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# Using XF

XF may be used for prototyping, and for the complete implementation of an application. To implement a complete application, it is necessary that the user is able to write Tcl/Tk code. XF can free the user from a lot of implementation work, but still, parts of the functionality have to be implemented by him. So, a basic understanding of Tcl/Tk is required.

First, the user should think about the purpose and the look of his application. A rough layout of the application should be drawn, where the dialog structure and the distribution of dialog components to different toplevel (dialog) windows are planned. Of course, it is also possible to use XF without a concrete idea of the resulting application. Widgets can be rearranged at any time to see what the resulting interface looks like.

The developer of a graphical user interface must be very careful not to overload the application interface with neat little features which can confuse the user. Many graphical user interfaces tend to be confusing, because the interface tries to offer too much functionality/information, or presents the functionality/information in a wrong way. A graphical user interface is not ``good'', just because it is graphical. It has to be carefully designed and constructed.

The following step-by-step introduction to XF is idealized. The user will probably never really work this way. There are always changes to the widget structure, layout or functionality that occur while the work proceeds, due to enhancements or necessary changes. Nevertheless, this view of designing and implementing applications with XF can be a helpful baseline for the work. There is a special chapter about the dialog components in XF , where all dialogs are explained in detail (see chapter ).

- The first steps
  - Start
  - Inserting widgets into the widget tree
  - Layouting widgets
    - Layouting with the placer
    - Layouting with the packer
  - Configuring widgets
  - Procedures
- XF and Tcl/Tk
  - Text widgets
  - Entry widgets
  - Scale widgets
  - Checkbutton widgets
  - Radiobutton widgets
  - Send
- XF constraints
  - Restrictions
  - Pitfalls
- Advanced features
  - Templates
  - Toplevel windows
  - Source modules
  - Levels for procedures and bindings