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| The aim of this tutorial is to explain how to create and modify screenshots for the [http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG KDE Human Interface Guidelines].
| | {{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG/UI Files }} |
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| ==UI Files==
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| UI files are used by '''Qt Designer''' and '''Qt Creator''' for designing ''User Interfaces''.
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| If you want to modify them, you should use Qt Designer, but this is off topic and I link some tutorials for you:
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| * [http://sector.ynet.sk/qt4-tutorial/my-first-qt-gui-application.html A C++ tutorial]
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| And a very very good video-tutorial for Python:
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| * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYF0spYkXUs&feature=related Part I]
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| * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7Ud6FonsR4 Part II]
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| ==How to compile UI files==
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| In order to use your interfaces, you have to compile these files into a Python or C++ application. For this tutorial I have chosen Python.
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| Obviously, you need Python. On KUbuntu, it can be installed with this command (in your terminal):
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| <code>
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| $ sudo apt-get install python2.6
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| </code>
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| You have to compile your .ui files with the '''pyuic4''' tool. Make sure you have the '''pyqt4-dev-tools''' package installed. On KUbuntu, just open the terminal and type:
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| <code>
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| $ sudo apt-get install pyqt4-dev-tools
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| </code>
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| This will check if the package is installed. If not it will installed automatically.
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| Now you can compile the .ui file into a Python file! Simply run the following command:
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| <code>
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| $ pyuic4 -x -o output.py input.ui
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| </code>
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| Notes:
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| * '''''-x''''' tells pyuic4 to generate extra code to directly test and display the GUI
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| * '''''-o''''' sets the output file
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| To display the GUI, you only have to run Python: | |
| <code>
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| $ python2.6 output.py
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| </code>
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| ==Example==
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| Let's compile '''''Tabs and Pages in Dialogs/Tabs_pages3.ui''''' from [http://techbase.kde.org/File:HIG-UI-Files.tar.gz this tarball]. Decompress the tarball and run:
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| <code>
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| $ cd path/to/the/extracted/tarball
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| $ pyuic4 -x -o Tabs_pages3.py 'Tabs and Pages in Dialogs/Tabs_pages3.ui'
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| </code>
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| Now run it through Python:
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| <code>
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| $ python2.6 Tabs_pages3.py
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| </code>
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| Here is a screenshot:
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| [[File:UI-Package-Example.png]]
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| ==How to take and annotate a screenshot==
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| To take a screenshot, you can use [http://docs.kde.org/development/en/kdegraphics/ksnapshot/index.html KSnapshot], which is included in standard KDE distributions.
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| Search KSnapshot in ''Applications > Graphics > Screen Capture Program (KSnapshot)'' and set the options up. I use these options:
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| * ''Capture Mode'' -> Window Under Cursor
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| * ''Snapshot Delay'' -> 1-2 seconds
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| * ''Include window decorations'' -> True
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| If you need extra space (for annotations, for example) you may want to use:
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| * ''Capture Mode'' -> Region
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| Now press ''New Snapshot'', take your snapshot and save it somewhere.
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| If you want to annotate your screenshot you can use [http://www.gimp.org/ Gimp]. Install it with this simple command:
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| <code>
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| $ sudo apt-get install gimp
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| </code>
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| Open it and start drawing! I usually use brushes to draw circles, arrows, etc., pencil to draw sharp lines and text tool to insert text:
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| [[File:Gimp-Screenshot.png]]
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| Notes:
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| # Text Tool
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| # Pencil
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| # Brush
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| You can also use [http://inkscape.org/ Inkscape], a tool similar to Gimp. As above, you can install typing:
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| <code>
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| $ sudo apt-get install inkscape
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| </code>
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| ==How to create an archive==
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| In this tutorial I will use [http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/kdeutils/ark/index.html Ark], but you can use any software you like!
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| Ark is a very simple program: open it and create a new archive clicking on ''New''. Click on ''Add folder'' and select the folder containing the .ui files and all the screenshots.
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| [[File:Ark-Screenshot.png]]
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| In order to upload the archive you have to sign up [http://techbase.kde.org/ KDE TechBase]. Then you can upload your tarball [http://techbase.kde.org/File:HIG-UI-Files.tar.gz here], clicking ''Upload a new version of this file''. [[Very Important]], you have to keep the same filename, i.e. '''''HIG-UI-Files.tar.gz'''''.
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