Managing Multiple GUIs: Difference between revisions
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(OnEvent Mode: Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE ; it will not be necessary as we already check: If Not IsHWnd($aMsg[1]) Then) |
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Having several GUIs on the screen at the same time is fairly common | =Introduction= | ||
Having several GUIs on the screen at the same time is fairly common but structuring your code to deal with this can seem quite daunting. However, as I hope this tutorial will demonstrate, it is nowhere near as difficult as it first appears. | |||
=MessageLoop Mode= | |||
Let us start with ''MessageLoop'' mode as this is where most new coders run into difficulties with multiple | Let us start with ''MessageLoop'' mode as this is where most new coders run into difficulties with multiple GUIs. This example script illustrates the problem - it exits when the '''[X]''' is clicked on either GUI: | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | ||
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3> | |||
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3> | |||
Global $g_idButton3 | |||
gui1() | |||
Func gui1() | |||
Local $hGUI1 = GUICreate("GUI 1", 200, 200, 100, 100) | |||
Local $idButton1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Msgbox 1", 10, 10, 80, 30) | |||
Local $idButton2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show GUI 2", 10, 60, 80, 30) | |||
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $hGUI1) | |||
While 1 | |||
Switch GUIGetMsg() | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE | |||
ContinueLoop | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE | |||
ExitLoop | |||
Case $idButton1 | |||
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 1", "Test from GUI 1") | |||
Case $idButton2 | |||
GUICtrlSetState($idButton2, $GUI_DISABLE) | |||
gui2() | |||
Case $g_idButton3 | |||
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 2", "Test from GUI 2") | |||
EndSwitch | |||
WEnd | |||
EndFunc ;==>gui1 | |||
Func gui2() | |||
Local $hGUI2 = GUICreate("GUI 2", 200, 200, 350, 350) | |||
$g_idButton3 = GUICtrlCreateButton("MsgBox 2", 10, 10, 80, 30) | |||
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $hGUI2) | |||
EndFunc ;==>gui2 | |||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
The script exits because it has a single ''GUIGetMsg'' loop and the ''$GUI_EVENT_CLOSE'' message is received when either '''[X]''' is clicked - we have no way of telling the messages from the | The script exits because it has a single ''GUIGetMsg'' loop and the ''$GUI_EVENT_CLOSE'' message is received when either '''[X]''' is clicked - we have no way of telling the messages from the two GUIs apart. | ||
The simplest solution is to disable the first GUI while the second is displayed: | The simplest solution is to disable the first GUI while the second is displayed: | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | ||
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3> | |||
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3> | |||
gui1() | |||
Func gui1() | |||
Local $hGUI1 = GUICreate("GUI 1", 200, 200, 100, 100) | |||
Local $idButton1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Msgbox 1", 10, 10, 80, 30) | |||
Local $idButton2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show GUI 2", 10, 60, 80, 30) | |||
GUISetState() | |||
While 1 | |||
Switch GUIGetMsg() | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE | |||
ContinueLoop | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE | |||
ExitLoop | |||
Case $idButton1 | |||
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 1", "Test from GUI 1") | |||
Case $idButton2 | |||
; Disable the first GUI | |||
GUISetState(@SW_DISABLE, $hGUI1) | |||
gui2() | |||
; Re-enable the first GUI | |||
GUISetState(@SW_ENABLE, $hGUI1) | |||
EndSwitch | |||
WEnd | |||
EndFunc ;==>gui1 | |||
Func gui2() | |||
Local $hGUI2 = GUICreate("GUI 2", 200, 200, 350, 350) | |||
Local $idButton3 = GUICtrlCreateButton("MsgBox 2", 10, 10, 80, 30) | |||
GUISetState() | |||
While 1 | |||
; We can only get messages from the second GUI | |||
Switch GUIGetMsg() | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE | |||
ContinueLoop | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE | |||
GUIDelete($hGUI2) | |||
ExitLoop | |||
Case $idButton3 | |||
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 2", "Test from GUI 2") | |||
EndSwitch | |||
WEnd | |||
EndFunc ;==>gui2 | |||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
This may well be all you need, but it does mean that we cannot action any of the controls on the first GUI until we close the second. And importantly we remain blocked in the ''While...WEnd'' loop within the ''gui2'' function - go and read the | This may well be all you need, but it does mean that we cannot action any of the controls on the first GUI until we close the second. And importantly we remain blocked in the ''While...WEnd'' loop within the ''gui2'' function - go and read the [[Interrupting a running function]] tutorial to see why this is less than ideal. | ||
So how can we deal with multiple GUIs visible at the same time? Fortunately AutoIt offers us a simple way to differentiate between GUIs in ''MessageLoop'' mode. Normally we use code like this in our idle loop to detect the messages sent by our GUI and its controls: | So how can we deal with multiple GUIs visible at the same time? Fortunately AutoIt offers us a simple way to differentiate between GUIs in ''MessageLoop'' mode. Normally we use code like this in our idle loop to detect the messages sent by our GUI and its controls: | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | ||
Switch GUIGetMsg() | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE | |||
ContinueLoop | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE | |||
; Code | |||
Case $idButton1 | |||
</syntaxhighlight> | ; Code | ||
EndSwitch | |||
But when dealing with multiple GUIs, we need to use the "''advanced''" parameter when we call ''GUIGetMsg''. As explained in the Help file, the function then returns an array instead of a single value. This array includes information on what exactly triggered the message, just what we need to distinguish the message that was sent (element['''0'''] of the array) and which GUI sent it (element['''1''']). We can then amend our simple Switch statement above to read like this: | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
But when dealing with multiple GUIs, we need to use the "''advanced''" parameter when we call ''GUIGetMsg''. As explained in the Help file, the function then returns an array instead of a single value. This array includes information on what exactly triggered the message, just what we need to distinguish the message that was sent (element['''0'''] of the array) and which GUI sent it (element['''1''']). We can then amend our simple Switch statement above to read like this: | |||
<syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | ||
$aMsg = GUIGetMsg(1) ; Use advanced parameter to get an array returned | |||
If Not IsHWnd($aMsg[1]) Then ContinueLoop ; preventing subsequent lines from processing when nothing happens | |||
Switch $aMsg[1] ; First check which GUI sent the message | |||
Case $hGUI1 | |||
Switch $aMsg[0] ; Now check for the messages sent from $hGUI1 | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE ; it will not be necessary as we already check: If Not IsHWnd($aMsg[1]) Then | |||
ContinueLoop | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE | |||
; Code | |||
Case $hControl | |||
; Code | |||
EndSwitch | |||
Case $hGUI2 | |||
Switch $aMsg[0] ; Now check for the messages sent from $hGUI2 | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE ; it will not be necessary as we already check: If Not IsHWnd($aMsg[1]) Then | |||
ContinueLoop | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE | |||
; Code | |||
Case $idButton3 | |||
; Code | |||
EndSwitch | |||
EndSwitch | |||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
Although this looks complicated, if you take a moment to study it and you will quickly realise it is simply two ''Switch'' structures within an outer ''Switch''. You have already dealt with a single ''Switch'' structure for a single GUI. All you are doing here is determining which ''Switch'' structure you want to use, and that depends on the GUI which sent the message which is why we need the outer ''Switch'' structure as a wrapper. | |||
Although this looks complicated, if you take a moment to study it and you will quickly realise it is simply | |||
So here an example of how to manage | So here is an example of how to manage two GUIs simultaneously using the "''advanced''" parameter with ''GUIGetMsg'': | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | ||
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3> | |||
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3> | |||
Global $g_hGUI1, $g_idButton1, $g_idButton2, $g_hGUI2, $g_idButton3 | |||
example() | |||
Func example() | |||
gui1() | |||
Local $aMsg | |||
While 1 | |||
$aMsg = GUIGetMsg(1) ; Use advanced parameter to get array | |||
If Not IsHWnd($aMsg[1]) Then ContinueLoop ; preventing subsequent lines from processing when nothing happens | |||
Switch $aMsg[1] ; check which GUI sent the message | |||
Case $g_hGUI1 | |||
Switch $aMsg[0] ; Now check for the messages for $g_hGUI1 | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE ; If we get the CLOSE message from this GUI: $g_hGUI1 ... | |||
ExitLoop ; ... exit the loop and thus exit the program | |||
Case $g_idButton1 | |||
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 1", "Test from GUI 1") | |||
Case $g_idButton2 | |||
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_DISABLE) | |||
gui2() | |||
EndSwitch | |||
Case $g_hGUI2 | |||
Switch $aMsg[0] ; Now check for the messages for $g_hGUI2 | |||
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE ; If we get the CLOSE message from this GUI : $g_hGUI2 ... | |||
GUIDelete($g_hGUI2) ; ... just delete the GUI ... | |||
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_ENABLE) ; ... enable button (previously disabled) | |||
Case $g_idButton3 | |||
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox", "Test from GUI 2") | |||
EndSwitch | |||
EndSwitch | |||
WEnd | |||
EndFunc ;==>example | |||
Func gui1() | |||
$g_hGUI1 = GUICreate("GUI 1", 200, 200, 100, 100) | |||
$g_idButton1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Msgbox 1", 10, 10, 80, 30) | |||
$g_idButton2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show GUI 2", 10, 60, 80, 30) | |||
GUISetState() | |||
EndFunc ;==>gui1 | |||
Func gui2() | |||
$g_hGUI2 = GUICreate("GUI 2", 200, 200, 350, 350) | |||
$g_idButton3 = GUICtrlCreateButton("MsgBox 2", 10, 10, 80, 30) | |||
GUISetState() | |||
EndFunc ;==>gui2 | |||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
As you can see, we have a single ''While...WEnd'' loop which distinguishes between the two GUIs, both GUIs and their controls remain active and we stay in the main idle loop while we wait (you did read that other tutorial I hope!). | |||
=OnEvent Mode= | |||
Coders using ''OnEvent'' mode do not usually find the same problem with multiple GUIs as they can code separate functions for each ''$GUI_EVENT_CLOSE'' as shown here: | Coders using ''OnEvent'' mode do not usually find the same problem with multiple GUIs as they can code separate functions for each ''$GUI_EVENT_CLOSE'' as shown here: | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | ||
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3> | #include <GUIConstantsEx.au3> | ||
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3> | |||
Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1) | |||
Global $g_hGUI2, $g_idButton2 | |||
gui1() | |||
Func gui1() | |||
Local $hGUI1 = GUICreate("GUI 1", 200, 200, 100, 100) | |||
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "On_Close_Main") ; Run this function when the main GUI [X] is clicked | |||
Local $idButton1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Msgbox 1", 10, 10, 80, 30) | |||
GUICtrlSetOnEvent($idButton1, "On_Button1") | |||
$g_idButton2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show GUI 2", 10, 60, 80, 30) | |||
GUICtrlSetOnEvent(-1, "On_Button2") | |||
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $hGUI1) | |||
While 1 | |||
Sleep(10) | |||
WEnd | |||
EndFunc ;==>gui1 | |||
Func gui2() | |||
$g_hGUI2 = GUICreate("GUI 2", 200, 200, 350, 350) | |||
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "On_Close_Secondary") ; Run this function when the secondary GUI [X] is clicked | |||
Local $idButton3 = GUICtrlCreateButton("MsgBox 2", 10, 10, 80, 30) | |||
GUICtrlSetOnEvent($idButton3, "On_Button3") | |||
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $g_hGUI2) | |||
EndFunc ;==>gui2 | |||
Func On_Close_Main() | |||
Exit | |||
EndFunc ;==>On_Close_Main | |||
Func On_Close_Secondary() | |||
GUIDelete($g_hGUI2) | |||
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_ENABLE) | |||
EndFunc ;==>On_Close_Secondary | |||
Func On_Button1() | |||
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 1", "Test from GUI 1") | |||
EndFunc ;==>On_Button1 | |||
Func On_Button2() | |||
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_DISABLE) | |||
gui2() | |||
EndFunc ;==>On_Button2 | |||
Func On_Button3() | |||
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 2", "Test from GUI 2") | |||
EndFunc ;==>On_Button3 | |||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
But did you realise that you can also use what some people think of as a hybrid mode - using common ''OnEvent'' functions and then determining the specific GUI or control which called the function within the function? As an added bonus, this approach may, depending on the circumstances, let you send parameters to the functions you call - something that you normally cannot do in ''OnEvent'' mode. | But did you realise that you can also use what some people think of as a hybrid mode - using common ''OnEvent'' functions and then determining the specific GUI or control which called the function within the function? As an added bonus, this approach may, depending on the circumstances, let you send parameters to the functions you call - something that you normally cannot do in ''OnEvent'' mode. | ||
<syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | <syntaxhighlight lang="autoit"> | ||
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3> | #include <GUIConstantsEx.au3> | ||
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3> | |||
Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1) | |||
Global $g_hGUI1, $g_hGUI2, $g_idButton1, $g_idButton2, $g_idButton3 | |||
gui1() | |||
Func gui1() | |||
$g_hGUI1 = GUICreate("GUI 1", 200, 200, 100, 100) | |||
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "On_Close") ; Call a common GUI close function | |||
$g_idButton1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Msgbox 1", 10, 10, 80, 30) | |||
GUICtrlSetOnEvent(-1, "On_Button") ; Call a common button function | |||
$g_idButton2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show GUI 2", 10, 60, 80, 30) | |||
GUICtrlSetOnEvent(-1, "On_Button") ; Call a common button function | |||
GUISetState() | |||
While 1 | |||
Sleep(10) | |||
WEnd | |||
EndFunc ;==>gui1 | |||
Func gui2() | |||
$g_hGUI2 = GUICreate("GUI 2", 200, 200, 350, 350) | |||
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "On_Close") ; Call a common GUI close function | |||
$g_idButton3 = GUICtrlCreateButton("MsgBox 2", 10, 10, 80, 30) | |||
GUICtrlSetOnEvent(-1, "On_Button") ; Call a common button function | |||
GUISetState() | |||
EndFunc ;==>gui2 | |||
Func On_Close() | |||
Switch @GUI_WinHandle ; See which GUI sent the CLOSE message | |||
Case $g_hGUI1 | |||
Exit ; If it was this GUI - we exit <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< | |||
Case $g_hGUI2 | |||
GUIDelete($g_hGUI2) ; If it was this GUI - we just delete the GUI <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< | |||
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_ENABLE) | |||
EndSwitch | |||
EndFunc ;==>On_Close | |||
Func On_Button() | |||
Switch @GUI_CtrlId ; See which button sent the message | |||
Case $g_idButton1 | |||
MessageBox(1) ; We can call a function with parameters here <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< | |||
Case $g_idButton2 | |||
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_DISABLE) | |||
gui2() | |||
Case $g_idButton3 | |||
MessageBox(2) ; We can call a function with parameters here <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< | |||
EndSwitch | |||
EndFunc ;==>On_Button | |||
Func MessageBox($iIndex) | |||
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox " & $iIndex, "Test from Gui " & $iIndex) | |||
EndFunc ;==>MessageBox | |||
</syntaxhighlight> | </syntaxhighlight> | ||
=Summary= | |||
So you see that managing multiple GUIS is not as difficult as you might think. One of these methods is bound to suit your script, but do not try and mix them - only one method per script please! | So you see that managing multiple GUIS is not as difficult as you might think. One of these methods is bound to suit your script, but do not try and mix them - only one method per script please! | ||
[[Category:Tutorials]] | |||
[[Category:GUI]] | |||
Latest revision as of 21:20, 19 September 2021
Introduction
Having several GUIs on the screen at the same time is fairly common but structuring your code to deal with this can seem quite daunting. However, as I hope this tutorial will demonstrate, it is nowhere near as difficult as it first appears.
MessageLoop Mode
Let us start with MessageLoop mode as this is where most new coders run into difficulties with multiple GUIs. This example script illustrates the problem - it exits when the [X] is clicked on either GUI:
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>
Global $g_idButton3
gui1()
Func gui1()
Local $hGUI1 = GUICreate("GUI 1", 200, 200, 100, 100)
Local $idButton1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Msgbox 1", 10, 10, 80, 30)
Local $idButton2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show GUI 2", 10, 60, 80, 30)
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $hGUI1)
While 1
Switch GUIGetMsg()
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE
ContinueLoop
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
ExitLoop
Case $idButton1
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 1", "Test from GUI 1")
Case $idButton2
GUICtrlSetState($idButton2, $GUI_DISABLE)
gui2()
Case $g_idButton3
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 2", "Test from GUI 2")
EndSwitch
WEnd
EndFunc ;==>gui1
Func gui2()
Local $hGUI2 = GUICreate("GUI 2", 200, 200, 350, 350)
$g_idButton3 = GUICtrlCreateButton("MsgBox 2", 10, 10, 80, 30)
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $hGUI2)
EndFunc ;==>gui2
The script exits because it has a single GUIGetMsg loop and the $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE message is received when either [X] is clicked - we have no way of telling the messages from the two GUIs apart.
The simplest solution is to disable the first GUI while the second is displayed:
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>
gui1()
Func gui1()
Local $hGUI1 = GUICreate("GUI 1", 200, 200, 100, 100)
Local $idButton1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Msgbox 1", 10, 10, 80, 30)
Local $idButton2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show GUI 2", 10, 60, 80, 30)
GUISetState()
While 1
Switch GUIGetMsg()
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE
ContinueLoop
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
ExitLoop
Case $idButton1
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 1", "Test from GUI 1")
Case $idButton2
; Disable the first GUI
GUISetState(@SW_DISABLE, $hGUI1)
gui2()
; Re-enable the first GUI
GUISetState(@SW_ENABLE, $hGUI1)
EndSwitch
WEnd
EndFunc ;==>gui1
Func gui2()
Local $hGUI2 = GUICreate("GUI 2", 200, 200, 350, 350)
Local $idButton3 = GUICtrlCreateButton("MsgBox 2", 10, 10, 80, 30)
GUISetState()
While 1
; We can only get messages from the second GUI
Switch GUIGetMsg()
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE
ContinueLoop
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
GUIDelete($hGUI2)
ExitLoop
Case $idButton3
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 2", "Test from GUI 2")
EndSwitch
WEnd
EndFunc ;==>gui2
This may well be all you need, but it does mean that we cannot action any of the controls on the first GUI until we close the second. And importantly we remain blocked in the While...WEnd loop within the gui2 function - go and read the Interrupting a running function tutorial to see why this is less than ideal.
So how can we deal with multiple GUIs visible at the same time? Fortunately AutoIt offers us a simple way to differentiate between GUIs in MessageLoop mode. Normally we use code like this in our idle loop to detect the messages sent by our GUI and its controls:
Switch GUIGetMsg()
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE
ContinueLoop
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
; Code
Case $idButton1
; Code
EndSwitch
But when dealing with multiple GUIs, we need to use the "advanced" parameter when we call GUIGetMsg. As explained in the Help file, the function then returns an array instead of a single value. This array includes information on what exactly triggered the message, just what we need to distinguish the message that was sent (element[0] of the array) and which GUI sent it (element[1]). We can then amend our simple Switch statement above to read like this:
$aMsg = GUIGetMsg(1) ; Use advanced parameter to get an array returned
If Not IsHWnd($aMsg[1]) Then ContinueLoop ; preventing subsequent lines from processing when nothing happens
Switch $aMsg[1] ; First check which GUI sent the message
Case $hGUI1
Switch $aMsg[0] ; Now check for the messages sent from $hGUI1
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE ; it will not be necessary as we already check: If Not IsHWnd($aMsg[1]) Then
ContinueLoop
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
; Code
Case $hControl
; Code
EndSwitch
Case $hGUI2
Switch $aMsg[0] ; Now check for the messages sent from $hGUI2
Case $GUI_EVENT_NONE ; it will not be necessary as we already check: If Not IsHWnd($aMsg[1]) Then
ContinueLoop
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
; Code
Case $idButton3
; Code
EndSwitch
EndSwitch
Although this looks complicated, if you take a moment to study it and you will quickly realise it is simply two Switch structures within an outer Switch. You have already dealt with a single Switch structure for a single GUI. All you are doing here is determining which Switch structure you want to use, and that depends on the GUI which sent the message which is why we need the outer Switch structure as a wrapper.
So here is an example of how to manage two GUIs simultaneously using the "advanced" parameter with GUIGetMsg:
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>
Global $g_hGUI1, $g_idButton1, $g_idButton2, $g_hGUI2, $g_idButton3
example()
Func example()
gui1()
Local $aMsg
While 1
$aMsg = GUIGetMsg(1) ; Use advanced parameter to get array
If Not IsHWnd($aMsg[1]) Then ContinueLoop ; preventing subsequent lines from processing when nothing happens
Switch $aMsg[1] ; check which GUI sent the message
Case $g_hGUI1
Switch $aMsg[0] ; Now check for the messages for $g_hGUI1
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE ; If we get the CLOSE message from this GUI: $g_hGUI1 ...
ExitLoop ; ... exit the loop and thus exit the program
Case $g_idButton1
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 1", "Test from GUI 1")
Case $g_idButton2
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_DISABLE)
gui2()
EndSwitch
Case $g_hGUI2
Switch $aMsg[0] ; Now check for the messages for $g_hGUI2
Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE ; If we get the CLOSE message from this GUI : $g_hGUI2 ...
GUIDelete($g_hGUI2) ; ... just delete the GUI ...
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_ENABLE) ; ... enable button (previously disabled)
Case $g_idButton3
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox", "Test from GUI 2")
EndSwitch
EndSwitch
WEnd
EndFunc ;==>example
Func gui1()
$g_hGUI1 = GUICreate("GUI 1", 200, 200, 100, 100)
$g_idButton1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Msgbox 1", 10, 10, 80, 30)
$g_idButton2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show GUI 2", 10, 60, 80, 30)
GUISetState()
EndFunc ;==>gui1
Func gui2()
$g_hGUI2 = GUICreate("GUI 2", 200, 200, 350, 350)
$g_idButton3 = GUICtrlCreateButton("MsgBox 2", 10, 10, 80, 30)
GUISetState()
EndFunc ;==>gui2
As you can see, we have a single While...WEnd loop which distinguishes between the two GUIs, both GUIs and their controls remain active and we stay in the main idle loop while we wait (you did read that other tutorial I hope!).
OnEvent Mode
Coders using OnEvent mode do not usually find the same problem with multiple GUIs as they can code separate functions for each $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE as shown here:
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>
Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1)
Global $g_hGUI2, $g_idButton2
gui1()
Func gui1()
Local $hGUI1 = GUICreate("GUI 1", 200, 200, 100, 100)
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "On_Close_Main") ; Run this function when the main GUI [X] is clicked
Local $idButton1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Msgbox 1", 10, 10, 80, 30)
GUICtrlSetOnEvent($idButton1, "On_Button1")
$g_idButton2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show GUI 2", 10, 60, 80, 30)
GUICtrlSetOnEvent(-1, "On_Button2")
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $hGUI1)
While 1
Sleep(10)
WEnd
EndFunc ;==>gui1
Func gui2()
$g_hGUI2 = GUICreate("GUI 2", 200, 200, 350, 350)
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "On_Close_Secondary") ; Run this function when the secondary GUI [X] is clicked
Local $idButton3 = GUICtrlCreateButton("MsgBox 2", 10, 10, 80, 30)
GUICtrlSetOnEvent($idButton3, "On_Button3")
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $g_hGUI2)
EndFunc ;==>gui2
Func On_Close_Main()
Exit
EndFunc ;==>On_Close_Main
Func On_Close_Secondary()
GUIDelete($g_hGUI2)
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_ENABLE)
EndFunc ;==>On_Close_Secondary
Func On_Button1()
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 1", "Test from GUI 1")
EndFunc ;==>On_Button1
Func On_Button2()
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_DISABLE)
gui2()
EndFunc ;==>On_Button2
Func On_Button3()
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox 2", "Test from GUI 2")
EndFunc ;==>On_Button3
But did you realise that you can also use what some people think of as a hybrid mode - using common OnEvent functions and then determining the specific GUI or control which called the function within the function? As an added bonus, this approach may, depending on the circumstances, let you send parameters to the functions you call - something that you normally cannot do in OnEvent mode.
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3>
Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1)
Global $g_hGUI1, $g_hGUI2, $g_idButton1, $g_idButton2, $g_idButton3
gui1()
Func gui1()
$g_hGUI1 = GUICreate("GUI 1", 200, 200, 100, 100)
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "On_Close") ; Call a common GUI close function
$g_idButton1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Msgbox 1", 10, 10, 80, 30)
GUICtrlSetOnEvent(-1, "On_Button") ; Call a common button function
$g_idButton2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show GUI 2", 10, 60, 80, 30)
GUICtrlSetOnEvent(-1, "On_Button") ; Call a common button function
GUISetState()
While 1
Sleep(10)
WEnd
EndFunc ;==>gui1
Func gui2()
$g_hGUI2 = GUICreate("GUI 2", 200, 200, 350, 350)
GUISetOnEvent($GUI_EVENT_CLOSE, "On_Close") ; Call a common GUI close function
$g_idButton3 = GUICtrlCreateButton("MsgBox 2", 10, 10, 80, 30)
GUICtrlSetOnEvent(-1, "On_Button") ; Call a common button function
GUISetState()
EndFunc ;==>gui2
Func On_Close()
Switch @GUI_WinHandle ; See which GUI sent the CLOSE message
Case $g_hGUI1
Exit ; If it was this GUI - we exit <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Case $g_hGUI2
GUIDelete($g_hGUI2) ; If it was this GUI - we just delete the GUI <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_ENABLE)
EndSwitch
EndFunc ;==>On_Close
Func On_Button()
Switch @GUI_CtrlId ; See which button sent the message
Case $g_idButton1
MessageBox(1) ; We can call a function with parameters here <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Case $g_idButton2
GUICtrlSetState($g_idButton2, $GUI_DISABLE)
gui2()
Case $g_idButton3
MessageBox(2) ; We can call a function with parameters here <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
EndSwitch
EndFunc ;==>On_Button
Func MessageBox($iIndex)
MsgBox($MB_OK, "MsgBox " & $iIndex, "Test from Gui " & $iIndex)
EndFunc ;==>MessageBox
Summary
So you see that managing multiple GUIS is not as difficult as you might think. One of these methods is bound to suit your script, but do not try and mix them - only one method per script please!