20.7.1 Setting attributes for the current interface

Choose Interface > Attributes to set any of the attributes for the current interface. An Attributes dialog similar to that shown in Setting the attributes of the selected object appears. You set attributes for the current interface in exactly the same way as you do for any selected object in the interface. See Setting the attributes for the selected object for details.

20.7.2 Displaying the current interface

As already mentioned, an interface skeleton is automatically displayed when you load an interface into the Interface Builder, and any changes you make to the design are immediately reflected in the skeleton. There are also a number of commands which give you more control over the way that the interface appears on-screen as you work on its design.

Choose Interface > Raise to bring the interface skeleton to the front of the display. This command is very useful if you have a large number of windows on-screen, and want to locate the interface skeleton quickly.

Choose Interface > Regenerate to force a new interface skeleton to be created. The existing interface skeleton is removed from the screen and a new one appears. This command is useful if you have changed the size of the window, and want to see what the default size is; this is especially applicable if you have altered the geometry of any part of the interface while specifying attribute values.

Regenerating the interface is also useful if you set an interface attribute which does not cause the interface skeleton to be updated automatically. This can happen, for instance, if you change the default layout of the interface, which you might want to specify if an interface has several views.

Many interfaces in a GUI are used in the final application as dialogs or confirmers. For such interfaces, the interface skeleton is not necessarily be the most accurate method of display. Choose Interface > Display as Dialog or Interface > Confirmer to display the current interface as a dialog or as a confirmer, as appropriate. Dialogs are displayed without a menu bar, and with minimal window decoration, so that the window cannot be resized. Confirmers are similar to dialogs, but have OK and Cancel buttons added to the bottom of the interface. To remove a dialog, click in its Close box.

20.7.3 Arranging objects in a pinboard layout

Most types of layout automatically place their children, so that you do not have to be concerned about the precise arrangement of different objects in an interface. Pinboard and static layouts, however, allow you to place objects anywhere within the layout.

Objects which are added to a pinboard layout using the Interface Builder have borders drawn around them in the interface skeleton. You can interactively resize and place such objects by selecting and dragging these borders with the mouse.

When you have rearranged the objects in a pinboard layout to your satisfaction, choose Interface > Display Borders . This turns off the border display, allowing you to see the appearance of the final interface.

Note: You can only move and resize objects in a pinboard layout when borders are displayed in the interface skeleton. Choosing Interface > Display Borders toggles the border display.