TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Rolling MDEF
Volume Number:10
Issue Number:6
Column Tag:Getting Started

Related Info: Menu Manager Custom Menus

Rolling Your Own MDEFs

Help your menus get the picture

By Dave Mark, MacTech Magazine Regular Contributing Author

Note: Source code files accompanying article are located on MacTech CD-ROM or source code disks.

This month’s program is a departure from our traditional applications. Though we do build an application, it only serves as a tester for our MENU definition procedure. When your application includes a menu bar made up of a series of MENU resources, you’ll normally take advantage of the standard menu definition procedure (better known as an MDEF) provided by the Menu Manager.

Every time you call MenuSelect() (in response to a command-key equivalent or to a click in the menu bar), the Menu Manager takes over, drawing and erasing menus in response to your mouse clicks. Every menu specifies an MDEF resource (we’ll get to that when we create the tester’s MENU resources later in the column). Each time a menu is drawn, the MDEF specified by the menu is called to draw the menu’s contents and to highlight the appropriate item as the mouse moves.

This month, we’re going to write our own MDEF, compile it into an MDEF resource, then write a test program to test the MDEF. Rather than rewrite the standard MDEF, our MDEF will create a menu of PICT resources, as opposed to text.

This MDEF is actually a rewrite of the MDEF from Volume II of the Mac Primer. Besides being a little long in the tooth (i.e., old and funky), the original broke some Toolbox rules that caused the Thought Police to pay me a visit...

Creating the MDEF Project

Create a folder called MDEF Files in your Development folder. Launch THINK C and create a new project named MDEF.Π. Add MacTraps to the project. Next, create a new source code file, save it as MDEF.c, and add it to the project.

Type in this source code in the MDEF.c window:


/* 1 */
#define kTopMargin 1
#define kLeftMargin2

void  DoSizeMessage( MenuHandle menu, Rect *menuRectPtr );
void  DoDrawMessage( MenuHandle menu, Rect *menuRectPtr );
void  DoChooseMessage( MenuHandle menu, Rect *menuRectPtr,
  Point hitPt, short *whichItemPtr );
void  InvertItem( short itemNumber, short itemHeight, 
  Rect *menuRectPtr );
void  DrawCenteredPict( PicHandle pic, Rect *rectPtr );
void  CalcitemHeightAndWidth( short basePICTid, short numPICTs,
 short *widthPtr, short *heightPtr );
void  GetNumPICTs( MenuHandle menu, short *baseIDPtr,
 short *numPICTsPtr );

main


/* 2 */
pascal void main( short message,
 MenuHandle menu,
 Rect *menuRectPtr,
 Point hitPt,
 short *whichItemPtr )
{
 switch( message )
 {
 case mDrawMsg:
 DoDrawMessage( menu, menuRectPtr );
 break;
 case mChooseMsg:
 DoChooseMessage( menu,menuRectPtr,hitPt,whichItemPtr );
 break;
 case mSizeMsg:
 DoSizeMessage( menu, menuRectPtr );
 break;
 }
}

DoSizeMessage


/* 3 */
void  DoSizeMessage( MenuHandle menu,
 Rect *menuRectPtr )
{
 short  basePICTid, numPICTs, maxPICTWidth, maxPICTHeight;
 
 GetNumPICTs( menu, &basePICTid, &numPICTs );
 CalcitemHeightAndWidth( basePICTid, numPICTs, &maxPICTWidth,
   &maxPICTHeight );
 
 (**menu).menuWidth = maxPICTWidth + 2 * kLeftMargin;
 (**menu).menuHeight = (maxPICTHeight + kTopMargin*2) * numPICTs;
}

DoDrawMessage


/* 4 */
void  DoDrawMessage( MenuHandle menu,
 Rect *menuRectPtr )
{
 short  basePICTid, numPICTs, maxPICTWidth, 
 maxPICTHeight, itemHeight, i;
 Rect   r, tempRect;
 PicHandlepic;
 
 GetNumPICTs( menu, &basePICTid, &numPICTs );
 CalcitemHeightAndWidth(  basePICTid, numPICTs, 
 &maxPICTWidth, &maxPICTHeight );
 
 itemHeight = maxPICTHeight + kTopMargin * 2;
 
 r.top = menuRectPtr->top + kTopMargin;
 r.left = menuRectPtr->left + kLeftMargin;
 r.bottom = r.top + maxPICTHeight;
 r.right = r.left + maxPICTWidth;
 
 for ( i=0; i<numPICTs; i++ )
 {
 pic = GetPicture( basePICTid + i );
 
 DrawCenteredPict( pic, &r );
 
 OffsetRect( &r, 0, itemHeight );
 }
}

DoChooseMessage


/* 5 */
void  DoChooseMessage(  MenuHandle menu,
 Rect *menuRectPtr,
 Point hitPt,
 short *whichItemPtr )
{
 short  basePICTid, selectedItem, numPICTs, 
 maxPICTWidth, maxPICTHeight, itemHeight;
 Rect   r;
 
 GetNumPICTs( menu, &basePICTid, &numPICTs );
 CalcitemHeightAndWidth(  basePICTid, numPICTs, 
 &maxPICTWidth, &maxPICTHeight );
 
 itemHeight = (2 * kTopMargin) + maxPICTHeight;
 
 if ( PtInRect( hitPt, menuRectPtr ) )
 {
 selectedItem = ( (hitPt.v - menuRectPtr->top) / 
 itemHeight ) + 1;
 
 if ((*whichItemPtr > 0) && (*whichItemPtr != selectedItem))
 {
 InvertItem( *whichItemPtr, itemHeight, menuRectPtr );
 }
 
 if ( *whichItemPtr != selectedItem )
 {
 *whichItemPtr = selectedItem;
 InvertItem( *whichItemPtr, itemHeight, menuRectPtr );
 }
 }
 else if ( *whichItemPtr > 0 )
 {
 InvertItem( *whichItemPtr, itemHeight, menuRectPtr );
 *whichItemPtr = 0;
 }
}

InvertItem


/* 6 */
void  InvertItem( short itemNumber,
 short itemHeight,
 Rect *menuRectPtr )
{
 Rect r;
 
 r = *menuRectPtr;
 
 r.top += ( (itemNumber-1) * itemHeight );
 r.bottom = r.top + itemHeight;
 
 InvertRect( &r );
}

DrawCenteredPict


/* 7 */
void  DrawCenteredPict( PicHandle pic,
 Rect *rectPtr )
{
 Rect pictRect;
 
 pictRect = (**pic).picFrame;
 
 OffsetRect( &pictRect, rectPtr->left - pictRect.left,
    rectPtr->top  - pictRect.top);
 OffsetRect( &pictRect,(rectPtr->right - pictRect.right)/2,
   (rectPtr->bottom - pictRect.bottom)/2);
 
 DrawPicture( pic, &pictRect );
}

CalcitemHeightAndWidth


/* 8 */
void  CalcitemHeightAndWidth( short basePICTid,
 short numPICTs,
 short *widthPtr,
 short *heightPtr )
{
 short  i;
 Rect   r;
 PicHandlepic;
 
 *widthPtr = 0;
 *heightPtr = 0;
 
 for ( i=0; i<numPICTs; i++ )
 {
 pic = GetPicture( basePICTid + i );
 r = (**pic).picFrame;
 
 if ( r.bottom - r.top > *heightPtr )
 *heightPtr = r.bottom - r.top;
 
 if ( r.right - r.left > *widthPtr )
 *widthPtr = r.right - r.left;
 }
}

GetNumPICTs


/* 9 */
void  GetNumPICTs( MenuHandle menu,
 short *baseIDPtr,
 short *numPICTsPtr )
{
 Handle longHandle;
 long retrievedLong;
 short  menuID;
 
 menuID = (**menu).menuID;
 
 longHandle = GetResource( 'long', menuID );
 
 retrievedLong = (*((long *)(*longHandle)));
 
 *baseIDPtr = HiWord( retrievedLong );
 *numPICTsPtr = LoWord( retrievedLong );
}

Save your source code. Next, select Set Project Type... from the Project menu. When the dialog appears, click on the Code Resource radio button. Now make your dialog box look like the one in Figure 1. Be sure to check every single field!

Figure 1. The Set Project Type... dialog box.

The File Type and Creator fields will make your MDEF file look like a ResEdit document. That way, when you double-click on the file MDEF.rsrc (which we’re about to create) you’ll automatically launch ResEdit.

Why do this? Well, if we create the MDEF resource in a file, we’ll eventually want to copy the MDEF into the resource file (or application) that will use the MDEF. We’ll most likely do this in ResEdit.

Now select Build Code Resource... from the Project menu. You’ll be prompted to name the file the MDEF resource will be copied to. There are two approaches you can use. If you plan on using this resource in more than one application, you should save it as its own resource file. That’s what we’ll do. Enter the name MDEF.Π.rsrc and press the Save button.

The second approach we could have taken would be to click on the Merge checkbox, then entering the name of the resource file of the application that will be using the MDEF. If you do this, the MDEF resource will be copied into the application’s resource file, which is really what you want. We’ll do the same thing by hand.

Creating the Tester Resources

Now that your MDEF is complete, you’ll build an application to test the sucker. We’ll start by building the project resources. Start ResEdit and create a new file in the MDEF Files folder called Tester.Π.rsrc. Now open the file MDEF.Π.rsrc, click on the MDEF icon, and select Copy from the Edit menu. Now click on the Tester.Π.rsrc window and select Paste from the Edit menu. The MDEF icon should appear in the Tester.Π.rsrc window. When you double-click on the MDEF icon, you should see a single MDEF with an ID of 128. So far, so good.

Next, create a WIND resource with an ID of 128, a top of 40, Left of 2, Height of 160, and Width of 200. Click on the second icon from the left for the window type. Make the window not visible.

Next, create an MBAR resource (with ID 128) with four menus in it, numbered 128, 129, 130, and 131.

Next, create four MENU resources using the pictures in Figure 2 as a guide. Note that MENU 131 has a title (Pictures) but no items.

Figure 2. The four MENU resources.

Now comes a critical step. Open up the MENU editor to edit MENU 131. Select Edit Menu & MDEF ID... from the MENU menu. A dialog box will appear allowing you to set the MENU and MDEF resource IDs for this MENU. Change the MDEF ID from 0 to 128. Leave the MENU ID as is.

Be sure you change the MDEF id. If you don’t, the program will not work!

Next, you’ll create a custom resource that will tell the MDEF the resource ID of the first PICT to display, as well as the number of PICTs to display in the menu. Close all the windows till you are back in the main Tester.Π.rsrc window. Now select Create New Resource from the Resource menu. When prompted for a resource type, enter the four characters long. Since ResEdit doesn’t have a ‘long’ template, it will throw you into the hex/ASCII editor. Use the hex side and enter the hex number 00800005. For a peek at mine, check out Figure 3.

Figure 3. The long resource.

Next, select Get Resource Info from the Resource menu to change the resource ID to 131. You must make this change, so the MDEF will associate this resource with MENU 131.

The first two bytes of the long resource tell the MDEF to start off with PICT 128 (in hex, that’s 0080) and to use 5 PICT resources in a row (128, 129, 130, 131, and 132). Oh, by the way, I called this resource long because it is always 4 bytes in length.

Once you’ve changed the long resource ID to 131 (you did do that, didn’t you?) you are ready to create the PICT resources. Create five of them, being sure that they are numbered from 128 to 132. Color is fine. For best results, you might want to keep all of them around the size of an icon. My five are shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. My five PICTs.

Save your resource file and quit ResEdit.

Creating the Tester Project

In THINK C, create a new project in the MDEF Files folder called Tester.Π. Add MacTraps to the project. Create a new source code file named Tester.c and add it to the project. Here’s the source code:


/* 10 */
#define kWindowResID 128
#define kMBARResID 128
#define kNULLStorage 0L
#define kMoveToFront (WindowPtr)-1L
#define kSleep   60L

#define mApple   128
#define iAbout   1

#define mFile    129
#define iQuit    1

#define mPICT    131


/*  Globals  */

Boolean gDone;
short   gCurPICTid;

/*  Functions  */

void  ToolboxInit( void );
void  MenuBarInit( void );
void  WindowInit( void );
void  EventLoop( void );
void  DoEvent( EventRecord *eventPtr );
void  HandleMouseDown( EventRecord *eventPtr );
void  HandleMenuChoice( long menuChoice );
void  HandleAppleChoice( short item );
void  HandleFileChoice( short item );
void  HandlePICTChoice( short item );
void  DoUpdate( WindowPtr window );
void  DrawPictInWindow( PicHandle pic, WindowPtr window );
short GetBasePICTid( short menuID );

main


/* 11 */
void  main( void )
{
 ToolboxInit();
 MenuBarInit();
 WindowInit();
 
 gCurPICTid = GetBasePICTid( mPICT );
 
 EventLoop();
}

ToolboxInit


/* 12 */
void  ToolboxInit( void )
{
 InitGraf( &thePort );
 InitFonts();
 InitWindows();
 InitMenus();
 TEInit();
 InitDialogs( NULL );
 InitCursor();
}

MenuBarInit


/* 13 */
void  MenuBarInit( void )
{
 Handle menuBar;
 MenuHandle menu;
 
 menuBar = GetNewMBar( kMBARResID );
 SetMenuBar( menuBar );

 menu = GetMHandle( mApple );
 AddResMenu( menu, 'DRVR' );
 
 DrawMenuBar();
}

WindowInit


/* 14 */
void  WindowInit( void )
{
 WindowPtrwindow;
 
 window = GetNewWindow( kWindowResID,kNULLStorage,kMoveToFront);
 
 if ( window == NULL )
 {
 SysBeep( 20 );  /* Couldn't load WIND */
 ExitToShell();
 }
 
 SetPort( window );
 ShowWindow( window );
}

EventLoop


/* 15 */
void  EventLoop( void )
{
 EventRecordevent;
 
 gDone = false;
 while ( gDone == false )
 {
 if ( WaitNextEvent( everyEvent, &event, kSleep, nil ) )
 DoEvent( &event );
 }
}

DoEvent


/* 16 */
void  DoEvent( EventRecord *eventPtr )
{
 char theChar;
 
 switch ( eventPtr->what )
 {
 case mouseDown: 
 HandleMouseDown( eventPtr );
 break;
 case keyDown:
 case autoKey:
 theChar = eventPtr->message & charCodeMask;
 if ( (eventPtr->modifiers & cmdKey) != 0 ) 
 HandleMenuChoice( MenuKey( theChar ) );
 break;
 case updateEvt:
 DoUpdate( (WindowPtr)eventPtr->message );
 break;
 }
}

HandleMouseDown


/* 17 */
void  HandleMouseDown( EventRecord *eventPtr )
{
 WindowPtrwindow;
 short  thePart;
 long   menuChoice;
 
 thePart = FindWindow( eventPtr->where, &window );
 switch ( thePart )
 {
 case inMenuBar:
 menuChoice = MenuSelect( eventPtr->where );
 HandleMenuChoice( menuChoice );
 break;
 case inSysWindow: 
 SystemClick( eventPtr, window );
 break;
 case inDrag : 
 DragWindow( window, eventPtr->where, &(screenBits.bounds) );
 break;
 }
}

HandleMenuChoice


/* 18 */
void  HandleMenuChoice( long menuChoice )
{
 short  menu;
 short  item;
 
 if ( menuChoice != 0 )
 {
 menu = HiWord( menuChoice );
 item = LoWord( menuChoice );
 
 switch ( menu )
 {
 case mApple:
 HandleAppleChoice( item );
 break;
 case mFile:
 HandleFileChoice( item );
 break;
 case mPICT:
 HandlePICTChoice( item );
 break;
 }
 HiliteMenu( 0 );
 }
}

HandleAppleChoice


/* 19 */
void  HandleAppleChoice( short item )
{
 MenuHandle appleMenu;
 Str255 accName;
 short  accNumber;
 
 switch ( item )
 {
 case iAbout:
 SysBeep( 20 );
 break;
 default:
 appleMenu = GetMHandle( mApple );
 GetItem( appleMenu, item, accName );
 accNumber = OpenDeskAcc( accName );
 break;
 }
}

HandleFileChoice


/* 20 */
void  HandleFileChoice( short item )
{
 switch ( item )
 {
 case iQuit :
 gDone = true;
 break;
 }
}

HandlePICTChoice


/* 21 */
void  HandlePICTChoice( short item )
{
 WindowPtrwindow;
 
 window = FrontWindow();
 
 EraseRect( &window->portRect );
 InvalRect( &window->portRect );
 
 gCurPICTid = GetBasePICTid( mPICT ) + item - 1;
}

DoUpdate


/* 22 */
void  DoUpdate( WindowPtr window )
{
 PicHandlepic;
 
 BeginUpdate( window );
 
 pic = GetPicture( gCurPICTid );

 if ( pic == NULL )
 {
 SysBeep( 20 );  /* Couldn't load PICT */
 ExitToShell();
 }
 
 DrawPictInWindow( pic, FrontWindow() );
 
 EndUpdate( window );
}

DrawPictInWindow


/* 23 */
void  DrawPictInWindow( PicHandle pic,
 WindowPtr window )
{
 Rect   pictRect, windRect;
 
 pictRect = (**pic).picFrame;
 
 windRect = window->portRect;
 
 OffsetRect(&pictRect, windRect.left - pictRect.left,
 windRect.top - pictRect.top);
 OffsetRect(&pictRect,(windRect.right - pictRect.right)/2,
 (windRect.bottom - pictRect.bottom)/2);
 
 DrawPicture( pic, &pictRect );
}

GetBasePICTid


/* 24 */
short GetBasePICTid( short menuID )
{
 Handle longHandle;
 long retrievedLong;
 
 longHandle = GetResource( 'long', menuID );
 
 retrievedLong = (*((long *)(*longHandle)));
 
 return( HiWord( retrievedLong ) );
}

Once the code is typed in, save your changes and run this puppy.

Running the MDEF Tester

When you run your application, the first thing you should see is a window with PICT 128 centered in it. Now, for the big moment. Drumroll, please! Click your mouse on the Pictures menu. A menu should appear with your five PICTs in it. Select a picture. The selected picture should appear in the window. Figure 5 shows my menu, with Clarus the Dog-Cow selected. Moof!

Figure 5. My Pictures menu, with the second picture selected.

Till Next Month

Next month, we’ll walk through the code and talk about code resources in general. Till then, Daniel and I will be busy putting together his new swing set. Later...

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Top Mobile Game Discounts
Every day, we pick out a curated list of the best mobile discounts on the App Store and post them here. This list won't be comprehensive, but it every game on it is recommended. Feel free to check out the coverage we did on them in the links... | Read more »
Price of Glory unleashes its 1.4 Alpha u...
As much as we all probably dislike Maths as a subject, we do have to hand it to geometry for giving us the good old Hexgrid, home of some of the best strategy games. One such example, Price of Glory, has dropped its 1.4 Alpha update, stocked full... | Read more »
The SLC 2025 kicks off this month to cro...
Ever since the Solo Leveling: Arise Championship 2025 was announced, I have been looking forward to it. The promotional clip they released a month or two back showed crowds going absolutely nuts for the previous competitions, so imagine the... | Read more »
Dive into some early Magicpunk fun as Cr...
Excellent news for fans of steampunk and magic; the Precursor Test for Magicpunk MMORPG Crystal of Atlan opens today. This rather fancy way of saying beta test will remain open until March 5th and is available for PC - boo - and Android devices -... | Read more »
Prepare to get your mind melted as Evang...
If you are a fan of sci-fi shooters and incredibly weird, mind-bending anime series, then you are in for a treat, as Goddess of Victory: Nikke is gearing up for its second collaboration with Evangelion. We were also treated to an upcoming... | Read more »
Square Enix gives with one hand and slap...
We have something of a mixed bag coming over from Square Enix HQ today. Two of their mobile games are revelling in life with new events keeping them alive, whilst another has been thrown onto the ever-growing discard pile Square is building. I... | Read more »
Let the world burn as you have some fest...
It is time to leave the world burning once again as you take a much-needed break from that whole “hero” lark and enjoy some celebrations in Genshin Impact. Version 5.4, Moonlight Amidst Dreams, will see you in Inazuma to attend the Mikawa Flower... | Read more »
Full Moon Over the Abyssal Sea lands on...
Aether Gazer has announced its latest major update, and it is one of the loveliest event names I have ever heard. Full Moon Over the Abyssal Sea is an amazing name, and it comes loaded with two side stories, a new S-grade Modifier, and some fancy... | Read more »
Open your own eatery for all the forest...
Very important question; when you read the title Zoo Restaurant, do you also immediately think of running a restaurant in which you cook Zoo animals as the course? I will just assume yes. Anyway, come June 23rd we will all be able to start up our... | Read more »
Crystal of Atlan opens registration for...
Nuverse was prominently featured in the last month for all the wrong reasons with the USA TikTok debacle, but now it is putting all that behind it and preparing for the Crystal of Atlan beta test. Taking place between February 18th and March 5th,... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

AT&T is offering a 65% discount on the ne...
AT&T is offering the new iPhone 16e for up to 65% off their monthly finance fee with 36-months of service. No trade-in is required. Discount is applied via monthly bill credits over the 36 month... Read more
Use this code to get a free iPhone 13 at Visi...
For a limited time, use code SWEETDEAL to get a free 128GB iPhone 13 Visible, Verizon’s low-cost wireless cell service, Visible. Deal is valid when you purchase the Visible+ annual plan. Free... Read more
M4 Mac minis on sale for $50-$80 off MSRP at...
B&H Photo has M4 Mac minis in stock and on sale right now for $50 to $80 off Apple’s MSRP, each including free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – M4 Mac mini (16GB/256GB): $549, $50 off... Read more
Buy an iPhone 16 at Boost Mobile and get one...
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering one year of free Unlimited service with the purchase of any iPhone 16. Purchase the iPhone at standard MSRP, and then choose... Read more
Get an iPhone 15 for only $299 at Boost Mobil...
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering the 128GB iPhone 15 for $299.99 including service with their Unlimited Premium plan (50GB of premium data, $60/month), or $20... Read more
Unreal Mobile is offering $100 off any new iP...
Unreal Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks, is offering a $100 discount on any new iPhone with service. This includes new iPhone 16 models as well as iPhone 15, 14, 13, and SE... Read more
Apple drops prices on clearance iPhone 14 mod...
With today’s introduction of the new iPhone 16e, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 14, 14 Pro, and SE. In response, Apple has dropped prices on unlocked, Certified Refurbished, iPhone 14 models to a... Read more
B&H has 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros on sa...
B&H Photo is offering a $360-$410 discount on new 16-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Max CPUs right now. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – 16″ M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/... Read more
Amazon is offering a $100 discount on the M4...
Amazon has the M4 Pro Mac mini discounted $100 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Their price is the lowest currently available for this popular mini: – Mac mini M4 Pro (24GB/512GB): $1299, $100... Read more
B&H continues to offer $150-$220 discount...
B&H Photo has 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros on sale for $150-$220 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – 14″ M4 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB): $1449, $150 off MSRP – 14″ M4... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.