applicable preference to somehow activate such feature. Please advise if: HOW TO find an applicable preference to activate a.m. tool tips in the Lazarus IDE if possible;MISSING feature and it could be some reasonable effort to add such feature to the GUI be means of TCustomListView.ToolTips or similar. Apparently, the Lazarus IDE preferences GUI under "Umgebung" (DE) or presumably 'environment' (EN) provides a complete list of components and the names respectively, if I understand this correctly. Concerning (2.) I would consider some later contribution efforts of my own based on any reasonable advice and some help needed where to start. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dsiders · 2026-06-18 19:56 Quote from: Dreihirn on June 18, 2026, 05:37:11 pmQuote from: wp on April 05, 2026, 01:36:41 amBalasz has not been active for quite a while now. If you have an idea for improvement why don't you discuss it in public? Or, when you even have code for it, send a ticket to the bug tracker (find the link on the left side-bar). I may be wrong, but apparently the Lazarus 4.8 IDE Coolbar and all Components Palette bars lack tool tips.  At least I did not enjoy these and did not find an applicable preference to somehow activate such feature. Please advise if: HOW TO find an applicable preference to activate a.m. tool tips in the Lazarus IDE if possible;MISSING feature and it could be some reasonable effort to add such feature to the GUI be means of TCustomListView.ToolTips or similar. Apparently, the Lazarus IDE preferences GUI under "Umgebung" (DE) or presumably 'environment' (EN) provides a complete list of components and the names respectively, if I understand this correctly. Concerning (2.) I would consider some later contribution efforts of my own based on any reasonable advice and some help needed where to start. My IDE Cooolbar displays hints, Component List does not.... but what kind of a hint do you need? Check your IDE Options > General settings in the Hints section. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dreihirn · 2026-06-19 11:07 Quote from: dsiders on June 18, 2026, 09:56:52 pmMy IDE Cooolbar displays hints, Component List does not.... but what kind of a hint do you need? Check your IDE Options > General settings in the Hints section. Thank you for the kind reply. However, my IDE Cooolbar still does not display hints, even after toggling the default settings in "General" off/on and making them "Apply" before an explicit Lazarus restart. Maybe my expectation of "tool tips" i.e. hints is wrong but hovering over the IDE Coolbar does not provide an hints. I changed my GUI to "English" and provide some screenshots to avoid further misunderstandings. Any further ideas? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dreihirn · 2026-06-19 12:00 Regarding a macOS installation I got news from the German Lazarus forum such as: Lazarus fixes (4.9) no hintsLazarus trunk (4.99) hints are displayed My apologies for not mentioning my MacPorts Lazarus 4.8 on macOS environment earlier. Please find my quote below: Quote from: Dreihirn on June 18, 2026, 03:52:56 pmGood news for Installing Lazarus 4.8 on a macOS 14 Sonoma Intel Mac x86_64 environment. My five cents.