Contextual Ribbon with Dynamic Labels?

[CodeDing]

Hey all,

I may need to ask this over in the .NET forum, but I figured I could start here first.

Does anyone know if it is possible to create a Contextual Ribbon (that would most likely appear when a user has entered x,y,z information via a custom prompt/input/dialog) that can display dynamic data? Maybe things like the name / number of a project, or client info, project manager, deadlines, etc?

**EDIT**

Upon more thinking, the Ribbon does not even have to be Contextual. The idea sounded nice, but if a Static Ribbon has Dynamic labels, that would be cool too!

Best,

[pendean]

"..Static Ribbon has Dynamic labels..."
How would that work?

labels for what too?

Like you observed, nothing like that exists in the Ribbon anywhere, but is somewhat in pulldowns.

[CodeDing]

@pendean ,

Could look something like this. Labels for information (stored in DB or drawing), maybe buttons to edit/update, maybe some images also. Just threw this together in paint real quick:

Best,

[pendean]

Great visual, thanks @CodeDing Is that content possibly from each file's DWGPROPS Summary and Custom Tabs? Or other content inside the DWG file?

AFAIK nothing in stock CUI command does anything like that, but perhaps .NET can crack it open.

[CodeDing]

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Is that content possibly from each file's DWGPROPS Summary and Custom Tabs?

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Would be nice if I could display information both Internal & External to the dwg.

The more I think about it, it would be really cool to just have a Ribbon Tab that displays a webpage. Because then I could just gather all the information I want and display it in any way I want on a Ribbon.

Yes... I know I could accomplish this via a custom Tool Palette. But it would just be cool to have a Ribbon instead. That way it's persistent for all users, out of the way when not used (yet still available), and always in a spot they know & use the most (the Ribbon). A lot of our users have PLENTY of Tool Palettes or other windows open already.. So I'm trying to avoid another one for them to have to open & arrange.

Looking like I'll have to roll with .NET after all lol.

Best,

[Sea-Haven]

What about a custom dcl ? You can have images , choices child dcl's and so on.

When the ribbon was introduced they threw away the ability to do like a ribbon.mnu, its part of a bigger picture thing as I discovered recently referring to Word docx. If you rename docx or cuix to a zip, unzip you will see multiple XML files, I have never given up but its so low on my to do list to make the xml files, zip them up then use Menu-unload and menuload and hey have a new ribbon menu. Using .net would be a good way to go. 

Dont forget you can have custom ribbons.

I am sure its feasible, was looking at a ribbon.mnu format style like a normal pop menu but with images etc.

[CodeDing]

What about a custom dcl ? You can have images , choices child dcl's and so on.

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I don't think DCL is the best approach here. I was trying to avoid another window, and it should persist (possibly) during an entire drawing session, I believe a DCL dialog up that whole time would not allow me to run other lisp routines?

Looks like i'll end up with either .NET or just abandoning the ribbon approach. There's only so many items that a Ribbon can support (see here)  and it's a bit confusing to understand. I wish .NET gave some more examples or pictures of what some of the code can accomplish. But, I'm just no expert yet.

Best,

[Sea-Haven]

You need to make a CUSTOM ribbon not one added to the acad.cuix, once you have that then need to work out what is in that ZIP with the multiple XML files, xml files are plain text, so you can make the cuix files. 

As a very 1st step copy acad.cuix and rename to acad.zip then just open it. You can see what files you need to make a custom cuix has less files.