7erra/Sandbox – User

Example

1.66 You can check some of the grid systems on an interactive test menu in game:

1. Open Eden Editor
2. Open debug console (Tools > Debug Console)
3. Execute this code:

   finddisplay 313 createdisplay "RscTestGrids";
   

A menu where you can see how all grid systems react to specific resolution, aspect ratio and interface size.

• Hovering over each grid will show detailed description in tooltip.
• Data for each grid show the current size and max number of grids horizontally and vertically. Useful to making sure your menu proportions will work in all combinations.
• Click COPY TO CLIPBOARD button to copy a code with example that can be used directly in Config.cpp or Description.ext.

Grids

Absolute

The absolute grid refers to a 4:3 screen with UI size "Very Large". It is the oldest of the three grids (absolute, safeZone and pixelGrid). Because of this it is never advisable to use it. Config example:

class TextAbsolute: RscText
{
	text = "Absolute grid";
	x = 0;
	y = 0.5;
	w = 0.15;
	h = 0.028;
};

SafeZone

safeZone values and their position on screen. The 0 and 1 are the absolute values.

To keep the dialog on screen the safeZone values were introduced. Here is a quick overview over the six commands:

Command	Explanation
safeZoneX	The left edge of the screen on SINGLE monitor settings.
safeZoneXAbs	The left edge of the screen on MULTIPLE monitors (Triple Head, three screens).
safeZoneY	The top edge of the screen.
safeZoneW	The width of of the screen in a SINGLE monitor setup (or the center one in case of triple head).
safeZoneWAbs	The width of a triple head setup. In case of a single monitor this is equal to safeZoneW.
safeZoneH	The height of the screen

//--- Text box which covers the top right quarter of the (center) screen
class TextboxTopRightQuarter: RscText
{
	x = safezoneX + 0.5 * safeZoneW;
	y = safezoneY;
	w = 0.5 * safezoneW;
	h = 0.5 * safezoneH;
};
//--- Textbox which covers the entire screen on a triple head setup
class TextboxFullTripleScreen: RscText
{
	x = safeZoneXAbs;
	y = safeZoneY;
	w = safeZoneWAbs;
	h = safeZoneH;
};

GUI_GRID

GUI_GRIDs on "Very Large", "Normal" and "Very Small" (from top to bottom) on a 1920x1080 (16:9) screen. Not shown here are the pictures for the UI sizes "Small" and "Large".

The GUI_GRID is based on the safeZone grid and is used by the majority of the game's dialogs. The additional functionality is the possibility to stay on screen even with different user settings such as aspect ratio or UI scale. It also helps to keep a uniform style between dialogs. If you are using the base classes starting with "Rsc" then it is advisable to use this grid as some attributes (eg. fonts) will only scale correctly with this grid. The defines for use in configs and scripts can be accessed by adding this line to your config:

#include "\a3\ui_f\hpp\definecommongrids.inc"

The following table will list the most commonly used grids which are defined in said file. To use them add the appropiate suffix _X, _Y, _W or _H to the variable name, eg GUI_GRID includes GUI_GRID_X, GUI_GRID_Y, GUI_GRID_W and GUI_GRID_H. The second and third column refer to where the dialog will originate from on other UI sizes.

#define	Horizontal	Vertical	Notes
GUI_GRID	Left	Bottom	Example: Escape menu (RscDisplayInterrupt)
GUI_GRID_CENTER	Center	Middle	Example: RscDisplayTeamSwitch
GUI_GRID_TOPCENTER	Center	Top
GUI_GRID_BOTTOMCENTER	Center	Bottom	Example: Revive UI
GUI_GRID_CENTER_BOTTOM	Center	Bottom	Same as GUI_GRID_BOTTOMCENTER
GUI_GRID_TOPLEFT	Left	Top	Diary (the top left part of the map)

The GUI_GRID divides the screen into 40 parts on the horizontal axis and into 25 vertically. Therefore no content should have negative x or y values nor should it exceed a width of 40 or a height of 25. Using a height of 25 or width of 40 is not the same as using screen height or width because the GUI_GRID will get smaller with smaller UI sizes as it should be. Examples:

//--- Okay, will use entire available space:
x = GUI_GRID_CENTER_X + 0 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_W;
y = GUI_GRID_CENTER_Y + 0 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_H;
w = 40 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_W;
h = 25 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_H;

//--- NOT okay:
x = GUI_GRID_CENTER_X - 1 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_W;
y = GUI_GRID_CENTER_Y - 1 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_H;
w = 50 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_W;
h = 30 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_H;

The second example will dissapear on certain settings on the left and top edge as well as exceed the screen's width and height.

Here is a copy paste example:

#include "\a3\ui_f\hpp\definecommongrids.inc"
class MyDialog
{
	idd = -1;
	class controls
	{
		class TextGUIGRID: RscStructuredText
		{
			text = "Text on the left bottom";
			x = GUI_GRID_X + 0 * GUI_GRID_W;
			y = GUI_GRID_Y + 24 * GUI_GRID_H;
			w = 40 * GUI_GRID_W;
			h = 1 * GUI_GRID_H;
		};
		class TextGUIGRIDCENTER: RscStructuredText
		{
			text = "<t align='center'>Text in the middle</t>";
			x = GUI_GRID_CENTER_X + 0 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_W;
			y = GUI_GRID_CENTER_Y + 12.5 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_H;
			w = 40 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_W;
			h = 1 * GUI_GRID_CENTER_H;
		};
		class TextGUIGRIDTOPCENTER: RscStructuredText
		{
			text = "<t align='center'>Text in the top center</t>";
			x = GUI_GRID_TOPCENTER_X + 0 * GUI_GRID_TOPCENTER_W;
			y = GUI_GRID_TOPCENTER_Y + 0 * GUI_GRID_TOPCENTER_H;
			w = 40 * GUI_GRID_TOPCENTER_W;
			h = 1 * GUI_GRID_TOPCENTER_H;
		};
		class TextGUIGRIDBOTTOMCENTER: RscStructuredText
		{
			text = "<t align='center'>Text bottom center</t>";
			x = GUI_GRID_BOTTOMCENTER_X + 0 * GUI_GRID_BOTTOMCENTER_W;
			y = GUI_GRID_BOTTOMCENTER_Y + 24 * GUI_GRID_BOTTOMCENTER_H;
			w = 40 * GUI_GRID_BOTTOMCENTER_W;
			h = 1 * GUI_GRID_BOTTOMCENTER_H;
		};
		class TextGUIGRIDTOPLEFT: TextGUIGRID
		{
			text = "Text on the left top";
			x = GUI_GRID_TOPLEFT_X + 0 * GUI_GRID_TOPLEFT_W;
			y = GUI_GRID_TOPLEFT_Y + 0 * GUI_GRID_TOPLEFT_H;
			// w and h are inherited from TextGUIGRID 
			// GUI_GRID_name_W and GUI_GRID_name_H are the same for every define
		};
	};
};

Pixel Grid

The pixel grid system was introduced to resolve issues with UI elements which appeared not as they should be because of the fact that the computer can't draw inbetween pixels. For a more indepth explanation of the grid go to the dedicated BIKI page. The base controls from which to inherit from usually start with ctrl, eg. ctrlPicture, ctrlStrucuturedText, etc.. Mixing controls with different grids on the same dialog might lead to undesired visuals.

Commands

Command	Explanation
pixelW	Width of one pixel. On displays with too fine resolution (e.g., 4K), it can get too small for practical use.
pixelH	Height of one pixel. On displays with too fine resolution (e.g., 4K), it can get too small for practical use.
pixelGrid	Multiplier based on resolution, interface size and some config values. It can be divided by up to 4 and still be a whole number. Due to this rounding, some interface sizes may use the same value.
pixelGridBase	Multiplier only based on the screen resolution.
pixelGridNoUIScale	Similar to pixelGrid, but affected only by resolution, not interface size. Usually used to keep some important elements, e.g., spotlight buttons in the main menu.

Includes

#include "\a3\3DEN\UI\macros.inc"
#include "\a3\3DEN\UI\macroexecs.inc"

#define	Explanation
GRID_W	Width of one grid
GRID_H	Height of one grid
CENTER_X	Vertical screen center
CENTER_Y	Horizontal screen center

Examples

#include "\a3\3DEN\UI\macros.inc"
#include "\a3\3DEN\UI\macroexecs.inc"
class MyPixelGridDialog
{
	idd = -1;
	class controls
	{
		class TextLeftTop: ctrlStructuredText
		{
			text = "Left top";
			x = safeZoneX + 0 * GRID_W;
			y = safeZoneY + 0 * GRID_H;
			w = 50 * GRID_W;
			h = 5 * GRID_H;
			colorBackground[] = {1,0,0,1};
		};
		class TextCenterMiddle: TextLeftTop
		{
			text = "Center middle";
			x = CENTER_X - 25 * GRID_W;
			y = CENTER_Y - 2.5 * GRID_H;
		};
		class TextRightBottom: TextLeftTop
		{
			text = "Left bottom";
			x = safeZoneX + safeZoneW - 50 * GRID_W;
			y = safeZoneY + safeZoneH - 5 * GRID_H;
		};
	};
};