canis 0.0.4

data/lib/canis/core/util/textutils.rb

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+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+#         File: textutils.rb
+#  Description: contains some common string or Array<String> utilities
+#    that may be required by various parts of application.
+#       Author: j kepler  http://github.com/mare-imbrium/canis/
+#         Date: 2014-05-22 - 11:11
+#      License: MIT
+#  Last update: 2014-05-26 19:40
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
+#  textutils.rb  Copyright (C) 2012-2014 j kepler
+
+module Canis
+  module TextUtils
+    # Convert an array of Strings that has help markup into tmux style
+    # which can then by parsed into native format by the tmux parser
+    # 'help' markup is very much like markdown, but a very restricted
+    # subset.
+    # Currently called only by help_manager in rwidgets.rb
+    # Some of these need to be fixed since they may not allow some
+    # characters, maybe too restrictive, or may match within a word. FIXME
+    def self.help2tmux arr
+      arr.each do |e|
+        # double sq brackets are like wiki links, to internal documents in same location
+        e.gsub! /\[\[(\S+)\]\]/, '#[style=link][\1]#[/end]'
+        # double asterisk needs to be more permissive and take a space FIXME
+        e.gsub! /\*\*(\S.*?\S)\*\*/, '#[style=strong]\1#[/end]'
+        # the next is wrong and could match two asteriks also
+        #e.gsub! /\*(\S[^\*]+\S)\*/, '#[style=em]\1#[/end]'
+        e.gsub! /\*(?!\s)([^\*]+)(?<!\s)\*/, '#[style=em]\1#[/end]'
+        e.gsub! /\|([^\|]+)\|/, '#[style=ul]\1#[/end]'
+        #e.gsub! /__(\w+)__/, '#[style=em]\1#[/end]'
+        #e.gsub! /_(\w+)_/, '#[style=em]\1#[/end]'
+        # next one is a bit too restrictive, but did not want a line
+        # full of underlines to get selected.
+        # __(?!_)(.+?)(?<!_)__/
+        #e.gsub! /__([a-zA-Z]+)__/, '#[style=strong]\1#[/end]'
+        # also avoid if a space or _ is after starting __ and before
+        # ending __
+        e.gsub! /__(?![_\s])(.+?)(?<![_\s])__/, '#[style=strong]\1#[/end]'
+        # make sure this does not match inside a word or code
+        # will not accept an underscore inside
+        e.gsub! /\b_([^_]+)_\b/, '#[style=em]\1#[/end]'
+        e.gsub! /`([^`]+)`/, '#[style=code]\1#[/end]'
+        # keys are mentioned with "<" and ">" surrounding
+        e.gsub! /(\<\S+\>)/, '#[style=key]\1#[/end]'
+        # headers start with "#"
+        e.sub! /^###\s*(.*)$/, '#[style=h3]\1#[/end]'
+        e.sub! /^## (.*)$/, '#[style=h2]\1#[/end]'
+        e.sub! /^# (.*)$/, '#[style=h1]\1#[/end]'
+        # line starting with "">" starts a white bold block as in vim's help. "<" ends block.
+        e.sub! /^\>$/, '#[style=wb]'
+        e.sub! /^\<$/, '#[/end]'
+      end
+      return arr
+    end
+    ## 
+    # wraps text given max length, puts newlines in it.
+    # it does not take into account existing newlines
+    # Some classes have @maxlen or display_length which may be passed as the second parameter
+    def self.wrap_text(txt, max )
+      txt.gsub(/(.{1,#{max}})( +|$\n?)|(.{1,#{max}})/,
+               "\\1\\3\n") 
+    end
+
+    # remove tabs, newlines and non-print chars from a string since these
+    # can mess display
+    def self.clean_string! content
+      content.chomp! # don't display newline
+      content.gsub!(/[\t\n]/, '  ') # don't display tab
+      content.gsub!(/[^[:print:]]/, '')  # don't display non print characters
+      content
+    end
+  end
+end

data/lib/canis/core/util/viewer.rb

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+require 'canis/core/widgets/textpad'
+require 'canis/core/widgets/applicationheader'
+require 'fileutils'
+
+# A file or array viewer.
+#
+# CHANGES
+#   - 2014-04-09 - 00:58 changed textview to textpad 
+# Can be used for print_help_page
+# SUGGESTIONS WELCOME.
+# NOTE: since this is not a proper class / object, it is being hacked to pieces
+#  We need to either make this a proper class, or else make another one with a class,
+#  and use this for simple purposes only. 
+
+module Canis
+  # a data viewer for viewing some text or filecontents
+  # view filename, :close_key => KEY_ENTER
+  # send data in an array
+  # view Array, :close_key => KEY_ENTER, :layout => [23,80,0,0] (ht, wid, top, left)
+  # when passing layout reserve 4 rows for window and border. So for 2 lines of text
+  # give 6 rows.
+  class Viewer
+    # @param filename as string or content as array
+    # @yield textview object for further configuration before display
+    def self.view what, config={}, &block  #:yield: textview
+      case what
+      when String # we have a path
+        content = _get_contents(what)
+      when Array
+        content = what
+      when TextDocument
+        $log.debug "  setting content to textdocument #{what.options.keys} "
+        content = what
+        #content = what.text
+        #config[:content_type] = what.content_type
+      else
+        raise ArgumentError, "Viewer: Expecting Filename or Contents (array), but got #{what.class} "
+      end
+      wt = 0 # top margin
+      wl = 0 # left margin
+      wh = Ncurses.LINES-wt # height, goes to bottom of screen
+      ww = Ncurses.COLS-wl  # width, goes to right end
+      layout = { :height => wh, :width => ww, :top => wt, :left => wl } 
+      if config.has_key? :layout
+        layout = config[:layout]
+        case layout
+        when Array
+          #wt, wl, wh, ww = layout
+          # 2014-04-27 - 11:22 changed to the same order as window, otherwise confusion and errors
+          wh, ww, wt, wl = layout
+          layout = { :height => wh, :width => ww, :top => wt, :left => wl } 
+        when Hash
+          # okay
+        end
+      end
+
+      fp = config[:title] || ""
+      pf = config.fetch(:print_footer, true)
+      ta = config.fetch(:title_attrib, 'bold')
+      fa = config.fetch(:footer_attrib, 'bold')
+      wbg = config.fetch(:window_bgcolor, nil)
+      b_ah = config[:app_header]
+      type = config[:content_type]
+
+      v_window = Canis::Window.new(layout)
+      v_form = Canis::Form.new v_window
+      v_window.name = "Viewer"
+      if wbg
+        v_window.wbkgd(Ncurses.COLOR_PAIR(wbg)); #  does not work on xterm-256color
+      end
+      # I am placing this in globals since an alert on top will refresh the lower windows and this is quite large.
+      $global_windows << v_window
+      colors = Ncurses.COLORS
+      back = :blue
+      back = 235 if colors >= 256
+      blue_white = get_color($datacolor, :white, back)
+
+      tprow = 0
+      ah = nil
+      if b_ah
+        ah = ApplicationHeader.new v_form, "", :text_center => fp
+        tprow += 1
+      end
+
+      #blue_white = Canis::Utils.get_color($datacolor, :white, 235)
+      textview = TextPad.new v_form do
+        name   "Viewer" 
+        row  tprow
+        col  0
+        width ww
+        height wh-tprow # earlier 2 but seems to be leaving space.
+        title fp
+        title_attrib ta
+        print_footer pf
+        footer_attrib fa
+        #border_attrib :reverse
+        border_color blue_white
+      end
+      # why multibuffers  -- since used in help
+      require 'canis/core/include/multibuffer'
+      textview.extend(Canis::MultiBuffers)
+
+      t = textview
+      t.bind_key(Ncurses::KEY_F5, 'maximize window '){ f = t.form.window; 
+        f.resize_with([FFI::NCurses.LINES-0, Ncurses.COLS, 0,0]); 
+        #f.resize_with([0,0, 0,0]); 
+        t.height = Ncurses.LINES - t.row - 0
+      }
+      t.bind_key(Ncurses::KEY_F6, 'restore window ', layout){ |l,m, n| 
+        # l was DefaultKeyHandler, m was string, n was Hash
+        f = t.form.window; 
+        #$log.debug "  F6 ARG is #{m}, #{n}"
+        f.hide; # need to hide since earlier window was larger.
+        f.resize_with(n);
+        #f.resize_with([0,0, 0,0]); 
+        t.height =  f.height - t.row - 0
+        f.show
+      }
+      t.bind_key(?\C-\], "open file under cursor") { 
+        eve = t.text_action_event
+        file = eve.word_under_cursor.strip
+        if File.exists? file
+          t.add_content file
+          t.buffer_last
+        end
+      }
+
+=begin
+      # just for fun -- seeing how we can move window around
+      # these are working, but can cause a padrefresh error. we should check for bounds or something.
+      #
+      t.bind_key('<', 'move window left'){ f = t.form.window; c = f.left - 1; f.hide; f.mvwin(f.top, c); f.show;
+        f.set_layout([f.height, f.width, f.top, c]); 
+      }
+      t.bind_key('>', 'move window right'){ f = t.form.window; c = f.left + 1; f.hide; f.mvwin(f.top, c); 
+        f.set_layout([f.height, f.width, f.top, c]); f.show;
+      }
+      t.bind_key('^', 'move window up'){ f = t.form.window; c = f.top - 1 ; f.hide; f.mvwin(c, f.left); 
+        f.set_layout([f.height, f.width, c, f.left]) ; f.show;
+      }
+      t.bind_key('V', 'move window down'){ f = t.form.window; c = f.top + 1 ; f.hide; f.mvwin(c, f.left); 
+        f.set_layout([f.height, f.width, c, f.left]); f.show;
+      }
+=end
+      items = {:header => ah}
+      close_keys = [ config[:close_key] , 3 , ?q.getbyte(0), 27 , 2727 ]
+      begin
+        # the next can also be used to use formatted_text(text, :ansi)
+        # yielding textview so you may further configure or bind keys or events
+        if block_given?
+          if block.arity > 0
+            yield textview, items
+          else
+            textview.instance_eval(&block)
+          end
+        end
+        # multibuffer requires add_co after set_co
+        # We are using in help, therefore we need multibuffers.
+        #textview.set_content content, :content_type => type #, :stylesheet => t.stylesheet
+        # i need to do this so it is available when moving around
+        # buffers
+        #  but this means that pressing next will again show the same
+        #  buffer.
+        textview.add_content content, :content_type => type #, :stylesheet => t.stylesheet
+        textview.buffer_last
+      #yield textview if block_given? 
+      v_form.repaint
+      v_window.wrefresh
+      Ncurses::Panel.update_panels
+      retval = ""
+      # allow closing using q and Ctrl-q in addition to any key specified
+      #  user should not need to specify key, since that becomes inconsistent across usages
+      #  NOTE: 2727 is no longer operational, so putting just ESC
+        while((ch = v_window.getchar()) != ?\C-q.getbyte(0) )
+          $log.debug "  VIEWER got key #{ch} , close key is #{config[:close_key]} "
+          retval = textview.current_value() if ch == config[:close_key] 
+          break if close_keys.include? ch
+          # if you've asked for ENTER then i also check for 10 and 13
+          retval = textview.current_value() if (ch == 10 || ch == 13) && config[:close_key] == KEY_ENTER
+          break if (ch == 10 || ch == 13) && config[:close_key] == KEY_ENTER
+          $log.debug "  1 VIEWER got key #{ch} "
+          v_form.handle_key ch
+          v_form.repaint
+        end
+      rescue => err
+          $log.error " VIEWER ERROR #{err} "
+          $log.debug(err.backtrace.join("\n"))
+          alert "#{err}"
+          #textdialog ["Error in viewer: #{err} ", *err.backtrace], :title => "Exception"
+      ensure
+        v_window.destroy if !v_window.nil?
+      end
+      return retval
+    end
+    private
+    def self._get_contents fp
+      raise "File #{fp} not readable"  unless File.readable? fp 
+      return Dir.new(fp).entries if File.directory? fp
+      case File.extname(fp)
+      when '.tgz','.gz'
+        cmd = "tar -ztvf #{fp}"
+        content = %x[#{cmd}]
+      when '.zip'
+        cmd = "unzip -l #{fp}"
+        content = %x[#{cmd}]
+      when '.jar', '.gem'
+        cmd = "tar -tvf #{fp}"
+        content = %x[#{cmd}]
+      when '.png', '.out','.jpg', '.gif','.pdf'
+        content = "File #{fp} not displayable"
+      when '.sqlite'
+        cmd = "sqlite3 #{fp} 'select name from sqlite_master;'"
+        content = %x[#{cmd}]
+      else
+        content = File.open(fp,"r").readlines
+      end
+    end
+  end  # class
+
+end # module
+if __FILE__ == $PROGRAM_NAME
+require 'canis/core/util/app'
+
+App.new do 
+  header = app_header "canis 1.2.0", :text_center => "Viewer Demo", :text_right =>"New Improved!", :color => :black, :bgcolor => :white, :attr => :bold 
+  message "Press F1 to exit from here"
+
+    Canis::Viewer.view(ARGV[0] || $0, :close_key => KEY_ENTER, :title => "Enter to close") do |t|
+      # you may configure textview further here.
+      #t.suppress_borders true
+      #t.color = :black
+      #t.bgcolor = :white
+      # or
+      #t.attr = :reverse
+    end
+
+end # app
+end

data/lib/canis/core/util/widgetshortcuts.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,508 @@
+# ------------------------------------------------------------ #
+#         File: widgetshortcuts.rb 
+#  Description: A common module for shortcuts to create widgets
+#               Also, stacks and flows objects
+#       Author: jkepler http://github.com/mare-imbrium/canis/
+#         Date: 05.11.11 - 15:13 
+#  Last update: 2014-07-10 00:40
+#
+#  I hope this slowly does not become an unmaintainable maze like vimsplit
+#
+#      "Simplicity hinges as much on cutting nonessential features as on adding helpful ones."
+#      - Walter Bender
+#
+#  == TODO
+#     add blocks that make sense like in app
+#     - what if user does not want form attached - app uses useform ot
+#       to check for this, if current_object don't add form
+#
+#     - usage of _position inside means these shortcuts cannot be reused
+#     with other positioning systems, we'll be cut-pasting forever
+#
+#  == CHANGES
+# ------------------------------------------------------------ #
+#
+
+# what is the real purpose of the shortcuts, is it to avoid putting nil
+# for form there if not required.
+# Or is it positioning, such as in a stack. or just a method ?
+#require 'canis/core/widgets/rlist'
+## trying out new list based on textpad 2014-04-07 - 00:02 CANIS
+module Canis
+  module WidgetShortcuts
+    class Ws
+      attr_reader :config
+      def initialize config={}
+        @config = config
+      end
+      def [](sym)
+        @config[sym]
+      end
+      def []=(sym, val)
+        @config[sym] = val
+      end
+    end
+    class WsStack < Ws; end
+    class WsFlow < Ws; end
+    def widget_shortcuts_init
+      @_ws_app_row = @_ws_app_col = 0
+      #@_ws_active = []
+      @_ws_active = nil # so we can use shortcuts if no stack used
+      @_ws_components = []
+      @variables = {}
+    end
+    # --- shortcuts {{{
+    def blank
+      label :text => ""
+    end
+    def line config={}
+      #horizontal line TODO
+      #row = config[:row] || @app_row
+      #width = config[:width] || 20
+      #_position config
+      #col = config[:col] || 1
+      #@color_pair = config[:color_pair] || $datacolor
+      #@attrib = config[:attrib] || Ncurses::A_NORMAL
+      #@window.attron(Ncurses.COLOR_PAIR(@color_pair) | @attrib)
+      #@window.mvwhline( row, col, FFI::NCurses::ACS_HLINE, width)
+      #@window.attron(Ncurses.COLOR_PAIR(@color_pair) | @attrib)
+    end
+    def radio config={}, &block
+      a = config[:group]
+      # should we not check for a nil
+      if @variables.has_key? a
+        v = @variables[a]
+      else
+        v = Variable.new
+        @variables[a] = v
+      end
+      config[:variable] = v
+      config.delete(:group)
+      w = RadioButton.new nil, config #, &block
+      _position w
+      if block
+        w.bind(:PRESS, &block)
+      end
+      return w
+    end
+    # create a shortcut for a class
+    # path is path of file to use in require starting with canis
+    # klass is name of class to instantiate
+  def self.def_widget(path, klass, short=nil)
+    p=""
+     if path
+      p="require \"#{path}\""
+    end
+     short ||= klass.to_s.downcase
+      eval %{
+        def #{short}(config={}, &block)
+          if config.is_a? String
+             _s = config
+             config = {}
+             config[:text] = _s
+          end
+          #{p}
+          w = #{klass}.new nil, config
+          _position w
+          w.command &block if block_given?
+          return w
+        end
+      }
+  end
+  def_widget "canis/core/widgets/rprogress", "Progress"
+  def_widget "canis/core/widgets/scrollbar", "Scrollbar"
+  def_widget nil, "Label"
+  #def_widget nil, "Field"
+  def_widget nil, "LabeledField", 'field'
+  def_widget nil, :CheckBox, 'check'
+  def_widget nil, :Button
+  def_widget nil, :ToggleButton, 'toggle'
+    def menubar &block
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/rmenu'
+      Canis::MenuBar.new &block
+    end
+    # add a standard application header
+    # == Example
+    #    header = app_header "canis ", :text_center => "Browser Demo", :text_right =>"New Improved!", 
+    #         :color => :black, :bgcolor => :white, :attr => :bold 
+    def app_header title, config={}, &block
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/applicationheader'
+      header = ApplicationHeader.new @form, title, config, &block
+    end
+    # editable text area
+    # use only for simple cases, since this is not fully tested
+    def textarea config={}, &block
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/extras/rtextarea'
+      # TODO confirm events many more
+      events = [ :CHANGE,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = events[0]
+      #_process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      #config[:width] = config[:display_length] unless config.has_key? :width
+      # if no width given, expand to flows width
+      #config[:width] ||= @stack.last.width if @stack.last
+      useform = nil
+      #useform = @form if @current_object.empty?
+      w = TextArea.new useform, config
+      w.width = :expand unless w.width
+      w.height ||= :expand # TODO This has to come before other in stack next one will overwrite.
+      _position(w)
+      w.height ||= 8 # TODO
+      # need to expand to stack's width or flows itemwidth if given
+      if block
+        w.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return w
+    end
+    def textpad config={}, &block
+      events = [ :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = events[0]
+      #_process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      #config[:width] = config[:display_length] unless config.has_key? :width
+      # if no width given, expand to flows width
+      #config[:width] ||= @stack.last.width if @stack.last
+      useform = nil
+      #useform = @form if @current_object.empty?
+      #w = TextView.new useform, config
+      w = TextPad.new useform, config
+      w.width = :expand unless w.width
+      w.height ||= :expand # TODO This has to come before other in stack next one will overwrite.
+      _position(w)
+      # need to expand to stack's width or flows itemwidth if given
+      if block
+        w.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return w
+    end
+    # deprecate and move textview soon TODO
+    alias :textview :textpad
+    def listbox config={}, &block
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/listbox'
+      events = [ :PRESS, :ENTER_ROW, :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = events[0]
+      #_process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      #config[:width] = config[:display_length] unless config.has_key? :width
+      # if no width given, expand to flows width
+      #config[:width] ||= @stack.last.width if @stack.last
+      useform = nil
+      #useform = @form if @current_object.empty?
+      #w = List.new useform, config
+      w = Listbox.new useform, config
+      w.width = :expand unless w.width
+      w.height ||= :expand # TODO We may need to push this before _position so it can be accounted for in stack
+      _position(w)
+      # need to expand to stack's width or flows itemwidth if given
+      if block
+        w.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return w
+    end
+    # prints pine-like key labels
+    def dock labels, config={}, &block
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/keylabelprinter'
+      klp = Canis::KeyLabelPrinter.new @form, labels, config, &block
+    end
+
+    #
+    # prints a status line at bottom where mode's statuses et can be reflected
+    def status_line config={}, &block
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/statusline'
+      sl = Canis::StatusLine.new @form, config, &block
+    end
+
+    def link config={}, &block
+          if config.is_a? String
+             _s = config
+             config = {}
+             config[:text] = _s
+          end
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/rlink'
+      events = [ :PRESS,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = :PRESS
+      config[:highlight_color] = "yellow"
+      config[:highlight_bgcolor] = "red"
+      toggle = Link.new nil, config
+      _position(toggle)
+      if block
+        toggle.bind(block_event, toggle, &block)
+      end
+      return toggle
+    end
+    def menulink config={}, &block
+          if config.is_a? String
+             _s = config
+             config = {}
+             config[:text] = _s
+          end
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/rmenulink'
+      events = [ :PRESS,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = :PRESS
+      config[:highlight_color] = "yellow"
+      config[:highlight_bgcolor] = "red"
+      #config[:hotkey] = true
+      w = MenuLink.new nil, config
+      _position(w)
+      if block
+        w.bind(block_event, w, &block)
+      end
+      return w
+    end
+    def tree config={}, &block
+      #require 'canis/core/widgets/rtree'
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/tree'
+      events = [:TREE_WILL_EXPAND_EVENT, :TREE_EXPANDED_EVENT, :TREE_SELECTION_EVENT, :PROPERTY_CHANGE, :LEAVE, :ENTER , :ENTER_ROW, :TREE_COLLAPSED_EVENT, :TREE_WILL_EXPAND_EVENT]
+      block_event = :TREE_WILL_EXPAND_EVENT
+      #config[:height] ||= 10
+      # if no width given, expand to flows width
+      useform = nil
+      #useform = @form if @current_object.empty?
+      w = Tree.new useform, config, &block
+      w.width ||= :expand 
+      w.height ||= :expand # TODO This has to come before other in stack next one will overwrite.
+      _position w
+      # calling the block here was causing a problem since a tree may define root etc in the block
+      # containers like to define elements in a block and not have an event called by default
+      return w
+    end
+    # creates a simple readonly table, that allows users to click on rows
+    # and also on the header. Header clicking is for column-sorting.
+    def table config={}, &block
+    #def tabular_widget config={}, &block
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/table'
+      events = [:PROPERTY_CHANGE, :LEAVE, :ENTER, :CHANGE, :ENTER_ROW, :PRESS ]
+      block_event = nil
+      # if no width given, expand to stack width
+      #config.delete :title
+      useform = nil
+
+      w = Table.new useform, config # NO BLOCK GIVEN
+      w.width ||= :expand 
+      w.height ||= :expand # TODO This has to come before other in stack next one will overwrite.
+      _position(w)
+      if block_given?
+        #@current_object << w
+        yield_or_eval &block
+        #@current_object.pop
+      end
+      return w
+    end
+
+    # --- }}}
+    def _position w
+      if @_ws_active.nil? || @_ws_active.empty?
+        # no stack or flow, this is independent usage, or else we are outside stacks and flows
+        #
+        # this is outside any stack or flow, so we do the minimal
+        # user should specify row and col
+        w.row ||= 0
+        w.col ||= 0
+        #$log.debug "XXX:  LABEL #{w.row} , #{w.col} "
+        w.set_form @form if @form # temporary,, only set if not inside an object FIXME
+        if w.width == :expand  # calculate from current col, not 0 FIXME
+          w.width = FFI::NCurses.COLS-w.col # or take windows width since this could be in a message box
+        end
+        if w.height == :expand
+          # take from current row, and not zero  FIXME
+          w.height = FFI::NCurses.LINES-w.row # or take windows width since this could be in a message box
+        end
+        return
+
+      end
+      # -------------------------- there is a stack or flow -------------------- #
+      #
+      cur = @_ws_active.last
+      unless cur
+        raise "This should have been handled previously.Somethings wrong, check/untested"
+      end
+      r = cur[:row] || 0
+      c = cur[:col] || 0
+      w.row = r
+      w.col = c
+      # if flow then take flows height, else use dummy value
+      if w.height_pc
+        w.height =       ( (cur[:height] * w.height_pc.to_i)/100).floor
+      end
+      if w.height == :expand
+        if cur.is_a? WsFlow
+          w.height = cur[:height] || 8 #or raise "height not known for flow"
+        else
+          w.height = cur[:item_height] || 8 #or raise "height not known for flow"
+        end
+        #alert "setting ht to #{w.height}, #{cur[:height]} , for #{cur} "
+      end
+      if w.width == :expand
+        if cur.is_a? WsFlow
+          if cur[:item_width]
+            w.width = cur[:item_width] #or raise "item_Width not known for flow #{cur.class}, #{cur[:item_width]}, #{cur[:width]} , #{w.width_pc}  "
+          elsif w.width_pc
+            #w.width = w.width_pc * cur[:width]
+            w.width = (cur[:width] * (w.width_pc.to_i * 0.01)).floor
+          else
+            w.width = cur[:width] 
+          end
+          raise "width could not be calculated. i need flow width and item width_pc" if w.width == :expand
+        else
+          w.width = cur[:width] or raise "Width not known for stack #{cur.class}, #{cur[:width]} "
+        end
+      end
+      if cur.is_a? WsStack
+        r += w.height || 1   # NOTE, we need to have height for this purpose defined BEFORE calling for list/text
+        cur[:row] = r
+      else
+        wid = cur[:item_width] || w.width || 10
+        c += wid + 1
+        cur[:col] = c
+      end
+      #alert "set width to #{w.width} ,cur: #{cur[:width]} ,iw: #{cur[:item_width]} "
+      if cur.is_a? WsFlow
+        unless w.height
+          w.height = cur[:height] #or raise "Height not known for flow"
+        end
+      end
+      w.color   ||= cur[:color]
+      w.bgcolor ||= cur[:bgcolor]
+      w.set_form @form if @form # temporary
+      @_ws_components << w
+      cur[:components] << w
+    end
+    # make it as simple as possible, don't try to be intelligent or
+    # clever, put as much on the user 
+    def stack config={}, &block
+      s = WsStack.new config
+      @_ws_active ||= []
+      _configure s
+      @_ws_active << s
+      yield_or_eval &block if block_given?
+      @_ws_active.pop 
+      
+      # ---- stack is finished now
+      last = @_ws_active.last
+      if last 
+        case last
+        when WsStack
+        when WsFlow
+          last[:col] += last[:item_width] || 0 
+          # this tries to set height of outer flow based on highest row
+          # printed, however that does not account for height of object,
+          # so user should give a height to the flow.
+          last[:height] = s[:row] if s[:row] > (last[:height]||0)
+          $log.debug "XXX: STACK setting col to #{s[:col]} "
+        end
+      end
+
+    end
+    #
+    # item_width - width to use per item 
+    #   but the item width may apply to stacks inside not to items
+    def flow config={}, &block
+      s = WsFlow.new config
+      @_ws_active ||= []
+      _configure s
+      @_ws_active << s
+      yield_or_eval &block if block_given?
+      @_ws_active.pop 
+      last = @_ws_active.last
+      if last 
+        case last
+        when WsStack
+          if s[:height]
+            last[:row] += s[:height] 
+          else
+            #last[:row] += last[:highest_row]  
+            last[:row] += 1
+          end
+        when WsFlow
+          last[:col] += last[:item_width] || 0 
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    # flow and stack could have a border option
+    # NOTE: box takes one row below too, so :expand overwrites that line
+    def box config={}, &block
+      require 'canis/core/widgets/box'
+      # take current stacks row and col
+      # advance row by one and col by one
+      # at end note row and advance by one
+      # draw a box around using these coordinates. width should be
+      # provided unless we have item width or something.
+      @_ws_active ||= []
+      last = @_ws_active.last
+      if last
+        r = last[:row]
+        c = last[:col]
+        config[:row] = r
+        config[:col] = c
+        last[:row] += config[:margin_top] || 1
+        last[:col] += config[:margin_left] || 1
+        _box = Box.new @form, config # needs to be created first or will overwrite area after others painted
+        yield_or_eval &block if block_given?
+        # FIXME last[height] needs to account for row
+        h = config[:height] || last[:height] || (last[:row] - r)
+        h = 2 if h < 2
+        w = config[:width] || last[:width] || 15 # tmp
+        case last
+        when WsFlow
+          w = last[:col]
+        when WsStack
+          #h += 1
+        end
+        config[:row] = r
+        config[:col] = c
+        config[:height] = h
+        config[:width] = w
+        _box.row r
+        _box.col c
+        _box.height h
+        _box.width w
+        last[:row] += 1
+        last[:col] += 1 # ??? XXX if flow we need to increment properly or not ?
+      end
+    end
+
+    # This configures a stack or flow not the objects inside
+    def _configure s
+      s[:row] ||= 0
+      s[:col] ||= 0
+      s[:row] += (s[:margin_top] || 0)
+      s[:col] += (s[:margin_left] || 0)
+      s[:width] = FFI::NCurses.COLS-s[:col] if s[:width] == :expand
+      s[:height] = FFI::NCurses.LINES-s[:row] if s[:height] == :expand # 2011-11-30 
+      last = @_ws_active.last
+      if last
+        if s[:width_pc]
+          if last.is_a? WsStack
+            s[:width] =           (last[:width] * (s[:width_pc].to_i * 0.01)).floor
+          else
+            # i think this width is picked up by next stack in this flow
+            last[:item_width] =   (last[:width] * (s[:width_pc].to_i* 0.01)).floor
+          end
+        end
+        if s[:height_pc]
+          if last.is_a? WsFlow
+            s[:height] =       ( (last[:height] * s[:height_pc].to_i)/100).floor
+          else
+            # this works only for flows within stacks not for an object unless
+            # you put a single object in a flow
+            s[:item_height] =  ( (last[:height] * s[:height_pc].to_i)/100).floor
+          end
+            #alert "item height set as #{s[:height]} for #{s} "
+        end
+        if last.is_a? WsStack
+          s[:row] += (last[:row] || 0)
+          s[:col] += (last[:col] || 0)  
+        else
+          s[:row] += (last[:row] || 0)
+          s[:col] += (last[:col] || 0)  # we are updating with item_width as each st finishes
+          s[:width] ||= last[:item_width] # 
+        end
+      else
+        # this should be outer most flow or stack, if nothing mentioned
+        # trying this out
+        s[:width] ||= :expand
+        s[:height] ||= :expand
+        s[:width] = FFI::NCurses.COLS-s[:col] if s[:width] == :expand
+        s[:height] = FFI::NCurses.LINES-s[:row] if s[:height] == :expand # 2011-11-30 
+      end
+      s[:components] = []
+    end
+  end
+end