Projects/Usability/HIG/UI Files: Difference between revisions

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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 }}
 
==UI Files==
 
UI files are used by '''Qt Designer''' and '''Qt Creator''' for designing ''User Interfaces''.
If you want to modify them, you should use Qt Designer, but this is off topic and I link some tutorials for you:
 
* [http://sector.ynet.sk/qt4-tutorial/my-first-qt-gui-application.html A C++ tutorial]
And a very very good video-tutorial for Python:
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYF0spYkXUs&feature=related Part I]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7Ud6FonsR4 Part II]
 
==How to compile UI files==
 
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.
 
Obviously, you need Python. On KUbuntu, it can be installed with this command (in your terminal):
<code>
$ sudo apt-get install python2.6
</code>
 
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:
<code>
$ sudo apt-get install pyqt4-dev-tools
</code>
 
This will check if the package is installed. If not it will installed automatically.
 
Now you can compile the .ui file into a Python file! Simply run the following command:
<code>
$ pyuic4 -x -o output.py input.ui
</code>
 
Notes:
* '''''-x''''' tells pyuic4 to generate extra code to directly test and display the GUI
* '''''-o''''' sets the output file
 
To display the GUI, you only have to run Python:
<code>
$ python2.6 output.py
</code>
 
 
==Example==
 
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:
<code>
$ cd path/to/the/extracted/tarball
$ pyuic4 -x -o Tabs_pages3.py 'Tabs and Pages in Dialogs/Tabs_pages3.ui'
</code>
 
Now run it through Python:
<code>
$ python2.6 Tabs_pages3.py
</code>
 
Here is a screenshot:
 
[[File:UI-Package-Example.png]]
 
==How to take and annotate a screenshot==
 
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.
Search KSnapshot in ''Applications > Graphics > Screen Capture Program (KSnapshot)'' and set the options up. I use these options:
* ''Capture Mode'' -> Window Under Cursor
* ''Snapshot Delay'' -> 1-2 seconds
* ''Include window decorations'' -> True
 
If you need extra space (for annotations, for example) you may want to use:
* ''Capture Mode'' -> Region
 
Now press ''New Snapshot'', take your snapshot and save it somewhere.
If you want to annotate your screenshot you can use [http://www.gimp.org/ Gimp]. Install it with this simple command:
<code>
$ sudo apt-get install gimp
</code>
 
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:
 
[[File:Gimp-Screenshot.png]]
 
Notes:
# Text Tool
# Pencil
# Brush
 
You can also use [http://inkscape.org/ Inkscape], a tool similar to Gimp. As above, you can install typing:
<code>
$ sudo apt-get install inkscape
</code>
 
==How to create an archive==
 
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!
 
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.
 
[[File:Ark-Screenshot.png]]
 
 
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'''''.

Latest revision as of 12:09, 4 August 2016

This page is now on the community wiki.