In this example, we demonstrate the use of Evas box objects. We cover changing boxes' layouts (with a custom layout, besides the ones provided by Evas), box padding and alignment influence on the layouts, insertion and removal of box items.

The interesting part of the code starts, naturally, when we add a box object to the canvas. Just after it, we place five rectangles, with random colors, inside of it. Those rectangles get a minimum size hint of 50 pixels on each axis, which will be respected by most of the box's possible layouts:

   d.box = evas_object_box_add(d.evas);
   evas_object_show(d.box);

   for (i = 1; i <= 5; i++)
     {
        o = last = evas_object_rectangle_add(d.evas);
        evas_object_size_hint_min_set(o, 50, 50);
        evas_object_color_set(
          o, rand() % 256, rand() % 256, rand() % 256, 255);
        evas_object_show(o);

        if (!evas_object_box_append(d.box, o))
          {
             fprintf(stderr, "Error appending child object on the box!\n");
             goto error;
          }
     }

Just like in other Evas examples, we have a white background on the canvas and a red border around the container object of interest, the box, to mark its boundaries. Resizing of the canvas will keep the box's proportion with regard to the whole canvas', so that you can experiment with different sizes of the box to accommodate its children:

static void /* adjust canvas' contents on resizes */
_canvas_resize_cb(Ecore_Evas *ee)
{
   int w, h;

   ecore_evas_geometry_get(ee, NULL, NULL, &w, &h);

   evas_object_resize(d.bg, w, h);

   evas_object_move(d.box, (w / 4), (h / 4));
   evas_object_resize(d.box, (w / 2), (h / 2));

   evas_object_move(d.border, (w / 4) - 2, (h / 4) - 2);
   evas_object_resize(d.border, (w / 2) + 4, (h / 2) + 4);
}

Again, one interacts with this program by means of key commands:

static const char *commands = \
  "commands are:\n"
  "\ta - change the box's alignment values\n"
  "\tp - change the box's padding values\n"
  "\t1 - change the box's layout to horizontal\n"
  "\t2 - change the box's layout to vertical\n"
  "\t3 - change the box's layout to horizontal homogeneous\n"
  "\t4 - change the box's layout to vertical homogeneous\n"
  "\t5 - change the box's layout to horizontal maximum size homogeneous\n"
  "\t6 - change the box's layout to vertical maximum size homogeneous\n"
  "\t7 - change the box's layout to horizontal flow\n"
  "\t8 - change the box's layout to vertical flow\n"
  "\t9 - change the box's layout to stack\n"
  "\t0 - change the box's layout to a custom-made one\n"
  "\tCtrl + NUMBER - insert a new child object at that position in the box\n"
  "\tShift + NUMBER - remove the child object at that position in the box\n"
  "\th - print help\n";

Let's start with the numeric ones, each of which will impose a different layout on the box object.

The initial layout the box starts at is the one triggered by the key '1' -- the horizontal layout. Thus, the initial appearance of this program, demonstrating this layout, is something like:

The vertical layout ('2' key) is very similar, but just disposing the items vertically:

Note the influence of the (default) 0.5 box alignment property, which will let the children line in the middle of the box's area. Also, because the space required by them extrapolates the box's height (we resized it to be smaller), they'll be drawn out if its bounds.

Next, comes the horizontal homogeneous layout ('3' key). See how it reserves an equal amount of space for each child to take:

Its vertical equivalent can be triggered by the '4' key. The next different layout of interest is the horizontal maximum size homogeneous ('5' key). It will reserve cells to children sized equally to the dimensions of the child with bigger size (or minimum size hints). For this example, all cells would be just the size of our rectangles' minimum size hints and, to prove that, insert a new (smaller) rectangle at position 3, say, with Ctrl and 3 keys together:

The code for the commands inserting and deleting box items is:

   if (evas_key_modifier_is_set(mods, "Shift"))
     {
        int pos;
        Eina_Bool ret;
        Evas_Object *obj;
        Eina_List *children;

        pos = atoi(ev->key);
        children = evas_object_box_children_get(d.box);

        obj = eina_list_nth(children, pos);
        if (!obj) goto list_free;

        ret = evas_object_box_remove_at(d.box, pos);
        if (ret) evas_object_del(obj);

list_free:
        eina_list_free(children);
        return;
     }

   if (evas_key_modifier_is_set(mods, "Control"))
     {
        Evas_Object *o_;
        int pos;
        pos = atoi(ev->key);
        o_ = _new_rectangle_add(d.evas);
        if (!evas_object_box_insert_at(d.box, o_, pos))
          evas_object_box_append(d.box, o_);
        return;
     }

static Evas_Object * /* new rectangle to be put in the box */
_new_rectangle_add(Evas *e)
{
   Evas_Object *o;

   o = evas_object_rectangle_add(e);
   evas_object_resize(o, 10, 10);
   evas_object_color_set(o, 0, 255, 0, 255);
   evas_object_show(o);

   return o;
}

In that code, we exemplify evas_object_box_children_get(), to fetch a child element at an exact position. After the element removal from the box (leaving it unparented again), we delete it and free that list. The code inserting a new rectangle, there, is straightforward.

Try the '6' key for the vertical equivalent of the last shown layout. Then, comes the flow layout, triggered by the '7' key. We make our box small to demonstrate the effect on the items layouting:

The next two numerical commands are for the vertical equivalent of the last and the stack one, respectively. Try them out to get their looks.

The last numerical key, '0', shows the effect of a custom layout on the box. We wrote one that would split the width and height of the box equally and, then, place the items in the cells in the diagonal:

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "0") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(d.box, _custom_layout, NULL, NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n", "CUSTOM");
        return;
     }

static void /* custom 'diagonal' layout */
_custom_layout(Evas_Object          *o,
               Evas_Object_Box_Data *p,
               void                 *data EINA_UNUSED)
{
   int x, y, w, h;
   int xx, yy, ww, hh;
   int count;
   Eina_List *l;
   Evas_Object_Box_Option *opt;

   evas_object_geometry_get(o, &x, &y, &w, &h);
   count = eina_list_count(p->children);
   ww = w / (count ? : 1);
   hh = h / (count ? : 1);
   if (ww < 1) ww = 1;
   if (hh < 1) hh = 1;

   xx = x;
   yy = y;
   EINA_LIST_FOREACH(p->children, l, opt)
     {
        evas_object_move(opt->obj, xx, yy);
        xx += ww;
        yy += hh;
     }
}

Finally, the 'a' and 'p' commands will change the box's alignment and padding property values, respectively. For each of the layouts above, see the effects they make by setting different values on those properties.

The full code for this example follows. For an exercise on the effect of children box elements' size hints on a box layout, try the Evas alignment, minimum size, maximum size, padding and weight hints example.

#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
#include "config.h"
#else
#define PACKAGE_EXAMPLES_DIR "."
#endif

#include <Ecore.h>
#include <Ecore_Evas.h>

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

#define WIDTH  (640)
#define HEIGHT (480)

static const char *border_img_path = PACKAGE_EXAMPLES_DIR "/red.png";

static const char *commands = \
  "commands are:\n"
  "\ta - change the box's alignment values\n"
  "\tp - change the box's padding values\n"
  "\t1 - change the box's layout to horizontal\n"
  "\t2 - change the box's layout to vertical\n"
  "\t3 - change the box's layout to horizontal homogeneous\n"
  "\t4 - change the box's layout to vertical homogeneous\n"
  "\t5 - change the box's layout to horizontal maximum size homogeneous\n"
  "\t6 - change the box's layout to vertical maximum size homogeneous\n"
  "\t7 - change the box's layout to horizontal flow\n"
  "\t8 - change the box's layout to vertical flow\n"
  "\t9 - change the box's layout to stack\n"
  "\t0 - change the box's layout to a custom-made one\n"
  "\tCtrl + NUMBER - insert a new child object at that position in the box\n"
  "\tShift + NUMBER - remove the child object at that position in the box\n"
  "\th - print help\n";

struct exemple_data
{
   Ecore_Evas  *ee;
   Evas        *evas;
   Evas_Object *bg, *box, *border;
};

static struct exemple_data d;

static void /* custom 'diagonal' layout */
_custom_layout(Evas_Object          *o,
               Evas_Object_Box_Data *p,
               void                 *data EINA_UNUSED)
{
   int x, y, w, h;
   int xx, yy, ww, hh;
   int count;
   Eina_List *l;
   Evas_Object_Box_Option *opt;

   evas_object_geometry_get(o, &x, &y, &w, &h);
   count = eina_list_count(p->children);
   ww = w / (count ? : 1);
   hh = h / (count ? : 1);
   if (ww < 1) ww = 1;
   if (hh < 1) hh = 1;

   xx = x;
   yy = y;
   EINA_LIST_FOREACH(p->children, l, opt)
     {
        evas_object_move(opt->obj, xx, yy);
        xx += ww;
        yy += hh;
     }
}

static Evas_Object * /* new rectangle to be put in the box */
_new_rectangle_add(Evas *e)
{
   Evas_Object *o;

   o = evas_object_rectangle_add(e);
   evas_object_resize(o, 10, 10);
   evas_object_color_set(o, 0, 255, 0, 255);
   evas_object_show(o);

   return o;
}

/* use the following commands to interact with this example - 'h' is
 * the key for help */
static void
_on_keydown(void        *data EINA_UNUSED,
            Evas        *evas EINA_UNUSED,
            Evas_Object *o EINA_UNUSED,
            void        *einfo)
{
   Evas_Event_Key_Down *ev = einfo;
   const Evas_Modifier *mods = evas_key_modifier_get(evas);

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "h") == 0) /* print help */
     {
        fprintf(stdout, "%s",  commands);
        return;
     }

   if (evas_key_modifier_is_set(mods, "Shift"))
     {
        int pos;
        Eina_Bool ret;
        Evas_Object *obj;
        Eina_List *children;

        pos = atoi(ev->key);
        children = evas_object_box_children_get(d.box);

        obj = eina_list_nth(children, pos);
        if (!obj) goto list_free;

        ret = evas_object_box_remove_at(d.box, pos);
        if (ret) evas_object_del(obj);

list_free:
        eina_list_free(children);
        return;
     }

   if (evas_key_modifier_is_set(mods, "Control"))
     {
        Evas_Object *o_;
        int pos;
        pos = atoi(ev->key);
        o_ = _new_rectangle_add(d.evas);
        if (!evas_object_box_insert_at(d.box, o_, pos))
          evas_object_box_append(d.box, o_);
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "a") == 0)
     {
        double h, v;

        evas_object_box_align_get(d.box, &h, &v);

        if (h == 0.5)
          h = v = 1.0;
        else if (h == 1.0)
          h = v = -1.0;
        else if (h == -1.0)
          h = v = 0.0;
        else if (h == 0.0)
          h = v = 0.5;

        evas_object_box_align_set(d.box, h, v);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying new alignment values (%.1f, %.1f)"
                        " on the box\n", h, v);
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "p") == 0)
     {
        int h, v;

        evas_object_box_padding_get(d.box, &h, &v);

        if (h == 0)
          h = v = 50;
        else
          h = v = 0;

        evas_object_box_padding_set(d.box, h, v);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying new padding values (%d, %d)"
                        " on the box\n", h, v);
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "1") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(
          d.box, evas_object_box_layout_horizontal, NULL, NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n", "horizontal");
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "2") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(
          d.box, evas_object_box_layout_vertical, NULL, NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n", "vertical");
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "3") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(
          d.box, evas_object_box_layout_homogeneous_horizontal, NULL,
          NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n",
                "horizontal homogeneous");
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "4") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(
          d.box, evas_object_box_layout_homogeneous_vertical, NULL, NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n",
                "vertical homogeneous");
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "5") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(
          d.box, evas_object_box_layout_homogeneous_max_size_horizontal,
          NULL, NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n",
                "horizontal maximum size homogeneous");
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "6") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(
          d.box, evas_object_box_layout_homogeneous_max_size_vertical,
          NULL, NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n",
                "vertical maximum size homogeneous");
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "7") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(
          d.box, evas_object_box_layout_flow_horizontal, NULL, NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n", "horizontal flow");
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "8") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(
          d.box, evas_object_box_layout_flow_vertical, NULL, NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n", "vertical flow");
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "9") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(
          d.box, evas_object_box_layout_stack, NULL, NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n", "stack");
        return;
     }

   if (strcmp(ev->key, "0") == 0)
     {
        evas_object_box_layout_set(d.box, _custom_layout, NULL, NULL);

        fprintf(stdout, "Applying '%s' layout on the box\n", "CUSTOM");
        return;
     }
}

static void
_on_delete(Ecore_Evas *ee EINA_UNUSED)
{
   ecore_main_loop_quit();
}

static void /* adjust canvas' contents on resizes */
_canvas_resize_cb(Ecore_Evas *ee)
{
   int w, h;

   ecore_evas_geometry_get(ee, NULL, NULL, &w, &h);

   evas_object_resize(d.bg, w, h);

   evas_object_move(d.box, (w / 4), (h / 4));
   evas_object_resize(d.box, (w / 2), (h / 2));

   evas_object_move(d.border, (w / 4) - 2, (h / 4) - 2);
   evas_object_resize(d.border, (w / 2) + 4, (h / 2) + 4);
}

int
main(void)
{
   Evas_Object *last, *o;
   int i;

   srand(time(NULL));

   if (!ecore_evas_init())
     return EXIT_FAILURE;

   /* this will give you a window with an Evas canvas under the first
    * engine available */
   d.ee = ecore_evas_new(NULL, 0, 0, WIDTH, HEIGHT, NULL);
   if (!d.ee)
     goto panic;

   ecore_evas_callback_delete_request_set(d.ee, _on_delete);
   ecore_evas_callback_resize_set(d.ee, _canvas_resize_cb);
   ecore_evas_show(d.ee);

   d.evas = ecore_evas_get(d.ee);

   d.bg = evas_object_rectangle_add(d.evas);
   evas_object_color_set(d.bg, 255, 255, 255, 255); /* white bg */
   evas_object_show(d.bg);

   evas_object_focus_set(d.bg, EINA_TRUE);
   evas_object_event_callback_add(
     d.bg, EVAS_CALLBACK_KEY_DOWN, _on_keydown, NULL);

   d.box = evas_object_box_add(d.evas);
   evas_object_show(d.box);

   for (i = 1; i <= 5; i++)
     {
        o = last = evas_object_rectangle_add(d.evas);
        evas_object_size_hint_min_set(o, 50, 50);
        evas_object_color_set(
          o, rand() % 256, rand() % 256, rand() % 256, 255);
        evas_object_show(o);

        if (!evas_object_box_append(d.box, o))
          {
             fprintf(stderr, "Error appending child object on the box!\n");
             goto error;
          }
     }

   /* this is a border around the box, container of the rectangles we
    * are going to experiment with. this way you can see how the
    * container relates to the children */
   d.border = evas_object_image_filled_add(d.evas);
   evas_object_image_file_set(d.border, border_img_path, NULL);
   evas_object_image_border_set(d.border, 2, 2, 2, 2);
   evas_object_image_border_center_fill_set(d.border, EVAS_BORDER_FILL_NONE);
   evas_object_show(d.border);

   fprintf(stdout, "%s", commands);

   _canvas_resize_cb(d.ee);
   ecore_main_loop_begin();
   ecore_evas_shutdown();
   return 0;

error:
   ecore_evas_shutdown();
   return -1;

panic:
   fprintf(stderr, "You got to have at least one evas engine built and linked"
                   " up to ecore-evas for this example to run properly.\n");
   return -2;
}