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Inside Macintosh: Apple Guide Complete / Part 4 - Scripting Guide Files

Chapter 10 - Guide Script Command Reference / Guide Script Command Descriptions

/ Formatting Text and Objects in a Panel

<Define Transparent Format>

You can use the <Define Transparent Format> command to define a transparent format for either immediate or later use to place text and objects in a panel.

<Define Transparent Format> formatName, columnCoords 
                           [, txFnt] [, txSize] [, txStyle]
                           [, txColor] [, txAlign]
                           [, alignPrompt]

The parameters of the <Define Transparent Format> command are identical to those of the <Define Format> command. See the <Define Format> command beginning on page 10-85 for a complete description of the command parameters.

DESCRIPTION

The <Define Transparent Format> command provides one more feature than the <Define Format> command. Panel text formatted according to a format defined by a <Define Transparent Format> command can overlap other panel contents; if the text does overlap, the part of its background that overlaps appears transparent.

You can specify a transparent format that you define with the <Define Transparent Format> command in a <Format> or <Default Format> command.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

If your panel definition contains multiple formats and multiple text objects and you use a transparent format that specifies TRUE in the alignPrompt parameter, the text object using this format might not appear to be transparent. In this case, rewrite your panel content so that the transparent text object appears as the first text object in the panel definition.

EXAMPLES

#specifies a transparent format (text can overlap format bounds)
# and text attributes of Palatino, 12 point, Bold, Red text color,
# and centered
<Define Transparent Format> "PicTitle", Column(50, 50, 125), \xAC
                           "Palatino", 12, BOLD, \xAC
                           RED, CENTER, FALSE
<Define Panel> "Another example panel"
   <PICT> 2528, CENTER
   <Format> "PicTitle"
   Figure caption
<End Panel>

SEE ALSO

For information on the <Define Format> command, see page 10-85. For information on the <Default Format> command, see page 10-30. The <Format> command is described next.