Hi, I was wondering if anyone else thinks it would be useful to be able to dock web dialogs. What I mean by docking is that when SketchUp is moved or resized the dialog would move with the main window. Perhaps this could be a setting of the dialog. Or it could ‘snap’ to any edge (sides, top or bottom). Also it would be nice to be able to add a Custom HtmlDialog to the tray. Then extensions could be ‘truly built in’. Perhaps this could be a dialog style or a dialog setting. I would be in favor of allowing this property to change after the dialog is shown. Maybe in the tray there could be a button beside the X, to ‘pop out’ of the tray, or it could be restricted to code only to keep it consistent with other trays. I envision some properties like this: dlg.pinned = true #pins the dialog at it's current location dlg.snap = true #allows the user to snap the dialog to edges dlg.snap_postion = 'left' #pins the dialog to the tray puts dlg.snap_position? #[left,right,top,bottom,tray,pinned,or floating] For putting into the tray you probably need to be able the choose which tray to have it added to. I’m not sure if trays can currently be manipulated via the Ruby API or not.

[image] DanRathbun: Okay, so how would I do this fake docking ? I’d create an invisible window, and set the parent window for the two “docking” windows, to be this invisible parent window. (Perhaps even create two sub-panes inside the parent window.) Interesting. As I said, I’m in learning mode on this one. I never fooled around much with windows API till yesterday. I’m not sure how to set a window as parent or how to intercept window messages. I guess I’ll need to do some more research.

There was a WxRuby implementation of WxWindows for SketchUp, at one time. I don’t know if it will run anymore since SU went to Ruby 2.x, but the code might enlighten you. Basically it wrapped the whole SketchUp application window in an invisible WxWindow frame, and made SketchUp the direct child of it. (This is needed for the WxWindows framework, as the topmost window needs to be one of the classes to be the top of the messaging chain for Wx messages.) I think it was called WxSU.

[image] Neil_Burkholder: I guess I’ll need to do some more research. It helps to download the Windows SDK: [image] Windows SDK and emulator archive Download and install previous Windows SDK and emulator releases for development on earlier versions of the Windows and Windows phone platforms. And bookmark info on technet: [image] Microsoft Learn: Build skills that open doors in your career Gain technical skills through documentation and training, earn certifications and connect with the community … such as: MFC Samples

So I could have SketchUp and another Standalone program both be child windows, and dock them together using the WxWindow frame? I’ve downloaded the WxSU and will take a look at it. Some day I should learn C or C++

[image] Neil_Burkholder: So I could have SketchUp and another Standalone program both be child windows I suppose, not a guarantee. I’m not saying to go crazy with this stuff. Most especially without a thorough understanding of how window objects interact (messaging) in MS Windows. The WxWindows messaging is separate scheme that does not suppress the former, in the case of WxSU. [image] Neil_Burkholder: Some day I should learn C or C++ This sure sounds like a good time, as it is required for the Windows API. I mean at least basic introductory C, so you can read code examples, and understand what the function documentation means when it says it needs a pointer or a struct.

Ok thanks for your help. I will let you know if I have more questions.

I would like to put my upvote on this feature request. The issue with all these hacks is that, they don’t resolve the actual reason a user would want to dock a dialog. In my case for example, I would want my user to be able to see the HtmlDialog side-by-side next to their model while they are working on it because my dialog changes as the user makes changes to the model. From a UX standpoint, it would be bothersome if my HtmlDialog covers parts of their model. When a tray is docked in SU, it actually changes the viewport and so it’s not possible to cover the model with it.

I was just wondering if that could be achieved by creating a custom tool and showing your HTML in the instructor? Or perhaps (potentially a bad idea?) even override the instructor for the standard tools like the select tool. The problem that I for see is no action callbacks or other methods. It wouldn’t seem hard for SketchUp to add an HTML panel similar to an HTML dialog. [image]

Also with that there should be a way for users to manipulate the tray using the Ruby API. Add and remove panels from tray. Expand and collapse panels. Add and remove trays. Rename existing trays. Pin or unpin tray. Re-order panels in trays Un-dock, re-dock, or change docking position for trays. Maybe there are more…?

Who needs cumbersome HTML Dialogs anyway! :stuck_out_tongue: Imagine the improved workflow/user experience if they would go away! BTW: I noticed the instructor panel already uses the Chrome browser. :+1: [image]

Add Abilitity to 'Dock' HtmlDialogs

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DanRathbun June 18, 2017, 8:26pm 38

Just noting this was requested in a “wishlist” thread recently …

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Add Abilitity to 'Dock' HtmlDialogs

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