---
name: "UI::Dialog::Backend::XDialog"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "libui-dialog-perl"
version: "1.21-0.1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/UI::Dialog::Backend::XDialog"
---

# UI::Dialog::Backend::XDialog(3pm)

backend for the Xdialog(1)

## NAME

UI::Dialog::Backend::XDialog - backend for the [Xdialog(1)](/Xdialog/1.md)

## SYNOPSIS

```
  use UI::Dialog::Backend::XDialog;
  my $d = new UI::Dialog::Backend::XDialog ( backtitle => 'Demo',
                                             title => 'Default',
                                             height => 20, width=>65,
                                             listheight => 5 );
  $d->msgbox( title => 'Welcome!', text => 'Welcome one and all!' );
```

## ABSTRACT

UI::Dialog::Backend::XDialog is the UI::Dialog backend for the [*Xdialog*(1)](/Xdialog/1.md) application. While this module is used through UI::Dialog or any other meta module only the compatible methods are ever accessible. However, when using this module directly in your application (as in the SYNOPSIS example) you are given access to all the options and features of the real [*Xdialog*(1)](/Xdialog/1.md) application.

## DESCRIPTION

This backend is a wrapper for the [*Xdialog*(1)](/Xdialog/1.md) application and as such attempts to extend every facet of [*Xdialog*(1)](/Xdialog/1.md) to you the Perl programmer. The best reference for finding out about the various widgets, please read the fine [*Xdialog*(1)](/Xdialog/1.md) manual as it's got the definitive details on the Xdialog application itself. This perldoc simply briefly describes all the supported options and widgets.

Note that XDialog supports newlines (\\n) within it's message text area, UI::Dialog strips the newlines in order to not break all the other backends. If you're using XDialog specifically, you can set the **literal** option to 1 and the message text will be left as it was literally given.

## EXPORT

None

## INHERITS

UI::Dialog::Backend

## CONSTRUCTOR

### new( @options )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $d = new( title => 'Default Title', backtitle => 'Backtitle',
                width => 65, height => 20, listheight => 5 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  This is the Class Constructor method. It accepts a list of key =\> value pairs and uses them as the defaults when interacting with the various widgets.

- RETURNS

  A blessed object reference of the UI::Dialog::Backend::XDialog class.

- OPTIONS

  The (...)'s after each option indicate the default for the option. An \* denotes support by all the widget methods on a per-use policy defaulting to the values decided during object creation.

  - **debug = 0,1,2** (0)

    - **literal = 0,1** (0)

    - **PATH = \[ /bin, /usr/bin, /usr/local/bin, /opt/bin \]** (as indicated)

    - **wmclass = "name"** ('') \*

    - **rc-file = "/path/to/any/gtkrc"** ('') \*

    - **backtitle = "backtitle"** ('') \*

    - **title = "title"** ('') \*

    - **allowclose = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **noclose = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **screencenter = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **undermouse = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **autoplacement = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **center = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **right = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **left = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **fill = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **nowrap = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **wrap = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **crwrap = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **nocrwrap = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **buttonsstyle = default,icon,text** (default) \*

    - **fixedfont = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **editable = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **timestamp = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **datestamp = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **reverse = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **keepcolors = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **interval = \\d+** (0) \*

    - **notags = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **itemhelp = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **defaultitem = "tag"** ('') \*

    - **icon = "/path/to/file.xpm"** ('') \*

    - **nook = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **nocancel = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **nobuttons = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **defaultno = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **wizard = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **help = "help"** ('') \*

    - **print = "lp0"** ('') \*

    - **check = "label"** ('') \*

    - **oklabel = "label"** ('') \*

    - **cancellabel = "label"** ('') \*

    - **beepbin = "/usr/bin/beep"** ('/usr/bin/beep') \*

    - **beepbefore = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **beepafter = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **begin = \[ $y, $x \]** (0) \*

    - **ignoreeof = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **smooth = 0,1** (0) \*

    - **height = \\d+** (20) \*

    - **width = \\d+** (65) \*

    - **listheight = \\d+** (5) \*

    - **percentage = \\d+** (0)

    ## WIDGET METHODS

### yesno( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   if ($d->yesno( text => 'A binary type question?') ) {
       # user pressed yes
   } else {
       # user pressed no or cancel
   }
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with a message box that has two buttons, yes and no.

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) for a response of YES or FALSE (0) for anything else.

### msgbox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->msgbox( text => 'A simple message' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Pesent the end user with a message box that has an OK button.

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) for a response of OK or FALSE (0) for anything else.

### infobox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->infobox( text => 'Information to convey.', timeout => 5000 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with a message box that disappears after a certain length of time. The 'timeout' argument is representative of milliseconds. The default timeout is 5000 milliseconds (5 seconds). Yes this message will self destruct! You can also use the alternate timeout option of 'wait' in which is interpreted in seconds instead of milliseconds

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) for a response of OK / normal timeout or FALSE (0) for anything else.

### gauge\_start( ) progress\_start( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->gauge_start( text => 'gauge...', percentage => 1 );
   $d->progress_start( text => 'progres...', percentage => 1 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Display a meter bar to the user. This get's the widget realized but requires the use of the other gauge\_\*() methods for functionality. There are two such meter bars provided by [*Xdialog*(1)](/Xdialog/1.md) and both are handled independantly of each other. This allows for an interesting situation... two progress meters up at the same time, both fully functional.

  ```
   #
   # Progressive Duality :)
   #
   $d->gauge_start( text => 'gauge...', begin => [ 10, 10 ] );
   $d->progress_start( text => 'progres...' );
   foreach my $i (10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100) {
       $d->gauge_set($i);
       sleep(1);
       $d->progress_set($i);
       sleep(1);
   }
   $d->gauge_stop();
   $d->progress_stop();
  ```

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) if the widget loaded fine and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### gauge\_inc( ) progress\_inc( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->gauge_inc( 1 );
   $d->progress_inc( 1 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Increment the meter by the given amount.

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) if the widget incremented fine and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### gauge\_dec( ) progress\_dec( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->gauge_dec( 1 );
   $d->progress_dec( 1 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Decrement the meter by the given amount.

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) if the widget decremented fine and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### gauge\_set( ) progress\_set( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->gauge_set( 99 );
   $d->progress_inc( 99 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Set the meter bar to the given amount.

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) if the widget set fine and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### gauge\_text( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->gauge_text( 'string' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Set the meter bar message to the given string.

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) if the widget set fine and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### gauge\_stop( ) progress\_stop( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->gauge_stop();
   $d->progress_stop();
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  End the meter bar widget process.

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) if the widget closed fine and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### password( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $string = $d->password( text => 'Enter some (hidden) text.' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with a text input field that doesn't reveal the input (except to the script) and a message.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### passwords2( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my @strings = $d->passwords2( text => 'Enter some (hidden) text.',
                                 label1 => 'first field label',
                                 label2 => 'second field label' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with two (labeled) password input fields.

- RETURNS

  an ARRAY of up to two elements if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### passwords3( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my @strings = $d->passwords3( text => 'Enter some (hidden) text.',
                                 label1 => 'first field label',
                                 label2 => 'second field label',
                                 label3 => 'third field label' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with three (labeled) passsword input fields.

- RETURNS

  an ARRAY of up to three elements if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### inputbox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $string = $d->inputbox( text => 'Enter some text...',
                              entry => 'this is the input field' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with a text input field and a message.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### inputsbox2( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my @strings = $d->inputsbox2( text => 'Enter some text.',
                                 label1 => 'first field label',
                                 input1 => '1st input field',
                                 label2 => 'second field label',
                                 input2 => '2nd input field' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with two (labeled) text input fields.

- RETURNS

  an ARRAY of up to two elements if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### inputsbox3( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my @strings = $d->inputsbox3( text => 'Enter some text.',
                                 label1 => 'first field label',
                                 input1 => '1st input field',
                                 label2 => 'second field label',
                                 input2 => '2nd input field',
                                 label3 => 'third field label',
                                 input3 => '3rd input field' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with three (labeled) text input fields.

- RETURNS

  an ARRAY of up to three elements if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### combobox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $string = $d->combobox( text => 'Enter some text.',
                              editable => 1, list => [ 'item1',
                                                       'item2' ] );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with a (possibly editable) dropdown list.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR or TRUE (1) if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### rangebox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $string = $d->rangebox( text => 'Pick a number...',
                              min => 0, max => 100, def => 50 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with a range slider and a message.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### rangesbox2( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my @strings = $d->rangesbox2( text => 'Pick a number...',
                                 label1 => 'first slider label',
                                 min1 => 0, max1 => 100, def1 => 50,
                                 label2 => 'second slider label',
                                 min1 => 0, max2 => 10, def2 => 5 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with two (labeled) text range fields.

- RETURNS

  an ARRAY of up to two elements if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### rangesbox3( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my @strings = $d->rangesbox3( text => 'Pick a number...',
                                 label1 => 'first slider label',
                                 min1 => 10, max1 => 100, def1 => 50,
                                 label2 => 'second slider label',
                                 min2 => 1, max2 => 10, def2 => 5,
                                 label3 => 'third slider label',
                                 min3 => 2, max3 => 7, def3 => 5 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with three (labeled) range sliders.

- RETURNS

  an ARRAY of up to three elements if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### spinbox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $string = $d->spinbox( text => 'Pick a number...',
                             min => 0, max => 100, def => 50 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with a spin slider and a message.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### spinsbox2( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my @strings = $d->spinsbox2( text => 'Pick a number...',
                                label1 => 'first slider label',
                                min1 => 0, max1 => 100, def1 => 50,
                                label2 => 'second slider label',
                                min1 => 0, max2 => 10, def2 => 5 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with two (labeled) text spin fields.

- RETURNS

  an ARRAY of up to two elements if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### spinsbox3( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my @strings = $d->spinsbox3( text => 'Pick a number...',
                                label1 => 'first slider label',
                                min1 => 10, max1 => 100, def1 => 50,
                                label2 => 'second slider label',
                                min2 => 1, max2 => 10, def2 => 5,
                                label3 => 'third slider label',
                                min3 => 25, max3 => 75, def3 => 50 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with three (labeled) spin sliders.

- RETURNS

  an ARRAY of up to three elements if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### textbox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->textbox( path => '/path/to/a/text/file' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with a simple scrolling box containing the contents of the given text file.

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### editbox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $text = $d->editbox( path => '/path/to/a/text/file' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with an editable scrolling box containing the contents of the given text file.

- RETURNS

  a multiline SCALAR if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### tailbox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->tailbox( path => '/path/to/a/text/file' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with a scrolling box containing the contents of the given text file. The contents of the window is constantly updated in a similar manner to that of the unix [*tail*(1)](/tail/1.md) command.

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### logbox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   $d->logbox( path => '/path/to/a/text/file',
               timestamp => 1, datestamp => 1, reverse => 0 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the end user with a scrolling box containing the contents of the given text file. The contents of the window is constantly updated in a similar manner to that of the unix [*tail*(1)](/tail/1.md) command. In addition, this widget can also colourize the output based on any ASCII colour escape sequences found within the file.

- RETURNS

  TRUE (1) if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### menu( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $selection1 = $d->menu( text => 'Select one:',
                              list => [ 'tag1', 'item1',
                                        'tag2', 'item2',
                                        'tag3', 'item3' ] );
   my $selection2 = $d->menu( text => 'Select one:',
                              itemhelp => 1,
                              list => [ 'tag1', 'item1', 'help1',
                                        'tag2', 'item2', 'help2',
                                        'tag3', 'item3', 'help3' ]
                            );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the user with a selectable list and optional help tips.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR of the chosen tag if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### checklist( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my @selection1 = $d->checklist( text => 'Select one:',
                                   list => [ 'tag1', [ 'item1', 0 ],
                                             'tag2', [ 'item2', 1 ],
                                             'tag3', [ 'item3', 1 ] ]
                                 );
   my @selection2 = $d->checklist( text => 'Select one:',
                                   itemhelp => 1,
                                   list => [ 'tag1',
                                             [ 'item1', 0, 'help1' ],
                                             'tag2',
                                             [ 'item2', 1, 'help2' ],
                                             'tag3',
                                             [ 'item3', 1, 'help3' ]
                                           ]
                                 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the user with a selectable checklist and optional help tips.

- RETURNS

  an ARRAY of the chosen tags if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### radiolist( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $selection1 = $d->radiolist( text => 'Select one:',
                                   list => [ 'tag1', [ 'item1', 0 ],
                                             'tag2', [ 'item2', 1 ],
                                             'tag3', [ 'item3', 0 ] ]
                                 );
   my $selection2 = $d->radiolist( text => 'Select one:',
                                   itemhelp => 1,
                                   list => [ 'tag1',
                                             [ 'item1', 0, 'help1' ],
                                             'tag2',
                                             [ 'item2', 1, 'help2' ],
                                             'tag3',
                                             [ 'item3', 0, 'help3' ]
                                           ]
                                 );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the user with a selectable radiolist and optional help tips.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR of the chosen tag if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### buildlist( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $selection1 = $d->buildlist( text => 'Select one:',
                                   list => [ 'tag1', [ 'item1', 0 ],
                                             'tag2', [ 'item2', 1 ],
                                             'tag3', [ 'item3', 0 ] ]
                                 );
   my $selection2 = $d->buildlist( text => 'Select one:',
                                   itemhelp => 1,
                                   list => [ 'tag1',
                                             [ 'item1', 0, 'help1' ],
                                             'tag2',
                                             [ 'item2', 1, 'help2' ],
                                             'tag3',
                                             [ 'item3', 0, 'help3' ]
                                           ]
                                  );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the user with a buildable list and optional help tips.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR of the chosen tag if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### treeview( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $selection1 = $d->treeview( text => 'Select one:',
                                  list => [ 'tag1',
                                            [ 'item1', 0, 1 ],
                                            'tag2',
                                            [ 'item2', 1, 2 ],
                                            'tag3',
                                            [ 'item3', 0, 2 ]
                                          ]
                                );
   my $selection2 = $d->treeview( text => 'Select one:',
                                  itemhelp => 1,
                                  list => [ 'tag1',
                                            [ 'item1',0,1,'help1' ],
                                            'tag2',
                                            [ 'item2',1,2,'help2' ],
                                            'tag3',
                                            [ 'item3',0,2,'help3' ]
                                          ]
                                );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the user with a treeview of items and optional help tips. The treeview list is made up of an array(ref) consisting of a name (which is returned upon user selection) and an array reference containg the details of the item. The details array is made up of a description string, a status indicator (1,0), the desired tree depth and the optional help string.

  ```
   [ 'ReturnName',
     [ 'Description of item',
       $status,
       $depth,
       'help string is ignored unless itemhelp is non-null.'
     ]
   }
  ```

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR of the chosen tag if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### fselect( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $text = $d->fselect( path => '/path/to/a/file/or/directory' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the user with a file selection widget preset with the given path.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### dselect( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $text = $d->dselect( path => '/path/to/a/file/or/directory' );
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the user with a file selection widget preset with the given path. Unlike *fselect()* this widget will only return a directory selection.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### calendar( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $date = $d->calendar( text => 'Pick a date...',
                            day => 1, month => 1, year => 1970 );
   my ($m,$d,$y) = split(/\//,$date);
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the user with a calendar widget preset with the given date.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

### timebox( )

- EXAMPLE

  ```
   my $time = $d->timebox( text => 'What time?' );
   my ($h,$m,$s) = split(/\:/,$time);
  ```

- DESCRIPTION

  Present the user with a time widget preset with the current time.

- RETURNS

  a SCALAR if the response is OK and FALSE (0) for anything else.

## SEE ALSO

- PERLDOC

  ```
   UI::Dialog
   UI::Dialog::GNOME
   UI::Dialog::Backend
   UI::Dialog::Backend::Nautilus
   UI::Dialog::Backend::XOSD
  ```

- MAN FILES

  ```
   Xdialog(1)
  ```

## BUGS

Please email the author with any bug reports. Include the name of the module in the subject line.

## AUTHOR

Kevin C. Krinke, \<kevin@krinke.ca\>

## COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

```
 Copyright (C) 2004-2016  Kevin C. Krinke <kevin@krinke.ca>
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
 License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
 version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
 This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
 Lesser General Public License for more details.
 You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
 License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
 Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307 USA
```