Entry
| Chapter 7. Miscellaneous Widgets |

## Entry

### Simple Use

Entry widgets allow the user to enter text. You can change the contents with the `set_text()` method, and read the current contents with the `get_text()` method.

Occasionally you might want to make an `Entry` widget read-only. This can be done by passing `false` to the `set_editable()` method.

For the input of passwords, passphrases and other information you don't want echoed on the screen, calling `set_visibility()` with `false` will cause the text to be hidden.

You might want to be notified whenever the user types in a text entry widget. `Gtk::Entry` provides the `changed` signal for this purpose. It is emitted when the text in the widget changes. You can use it, for instance, to validate or filter the text the user types.

The `changed` signal is not emitted when the user presses the Enter key. If a pressed Enter key signals that the user has finished entering text, you probably want to be notified. For this purpose, use the `key_press_event` signal that `Gtk::Entry` inherits from `Gtk::Widget`. Moving the keyboard focus to another widget may also signal that the user has finished entering text. The `focus_out_event` signal can notify you when that happens. The ComboBox with an Entry section contains example programs that use these signals.

If you pass `true` to the `set_activates_default()` method, pressing Enter in the `Gtk::Entry` will activate the default widget for the window containing the `Gtk::Entry`. This is especially useful in dialog boxes. The default widget is usually one of the dialog buttons, which e.g. will close the dialog box. To set a widget as the default widget, use `Gtk::Widget::set_can_default()` and `Gtk::Widget::grab_default()`.

Reference

#### Simple Entry Example

This example uses `Gtk::Entry`. It also has two `CheckButton`s, with which you can toggle the editable and visible flags.

Figure 7.2. Entry

Source Code

File: `examplewindow.h` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #ifndef GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H
    #define GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H

    #include <gtkmm.h>

    class ExampleWindow : public Gtk::Window
    {
    public:
      ExampleWindow();
      virtual ~ExampleWindow();

    protected:
      //Signal handlers:
      void on_checkbox_editable_toggled();
      void on_checkbox_visibility_toggled();
      void on_button_close();

      //Child widgets:
      Gtk::Box m_HBox;
      Gtk::Box m_VBox;
      Gtk::Entry m_Entry;
      Gtk::Button m_Button_Close;
      Gtk::CheckButton m_CheckButton_Editable, m_CheckButton_Visible;
    };

    #endif //GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H

File: `examplewindow.cc` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #include "examplewindow.h"
    #include <iostream>

    ExampleWindow::ExampleWindow()
    : m_VBox(Gtk::ORIENTATION_VERTICAL),
      m_Button_Close("Close"),
      m_CheckButton_Editable("Editable"),
      m_CheckButton_Visible("Visible")
    {
      set_size_request(200, 100);
      set_title("Gtk::Entry");

      add(m_VBox);

      m_Entry.set_max_length(50);
      m_Entry.set_text("hello");
      m_Entry.set_text(m_Entry.get_text() + " world");
      m_Entry.select_region(0, m_Entry.get_text_length());
      m_VBox.pack_start(m_Entry);

      // Note that add() can also be used instead of pack_xxx()
      m_VBox.add(m_HBox);

      m_HBox.pack_start(m_CheckButton_Editable);
      m_CheckButton_Editable.signal_toggled().connect( sigc::mem_fun(*this,
                  &ExampleWindow::on_checkbox_editable_toggled) );
      m_CheckButton_Editable.set_active(true);

      m_HBox.pack_start(m_CheckButton_Visible);
      m_CheckButton_Visible.signal_toggled().connect( sigc::mem_fun(*this,
                  &ExampleWindow::on_checkbox_visibility_toggled) );
      m_CheckButton_Visible.set_active(true);

      m_Button_Close.signal_clicked().connect( sigc::mem_fun(*this,
                  &ExampleWindow::on_button_close) );
      m_VBox.pack_start(m_Button_Close);
      m_Button_Close.set_can_default();
      m_Button_Close.grab_default();

      show_all_children();
    }

    ExampleWindow::~ExampleWindow()
    {
    }

    void ExampleWindow::on_checkbox_editable_toggled()
    {
      m_Entry.set_editable(m_CheckButton_Editable.get_active());
    }

    void ExampleWindow::on_checkbox_visibility_toggled()
    {
      m_Entry.set_visibility(m_CheckButton_Visible.get_active());
    }

    void ExampleWindow::on_button_close()
    {
      hide();
    }

File: `main.cc` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #include "examplewindow.h"
    #include <gtkmm/application.h>

    int main(int argc, char *argv[])
    {
      Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::Application> app = Gtk::Application::create(argc, argv, "org.gtkmm.example");

      ExampleWindow window;

      //Shows the window and returns when it is closed.
      return app->run(window);
    }

### Entry Completion

A `Entry` widget can offer a drop-down list of pre-existing choices based on the first few characters typed by the user. For instance, a search dialog could suggest text from previous searches.

To enable this functionality, you must create a `EntryCompletion` object, and provide it to the `Entry` widget via the `set_completion()` method.

The `EntryCompletion` may use a `TreeModel` containing possible entries, specified with `set_model()`. You should then call `set_text_column()` to specify which of your model columns should be used to match possible text entries.

Alternatively, if a complete list of possible entries would be too large or too inconvenient to generate, a callback slot may instead be specified with `set_match_func()`. This is also useful if you wish to match on a part of the string other than the start.

Reference

#### Entry Completion Example

This example creates a `Gtk::EntryCompletion` and associates it with a `Gtk::Entry` widget. The completion uses a `Gtk::TreeModel` of possible entries, and some additional actions.

Figure 7.3. Entry Completion

Source Code

File: `examplewindow.h` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #ifndef GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H
    #define GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H

    #include <gtkmm.h>

    class ExampleWindow : public Gtk::Window
    {
    public:
      ExampleWindow();
      virtual ~ExampleWindow();

    protected:
      //Signal handlers:
      void on_button_close();

      void on_completion_action_activated(int index);

      //See the comment in the implementation:
      //bool on_completion_match(const Glib::ustring& key, const Gtk::TreeModel::const_iterator& iter);

      //Tree model columns, for the EntryCompletion's filter model:
      class ModelColumns : public Gtk::TreeModel::ColumnRecord
      {
      public:

        ModelColumns()
        { add(m_col_id); add(m_col_name); }

        Gtk::TreeModelColumn<unsigned int> m_col_id;
        Gtk::TreeModelColumn<Glib::ustring> m_col_name;
      };

      ModelColumns m_Columns;

      typedef std::map<int, Glib::ustring> type_actions_map;
      type_actions_map m_CompletionActions;

      //Child widgets:
      Gtk::Box m_HBox;
      Gtk::Box m_VBox;
      Gtk::Entry m_Entry;
      Gtk::Label m_Label;
      Gtk::Button m_Button_Close;
    };

    #endif //GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H

File: `examplewindow.cc` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #include "examplewindow.h"
    #include <iostream>

    ExampleWindow::ExampleWindow()
    : m_VBox(Gtk::ORIENTATION_VERTICAL),
      m_Label("Press a or b to see a list of possible completions and actions."),
      m_Button_Close("Close")
    {
      //set_size_request(200, 100);
      set_title("Gtk::EntryCompletion");

      add(m_VBox);
      m_VBox.pack_start(m_Entry, Gtk::PACK_SHRINK);

      m_VBox.pack_start(m_Label, Gtk::PACK_EXPAND_WIDGET);

      m_Button_Close.signal_clicked().connect( sigc::mem_fun(*this,
                  &ExampleWindow::on_button_close) );
      m_VBox.pack_start(m_Button_Close, Gtk::PACK_SHRINK);
      m_Button_Close.set_can_default();
      m_Button_Close.grab_default();

      //Add an EntryCompletion:
      Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::EntryCompletion> completion =
          Gtk::EntryCompletion::create();
      m_Entry.set_completion(completion);

      //Create and fill the completion's filter model
      Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::ListStore> refCompletionModel =
          Gtk::ListStore::create(m_Columns);
      completion->set_model(refCompletionModel);

      // For more complex comparisons, use a filter match callback, like this.
      // See the comment below for more details:
      //completion->set_match_func( sigc::mem_fun(*this,
                  //&ExampleWindow::on_completion_match) );

      //Fill the TreeView's model
      Gtk::TreeModel::Row row = *(refCompletionModel->append());
      row[m_Columns.m_col_id] = 1;
      row[m_Columns.m_col_name] = "Alan Zebedee";

      row = *(refCompletionModel->append());
      row[m_Columns.m_col_id] = 2;
      row[m_Columns.m_col_name] = "Adrian Boo";

      row = *(refCompletionModel->append());
      row[m_Columns.m_col_id] = 3;
      row[m_Columns.m_col_name] = "Bob McRoberts";

      row = *(refCompletionModel->append());
      row[m_Columns.m_col_id] = 4;
      row[m_Columns.m_col_name] = "Bob McBob";

      //Tell the completion what model column to use to
      //- look for a match (when we use the default matching, instead of
      //  set_match_func().
      //- display text in the entry when a match is found.
      completion->set_text_column(m_Columns.m_col_name);

      //Add actions to the completion:
      //These are just extra items shown at the bottom of the list of possible
      //completions.

      //Remember them for later.
      m_CompletionActions[0] = "Use Wizard";
      m_CompletionActions[1] = "Browse for Filename";

      for(type_actions_map::iterator iter = m_CompletionActions.begin();
              iter != m_CompletionActions.end(); ++iter)
      {
        int position = iter->first;
        Glib::ustring title = iter->second;
        completion->insert_action_text(title, position);
      }

      completion->signal_action_activated().connect( sigc::mem_fun(*this,
                  &ExampleWindow::on_completion_action_activated) );

      show_all_children();
    }

    ExampleWindow::~ExampleWindow()
    {
    }

    void ExampleWindow::on_button_close()
    {
      hide();
    }

    /* You can do more complex matching with a handler like this.
     * For instance, you could check for substrings inside the string instead of the start,
     * or you could look for the key in extra model columns as well as the model column that will be displayed.
     * The code here is not actually more complex - it's a reimplementation of the default behaviour.
     *
    bool ExampleWindow::on_completion_match(const Glib::ustring& key, const
            Gtk::TreeModel::const_iterator& iter)
    {
      if(iter)
      {
        Gtk::TreeModel::Row row = *iter;

        Glib::ustring::size_type key_length = key.size();
        Glib::ustring filter_string = row[m_Columns.m_col_name];

        Glib::ustring filter_string_start = filter_string.substr(0, key_length);
        //The key is lower-case, even if the user input is not.
        filter_string_start = filter_string_start.lowercase();

        if(key == filter_string_start)
          return true; //A match was found.
      }

      return false; //No match.
    }
    */

    void ExampleWindow::on_completion_action_activated(int index)
    {
      type_actions_map::iterator iter = m_CompletionActions.find(index);
      if(iter != m_CompletionActions.end()) //If it's in the map
      {
        Glib::ustring title = iter->second;
        std::cout << "Action selected: " << title << std::endl;
      }
    }

File: `main.cc` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #include "examplewindow.h"
    #include <gtkmm/application.h>

    int main(int argc, char *argv[])
    {
      Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::Application> app = Gtk::Application::create(argc, argv, "org.gtkmm.example");

      ExampleWindow window;

      //Shows the window and returns when it is closed.
      return app->run(window);
    }

### Entry Icons

An `Entry` widget can show an icon at the start or end of the text area. The icon can be specifed by methods such as `set_icon_from_pixbuf()` or `set_icon_from_stock()`. An application can respond to the user pressing the icon by handling the `signal_icon_press` signal.

#### Entry Icon Example

This example shows a `Gtk::Entry` widget with a stock search icon, and prints text to the terminal when the icon is pressed.

Figure 7.4. Entry with Icon

Source Code

File: `examplewindow.h` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #ifndef GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H
    #define GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H

    #include <gtkmm.h>

    class ExampleWindow : public Gtk::Window
    {
    public:
      ExampleWindow();
      virtual ~ExampleWindow();

    protected:
      //Signal handlers:
      void on_icon_pressed(Gtk::EntryIconPosition icon_pos, const GdkEventButton* event);
      void on_button_close();

      //Child widgets:
      Gtk::Box m_VBox;
      Gtk::Entry m_Entry;
      Gtk::Button m_Button_Close;
    };

    #endif //GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H

File: `examplewindow.cc` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #include "examplewindow.h"
    #include <iostream>

    ExampleWindow::ExampleWindow()
    : m_VBox(Gtk::ORIENTATION_VERTICAL),
      m_Button_Close("Close")
    {
      set_title("Gtk::Entry");

      add(m_VBox);

      m_Entry.set_max_length(50);
      m_Entry.set_text("Hello world");
      m_VBox.pack_start(m_Entry, Gtk::PACK_SHRINK);

      m_Entry.set_icon_from_stock(Gtk::Stock::FIND);
      m_Entry.signal_icon_press().connect( sigc::mem_fun(*this, &ExampleWindow::on_icon_pressed) );

      m_Button_Close.signal_clicked().connect( sigc::mem_fun(*this,
                  &ExampleWindow::on_button_close) );
      m_VBox.pack_start(m_Button_Close, Gtk::PACK_SHRINK);
      m_Button_Close.set_can_default();
      m_Button_Close.grab_default();

      show_all_children();
    }

    ExampleWindow::~ExampleWindow()
    {
    }

    void ExampleWindow::on_icon_pressed(Gtk::EntryIconPosition /* icon_pos */, const GdkEventButton* /* event */)
    {
      std::cout << "Icon pressed." << std::endl;
    }

    void ExampleWindow::on_button_close()
    {
      hide();
    }

File: `main.cc` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #include "examplewindow.h"
    #include <gtkmm/application.h>

    int main(int argc, char *argv[])
    {
      Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::Application> app = Gtk::Application::create(argc, argv, "org.gtkmm.example");

      ExampleWindow window;

      //Shows the window and returns when it is closed.
      return app->run(window);
    }

### Entry Progress

An `Entry` widget can show a progress bar inside the text area, under the entered text. The progress bar will be shown if the `set_progress_fraction()` or `set_progress_pulse_step()` methods are called.

#### Entry Progress Example

This example shows a `Gtk::Entry` widget with a progress bar.

Figure 7.5. Entry with Progress Bar

Source Code

File: `examplewindow.h` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #ifndef GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H
    #define GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H

    #include <gtkmm.h>

    class ExampleWindow : public Gtk::Window
    {
    public:
      ExampleWindow();
      virtual ~ExampleWindow();

    protected:
      //Signal handlers:
      bool on_timeout();
      void on_button_close();

      //Child widgets:
      Gtk::Box m_VBox;
      Gtk::Entry m_Entry;
      Gtk::Button m_Button_Close;
    };

    #endif //GTKMM_EXAMPLEWINDOW_H

File: `examplewindow.cc` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #include "examplewindow.h"
    #include <iostream>

    ExampleWindow::ExampleWindow()
    : m_VBox(Gtk::ORIENTATION_VERTICAL),
      m_Button_Close("Close")
    {
      set_title("Gtk::Entry");

      add(m_VBox);

      m_Entry.set_max_length(50);
      m_Entry.set_text("Hello world");
      m_VBox.pack_start(m_Entry, Gtk::PACK_SHRINK);

      //Change the progress fraction every 0.1 second:
      Glib::signal_timeout().connect(
        sigc::mem_fun(*this, &ExampleWindow::on_timeout),
        100
      );

      m_Button_Close.signal_clicked().connect( sigc::mem_fun(*this,
                  &ExampleWindow::on_button_close) );
      m_VBox.pack_start(m_Button_Close, Gtk::PACK_SHRINK);
      m_Button_Close.set_can_default();
      m_Button_Close.grab_default();

      show_all_children();
    }

    ExampleWindow::~ExampleWindow()
    {
    }

    bool ExampleWindow::on_timeout()
    {
      static double fraction = 0;
      m_Entry.set_progress_fraction(fraction);

      fraction += 0.01;
      if(fraction > 1)
        fraction = 0;

      return true;
    }

    void ExampleWindow::on_button_close()
    {
      hide();
    }

File: `main.cc` (For use with gtkmm 3, not gtkmm 2)

    #include "examplewindow.h"
    #include <gtkmm/application.h>

    int main(int argc, char *argv[])
    {
      Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::Application> app = Gtk::Application::create(argc, argv, "org.gtkmm.example");

      ExampleWindow window;

      //Shows the window and returns when it is closed.
      return app->run(window);
    }

Chapter 7. Miscellaneous Widgets |  | SpinButton