new toolbar Tab UI API - contextual use

[pludikar]

@jeff_strater 

Hi all,

I applaud the addition of the new toolbarTab UI API  - but, unless I've totally missed something, it feels like it's gone off half cocked.  With great fanfare you elude to the use of the tabbed UI in a contextual mode, although it's not obvious how that is achievable with the new API.  If anyone has any ideas how this can be achieved I'd love to hear.

Ideally you should be able to create an AddIn that behaves just like the sketch mode does in the design workspace.  That is, from the API -

1. determine which tab is currently active,
2. make the AddIn tab (or any other tab for that matter) visible and active,
3. restore the previously active tab and switch off visibility of the AddIn tab. 

As far as I've been able to determine most of these capabilities are not presently available in the API, but I've been known to be wrong before.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[goyals]

@pludikar,

None of the API you listed down are available at the moment. We are working on adding some new API on toolbarTab class to allow add-in to create new tab. We can definitely consider to add API to activate and checking whether a particular tab isActive or not similar to same API available on Workspace class. Thank you for suggesting them.

[pludikar]

@goyals 

I do hope that you add the API functionality I've suggested, and quickly. 

At the moment it feels like someone has given me a bright red shiny sports car, only to find that there's no engine or transmission in it.  I would consider this functionality essential to anyone attempting to develop an addIn that's more than just a simple script.  It has the appearance that you guys hadn't considered the use case in any depth.

I would suggest you rewrite the What's new description to take out the contextual aspect, then put it back when you you get that part fully operational.  To say it's misleading as it stands now, would be an understatement