Basic info

git-svn-id: svn+ssh://svn.gna.org/svn/gnustep/apps/gorm/trunk@5418 72102866-910b-0410-8b05-ffd578937521

README

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+
+8th December 1999
+
+This is Gorm version 0.0 ... a very pre-pre-alpha release.
+
+I'm away from home until the 13th of December, so my aim in placing this
+code in the CVS repository is to let people have a look over the next few
+days and let me know if I'm heading in the wrong direction.
+
+Please note - to build this code you will need the latest library source
+from the CVS repository, and it may be that you also need to be using the
+xgps backend rather than xdps (I don't have xdps running to test it on).
+
+
+Gorm is an acronym for Graphic Object Relationship modeler (or perhaps
+GNUstep Object Relationship Modeler).
+
+Gorm is a clone of the NeXTstep 'Interface Builder' application for GNUstep.
+
+Gorm is not 'gormless' (a Yorkshire dialect word that my parents used when they
+spotted me staring, slack-jawed, at the TV).
+
+
+My aim in writing this is to get a usable IB clone working before the new
+millenium,  so there is not much time left.
+
+By 'usable' I mean that, at least for simple user interfaces, it should be
+possible to create/edit/test archived representations of an interface more
+easily using Gorm than by coding by hand.
+
+This initial version of the software doesn't come close to that goal - so
+don't go expecting very much.
+
+Current state -
+
+Save/Load 'nib' documents (binary archived data)
+  This works so far as it can be tested - but that's just archives containing
+  windows or panels so far.
+
+Load palettes
+  Loading of palettes works.  You can load palettes from the 'Tools' menu.
+  Gorm automatically loads all the palettes from its Resources directory.
+
+Basic framework
+  So far, the app provides a basic framework that needs fleshing out.
+
+  It has a palettes manager object that allows you to select a palette and
+  drag items from the palette into your document.
+
+  It has a special per-document editor object, which keeps track of a matrix
+  of icons representing the top-level objects in the document.
+
+  It has an inspector manager class, which updates the inspector panel
+  when the selected object is changed by an editor.
+
+  It has special inspectors for handling an empty selection or a multiple
+  selection.
+
+ Palettes
+ 
+  Four palettes (three of which are empty at present) are built and installed
+  in the apps Resources directory.
+
+  The Window palette is more fully fleshed out than the other palettes.
+  It permits windows and panels to be created in Gorm.
+  If provides the start of a window attributes inspector.
+