Re: Balloon-help or callout window

[Darryl Luff <darryl snakegully nu>]

John (J5) Palmieri wrote:

> On Sat, 2004-09-04 at 19:05, Darryl Luff wrote:
>  
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I'm after a GTK widget that gives a 'balloon help' type display with a 
> > pointer that links to another widget. Like a comic talk bubble. I've 
> > found some discussions but no code.
> >    
>
> What do you mean links to a widget? Embeds it?
>
>  
A small popup window that looks similar to the standard tool-tip 
windows, but multiline - and with a line drawn from the popup window to 
specific widget. So when giving specific help I can popup the window 
with instructions, and the pointer visually shows which widget I'm 
talking about. I've put a mockup at http://www.snakegully.nu/balloon.png.

...

> > Or if I need to do it myself, would I have to make a shaped window that 
> > included the space for the pointer, or is there a way to draw on the 
> > screen outside widgets?
> >    
>
> You would have to create a top level window though I personally think it
> would be hacky to use shaped windows.  I think any bubble widget should
> be simple and square for X instances not using composite and use the
> composite extension for fancier geometries when available.
>
>  
I agree about the shaped windws. The actual window is square. The only 
non-square bit is he pointer, and that seems to be the tricky bit.