How to create a Template using lua?

[fRodzet]

Originally Posted by Resike Also you have to create the inhertited frame/button which points to the template in xml too.

True that is!

Creating Templates in XML is easy anyways, but for longer codes i think XML gets really messy and adding comments (<!-- xxx -->) in XML doesn't seem to make it more readable to me.

[Resike]

Originally Posted by fRodzet True that is! Creating Templates in XML is easy anyways, but for longer codes i think XML gets really messy and adding comments (<!-- xxx -->) in XML doesn't seem to make it more readable to me.

True that, i recently formatted a 4000+ line xml file, was fun, but at the end i could do it with closed eyes too. Some addons even use 14000-15000+ line xml codes too.

[Ailae]

Couldn't you create a function that creates the frame and then call on that function every time you create such a frame?

-- Creates an ordinary frame, just more awesome
function CreateAwesomeFrame(name)
    local f = CreateFrame("Frame", name, UIParent)
    f:SetSize(128, 128) -- this is the really awesome bit
    f:SetBackdrop({
        bgFile = "Interface\\ChatFrame\\ChatFrameBackground",
        insets = {top = 0, left = 0, bottom = 0, right = 0},
    })
    f:SetBackdropColor(1, 1, 1, 0)
    f:SetPoint("CENTER")
    
    return f
end
 
local AwesomeFrame = CreateAwesomeFrame()

[Resike]

Originally Posted by Ailae Couldn't you create a function that creates the frame and then call on that function every time you create such a frame? -- Creates an ordinary frame, just more awesome function CreateAwesomeFrame(name)     local f = CreateFrame("Frame", name, UIParent)     f:SetSize(128, 128) -- this is the really awesome bit     f:SetBackdrop({         bgFile = "Interface\\ChatFrame\\ChatFrameBackground",         insets = {top = 0, left = 0, bottom = 0, right = 0},     })     f:SetBackdropColor(1, 1, 1, 0)     f:SetPoint("CENTER")         return f end   local AwesomeFrame = CreateAwesomeFrame()

Intresting, but i'm not sure it would work with all UI elements.

[fRodzet]

Originally Posted by Ailae Couldn't you create a function that creates the frame and then call on that function every time you create such a frame? -- Creates an ordinary frame, just more awesome function CreateAwesomeFrame(name)     local f = CreateFrame("Frame", name, UIParent)     f:SetSize(128, 128) -- this is the really awesome bit     f:SetBackdrop({         bgFile = "Interface\\ChatFrame\\ChatFrameBackground",         insets = {top = 0, left = 0, bottom = 0, right = 0},     })     f:SetBackdropColor(1, 1, 1, 0)     f:SetPoint("CENTER")         return f end   local AwesomeFrame = CreateAwesomeFrame()

Imma try that when i get home!

Ill tell you if it works

[Seerah]

Originally Posted by Ailae Couldn't you create a function that creates the frame and then call on that function every time you create such a frame?

Yes, we call that a frame factory or a factory function. You can see an example of its usage with my sStats addon. The core sStats addon has the factory function, while the display modules use it to create their frames.

However, iirc, if you want to create secure frames/buttons you need to use XML.

[Ailae]

Originally Posted by Seerah Yes, we call that a frame factory or a factory function. You can see an example of its usage with my sStats addon. The core sStats addon has the factory function, while the display modules use it to create their frames. However, iirc, if you want to create secure frames/buttons you need to use XML.

Yeah, I too use them just like that. I find it much easier then mucking about with XML-files.

I'm fairly sure you don't even need to use XML for secure stuff either.

[Rilgamon]

XML is not required for secure buttons/frames. You can use templates (which are xml).
http://www.wowpedia.org/SecureActionButtonTemplate

[Phanx]

The only time you need to use XML is if you are creating secure templates (virtual frames), and the only time you need to do that is if you are working with the secure header system -- for example, setting up a secure header for party frames where each unit frame will include an attached child unit frame for the party member's pet. See attached awesome MSPaint drawing for a better explanation.

[Resike]

Originally Posted by Phanx The only time you need to use XML is if you are creating secure templates (virtual frames), and the only time you need to do that is if you are working with the secure header system -- for example, setting up a secure header for party frames where each unit frame will include an attached child unit frame for the party member's pet. See attached awesome MSPaint drawing for a better explanation.

And how can you import blizzard templates by only using lua?

[fRodzet]

Originally Posted by Resike True that, i recently formatted a 4000+ line xml file, was fun, but at the end i could do it with closed eyes too. Some addons even use 14000-15000+ line xml codes too.

Chill dude! Did your eyes pop out?