confused by PRWidget initialisation

[Lukas Renggli]

As Reza writes the components (or widgets) cannot carry their own
configuration, because they are instantiated later on and on a
per-session based. So the configuration happens on a generic model
object (PRComponent) that takes the description of the component and
stores its values in the settings dictionary. Whenever a component is
instantiated it is initialized with the settings from the model, that
can be overridden with the settings given in the link that embeds the
component.

It could well be that the current implementation is not as strait
forward as it could be. Over the time Magritte and Pier both changed
quite heavily and maybe it could be done simpler today?

Lukas

On 17 February 2010 21:07, Reza RAZAVI <razavi at acm.org> wrote:
> Hi Nick,
>
> My understating is the following:
> 1) For each specific Distribution, PRComponents keep track of the default
> attribute values for each Widget (i.e., user preferences for that
> Distribution). PRDistribution>>childrenWidget is an example of such
> specification.
> 2) At runtime, when Widgets are instantiated for each Session, these default
> values are affected to their respective Widget attribute by WAComponent >>
> initializeOwner:link:, itself called by PRComponent >> componentFor:, in
> turn called by PRContext >> buildComponent:for:.
>
> PRWidgets overrides #write:using: to keep track of its attribute values in
> its properties dictionary (instead of widget specific accessors). This
> design decision facilitates the implementation and maintenance of specific
> Widgets.
>
> Hoping this helps,
> Reza
>
> At 19:56 17/02/2010, Nick Ager wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm writing this as PRWidget initialisation had me confused for a while,
>> and I guess it might confuse other newcomers. I'd also like to check with
>> the list that my understanding is correct.
>>
>> For example given the code below:
>>
>> PRDistribution>>childrenWidget
>> ^ childrenWidget ifNil: [childrenWidget := (PRComponent named: 'children')
>> componentClass: PRChildrenWidget;
>> write: 2
>> using: PRChildrenWidget descriptionLevel;
>> write: true
>> using: PRChildrenWidget descriptionExpand;
>> yourself
>> ]
>> and:
>>
>> PRChildrenWidget class>>descriptionExpand
>> ^ MABooleanDescription new
>> default: self defaultExpand;
>> parameterName: 'expand';
>> accessor: #expand;
>> label: 'Expand';
>> priority: 310;
>> yourself
>>
>> I would have expected an accessor "PRChildWidget>>expand:" to be called
>> with the value: 'true'.  I created my PRWidget derived class based on this
>> assumption. However my equivalent setter was not being called and a closer
>> look showed PRChildWidget to have no setters only getters. The getter reads
>> as:
>>
>> PRChildWidget>>expand
>> ^ self read: #descriptionExpand
>>
>>
>> What's actually happening is "PRComponent>>description" is being called,
>> not as I'd imagined: "PRChildWidget>>description".
>>
>> tracing through the following code:
>>
>> PRComponent>>write: anObject using: aDescription
>> (self basicDescription includes: aDescription)
>> ifTrue: [ super write: anObject using: aDescription ]
>> ifFalse: [
>> (anObject notNil and: [ aDescription isDocumentDescription ])
>> ifTrue: [ anObject owner: self ].
>> self settings at: aDescription put: anObject ]
>>
>> reveals the code: "self settings at: aDescription put: anObject" is
>> called, so "true" is placed in a settings Dictionary keyed by:
>> #descriptionExpand
>>
>> I've just about understood the code so far, and though I haven't traced
>> through PRChildrenWidget instantiation it looks like in
>> WAComponent>>initializeOwner:link: that the settings are copied to the newly
>> created PRChildrenWidget object.
>>
>> Phew.
>>
>> I think I can see why there's complexity, but seems a shame that it in
>> WAComponent>>initializeOwner:link: the code couldn't call the accessors of
>> the componentClass assuming that the Magritte descriptions were configured
>> to use an accessor pattern.
>>
>> Or perhaps I've misunderstood??
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Nick
>> _______________________________________________
>> Magritte, Pier and Related Tools ...
>> https://www.iam.unibe.ch/mailman/listinfo/smallwiki
>
> _______________________________________________
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>



-- 
Lukas Renggli
http://www.lukas-renggli.ch