Button Help image

[jmerch]

How does ACAD get the extended help file with an image when you hover over a button? For example, if you have the Solids tab on the ribbon, and hover over SLICE. It gives you the quick description and if you hold it over longer, it extends down and provides a picture.

 

While creating a button, i notice there's a row for "Extended Help File" which has to be a .xaml. Is this it? I'm not sure how to make one of those. I'll bet a dollar one of you says you can create this file in any program and convert it to xaml

Edited December 14, 2011 by jmerch

[BlackBox]

I've not personally made an extended help file, however XAML is part of Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF); which is a .NET technology.

[jmerch]

hmmm, I'd have figured Autodesk would've made it simple to do, like be able to make any image or document into this extended help file...

[alanjt]

I'll be a dollar

Let's all be dollars!

[jmerch]

funny ...updated

[BlackBox]

Here is from the documentation:

 

Create Tooltips and Extended Help for Commands

 

While you can *technically* code the XAML file with any text editor (and save with .xaml extension), it will be much easier to use Visual Studio 2010 Express, if paying for the full version is out of the question.

 

HTH

[jmerch]

hmmm, looks like more work that what I want to go through...I'll just explain it in an email to my CAD guys

[BlackBox]

Here's just a couple simple examples of what can be done (quickly) using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)...

 

The first two images are of a plug-in I coded for fun from Kean's tutorial Hosting WPF content inside an AutoCAD palette.

 

The last image is something I'm working on which incorporates the Google Maps Javascript API V3 (the free one). An implied task for what I am doing is to get the Google Maps Tool Palette, and data input from Model space to communicate (state plane coordinates translated to Lat / Lan, and back and forth), so that data input in Model space updates the Google Maps Tool Palette for reference, and such. Unfortunately though, this will not support things like street view, etc. but it is 'neat' project for me to explore, and learn from.

 

** Edit - The Google Maps Javascript API V3, also requires the Adobe Flex SDK.

 

** Note - I edited out our company logos from the WPF tool palettes shown here. They actually look a lot nicer with the logo.

Edited December 14, 2011 by BlackBox

[resullins]

RENDER: I want that AWESOME METER!!!!!!

[BlackBox]

RENDER: I want that AWESOME METER!!!!!!

 

Here you go:

 

[jmerch]

That is so awesome (no pun intended)...I had no idea that was a possibility in ACAD!

[BlackBox]

That is so awesome (no pun intended)...I had no idea that was a possibility in ACAD!

 

Couple of thoughts on possibility...

 

 

Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you'll be able to see farther.

 

 

Few men during their lifetime comes anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used.

[jmerch]

lol, thanks RenderMan...I'll try out your other links and hopefully post an update.

[BlackBox]

lol, thanks RenderMan...I'll try out your other links and hopefully post an update.

 

Cool beans... Sorry to have gotten off track a bit. I'm no XAML expert (working to learn styles now), but the basics I taught myself to do what you saw previously in just a day or two (thanks to Kean's tutorial). LoL

 

Good luck!

[JGA]

I used the AutoCAD version as a guide, then just copied & altered bits 'n pieces in as required - it is a work in progress.

Important notes:

1. File name to match menu name & be in the same location, end with .xaml.
   
2. x:Key= reference number to match new menu item.
   
3. I keep linked bitmaps in a sub-folder named images.
   

I found a free package called Kaxaml, it would have been perfect but for crashing at every opportunity - at least Notepad is reliable

Demo.xaml.txt

[BlackBox]

I found a free package called Kaxaml, it would have been perfect but for crashing at every opportunity - at least Notepad is reliable

 

... Or you could use Microsoft's free IDE... Visual Studio 2010 Express to edit C++, C#, VB, XAML, XML, etc.. Just saying.

[rkmcswain]

While you can *technically* code the XAML file with any text editor (and save with .xaml extension), it will be much easier to use.....

 

 

Notepad works just fine and it's free and simple :-)

[BlackBox]

That post was made back in 2011.

 

Notepad works just fine and it's free and simple :-)

 

You code XAML in Notepad? If so, and for more than extended help files, that's impressive (and I mean that).

 

That said, I think you'll find Notepad++ to be vastly superior to Notepad... It inherently handles XML language (what XAML derives from), and is also free... However, neither Notepad, Notepad++, or any other plain text editor has intellisense, namespace/class awareness, or the ability to graphically view the WPF Designer that an XAML file typically defines.

 

[Edit] - However, if only using XAML for extended help files, I agree that installing any version of VS is overkill, if not being used for development.

 

Also, last I checked Express (then), and Community (more current) versions of Visual Studio are free.

 

Cheers

[rkmcswain]

That post was made back in 2011.

 

I'm aware. I was researching XAML files for the same reason as the OP, and found it.

 

 

You code XAML in Notepad?

 

Not much coding going on. Copy and paste the data from the Autodesk Help file, change the variables, and move on. That is all the OP was trying to do also based on the original post.

 

How does ACAD get the extended help file with an image when you hover over a button?

 

[BlackBox]

I was researching XAML files for the same reason as the OP, and found it.

 

...

 

Not much coding going on. Copy and paste the data from the Autodesk Help file, change the variables, and move on. That is all the OP was trying to do also based on the original post.

 

You'll have to forgive me; To help clarify, the context to my question is that my WPF/XAML usage is mostly to do with WPF Applications (MS Office Ribbon & Windows Shell context menus [in File Explorer] for key staff to access our Project Manager app [which creates project folders, and edits project info]) or WPF Browser Applications (for internal quick reference app), where having the IDE is invaluable.

 

You're absolutely right though (as I tried to edit above) - for the purposes of simply adding extended help, any text editor will do nicely.

 

Cheers