Module: wibox.layout.flex

A flex layout may be initialized with any number of child widgets, and during runtime widgets may be added and removed dynamically.

On the main axis, the layout will divide the available space evenly between all child widgets, without any regard to how much space these widgets might be asking for.

Just like wibox.layout.fixed, flex allows adding spacing between the widgets, either as an ofset via spacing or with a spacing_widget.

On its secondary axis, the layout's size is determined by the largest child widget. Smaller child widgets are then placed with the same size. Therefore, child widgets may ignore their forced_width or forced_height properties for vertical and horizontal layouts respectively.

Usage example

Usage:

    wibox.widget {
    generic_widget( "first"  ),
    generic_widget( "second" ),
    generic_widget( "third"  ),
    layout  = wibox.layout.flex.horizontal
}

Class Hierarchy

Info:

  • Copyright: 2010 Uli Schlachter
  • Originally authored by: Uli Schlachter
    (Full contributors list available on our github project)

Constructors

wibox.layout.flex.horizontal (...) Creates and returns a new horizontal flex layout.
wibox.layout.flex.vertical (...) Creates and returns a new vertical flex layout.

Object properties

spacing_widget widget A widget to insert as a separator between child widgets.
spacing number The amount of space inserted between the child widgets.
max_widget_size number Set the maximum size the widgets in this layout will take.
children table Get or set the children elements. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
all_children table Get all direct and indirect children widgets. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
forced_height number or nil Force a widget height. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
forced_width number or nil Force a widget width. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
opacity number The widget opacity (transparency). Inherited from wibox.widget.base
visible boolean The widget visibility. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
buttons table The widget buttons. Inherited from wibox.widget.base

Object methods

:add (...) Add some widgets to the given fixed layout.
:remove (The) -> boolean Remove a widget from the layout.
:remove_widgets (...) -> boolean Remove one or more widgets from the layout.
:insert (index, widget) -> boolean Insert a new widget in the layout at position index.
:set (index, widget2) -> boolean Set a widget at a specific index, replacing the current one.
:replace_widget (widget, widget2[, recursive=false]) -> boolean Replace the first instance of widget in the layout with widget2.
:swap (index1, index2) -> boolean Swap 2 widgets in a layout.
:swap_widgets (widget1, widget2[, recursive=false]) -> boolean Swap 2 widgets in a layout.
:reset () Reset the layout.
:add_button (button) Add a new awful.button to this widget. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
:emit_signal_recursive (signal_name, ...) Emit a signal and ensure all parent widgets in the hierarchies also forward the signal. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
:index (widget[, recursive[, ...]]) -> (number, widget, table) Get the index of a widget. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
:connect_signal (name, func) Connect to a signal. Inherited from gears.object
:weak_connect_signal (name, func) Connect to a signal weakly. Inherited from gears.object
:disconnect_signal (name, func) Disonnect from a signal. Inherited from gears.object
:emit_signal (name, ...) Emit a signal. Inherited from gears.object

Signals

widget::layout_changed When the layout (size) change. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
widget::redraw_needed When the widget content changed. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
button::press When a mouse button is pressed over the widget. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
button::release When a mouse button is released over the widget. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
mouse::enter When the mouse enter a widget. Inherited from wibox.widget.base
mouse::leave When the mouse leave a widget. Inherited from wibox.widget.base


Constructors

wibox.layout.flex.horizontal (...)
Creates and returns a new horizontal flex layout.

Parameters:

  • ... widget Widgets that should be added to the layout.
wibox.layout.flex.vertical (...)
Creates and returns a new vertical flex layout.

Parameters:

  • ... widget Widgets that should be added to the layout.

Object properties

spacing_widget widget · 1 signal
A widget to insert as a separator between child widgets.

If this property is a valid widget and spacing is greater than 0, a copy of this widget is inserted between each child widget, with its size in the layout's main direction determined by spacing.

By default no widget is used and any spacing is applied as an empty offset.

Usage example

Usage:

    -- Use the separator widget directly
local w1 = wibox.widget {
    spacing        = 10,
    spacing_widget = wibox.widget.separator,
    layout         = wibox.layout.flex.horizontal
}
-- Use a standard declarative widget construct
local w2 = wibox.widget {
    spacing = 10,
    spacing_widget = {
        color  = "#00ff00",
        shape  = gears.shape.circle,
        widget = wibox.widget.separator,
    },
    layout = wibox.layout.flex.horizontal
}
-- Use composed widgets
local w3 = wibox.widget {
    spacing = 10,
    spacing_widget = {
        {
            text = "F",
            widget = wibox.widget.textbox,
        },
        bg     = "#ff0000",
        widget = wibox.container.background,
    },
    layout = wibox.layout.flex.horizontal
}
-- Use negative spacing to create a powerline effect
local w4 = wibox.widget {
    spacing = -12,
    spacing_widget = {
        color  = "#ff0000",
        shape  = gears.shape.powerline,
        widget = wibox.widget.separator,
    },
    layout = wibox.layout.flex.horizontal
}

Click to display more

Emit signals:

  • property::spacing_widget When the spacing_widget value changes.
    • self wibox.layout.flex The object which changed (useful when connecting many object to the same callback).
    • new_value spacing_widget The new value affected to the property.
spacing number · 1 signal
The amount of space inserted between the child widgets.

If a spacing_widget is defined, this value is used for its size.

Usage example

Type constraints:

  • spacing number Spacing between widgets.

Usage:

    for i=1, 5 do
    local w = wibox.widget {
        first,
        second,
        third,
        spacing = i*5,
        layout  = wibox.layout.flex.horizontal
    }
end

Click to display more

Emit signals:

  • property::spacing When the spacing value changes.
    • self wibox.layout.flex The object which changed (useful when connecting many object to the same callback).
    • new_value spacing The new value affected to the property.
max_widget_size number · 1 signal
Set the maximum size the widgets in this layout will take.

That is, maximum width for horizontal and maximum height for vertical.

Click to display more

Emit signals:

  • property::max_widget_size When the max_widget_size value changes.
    • self wibox.layout.flex The object which changed (useful when connecting many object to the same callback).
    • new_value max_widget_size The new value affected to the property.
children table · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
Get or set the children elements.

Type constraints:

  • children table The children.
all_children table · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
Get all direct and indirect children widgets. This will scan all containers recursively to find widgets Warning: This method it prone to stack overflow if there is a loop in the widgets hierarchy. A hierarchy loop is when a widget, or any of its children, contain (directly or indirectly) itself.

Type constraints:

  • children table The children.
forced_height number or nil · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
Force a widget height.

Type constraints:

  • height number or nil The height (nil for automatic)
forced_width number or nil · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
Force a widget width.

Type constraints:

  • width number or nil The width (nil for automatic)
opacity number · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
The widget opacity (transparency).

Type constraints:

  • opacity number The opacity (between 0 and 1) (default 1)
visible boolean · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
The widget visibility.
buttons table · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
The widget buttons.

The table contains a list of awful.button objects.

See also:

Object methods

:add (...)
Add some widgets to the given fixed layout.

Parameters:

  • ... widget Widgets that should be added (must at least be one).
:remove (The) -> boolean
Remove a widget from the layout.

Parameters:

  • The index widget index to remove.

Returns:

    boolean index If the operation is successful.
:remove_widgets (...) -> boolean
Remove one or more widgets from the layout.

The last parameter can be a boolean, forcing a recursive seach of the widget(s) to remove.

Parameters:

  • ... widget Widgets that should be removed (must at least be one).

Returns:

    boolean If the operation is successful.
:insert (index, widget) -> boolean · 1 signal
Insert a new widget in the layout at position index.

Parameters:

  • index number The position
  • widget widget The widget

Returns:

    boolean If the operation is successful

Click to display more

Emit signals:

  • widget::inserted
    • self widget The layout.
    • widget widget The inserted widget.
    • count number The widget count.
:set (index, widget2) -> boolean · 1 signal
Set a widget at a specific index, replacing the current one.

Parameters:

  • index number A widget or a widget index
  • widget2 widget The widget to replace the previous one with

Returns:

    boolean Returns true if the widget was replaced successfully, false otherwise.

Click to display more

Emit signals:

  • widget::replaced
    • self widget The layout.
    • widget widget The inserted widget.
    • previous widget The previous widget.
    • index number The replaced index.
:replace_widget (widget, widget2[, recursive=false]) -> boolean · 1 signal
Replace the first instance of widget in the layout with widget2.

Parameters:

  • widget widget The widget to replace
  • widget2 widget The widget to replace widget with
  • recursive boolean Recurse into all compatible layouts to find the widget. (default false)

Returns:

    boolean Returns true if the widget was replaced successfully, false otherwise.

Click to display more

Emit signals:

  • widget::replaced
    • self widget The layout.
    • widget widget index The inserted widget.
    • previous widget The previous widget.
    • index number The replaced index.
:swap (index1, index2) -> boolean · 1 signal
Swap 2 widgets in a layout.

Parameters:

  • index1 number The first widget index
  • index2 number The second widget index

Returns:

    boolean Returns true if the widget was replaced successfully, false otherwise.

Click to display more

Emit signals:

  • widget::swapped
    • self widget The layout.
    • widget1 widget The first widget.
    • widget2 widget The second widget.
    • index1 number The first index.
    • index1 number The second index.
:swap_widgets (widget1, widget2[, recursive=false]) -> boolean · 1 signal
Swap 2 widgets in a layout.

If widget1 is present multiple time, only the first instance is swapped.

Calls set internally, so the signal widget::replaced is emitted for both widgets as well.

Parameters:

  • widget1 widget The first widget
  • widget2 widget The second widget
  • recursive boolean Recurse into all compatible layouts to find the widget. (default false)

Returns:

    boolean Returns true if the widget was replaced successfully, false otherwise.

See also:


Click to display more

Emit signals:

  • widget::swapped
    • self widget The layout.
    • widget1 widget The first widget.
    • widget2 widget The second widget.
    • index1 number The first index.
    • index1 number The second index.
:reset () · 1 signal
Reset the layout. This removes all widgets from the layout.
Click to display more

Emit signals:

  • widget::reset
    • self widget The layout.
:add_button (button) · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
Add a new awful.button to this widget.

Parameters:

  • button awful.button The button to add.
:emit_signal_recursive (signal_name, ...) · Inherited from wibox.widget.base

Emit a signal and ensure all parent widgets in the hierarchies also forward the signal.

This is useful to track signals when there is a dynamic set of containers and layouts wrapping the widget.

Note that this function has some flaws:

  1. The signal is only forwarded once the widget tree has been built. This happens after all currently scheduled functions have been executed. Therefore, it will not start to work right away.
  2. In case the widget is present multiple times in a single widget tree, this function will also forward the signal multiple times (once per upward tree path).
  3. If the widget is removed from the widget tree, the signal is still forwarded for some time, similar to the first case.

Parameters:

  • signal_name string
  • ... Other arguments
:index (widget[, recursive[, ...]]) -> (number, widget, table) · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
Get the index of a widget.

Parameters:

  • widget widget The widget to look for.
  • recursive boolean Recursively check accross the sub-widgets hierarchy. (optional)
  • ... widget Additional widgets to add at the end of the sub-widgets hierarchy "path". (optional)

Returns:

  1. number The widget index.
  2. widget The parent widget.
  3. table The hierarchy path between "self" and "widget".
:connect_signal (name, func) · Inherited from gears.object

Connect to a signal.

Usage example output:

In slot [obj]   nil nil nil
In slot [obj]   foo bar 42

Parameters:

  • name string The name of the signal.
  • func function The callback to call when the signal is emitted.

Usage:

    local o = gears.object{}
-- Function can be attached to signals
local function slot(obj, a, b, c)
    print("In slot", obj, a, b, c)
end
o:connect_signal("my_signal", slot)
-- Emitting can be done without arguments. In that case, the object will be
-- implicitly added as an argument.
o:emit_signal "my_signal"
-- It is also possible to add as many random arguments are required.
o:emit_signal("my_signal", "foo", "bar", 42)
-- Finally, to allow the object to be garbage collected (the memory freed), it
-- is necessary to disconnect the signal or use weak_connect_signal
o:disconnect_signal("my_signal", slot)
-- This time, the slot wont be called as it is no longer connected.
o:emit_signal "my_signal"
:weak_connect_signal (name, func) · Inherited from gears.object
Connect to a signal weakly.

This allows the callback function to be garbage collected and automatically disconnects the signal when that happens. Warning: Only use this function if you really, really, really know what you are doing.

Parameters:

  • name string The name of the signal.
  • func function The callback to call when the signal is emitted.
:disconnect_signal (name, func) · Inherited from gears.object
Disonnect from a signal.

Parameters:

  • name string The name of the signal.
  • func function The callback that should be disconnected.
:emit_signal (name, ...) · Inherited from gears.object
Emit a signal.

Parameters:

  • name string The name of the signal
  • ... Extra arguments for the callback functions. Each connected function receives the object as first argument and then any extra arguments that are given to emit_signal()

Signals

widget::layout_changed · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
When the layout (size) change. This signal is emitted when the previous results of :layout() and :fit() are no longer valid. Unless this signal is emitted, :layout() and :fit() must return the same result when called with the same arguments.

See also:

widget::redraw_needed · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
When the widget content changed. This signal is emitted when the content of the widget changes. The widget will be redrawn, it is not re-layouted. Put differently, it is assumed that :layout() and :fit() would still return the same results as before.

See also:

button::press · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
When a mouse button is pressed over the widget.

Arguments:

  • self table The current object instance itself.
  • lx number The horizontal position relative to the (0,0) position in the widget.
  • ly number The vertical position relative to the (0,0) position in the widget.
  • button number The button number.
  • mods table The modifiers (mod4, mod1 (alt), Control, Shift)
  • find_widgets_result The entry from the result of wibox.drawable:find_widgets for the position that the mouse hit.
    • drawable wibox.drawable The drawable containing the widget.
    • widget widget The widget being displayed.
    • hierarchy wibox.hierarchy The hierarchy managing the widget's geometry.
    • x number An approximation of the X position that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • y number An approximation of the Y position that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • width number An approximation of the width that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • height number An approximation of the height that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • widget_width number The exact width of the widget in its local coordinate system.
    • widget_height number The exact height of the widget in its local coordinate system.

See also:

button::release · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
When a mouse button is released over the widget.

Arguments:

  • self table The current object instance itself.
  • lx number The horizontal position relative to the (0,0) position in the widget.
  • ly number The vertical position relative to the (0,0) position in the widget.
  • button number The button number.
  • mods table The modifiers (mod4, mod1 (alt), Control, Shift)
  • find_widgets_result The entry from the result of wibox.drawable:find_widgets for the position that the mouse hit.
    • drawable wibox.drawable The drawable containing the widget.
    • widget widget The widget being displayed.
    • hierarchy wibox.hierarchy The hierarchy managing the widget's geometry.
    • x number An approximation of the X position that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • y number An approximation of the Y position that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • width number An approximation of the width that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • height number An approximation of the height that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • widget_width number The exact width of the widget in its local coordinate system.
    • widget_height number The exact height of the widget in its local coordinate system.

See also:

mouse::enter · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
When the mouse enter a widget.

Arguments:

  • self table The current object instance itself.
  • find_widgets_result The entry from the result of wibox.drawable:find_widgets for the position that the mouse hit.
    • drawable wibox.drawable The drawable containing the widget.
    • widget widget The widget being displayed.
    • hierarchy wibox.hierarchy The hierarchy managing the widget's geometry.
    • x number An approximation of the X position that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • y number An approximation of the Y position that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • width number An approximation of the width that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • height number An approximation of the height that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • widget_width number The exact width of the widget in its local coordinate system.
    • widget_height number The exact height of the widget in its local coordinate system.

See also:

mouse::leave · Inherited from wibox.widget.base
When the mouse leave a widget.

Arguments:

  • self table The current object instance itself.
  • find_widgets_result The entry from the result of wibox.drawable:find_widgets for the position that the mouse hit.
    • drawable wibox.drawable The drawable containing the widget.
    • widget widget The widget being displayed.
    • hierarchy wibox.hierarchy The hierarchy managing the widget's geometry.
    • x number An approximation of the X position that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • y number An approximation of the Y position that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • width number An approximation of the width that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • height number An approximation of the height that the widget is visible at on the surface.
    • widget_width number The exact width of the widget in its local coordinate system.
    • widget_height number The exact height of the widget in its local coordinate system.

See also:

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