---
name: "fdesign"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libforms-bin"
version: "1.0-6"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fdesign"
---

# fdesign(1)

Forms Library User Interface Designer

## NAME

fdesign -  Forms Library User Interface Designer

## SYNOPSIS

fdesign \[-xformoptions\] \[-options\] \[files\]

## DESCRIPTION

*fdesign* is a GUI builder that helps the construction of graphical user interface in a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) way by allowing the user to directly manipulate various objects, such as buttons, sliders and menus etc.  Once a satisfactory UI is constructed, the user can save the composed interface into an external file containing some program code. When compiled, linked with the **Forms Library**, and executed, the generated code would, at run time (or print time for PostScript output), construct  the exact same interfaces as those seen within *fdesign*.

A variety of output language is possible via external filters.  As of this writing, C, perl, ada95, Fortran, pascal,  and PostScript output filters are known to exist.

## OPTIONS

*fdesign* accepts all standard  **Forms Library** command line options as well as the following:

- **-help**

  Prints a brief summary of all command line options. This option does not require a connection to the X server.

- **-version**

  Prints the current version of *fdesign* and exits.

- **-geometry** *geom*

  Specifies the prefered size and location of main working area in which the UI is to be constructed.

- **-convert** *fdfile-list*

  This option prevents  *fdesign* from attempting to make a connection to the X server. The file list following this flag is converted to C code directly.

- **-unit** *pixel\|point\|mm\|cp\|cmm*

  selects the unit of measure for object geometries. For non-pixel unit, the interface created is screen resolution independent and may be desirable for many applications. Note that for typical screens, *point* (about 1/72 inch) and *mm* may be too coarse and subject to round-off errors. Use *cp* (centi-point, 100th of a point) and *cmm* (centi-mm) instead.

- **-altformat**

  selects an alternative format for the generated C code where global variables are used for the UI components.

- **-main**

  requests the output of main program template.

- **-callback**

  requests the output of callback function template.

- **-compensate**

  requests the emission of font/server resolution variation compensation code.

- **-I** *headerfile*

  uses an alternative header file instead of the default forms.h in the output C code.

- **-lax**

  requests relaxed C syntax checking.

- **-ps**

  This option specifies that instead of emitting the c code for the user interface, PostScript code should be emitted.

- **-ada**

  This option requests ada95 code output

- **-perl**

  This option requests perl code output.

- **-fortran**

  This option requests Fortran code output.

- **-pascal**

  This option requests pascal code output.

- **-nocode**

  suppresses the output of UI code. Only the .fd file is written.

The most useful  **Forms Library** command line options are

- **-display** *host:dpy*

  This option specifies the X server to connect.

- **-flversion**

  This option prints the version string of the **Forms Library**, with which fdesign was build.

- **-name** *appname*

  This option specifies the application name under which resources are to be obtained, instead of the executable name. *appname* should not contain . or \*. *fdesign*.

## RESOURCES

The program understands all of the **Forms Library**'s resource names and classes as well as the following

- control.geometry (class Control.Geometry)

  specifies the geometry of the control panel. Currently the size  is ignored.

- unit (Unit)

  specifies the default unit of measure. Default is pixel.

- attributes.geometry (class Attributes.Geometry)

  specifies the geometry of the object attributes panel.  Currently the size is ignored.

- align.geometry (class Align.Geometry)

  specifies the geometry of the object align panel.  Currently the size is ignored.

- xformsHeader (class XFormsHeader)

  specifies the header filename generated in the output C code. Default is forms.h

- filter (class Filter)

  specifies post-processing filter (an external executable name).

- language (class Language)

  specifies target language name.

Among the standard  **Forms Library** resources, the following are most useful

- xform.fontsize (class XFORM.FontSize)

  specifies the font size used for most object labels.

- xform.pupfontsize (class XFORM.PupFontSize)

  specifies the font size used in pop-up menus.

- xform.browserFontSize (class XFORM.BrowserFontSize)

  specifies the font size used for the text inside a browser.

## SEE ALSO

[xforms(5)](/xforms/5.md), fd2ps(1L)

## AUTHOR

Copyright (c) 1996-2000 T.C. Zhao (tc\_zhao@yahoo.com)  and Mark Overmars (markov@cs.ruu.nl)

## HOME PAGE

http://world.std.com/~xforms