Ribbon

Inheritance Hierarchy

Description

The Ribbon component is used to create an application ribbon.

Working with the Component

The application ribbon is a modern interface solution, which combines main menu and application toolbars. The ribbon includes separate tabs, quick access toolbar, application button and general controls.

Tabs contains panels, which house various controls grouped according to their functionality. Tabs can be standard or context. Standard tabs are always displayed in an application. Context tabs are displayed when a certain condition is satisfied, for example, when a certain object is selected.

The quick access toolbar houses most frequently used application commands. The application button serves to open the main menu. General controls are displayed at the right at the level of ribbon tab headers; they can be used to execute minor operations, for example, to open help.

Setting Up Component

After adding a component to form, the user is prompted to select the Resources object, which will store ribbon images. This object can also be specified in the Resources property in the object inspector. An area is selected at the upper part of the form, which will further display the ribbon. To set up the ribbon, select the Edit item in the component's context menu. The ribbon editor opens. Create the required tabs in the editor, then create panels on the tabs and place controls on them. When various parameters are edited in the editor, the ribbon dynamically changes on the form.

If required, form structure can be stored in XML format. To save and load structure, use appropriate context menu items of the Ribbon component.

Handling Control Events

When a control is used, the OnChange event is generated for this control. The OnChange event is also generated for the Ribbon component. In the component event, use property of the Element argument, the corresponding control can be obtained. All controls have unique identifiers. The user can set correspondence between specific controls and execution of application code by organizing identifier checkup in event handler.

Features of Use

On creating and loading file using the LoadFromXML method, avoid using system element identifiers (for example, ID_APP_EXIT). Such identifiers will be replaced with automatically generated ones.

Example

Properties of the Ribbon Component

	Property name	Brief description
	ActiveCategory	The ActiveCategory property determines the active ribbon tab.
	Align	The Align property determines behavior of the component when its parent component is resized.
	AllowDrag	The AllowDrag property determines whether an object can be dragged from the component.
	AllowDrop	The AllowDrop property determines whether the component can accept a dragged object.
	Anchors	The Anchors property returns settings that determine the percentage of the size change for the current component when the parent component is resized.
	Brush	The Brush property determines the brush that is used to fill component area.
	Categories	The Categories property returns the collection of available ribbon tabs.
	ClientHeight	The ClientHeight property is used to receive or specify the height of the component’s client area.
	ClientWidth	The ClientWidth property is used to receive or specify the width of the component’s client area.
	Color	The Color property determines a component background color.
	ComponentCount	The ComponentCount property returns the number of child components.
	Components	The Components property returns the child component.
	Contexts	The Contexts property returns the context tabs collection.
	Cursor	The Cursor property determines the look of the cursor over the component.
	Data	The Data property is used to store any custom data.
	Elements	The Elements property returns the collection of controls placed on all ribbon tabs.
	Enabled	The Enabled property determines whether the component is available for the user.
	Focused	The Focused property returns True if the focus is set on the component.
	Font	The Font property determines the set of characteristics describing the font that is used to display text.
	Height	The Height property determines component height.
	HelpContext	The HelpContext property determines a unique index for the context help section for this component.
	Hidden	The Hidden property determines whether ribbon is hidden.
	Hint	The Hint property determines a component tooltip text.
	Images	The Images property determines the component, which contains images to be used on the ribbon.
	Left	The Left property determines the coordinate of the left border of the component.
	MainButton	The MainButton property returns parameters of application button.
	MainCategory	The MainCategory property returns parameters of main ribbon menu.
	Name	The Name property determines a component name.
	Parent	The Parent property determines a parent component.
	ParentColor	The ParentColor property determines whether the component inherits the color of the parent component.
	ParentFont	The ParentFont property determines whether the component uses the font of the parent component.
	ParentShowHint	The ParentShowHint property determines whether a tooltip is displayed.
	PopupMenu	The PopupMenu property determines the context menu to be displayed on right-click on the component.
	QuickAccessToolbar	The QuickAccessToolbar property returns parameters of quick access toolbar.
	Resources	The Resources property determines the Resources repository object, which images are used in ribbon controls.
	Scrolls	The Scrolls property returns parameters of component's scrollbars.
	ShowHint	The ShowHint property enables and disables showing a component tooltip.
	TabElements	The TabElements property returns the collection of general ribbon controls.
	TabOrder	The TabOrder property determines the component position in the tab order.
	TabStop	The TabStop property determines whether the component is focused when the Tab key is pressed.
	Tag	The Tag property is not used by the compiler. The user can change the value of the Tag property and use it as he wishes.
	Text	The Text property determines the row identifying a component for the user.
	Top	The Top property determines the coordinate of the top border of the component.
	Visible	The Visible property determines visibility of the component during execution.
	Width	The Width property determines component width.

Methods of the Ribbon Component

	Method name	Brief description
	BringToFront	The BringToFront method brings a component to front.
	ClientToScreen	The ClientToScreen method converts the coordinates of a point specified relative to the component coordinate system into screen coordinates.
	DoDragDrop	The DoDragDrop method enables to start dragging operation.
	FindById	The FindById method finds searches for a control based on its numeric identifier.
	GetImage	The GetImage method returns the image of the component with all the child components.
	LoadFromXML	The LoadFromXML method loads data from XML file and creates visual ribbon.
	SaveToXML	The SaveToXML method saves ribbon structure in XML format and returns obtained XML string.
	ScreenToClient	The ScreenToClient method converts screen coordinates of a point into coordinates specified relative to the component coordinate system.
	SendToBack	The SendToBack method sends a component to back.
	SetFocus	The SetFocus method sets focus to this component.

Events of the Ribbon Component

	Event name	Brief description
	OnBeginDrag	The OnBeginDrag event occurs for a component when the user starts to drag an object from the component.
	OnChange	The OnChange event occurs when ribbon controls are used.
	OnClick	The OnClick event occurs if the user clicks the component area with the main mouse button.
	OnDblClick	The OnDblClick event occurs if the user double-clicks a component area with the mouse button.
	OnDragDrop	The OnDragDrop event occurs for the component if the user drops a dragged object over it.
	OnDragEnter	The OnDragEnter event occurs when a dragged object crosses the borders of this component.
	OnDragLeave	The OnDragLeave event occurs when a dragged object leaves the borders of this component.
	OnDragOver	The OnDragOver event occurs for the component when the user drags an object over it.
	OnEnter	The OnEnter event occurs when the component receives focus.
	OnExit	The OnExit event occurs when the component loses focus.
	OnHScroll	The OnHScroll event occurs when horizontal scrollbar slider changes its position.
	OnKeyDown	The OnKeyDown event occurs if the component is focused and the keyboard key is pressed.
	OnKeyPress	The OnKeyPress event occurs if the component is focused when the user presses a character key.
	OnKeyUp	The OnKeyUp event occurs if the component is focused and the user releases any button previously pressed.
	OnMouseDown	The OnMouseDown event occurs if the pointer is in component's area and a mouse key is pressed.
	OnMouseEnter	The OnMouseEnter event occurs when mouse cursor enters the component area.
	OnMouseHover	The OnMouseHover event occurs when mouse cursor is held in the component area.
	OnMouseLeave	The OnMouseLeave event occurs when mouse cursor leaves the component area.
	OnMouseMove	The OnMouseMove event occurs on moving the cursor over component.
	OnMouseUp	The OnMouseUp event occurs on releasing mouse button when the cursor is in component area.
	OnMouseWheel	The OnMouseWheel event occurs if the component is focused when the mouse wheel is rotated.
	OnUpdate	The OnUpdate event occurs on ribbon update.
	OnVScroll	The OnVScroll event occurs when vertical scrollbar slider changes its position.