Lava - The Java GUI Builder

Options And Customisation

The Lava system is controlled by two ini files named lava.ini and lava.components.ini which are located in the installation directory. Both these files are ASCII text and can hence be edited by hand to alter the default settings of the system.

The lava.ini File

The lava.ini file controls all aspects of the Lava system not to do with the JavaBean components you want to work with. This information includes such items as the tab size and code version. The lava.ini file is arranged as a standard Java properties file and can hence be edited by hand using a text editor to produce the required results. An easier way to achieve the same result is to use the Edit\Options menu item which provides a graphical interface to the options availible.

Code Options Dialog

The code options section of the dialog deals with options that alter the way that Lava generates your source code. These options are considered default values and can be altered at generation time using the generation dialog.

Spaces For Tabs When set to true, this option inserts a number of spaces instead of the tab character to achieve indentation of the source code. When set to false the tab character is used.
Tab Size This field represents the size of tab used in number of characters.
Comment Code When set to true, this option generates comments in the generated source code, possible making it easier to read. If set to false any comments are quashed.
Code Version This field decides which version of source code is produced. If JDK 1.0 is selected, old style methods and event handling will be used so any Applets can function correctly.
Package Name The default package name to insert into the code. Leaving this field blank will result in no package information being generated.

Code Options Dialog

The misc options section of the dialog relates to options that are more to do with the operation of Lava. Changing some values, such as the look and feel, may require you to restart Lava before they take effect.
Show ToolTips When set to true, this option enables all tooltips to appear over buttons etc. Setting the option to false will disable this which may speed operation on slow machines.
Default Project Name By default all projects are named Untitled.lava. This can be changed by altering this option to what you require.
Undo Buffer Size The undo buffere size determins how many levels of undo and redo functionality can exist. Altering the size may result in more memory being used by the undo buffers.
Look And Feel The look and feel option determins which of the Swing look and feels are used by the system as a whole.

The lava.components.ini File

The lava.components.ini file controls which JavaBean components are loaded into the toolbox. The file is a number of lines each of which names a component to load. The component names must have full package information eg. a JButton would be added by inserting the line java.awt.swing.JButton. Lines can be commented out using the double slash notation. The order of the lines dictates in which order the componets are loaded into the toolbox. If a component is not loaded and is specified correctly, an error occured analysing the component. The lava.components.ini file must be edited by hand using a suitable text editor.

// --------------------------------------------------------------------------- // NAME : Lava Components INI File // VERSION : // AUTHOR : // GENERATED BY : Lava 1.4 // GENERATION TYPE : Lava INI File // LAST REVISION DATE : Sun Oct 05 14:58:02 GMT+01:00 1997 // NOTES : email Dan Page (dan@hnet.demon.co.uk) with Lava bugs // or check out hairNET at http://www.hnet.demon.co.uk // --------------------------------------------------------------------------- sunw.demo.buttons.ExplicitButton sunw.demo.juggler.Juggler //java.applet.Applet java.awt.Button //java.awt.Canvas //java.awt.Checkbox //java.awt.Choice //java.awt.Dialog //java.awt.Frame //java.awt.Label //java.awt.List java.awt.Panel //java.awt.Scrollbar //java.awt.TextArea //java.awt.TextField //java.awt.ScrollPane //java.awt.Window com.sun.java.swing.JButton com.sun.java.swing.JCheckBox //com.sun.java.swing.JCheckBoxMenuItem com.sun.java.swing.JComboBox //com.sun.java.swing.JComponent //com.sun.java.swing.JDesktopPane //com.sun.java.swing.JDialog //com.sun.java.swing.JEditorPane com.sun.java.swing.JFrame //com.sun.java.swing.JInternalFrame com.sun.java.swing.JLabel //com.sun.java.swing.JLayeredPane com.sun.java.swing.JList //com.sun.java.swing.JMenu //com.sun.java.swing.JMenuBar //com.sun.java.swing.JMenuItem //com.sun.java.swing.JOptionPane com.sun.java.swing.JPanel com.sun.java.swing.JPasswordField //com.sun.java.swing.JPopupMenu com.sun.java.swing.JProgressBar com.sun.java.swing.JRadioButton //com.sun.java.swing.JRadioButtonMenuItem //com.sun.java.swing.JRootPane com.sun.java.swing.JScrollBar //com.sun.java.swing.JScrollPane //com.sun.java.swing.JSeparator com.sun.java.swing.JSlider //com.sun.java.swing.JSplitPane //com.sun.java.swing.JTabbedPane //com.sun.java.swing.JTable com.sun.java.swing.JTextArea com.sun.java.swing.JTextField //com.sun.java.swing.JTextPane //com.sun.java.swing.JToggleButton //com.sun.java.swing.JToolBar //com.sun.java.swing.JToolTip com.sun.java.swing.JTree //com.sun.java.swing.JViewport //com.sun.java.swing.JWindow

This software is provided by the author "As is" and any express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are disclaimed. In no event shall the author or contributors be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, or profits; or business interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of this software, even if advised of the possibility of such damage.