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diff --git a/doc/C-HOWTO.txt b/doc/C-HOWTO.txt deleted file mode 100644 index bb0fe97..0000000 --- a/doc/C-HOWTO.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,182 +0,0 @@ -============================================================================== - C API bindings HOWTO -============================================================================== - -This file contains HOWTO information specific to the C bindings. Refer to the generic -API documentation for information that is not specific to C bindings and to -C-API.txt for description of C bindings. - - -Note: Most test programs in tests/ can be also used as examples. - - -Linking with the library -======================== - - -Use #include <dapi/headerfile.h> and add proper include path flags for the compiler -if necessary. - -Add -ldapi and proper library path flags for the linker if necessary. - - - -Handling the DAPI connection -============================ - - -Before using any API calls it is necessary to initialize the DAPI connection first. - -static DapiConnection* my_dapi_connection = NULL; -... -int initializeDapi() - { - my_dapi_connection = dapi_connectAndInit(); - if( my_dapi_connection == NULL ) - return 0; /* oops, failure */ - return 1; - } - -If you want to do more than just perform a simple blocking call, you need to watch -the connection for activity. Use dapi_socket() to get the file descriptor to watch -and call dapi_processData(). - -void mainloop() - { - fd_set in; - FD_ZERO( &in ); - ... all file descriptors the app wants to watch - FD_SET( dapi_socket( my_dapi_connection ), &in ); - ... select() call here - if( FD_ISSET( dapi_socket( my_dapi_connection ), &in )) - dapi_processData( my_dapi_connection ); - ... - } - -Closing of the connection is done using dapi_close(); - - - -Blocking calls -============== - - -For blocking calls, just simply call the matching API function. For example, to open -URL in a browser: - -int openURL( const char* url ) - { - if( dapi_OpenUrl_Window( my_dapi_connection, url, XWINDOW_HANDLE( toplevel_widget ))) - return 1; - ... failure - } - - -OpenUrl call needs a toplevel window in which the request originated (to handle properly -window relations and focus). It is strongly discouraged to omit this information. -If the application has no window at all, use 0. Note a convenience _Window function is -used instead of DapiWindowInfo and dapi_windowInfoInitWindow(). - - -Functions are responsible for freeing resources allocated by the call. For example -when converting KDE's media:/ URL to a local file: - -void handle_media_url( const char* url ) - { - char* local; - /* convert to local file, don't allow download to a temporary file */ - local = dapi_LocalFile_Window( my_dapi_connection, url, NULL, 0, XWINDOW_HANDLE( toplevel_widget )); - if( local != NULL ) /* success */ - { - handle_local_file( local ); - free( local ); - return; - } - } - - -Callbacks -========= - - -Some calls such as downloading a remote file to a temporary local file may take long time -and as such should be processed asynchronously. It is possible to do so using the lowlevel -dapi_read/write function or using callbacks. - -int start_downloading_remote_url( const char* url ) - { - int seq = dapi_callbackLocalFile_Window( my_dapi_connection, url, NULL, 1, XWINDOW_HANDLE( toplevel_widget ), - download_remote_url_callback ); - if( seq != 0 ) - return seq; - ... failure - } - -void download_remote_url_callback( DapiConnection* conn, int seq, const char* result ) - { - /* if this callback is used for more calls, use seq and the value returned from dapi_callbackLocalFile_Window - to identify matching command and reply */ - if( result[ 0 ] != '\0' ) - ... success - else - ... failed to download - } - - -NOTE: Callbacks should not deallocate any of its arguments, callback handling will perform this -automatically after the callback returns. - - -Fallbacks -========= - - -API calls may fail for various reasons: No backend daemon is running or it doesn't implement -the required functionality. - -No backend daemon running -------------------------- - -TODO: fallback daemons don't make sense, the library should try to implement fallbacks - - -Some functionality not available --------------------------------- - -It is possible to query functionality provided by the backend daemon. - -int is_openurl_supported() - { - intarr capabilities; - int i; - if( dapi_Capabilities( conn, &capabilities )) - { - int has_openurl = 0; - for( i = 0; - i < capabilities.count; - ++i ) - { - if( capabilities.data[ i ] == DAPI_COMMAND_OPENURL ) - has_openurl = 1; - } - } - return has_openurl; - } - -See dapi/comm_generated.h for list of command ids (DAPI_COMMAND_MAILTO for MailTo call etc.) - -Applications may perform one Capabilities call after initializing connection and query for all -required functionality. If they don't find it available they may as well close this connection -and use a fallback daemon in order to expect all calls to succeed. - - -Fallback code -------------- - -Another approach is to just initialize connection and test for failure after every call. - -void openURL( const char* url ) - { - if( !dapi_OpenUrl_Window( my_dapi_connection, url, XWINDOW_HANDLE( toplevel_widget ))) - openInHardcodedBrowser( url ); - } |