Create Initial Screen

First we are going to create a screen that we want to display as soon as an end-user starts the application. At first time we will not put anything on the screen, so just a blank screen to begin with.

ProLinga uses the "Glade" XML interface for displaying screens. Screens are stored in an XML format and at run time, they are parsed by libglade and the user interface created. Templates are provided to create screens.

Press on the button Screen on the object palette and the Screen editor will appear. There are 3 types of screens possible:

Single Instance Window: Typical data view/entry window. When trying to open more than once, the screen on that is on the desktop will get the focus. Examples are most editor screens in the ProLinga Developer.
Multiple Instance Window: Typical data view/entry window. When trying to open more than once, a new instance of the screen will be opened. Example is the Logic Editor in the ProLinga Developer.
Dialog: This is a screen that must be closed before any other screen can get focus. Example is an error screen that you must respond to in order to continue.

For the main screen we will use the Single Instance Window. Press the button "New Window" on the toolbar to load the appropriate template in the editor. Click on the tab "Control" and select "False" for the field "Allow Multiple Instances". Now save the screen by pressing the "Save" button on the toolbar and give it the name "Main".

Figure 9. Initial Screen

Screenshot of the initial screen in the editor.

We just created the first (empty) screen and we now proceed by going to create logic to call this screen.