Concerning <windowclass>, <sheetdata>, and Templates

Ok, 'nother noobie question.

Here is CoreRPG's character sheet main page windowclass (from record_char_main.xml and abridged slightly for readability, with some question markers):

Code:

<windowclass name="charsheet_main"> <margins control="0,0,0,2" /> <sheetdata> #1 <frame_char name="attributesframe"> <bounds>15,0,-29,-50</bounds> </frame_char> <label_frametop> #2 <anchored to="attributesframe" /> #3 <static textres="char_label_attributes" /> #4 and #5 </label_frametop> <list_charmaincategory name="categories"> <anchored to="attributesframe"> <left offset="15" /> <top offset="35" /> <right offset="-20" /> <bottom offset="-20" /> </anchored> </list_charmaincategory> . . <string_labeled name="senses"> <anchored to="sensesframe" position="insidetop" offset="-15,10" height="20" /> <label>Senses</label> #6 <delaykeyupdate /> </string_labeled> </sheetdata> </windowclass>

And here is the "label_frametop" instance (reprinted from above) along with its template (from template_common.xml):

Code:

<label_frametop> <anchored to="attributesframe" /> <static textres="char_label_attributes" /> </label_frametop> --------- <template name="label_frametop"> <label> <anchored position="insidetop" offset="0,10" /> <center /> </label> </template>

Q #1: I have read the 'definition' of the sheetdata tag from both the Old, and New, Developer's Guides. I think I get it, although a more rigorous definition might be more illuminating. If there is any other place to go to get a better understanding please let me know (I know that's vague, but there's diminishing returns in trying to enumerate the other questions I have.)

Q #2: There is no 'name = "blah"' associated with this template instance. What is the significance of that for this case?

Q #3: I can only assume that the "<anchored>" tag in the windowclass instance overrides the anchored tag in the template. Is there some guidance on this?

Q #4: On the other hand, there is no "<static>" tag in the template, so what is the meaning of including something that doesn't appear in the template? (NOTE: I just re-read the Templates page from the Developer's Guide, and I probably have #3 and #4 figured out... If there is any additional nuance to add, please do.)

Q #5: And on the subject of the "<static>" tag, how does one know when a tag like this can just be put... well... anywhere? I can find no help in establishing a context for this usage.

Q #6: Finally, there seemed to be a rule in place (to ease the conversion to a different language) for defining strings and then referencing them with "textres=..." But here we just have 'Senses', which appears to contravene that rule. Is there something special about this instance?

Thanks!!!

- s.west

#1 - <sheetdata> contains the definitions of all the controls within the <windowclass>. Nothing more involved than that.

#2 - if there isn't a name for the control then it can't be referenced in scripts and it can't be overridden via merge functionality in an extension or layered ruleset.

#3 - information on templates here: https://fantasygroundsunity.atlassia...or+code+re-use See the "Merge Behavior" section in particular.

#4 - OK, you've already got this figured out. Should have read further before answering your questions. But also would have been nice to have edited/removed questions you've already sussed out yourself! :)

#5 - Refer to "static" in the stringcontrol definition here: https://fantasygroundsunity.atlassia.../stringcontrol

#6 - This is purely a developer preference - they are hard coding "Senses" rather than using a string resource. Ideally code should use textres references to facilitate easier translation. But there's many places in code where this isn't done - for either ease/quickness of coding or to maintain a specific naming convention.

Thanks!

I will certainly highlight, up front, any questions I have already figured out, but which I intentionally leave in, in case, as I mentioned, "If there is any additional nuance to add, please do."

- s.west