XDevMag: An Overview of Overlays

Using Overlays with MBS

Let us point you to an article in the Xojo Developer Magazine in the 22.5 issue:

This article introduces the concept of using overlays with the MBS Xojo Plugins, which are customizable screen areas that can be freely moved, resized, and interacted with through mouse events such as clicks and hover actions. The example in the article demonstrates how to create and manage an overlay using the OverlayMBS class. The author walks through the process of setting up an overlay, defining its position, size, and background, using a logo as an example. The article also discusses how to apply masks to hide unwanted parts of the image, achieving effects like removing white edges around a logo.

Further functionality is explored, such as making the overlay movable or resizable by the user and controlling its visibility through methods like Show, Hide, and Close. The overlay’s opacity can be adjusted using a grayscale mask or the Alpha property. The author also highlights the use of shadows and the ability to update the overlay dynamically, for instance, by adding text fields and drawing text on the overlay with customized font properties. This feature allows for creating information boxes or interactive elements within an application.

Finally, the article delves into the various events associated with the OverlayMBS class, including focus-related events, mouse interaction events, and window visibility events. These events enable developers to add advanced interactivity, such as detecting mouse movements, clicks, or focus changes. The author concludes by offering a practical tip to help users track event triggers, enhancing their understanding of overlay behavior in their applications. The techniques covered aim to help developers integrate dynamic and interactive overlays into their Xojo applications.

see OverlayMBS class.

Please subscribe to the Xojo Developer Magazine and read this article and the ones coming later this year.