@ -72,11 +72,11 @@ Creating regexps can be a difficult and annoying -- especially when you need com
Before working with Regular Expressions, you should understand what actually are regular expressions. Essentially, the idea is simple: when you are writing any word, you are using strictly defined letters -- that is: letters create a word. What you want to do with regular expression is to use set of rules that will match to many words. It is not that difficult to see what it's needed to do so: first, you will clearly need way to determinate what letters you want to match (word is composed by letters).\\
Before introducing other ways to choose between characters, I want explain anchors. Anchors allows you to decide where to ``look'' in the string. You surely should know about ``\^'' anchor and ``\textdollar''. Putting ``\^`` will tell to Open{CS} to look on the beginning of string, while ''\textdollar`` is used to mark the end of it. For instance, pattern ''\^Pink.* elephant.\textdollar`` Will match any sentence Beginning with the word ''Pink`` and ending with '' elephant.``. Pink fat elephant. Pink cute elephant. It doe not matter what is in between because ''.*`` is used.\\
Before introducing other ways to choose between characters, I want explain anchors. Anchors allows you to decide where to ``look'' in the string. You surely should know about ``\^'' anchor and ``\textdollar''. Putting ``\^`` will tell to Open{CS} to look on the beginning of string, while ''\textdollar`` is used to mark the end of it. For instance, pattern ''\^Pink.* elephant.\textdollar`` Will match any sentence Beginning with the word ''Pink`` and ending with '' elephant.``. Pink fat elephant. Pink cute elephant. It does not matter what is in between, because ''.*`` is used.\\
You have already seen the power of the simple ``.*''. But what if you want to chose between only two (or more) letters? Well, this is when ``[|]'' comes in handy. If you write something like: ``\^[a|k].*'' you are simply telling Open{CS} to filter anything that starts with either ``a'' or ``k''. Using ``\^[a|k|l].*'' will work in the same manner, but it will also cover strings starting with ``l''.\\
And What if you want to match more than just one latter, just use ``(|)`` it is pretty similar to the above, but it is used to fit more than just one character. For instance: ''\^(Pink|Green).* (elephant|crocodile).\textdollar`` will be true for all sentences starting with ''Pink`` or ''Green`` and ending with either ''elephant.`` or ''crocodile.``.\\
And What if you want to match more than just one latter? Just use ``(|)``. it is pretty similar to the above one letter as you see, but it is used to fit more than just one character. For instance: ''\^(Pink|Green).* (elephant|crocodile).\textdollar`` will be true for all sentences starting with ''Pink`` or ''Green`` and ending with either ''elephant.`` or ''crocodile.``.\\
Regular expressions are not the main topic of this manual. If you wish to learn more on this subject please, read the documentation on Qt regular expressions syntax, or TRE regexp syntax (it is almost like in Qt). Above is just enough to use Open{CS} effectively to be sure.\\
@ -5,23 +5,25 @@ OpenCS windows interface is easy to describe and understand. In fact We decided
Because of this, and the fact that we expect that user is familiar with other applications using windows this section is mostly focused on practical ways of organizing work with the OpenCS.
\subsection{Basics}
After starting Open{CS} and choosing content files to use a editor window should show up. It probably does not look surprising: there is a menubar at the top, and there is a large empty area. That's it: a brand new Open{CS} window contains only menubar and statusbar. In order to make it a little bit more useful you probably want to enable some window widgets. You are free to do so, just try to explore the menubar. \\
After starting Open{CS} and choosing content files to use a editor window should show up. It probably does not look surprising: there is a menubar at the top, and there is a large empty area. That's it: a brand new Open{CS} window contains only menubar and statusbar. In order to make it a little bit more useful you probably want to enable some name panels\footnote{Also known as widgets.}. You are free to do so, just try to explore the menubar. \\
You probably founded out the way to enable and disable some interesting tables, but those will be described later. For now, let's just focus on the windows itself.
\paragraph{Creating new windows}
is easy! Just visit view menu, and use the ``New View'' item. Suddenly, out of the blue a new window will show up. As you would expect, it is also blank, and you are free to add any of the Open{CS}widgets.
is easy! Just visit view menu, and use the ``New View'' item. Suddenly, out of the blue a new window will show up. As you would expect, it is also blank, and you are free to add any of the Open{CS}name panels.
\paragraph{Closing opened window}
is also easy! Simply close that window decoration button. We suspect that you knew that already, but better to be sure. Closing last Open{CS} window will also terminate application session.
\paragraph{Multi-everything}
is the main foundation of Open{CS} interface. You are free to create as many windows as you want to, free to populate it with any widgets you may want to, and move everything as you wish to -- even if it makes no sense at all. If you just got crazy idea and you are wonder if you are able to have one hundred Open{CS} windows showing widget of the same type, well most likely you are able to do so.\\
is the main foundation of Open{CS} interface. You are free to create as many windows as you want to, free to populate it with any name panels you may want to, and move everything as you wish to -- even if it makes no sense at all. If you just got crazy idea and you are wonder if you are able to have one hundred Open{CS} windows showing name panels of the same type, well most likely you are able to do so.\\
The principle behind this design decision is easy to see for Bethesda made editor, but maybe not so clear for users who are just about to begin their wonderful journey of modding.\\
\subsection{Advanced}
So why? Why this is created in such manner. The answer is frankly simple: because it is effective. When creating a mod, you often have to work only with just one table. For instance you are just balancing weapons damage and other statistics. It makes sense to have all the space for just that one table. More often, you are required to work with two and switch them from time to time. All major graphical environments commonly present in operating systems comes with switcher feature, that is a key shortcut to change active window. It is very effective and fast when you have only two windows, each holding only one table. Sometimes you have to work with two at the time, and with one from time to time. Here, you can have one window holding two table widgets, and second holding just one.\\
So why? Why this is created in such manner. The answer is frankly simple: because it is effective. When creating a mod, you often have to work only with just one table. For instance you are just balancing weapons damage and other statistics. It makes sense to have all the space for just that one table. More often, you are required to work with two and switch them from time to time. All major graphical environments commonly present in operating systems comes with switcher feature, that is a key shortcut to change active window. It is very effective and fast when you have only two windows, each holding only one table. Sometimes you have to work with two at the time, and with one from time to time. Here, you can have one window holding two tables, and second holding just one.\\
Open{CS} is designed to simply make sense and do not slowdown users. It is as simple as possible (but not simpler), and uses one flexible approach in all cases.\\
There is no point in digging deeper in the windows of Open{CS}. Let's explore widgets, starting with tables.
There is no point in digging deeper in the windows of Open{CS}. Let's explore name panels, starting with tables.
Marek Kochanowicz
11 years ago