This chapter covers each WidgetBuilder in detail. For an explanation of how WidgetBuilders fit into the overall architecture of Metawidget, see Chapter 2, Architecture
Throughout this chapter when we refer to 'Metawidget Attributes' we mean the intermediate XML that Metawidget passes between Inspectors and other parts of the architecture. Quite which Inspector set the attribute, and based on what, is covered in Chapter 4, Inspectors. For example, the maximum-value attribute could be set by HibernateValidatorInspector based on the @Max annotation, or by CommonsValidatorInspector based on an intRange element in an XML file, or some other source.
Metawidget supports multiple WidgetBuilders for each desktop framework, targeting specific widget libraries within each environment.
OverriddenWidgetBuilder locates child widgets designed to override default generation. It matches JComponents whose getName equals the same name Metawidget would have generated.
ReadOnlyWidgetBuilder returns read-only widgets when either the business property is read-only or the Metawidget has setReadOnly. It instantiates the following widgets for the following Metawidget attributes:
| Widget | Metawidget Attribute | |
|---|---|---|
| javax.swing | ||
| JLabel | read-only (except when also type="java.util.Collection" or masked) | |
| JPanel | read-only and masked | |
| org.metawidget.swing | ||
| Stub | action when also read-only, type="java.util.Collection" when also read-only | |
SwingWidgetBuilder is the default WidgetBuilder for SwingMetawidget. It instantiates the following widgets for the following Metawidget attributes:
| Widget | Metawidget Attribute | |
|---|---|---|
| javax.swing | ||
| JButton | action (except when also read-only) | |
| JCheckBox | type="boolean" (and type="java.lang.Boolean" when also required) | |
| JComboBox | lookup | |
| JPasswordField | masked (except when also read-only) | |
| JSlider | type is a primitive (except boolean and char) and has both minimum-value and maximum-value | |
| JSpinner | type is a primitive (except boolean and char) and has only one, or neither minimum-value and maximum-value. For floats and doubles, the step size is governed by maximum-fractional-digits | |
| JTable | type="java.util.Collection". The JTable is automatically wrapped in a JScrollPane | |
| JTextArea | type="java.lang.String" and large. The JTextArea is automatically wrapped in a JScrollPane | |
| JTextField | type is a java.lang.String, java.util.Date, primitive wrapper (e.g. Integer or Float) except java.lang.Boolean. Also if property is of unknown type but dont-expand | |
| org.metawidget.swing | ||
| Stub | hidden | |
SwingXWidgetBuilder is a pluggable WidgetBuilder for the SwingX library. It is intended to be used in conjunction with the default SwingWidgetBuilder. It instantiates the following widgets for the following Metawidget attributes:
| Widget | Metawidget Attribute | |
|---|---|---|
| org.jdesktop.swingx | ||
| JXDatePicker | type="java.util.Date" | |
OverriddenWidgetBuilder locates child widgets designed to override default generation. It matches Controls whose getData("name") equals the same name Metawidget would have generated.
ReadOnlyWidgetBuilder returns read-only widgets when either the business property is read-only or the Metawidget has setReadOnly. It instantiates the following widgets for the following Metawidget attributes:
| Widget | Metawidget Attribute | |
|---|---|---|
| org.eclipse.swt.widgets | ||
| Label | read-only (except when also type="java.util.Collection" or masked) | |
| Composite | read-only and masked | |
| org.metawidget.swt | ||
| Stub | action when also read-only, type="java.util.Collection" when also read-only | |
SwtWidgetBuilder is the default WidgetBuilder for SwtMetawidget. It instantiates the following widgets for the following Metawidget attributes:
| Widget | Metawidget Attribute | |
|---|---|---|
| org.eclipse.swt.widgets | ||
| Button | action (except when also read-only) | |
| Button( SWT.CHECK ) | type="boolean" (and type="java.lang.Boolean" when also required) | |
| Combo | lookup | |
| Text( SWT.MASKED ) | masked (except when also read-only) | |
| Scale | type is a primitive (except boolean and char) and has both minimum-value and maximum-value | |
| Spinner | type is a primitive (except boolean and char) and has only one, or neither minimum-value and maximum-value. For floats and doubles, the increment is governed by maximum-fractional-digits | |
| Text( SWT.MULTI ) | type="java.lang.String" and large | |
| Text | type is a java.lang.String, java.util.Date, primitive wrapper (e.g. Integer or Float) except java.lang.Boolean. Also if property is of unknown type but dont-expand | |
| org.metawidget.swt | ||
| Stub | hidden | |