rbcurse 1.1.5 → 1.2.0.pre

data/README.markdown

@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 
 * Version that works with ruby 1.9 (backward compatible with 1.8.7)
 
+* 1.2.0: many additions (See CHANGELOG for details)
+  - App class that wraps the environment and makes application development very easy
+  - New controls such as:
+    - vimsplit: allows multiple vertical and horizontal splits in one component
+    - progress bar
+    - Tree control
+    - Divider (can grab and move, so as to visually resize components)
+    - Scrollbar class that can be easily attached to lists, tables etc
+    - Tabular data widgets and data converters
+
+  Please see CHANGELOG for changes.
+
 * rbcurse 1.1.4 works with 1.9.2 and also contains some files that got missed out in gemspec.
 
 * Corrections due to 1.9.2:

data/VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.1.5
+1.2.0.pre

data/examples/abasiclist.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+require 'rbcurse/app'
+require 'rbcurse/rbasiclistbox'
+
+# just a simple test to ensure that rbasiclistbox is running inside a container.
+App.new do 
+  header = app_header "rbcurse 1.2.0", :text_center => "Basic List Demo", :text_right =>"New Improved!", :color => :black, :bgcolor => :white, :attr => :bold 
+  message "Press F1 to escape from here"
+
+  list = %W{ bhikshu boddisattva avalokiteswara mu mun kwan paramita prajna samadhi sutra shakyamuni }
+  vimsplit :row => 1, :col => 0, :suppress_borders => false, :width => 60, :height => Ncurses.LINES-2, :weight => 0.4, :orientation => :VERTICAL do |s|
+    lb = RubyCurses::BasicListbox.new nil, :list => list, :suppress_borders => false
+    #lb = RubyCurses::BasicListbox.new nil, :list => list, :show_selector => true, :row_selected_symbol => "*", :suppress_borders => false
+    #lb = RubyCurses::BasicListbox.new nil, :list => list
+    #lb = list_box "A list", :list => list
+    lb.show_selector = false
+    #lb.row_selected_symbol = "*"
+    #lb = list_box "A list", :list => list
+    
+    s.add lb, :FIRST
+    #lb2= RubyCurses::BasicListbox.new nil, :list => list.shuffle, :justify => :center
+    lb2 = basiclist :list => list.shuffle, :justify => :left, :suppress_borders => false
+    s.add lb2, :SECOND
+  end
+
+end # app

data/examples/alpmenu.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+require 'rbcurse/app'
+
+  App.new do 
+    #title "Demo of Menu - rbcurse"
+    #subtitle "Hit F1 to quit, F2 for menubar toggle"
+    header = app_header "rbcurse 1.2.0", :text_center => "Alpine Menu Demo", :text_right =>""
+    message_row(27)
+
+    stack :margin_top => 10, :margin => 15 do
+      #w = "Messages".length + 1
+      w = 60
+      menulink "&View Todo", :width => w, :description => "View TODO in sqlite"  do |s|
+        message "Pressed #{s.text} "
+        require './viewtodo'; todo = ViewTodo::TodoApp.new; todo.run
+      end
+      blank
+      menulink "&Edit Todo", :width => w, :description => "Edit TODO in CSV"  do |s|
+        message "Pressed #{s.text} "
+        require './testtodo'; todo = TestTodo::TodoApp.new; todo.run
+      end
+      blank
+      menulink "&Messages", :width => w, :description => "View messages in current folder"  do |s|
+        message "Pressed #{s.text} "
+        load './menu1.rb'
+      end
+      blank
+      menulink "&Compose", :width => w, :description => "Compose a mail"  do |s|
+        message "Pressed #{s.getvalue} "
+      end
+      blank
+      menulink "Setup", :mnemonic => "?", :width => w, :description => "Configure Alpine options"  do |s|
+        message "Pressed #{s.text} "
+      end
+      blank
+      menulink "&Quit", :width => w, :description => "Quit this application"  do |s|
+        quit
+      end
+      @form.bind(:ENTER) do |w|
+        header.text_right = w.text
+      end
+    end # stack
+  end # app

data/examples/app.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,883 @@
+=begin
+  * Name: App
+  * Description: Experimental Application class
+  * Author: rkumar (arunachalesha)
+  * file created 2010-09-04 22:10 
+Todo: 
+  --------
+  * License:
+    Same as Ruby's License (http://www.ruby-lang.org/LICENSE.txt)
+
+=end
+#require 'rubygems'
+require 'ncurses'
+require 'logger'
+require 'rbcurse'
+
+include Ncurses
+include RubyCurses
+include RubyCurses::Utils
+module RubyCurses
+  extend self
+
+  ##
+  #
+  # @since 1.1.6
+  # TODO - 
+  # what of internal objects that don't want a form !
+  # - stack and flow should be objects in Form, put in widget when creating
+  # x method: quit
+  # - box / rect
+  # - animate(n) |i|
+  # x list_box :choose is the defauly
+  # x progress - like a label but fills itself, fraction
+  # - para looks like a label that is more than one line, and calculates rows itself based on text
+  # x other buttons: radio, check
+  # x edit_box = textarea
+  # - combo
+  # x menu
+  # - popup
+  # - multicontainer
+  # - multitextview, multisplit
+  # - tabbedpane
+  # / table - more work regarding vim keys, also editable
+  # - margin - is left offset
+  #    http://lethain.com/entry/2007/oct/15/getting-started-shoes-os-x/
+  # - promptmenu
+  #  
+  
+  class Widget
+    def changed *args, &block
+      bind :CHANGED, *args, &block
+    end
+    def leave *args, &block
+      bind :LEAVE, *args, &block
+    end
+    def enter *args, &block
+      bind :ENTER, *args, &block
+    end
+    # actually we already have command() for buttons
+    def click *args, &block
+      bind :PRESS, *args, &block
+    end
+  end
+  #class Listbox
+    #def text
+      #return get_content()[@current_index]
+    #end
+  #end
+  class CheckBox
+    # a little dicey XXX 
+    def text(*val)
+      if val.empty?
+        @value ? @onvalue : @offvalue
+      else
+        super
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  class App
+    attr_reader :config
+    attr_reader :form
+    attr_reader :window
+    attr_writer :quit_key
+
+
+    # i should be able to pass window coords here in config
+    # :title
+    def initialize config={}, &block
+      #$log.debug " inside constructor of APP #{config}  "
+      @config = config
+      @app_row = @app_col = 0
+      @stack = [] # stack's coordinates
+      @flowstack = []
+      @variables = {}
+      # if we are creating child objects then we will not use outer form. this object will manage
+      @current_object = [] 
+      init_vars
+      run &block
+    end
+    def init_vars
+      @quit_key ||= KEY_F1
+      # actually this should be maintained inside ncurses pack, so not loaded 2 times.
+      # this way if we call an app from existing program, App won't start ncurses.
+      unless $ncurses_started
+        init_ncurses
+      end
+      unless $log
+        $log = Logger.new((File.join(ENV["LOGDIR"] || "./" ,"view.log")))
+        $log.level = Logger::DEBUG
+        colors = Ncurses.COLORS
+        $log.debug "START #{colors} colors  --------- #{$0}"
+      end
+    end
+    def logger; return $log; end
+    def close
+      $log.debug " INSIDE CLOSE, #{@stop_ncurses_on_close} "
+      @window.destroy if !@window.nil?
+      $log.debug " INSIDE CLOSE, #{@stop_ncurses_on_close} "
+      if @stop_ncurses_on_close
+        VER::stop_ncurses
+        $log.debug " CLOSING NCURSES"
+      end
+      #p $error_message.value unless $error_message.value.nil?
+      $log.debug " CLOSING APP"
+      #end
+    end
+    # not sure, but user shuld be able to trap keystrokes if he wants
+    # but do i still call handle_key if he does, or give him total control.
+    # But loop is already called by framework
+    def loop &block
+      @form.repaint
+      @window.wrefresh
+      Ncurses::Panel.update_panels
+      while((ch = @window.getchar()) != @quit_key )
+        str = keycode_tos ch
+        @keyblock.call(str.gsub(/-/, "_").to_sym) if @keyblock
+        $log.debug  "#{ch} got (#{str})"
+        yield ch if block # <<<----
+        @form.handle_key ch
+        @form.repaint
+        @window.wrefresh
+      end
+    end
+    # returns a symbol of the key pressed
+    # e.g. :C_c for Ctrl-C
+    # :Space, :bs, :M_d etc
+    def keypress &block
+     @keyblock = block
+    end
+    # updates a global var with text. Calling app has to set up a Variable with that name and attach to 
+    # a label so it can be printed.
+    def message text
+      @message.value = text
+    end
+    def message_row row
+      @message_label.row = row
+    end
+    #
+    # @group methods to create widgets easily
+    #
+    # process arguments based on datatype, perhaps making configuration
+    # of some components easier for caller avoiding too much boiler plate code
+    # 
+    # create a field
+    def field *args, &block
+      config = {}
+      events = [ :CHANGED,  :LEAVE, :ENTER, :CHANGE ]
+      block_event = :CHANGED # LEAVE, ENTER, CHANGE
+
+      args.each do |arg| 
+        case arg
+        when Array
+          #puts "row, col #{arg[0]} #{arg[1]} "
+          # we can use r,c, w, h
+          row, col, display_length = arg
+          config[:row] = row
+          config[:col] = col
+          config[:display_length] = display_length if display_length
+        when Hash
+          config.merge!(arg)
+          block_event = config.delete(:block_event){ block_event }
+          raise "Invalid event. Use #{events}" unless events.include? block_event
+          #puts "hash #{config}"
+        when String
+          title = arg
+          config[:name] = title
+        end
+      end
+      if @instack
+        # most likely you won't have row and col. should we check or just go ahead
+        col = @stack.last.margin
+        config[:row] = @app_row
+        config[:col] = col
+        @app_row += 1
+      end
+      field = Field.new @form, config
+      # shooz uses CHANGED, which is equivalent to our CHANGE. Our CHANGED means modified and exited
+      if block
+        field.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return field
+    end
+      #instance_eval &block if block_given?
+      # or
+      #@blk = block # for later execution using @blk.call()
+      #colorlabel = Label.new @form, {'text' => "Select a color:", "row" => row, "col" => col, "color"=>"cyan", "mnemonic" => 'S'}
+      #var = RubyCurses::Label.new @form, {'text_variable' => $results, "row" => r, "col" => fc}
+
+    def label *args
+      block_event = nil
+      config = {}
+
+      args.each do |arg| 
+        case arg
+        when Array
+          row, col, display_length, height = arg
+          config[:row] = row
+          config[:col] = col
+          config[:display_length] = display_length if display_length
+          config[:height] = height || 1
+        when Hash
+          config.merge!(arg)
+        when String
+          config[:text] = arg
+        end
+      end
+      config[:height] ||= 1
+      if @instack
+        # most likely you won't have row and col. should we check or just go ahead
+        col = @stack.last.margin
+        config[:row] = @app_row
+        config[:col] = col
+        @app_row += config[:height]
+      end
+      label = Label.new @form, config
+      # shooz uses CHANGED, which is equivalent to our CHANGE. Our CHANGED means modified and exited
+      return label
+    end
+    alias :text :label
+    def button *args, &block
+      config = {}
+      events = [ :PRESS,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = :PRESS
+
+      #process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      args.each do |arg| 
+        case arg
+        when Array
+          #puts "row, col #{arg[0]} #{arg[1]} "
+          # we can use r,c, w, h
+          row, col, display_length, height = arg
+          config[:row] = row
+          config[:col] = col
+          config[:display_length] = display_length if display_length
+          config[:height] = height if height
+        when Hash
+          config.merge!(arg)
+          block_event = config.delete(:block_event){ block_event }
+          raise "Invalid event. Use #{events}" unless events.include? block_event
+          #puts "hash #{config}"
+        when String
+          config[:text] = arg
+          config[:name] = arg
+        end
+      end
+      # flow gets precedence over stack
+      _position(config)
+      button = Button.new @form, config
+      # shooz uses CHANGED, which is equivalent to our CHANGE. Our CHANGED means modified and exited
+      if block
+        button.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return button
+    end
+    #
+    # create a list
+    # Since we are mouseless, one can traverse without selection. So we have a different
+    # way of selecting row/s and traversal. XXX this aspect of LB's has always troubled me hugely.
+    def list_box *args, &block
+      config = {}
+      # TODO confirm events
+      # listdataevent has interval added and interval removed, due to multiple
+      # selection, we have to make that simple for user here.
+      events = [ :LEAVE, :ENTER, :ENTER_ROW, :LEAVE_ROW, :LIST_DATA_EVENT ]
+      # TODO how to do this so he gets selected row easily
+      block_event = :ENTER_ROW
+
+      # TODO abstract this into a new method so no copying
+      args.each do |arg| 
+        case arg
+        when Array
+          #puts "row, col #{arg[0]} #{arg[1]} "
+          # we can use r,c, w, h
+          row, col, display_length, height = arg
+          config[:row] = row
+          config[:col] = col
+          config[:display_length] = display_length if display_length
+          config[:height] = height if height
+        when Hash
+          config.merge!(arg)
+          block_event = config.delete(:block_event){ block_event }
+          raise "Invalid event. Use #{events}" unless events.include? block_event
+          #puts "hash #{config}"
+        when String
+          config[:name] = arg
+          config[:title] = arg
+        end
+      end
+      # naive defaults, since list could be large or have very long items
+      # usually user will provide
+      config[:height] ||= config[:list].length + 2
+      if @current_object.empty?
+        $log.debug "1 APP LB w: #{config[:width]} ,#{config[:name]} "
+        config[:width] ||= @stack.last.width if @stack.last
+        $log.debug "2 APP LB w: #{config[:width]} "
+        config[:width] ||= longest_in_list(config[:list])+2
+        $log.debug "3 APP LB w: #{config[:width]} "
+      end
+      # if no width given, expand to flows width XXX SHOULD BE NOT EXPAND ?
+      #config[:width] ||= @stack.last.width if @stack.last
+      #if config.has_key? :choose
+      config[:default_values] = config.delete :choose
+      # we make the default single unless specified
+      config[:selection_mode] = :single unless config.has_key? :selection_mode
+      if @current_object.empty?
+      if @instack
+        # most likely you won't have row and col. should we check or just go ahead
+        col = @stack.last.margin
+        config[:row] = @app_row
+        config[:col] = col
+        @app_row += config[:height] # this needs to take into account height of prev object
+      end
+      end
+      useform = nil
+      useform = @form if @current_object.empty?
+      field = Listbox.new useform, config
+      # shooz uses CHANGED, which is equivalent to our CHANGE. Our CHANGED means modified and exited
+      if block
+        # this way you can't pass params to the block
+        field.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return field
+    end
+    
+    # toggle button
+    def toggle *args, &block
+      config = {}
+      # TODO confirm events
+      events = [ :PRESS,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = :PRESS
+      _process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      config[:text] ||= longest_in_list2( [config[:onvalue], config[:offvalue]])
+        #config[:onvalue] # needed for flow, we need a better way FIXME
+      _position(config)
+      toggle = ToggleButton.new @form, config
+      if block
+        toggle.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return toggle
+    end
+    # check button
+    def check *args, &block
+      config = {}
+      # TODO confirm events
+      events = [ :PRESS,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = :PRESS
+      _process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      _position(config)
+      toggle = CheckBox.new @form, config
+      if block
+        toggle.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return toggle
+    end
+    # radio button
+    def radio *args, &block
+      config = {}
+      # TODO confirm events
+      events = [ :PRESS,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = :PRESS
+      _process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      a = config[:group]
+      # FIXME we should check if user has set a varialbe in :variable.
+      # we should create a variable, so he can use it if he wants.
+      if @variables.has_key? a
+        v = @variables[a]
+      else
+        v = Variable.new
+        @variables[a] = v
+      end
+      config[:variable] = v
+      config.delete(:group)
+      _position(config)
+      radio = RadioButton.new @form, config
+      if block
+        radio.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return radio
+    end
+    # editable text area
+    def textarea *args, &block
+      require 'rbcurse/rtextarea'
+      config = {}
+      # 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
+      _position(config)
+      # 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
+      if block
+        w.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return w
+    end
+    # progress bar
+    def progress *args, &block
+      require 'rbcurse/rprogress'
+      config = {}
+      # TODO confirm events many more
+      events = [ :CHANGE,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = nil
+      _process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      config[:width] = config[:display_length] || 10 unless config.has_key? :width
+      _position(config)
+      w = Progress.new @form, config
+      #if block
+        #w.bind(block_event, &block)
+      #end
+      return w
+    end
+    
+    # table widget
+    # @example
+    #  data = [["Roger",16,"SWI"], ["Phillip",1, "DEU"]]
+    #  colnames = ["Name", "Wins", "Place"]
+    #  t = table :width => 40, :height => 10, :columns => colnames, :data => data, :estimate_widths => true
+    #    other options are :column_widths => [12,4,12]
+    #    :size_to_fit => true
+    def table *args, &block
+      require 'rbcurse/rtable'
+      config = {}
+      # TODO confirm events many more
+      events = [ :ENTER_ROW,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = events[0]
+      _process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      # if user is leaving out width, then we don't want it in config
+      # else Widget will put a value of 10 as default, overriding what we've calculated
+      if config.has_key? :display_length
+        config[:width] = config[:display_length] unless config.has_key? :width
+      end
+      ext = config.delete :extended_keys
+
+      model = nil
+      _position(config)
+      # if no width given, expand to flows width
+      config[:width] ||= @stack.last.width if @stack.last
+      w = Table.new @form, config
+      if ext
+        require 'rbcurse/extras/tableextended' 
+          # so we can increase and decrease column width using keys
+        w.extend TableExtended
+        w.bind_key(?w){ w.next_column }
+        w.bind_key(?b){ w.previous_column }
+        w.bind_key(?+) { w.increase_column }
+        w.bind_key(?-) { w.decrease_column }
+        w.bind_key([?d, ?d]) { w.table_model.delete_at w.current_index }
+        w.bind_key(?u) { w.table_model.undo w.current_index}
+      end
+      if block
+        w.bind(block_event, &block)
+      end
+      return w
+    end
+    # print a title on first row
+    def title string, config={}
+      ## TODO center it
+      @window.printstring 1, 30, string, $normalcolor, 'reverse'
+    end
+    # print a sutitle on second row
+    def subtitle string, config={}
+      @window.printstring 2, 30, string, $datacolor, 'normal'
+    end
+    # menu bar
+    def menubar &block
+      require 'rbcurse/rmenu'
+      RubyCurses::MenuBar.new &block
+    end
+
+    # creates a blank row
+    def blank rows=1, config={}
+      @app_row += rows
+    end
+    # displays a horizontal line
+    # takes col (column to start from) from current stack
+    # take row from app_row
+    #
+    # requires width to be passed in config, else defaults to 20
+    # @example
+    #    hline :width => 55  
+    def hline config={}
+      row = @app_row
+      width = config[:width] || 20
+      _position config
+      col = config[:col] || 1
+      @window.mvwhline( row, col, ACS_HLINE, width)
+      @app_row += 1
+    end
+    def app_header title, config={}, &block
+      require 'rbcurse/applicationheader'
+      header = ApplicationHeader.new @form, title, config, &block
+    end
+    def dock labels, config={}, &block
+      require 'rbcurse/keylabelprinter'
+      klp = RubyCurses::KeyLabelPrinter.new @form, labels, config, &block
+    end
+    def link *args, &block
+      require 'rbcurse/extras/rlink'
+      config = {}
+      events = [ :PRESS,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = :PRESS
+      _process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      _position(config)
+      config[:text] ||= config.delete :title
+      config[:highlight_foreground] = "yellow"
+      config[:highlight_background] = "red"
+      toggle = Link.new @form, config
+      if block
+        toggle.bind(block_event, toggle, &block)
+      end
+      return toggle
+    end
+    def menulink *args, &block
+      require 'rbcurse/extras/rmenulink'
+      config = {}
+      events = [ :PRESS,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = :PRESS
+      _process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      _position(config)
+      config[:text] ||= config.delete :title
+      config[:highlight_foreground] = "yellow"
+      config[:highlight_background] = "red"
+      toggle = MenuLink.new @form, config
+      if block
+        toggle.bind(block_event, toggle, &block)
+      end
+      return toggle
+    end
+    def splitpane *args, &block
+      require 'rbcurse/rsplitpane2'
+      config = {}
+      events = [ :PROPERTY_CHANGE,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = events[0]
+      _process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      _position(config)
+      # if no width given, expand to flows width
+      config[:width] ||= @stack.last.width if @stack.last
+      config.delete :title
+      useform = nil
+      useform = @form if @current_object.empty?
+
+      w = SplitPane.new useform, config
+      #if block
+        #w.bind(block_event, w, &block)
+      #end
+      if block_given?
+        @current_object << w
+        #instance_eval &block if block_given?
+        yield w
+        @current_object.pop
+      end
+      return w
+    end
+    def multisplit *args, &block
+      require 'rbcurse/rmultisplit'
+      config = {}
+      events = [ :PROPERTY_CHANGE,  :LEAVE, :ENTER ]
+      block_event = events[0]
+      _process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      _position(config)
+      # if no width given, expand to flows width
+      config[:width] ||= @stack.last.width if @stack.last
+      config.delete :title
+      useform = nil
+      useform = @form if @current_object.empty?
+
+      w = MultiSplit.new useform, config
+      #if block
+        #w.bind(block_event, w, &block)
+      #end
+      if block_given?
+        @current_object << w
+        #instance_eval &block if block_given?
+        yield w
+        @current_object.pop
+      end
+      return w
+    end
+
+    # ADD new widget above this
+
+    # @endgroup
+    
+    # @group positioning of components
+    
+    # line up vertically whatever comes in, ignoring r and c 
+    # margin_top to add to margin of existing stack (if embedded) such as extra spacing
+    # margin to add to margin of existing stack, or window (0)
+    Stack = Struct.new(:margin_top, :margin, :width)
+    def stack config={}, &block
+      @instack = true
+      mt =  config[:margin_top] || 1
+      mr =  config[:margin] || 0
+      # must take into account margin
+      defw = Ncurses.COLS - mr
+      w =   config[:width] || [50, defw].min
+      s = Stack.new(mt, mr, w)
+      @app_row += mt
+      mr += @stack.last.margin if @stack.last
+      #@stack << mr
+      @stack << s
+      instance_eval &block if block_given?
+      @stack.pop
+      @instack = false if @stack.empty?
+      @app_row = 0 if @stack.empty?
+    end
+    # keep adding to right of previous and when no more space
+    # move down and continue fitting in.
+    # Useful for button positioning. Currently, we can use a second flow
+    # to get another row.
+    # TODO: move down when row filled
+    # TODO: align right, center
+    def flow config={}, &block
+      @inflow = true
+      mt =  config[:margin_top] || 0
+      @app_row += mt
+      col = @flowstack.last || @stack.last.margin || @app_col
+      col += config[:margin] || 0
+      @flowstack << col
+      @flowcol = col
+      instance_eval &block if block_given?
+      @flowstack.pop
+      @inflow = false if @flowstack.empty?
+    end
+
+    private
+    def quit
+      throw(:close)
+    end
+    # Initialize curses
+    def init_ncurses
+      VER::start_ncurses  # this is initializing colors via ColorMap.setup
+      #$ncurses_started = true
+      @stop_ncurses_on_close = true
+    end
+
+    # returns length of longest
+    def longest_in_list list
+      longest = list.inject(0) do |memo,word|
+        memo >= word.length ? memo : word.length
+      end    
+      longest
+    end    
+    # returns longest item
+    def longest_in_list2 list
+      longest = list.inject(list[0]) do |memo,word|
+        memo.length >= word.length ? memo : word
+      end    
+      longest
+    end    
+    def run &block
+      begin
+
+        # check if user has passed window coord in config, else root window
+        @window = VER::Window.root_window
+        catch(:close) do
+          @form = Form.new @window
+          @message = Variable.new
+          @message.value = "Message Comes Here"
+          @message_label = RubyCurses::Label.new @form, {:text_variable => @message, :name=>"message_label",:row => 24, :col => 1, :display_length => 60,  :height => 1, :color => 'cyan'}
+          $error_message.update_command { @message.set_value($error_message.value) }
+          if block
+            begin
+              #yield(self, @window, @form)
+              instance_eval &block if block_given?
+              loop
+            rescue => ex
+              $log.debug( "APP.rb rescue reached ")
+              $log.debug( ex) if ex
+              $log.debug(ex.backtrace.join("\n")) if ex
+            ensure
+              close
+              # putting it here allows it to be printed on screen, otherwise it was not showing at all.
+              if ex
+                puts "========== EXCEPTION =========="
+                p ex 
+                puts "=========="
+                puts(ex.backtrace.join("\n")) 
+              end
+            end
+            nil
+          else
+            #@close_on_terminate = true
+            self
+          end #if block
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    # TODO
+    # process args, all widgets should call this
+    def _process_args args, config, block_event, events
+      args.each do |arg| 
+        case arg
+        when Array
+          # we can use r,c, w, h
+          row, col, display_length, height = arg
+          config[:row] = row
+          config[:col] = col
+          config[:display_length] = display_length if display_length
+          config[:width] = display_length if display_length
+          # width for most XXX ?
+          config[:height] = height if height
+        when Hash
+          config.merge!(arg)
+          if block_event 
+            block_event = config.delete(:block_event){ block_event }
+            raise "Invalid event. Use #{events}" unless events.include? block_event
+          end
+        when String
+          config[:name] = arg
+          config[:title] = arg # some may not have title
+          #config[:text] = arg # some may not have title
+        end
+      end
+    end # _process
+    # position object based on whether in a flow or stack.
+    # @app_row is prepared for next object based on this objects ht
+    def _position config
+      unless @current_object.empty?
+        $log.debug " WWWW returning from position #{@current_object.last} "
+        return
+      end
+      if @inflow
+        #col = @flowstack.last
+        config[:row] = @app_row
+        config[:col] = @flowcol
+        $log.debug " YYYY config #{config} "
+        @flowcol += config[:text].length + 5 # 5 came from buttons
+      elsif @instack
+        # most likely you won't have row and col. should we check or just go ahead
+        col = @stack.last.margin
+        config[:row] = @app_row
+        config[:col] = col
+        @app_row += config[:height] || 1
+        # TODO need to allow stack to have its spacing, but we don't have an object as yet.
+      end
+    end
+  end # class
+end # module 
+if $0 == __FILE__
+  include RubyCurses
+  #app = App.new
+  #window = app.window
+  #window.printstring 2, 30, "Demo of Listbox - rbcurse", $normalcolor, 'reverse'
+  #app.logger.info "beforegetch"
+  #window.getch
+  #app.close
+  # this was the yield example, but now we've moved to instance eval
+  App.new do 
+    @window.printstring 0, 30, "Demo of Listbox - rbcurse", $normalcolor, 'reverse'
+    @window.printstring 1, 30, "Hit F1 to quit", $datacolor, 'normal'
+    form = @form
+    fname = "Search"
+    r, c = 7, 30
+    c += fname.length + 1
+    #field1 = field( [r,c, 30], fname, :bgcolor => "cyan", :block_event => :CHANGE) do |fld|
+    stack :margin_top => 2, :margin => 10 do
+      lbl = label({:text => fname, :color=>'white',:bgcolor=>'red', :mnemonic=> 's'})
+      field1 = field( [r,c, 30], fname, :bgcolor => "cyan",:block_event => :CHANGE) do |fld|
+        message("You entered #{fld.getvalue}. To quit enter quit and tab out")
+        if fld.getvalue == "quit"
+          logger.info "you typed quit!" 
+          throw :close
+        end
+      end
+      #field1.set_label Label.new @form, {:text => fname, :color=>'white',:bgcolor=>'red', :mnemonic=> 's'}
+      field1.set_label( lbl )
+      field1.enter do 
+        message "you entered this field"
+      end
+
+      stack :margin_top => 2, :margin => 0 do
+        #label( [8, 30, 60],{:text => "A label", :color=>'white',:bgcolor=>'blue'} )
+      end
+
+      @bluelabel = label( [8, 30, 60],{:text => "B label", :color=>'white',:bgcolor=>'blue'} )
+
+      stack :margin_top => 2, :margin => 0 do
+        toggle :onvalue => " Toggle Down ", :offvalue => "  Untoggle   ", :mnemonic => 'T', :value => true
+
+        toggle :onvalue => " On  ", :offvalue => " Off ", :value => true do |e|
+          alert "You pressed me #{e.state}"
+        end
+        check :text => "Check me!", :onvalue => "Checked", :offvalue => "Unchecked", :value => true do |e|
+          # this works but long and complicated
+          #@bluelabel.text = e.item.getvalue ? e.item.onvalue : e.item.offvalue
+          @bluelabel.text = e.item.text
+        end
+        radio :text => "red", :value => "RED", :color => "red", :group => :colors
+        radio :text => "green", :value => "GREEN", :color => "green", :group => :colors
+        flow do
+          button_row = 17
+          ok_button = button( [button_row,30], "OK", {:mnemonic => 'O'}) do 
+            alert("About to dump data into log file!")
+            message "Dumped data to log file"
+          end
+
+          # using ampersand to set mnemonic
+          cancel_button = button( [button_row, 40], "&Cancel" ) do
+            if confirm("Do your really want to quit?")== :YES
+              #throw(:close); 
+              quit
+            else
+              message "Quit aborted"
+            end
+          end # cancel
+          button "Don't know"
+        end
+        flow :margin_top => 2 do
+          button "Another"
+          button "Line"
+        end
+        stack :margin_top => 2, :margin => 0 do
+          @pbar = progress :width => 20, :bgcolor => 'white', :color => 'red'
+          @pbar1 = progress :width => 20, :style => :old
+        end
+      end
+    end # stack
+    # lets make another column
+    stack :margin_top => 2, :margin => 70 do
+      l = label "Column 2"
+      f1 = field "afield", :bgcolor => 'white', :color => 'black'
+      list_box "A list", :list => ["Square", "Oval", "Rectangle", "Somethinglarge"], :choose => ["Square"]
+      lb = list_box "Another", :list => ["Square", "Oval", "Rectangle", "Somethinglarge"] do |list|
+        #f1.set_buffer list.text
+        #f1.text list.text
+        f1.text = list.text
+        l.text = list.text.upcase
+      end
+      t = textarea :height => 10 do |e|
+        #@bluelabel.text = e.to_s.tr("\n",' ')
+        @bluelabel.text = e.text.gsub("\n"," ")
+        len = e.source.get_text.length
+        len = len % 20 if len > 20
+        $log.debug " PBAR len of text is #{len}: #{len/20.0} "
+        @pbar.fraction(len/20.0)
+        @pbar1.fraction(len/20.0)
+        i = ((len/20.0)*100).to_i
+        @pbar.text = "completed:#{i}"
+      end
+      t.leave do |c|
+        @bluelabel.text = c.get_text.gsub("\n"," ")
+      end
+
+    end
+
+    # Allow user to get the keys
+    keypress do |key|
+      if key == :C_c
+        message "You tried to cancel"
+        #throw :close
+        quit
+      else
+        #app.message "You pressed #{key}, #{char} "
+        message "You pressed #{key}"
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end