WDGTPROJ

Video Tutorials:

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Here are some resources to help you to get started:

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Apple Resources:

* Developing Dashboard Widgets (Overview)
* Dashboard Tutorial
* Dashboard Reference
* Sample Dashboard Code
* Safari JavaScript Programming Topics
* Safari JavaScript Reference – covers mostly Safari-specific topics
* Technical Note TN2139: Debugging Dashboard Widgets
* Widget Design Conventions

Widget Download Sites:

* Apple
* VersionTracker
* MacUpdate
* TheDashboard
* Dashboard Widgets

Widget Developer Forums:

* Dashboard-dev – Apple’s Dashboard developer’s discussion list
* Dashboard Widgets
* Widget Developer

Online Tutorials:

* Apple’s Dashboard Tutorial – the best, by far!
* MacDevCenter

About Dashcode:

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Dashcode IDE

Quickly design, code, and deploy your Dashboard widget. Dashcode is a completely integrated development environment.

Code Snippets

Drag and drop commonly used blocks of source code into your project, giving you a head start implementing your custom widget.

Widget UI Layout Canvas

Drag and drop components from an included library of GUI controls to assemble a working widget that looks the same during design and runtime. No artistic ability required.

Instant-On JavaScript Debugger

Keep your development time creative, productive, and rewarding without interruption with Dashcode's instant-on JavaScript debugger.

Advanced Source Code Editor

Be more productive with professional features such as syntax highlighting for CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, as well as Code Sense code completion.

Automatic Packaging and Deployment

Deploy your widget in one click. Dashcode organizes all the files that make up your widget, including images, stylesheets, and JavaScript. Adding new files is handled automatically by the project manager.

Widget Templates

Hit the ground running by choosing one of Dashcode's included templates, each a fully functioning widget ready for customization. No need to write any code.

Widgets without the wait !

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Ever wish you could make your very own Dashboard widget?

A handy RSS feed of your favorite blog, maybe. Or a miniature photocast of your iPhoto library. Something uniquely useful, uniquely you. Say hello to Dashcode. Now you can get a widget up and running in minutes, even if you’ve never written a line of code in your life.

Choose your widget

Your Dashcode project starts life as a template designed specifically for the kind of information you want to display. Choose from a handful of Dashcode widget templates — including a countdown timer, map, RSS feed, photocast, podcast, and gauge — or create a widget from scratch with a blank template. Every template includes detailed workflow steps to guide you through the process of creating your widget.

Stop, drop, and roll

After you choose the perfect template, you can drag and drop components onto the Dashcode canvas. Drag in an RSS link and your widget populates with a full feed. Drag in a photocast URL and your widget transforms into a self-contained slideshow. Drag in a podcast link and you can start playing the feed right from your widget.

Widgets by design

Once your widget’s working, you can use the Dashcode library to add design and functionality finesse. The library comes with a collection of buttons, lists, containers, and text fields. Resize the components of your entire widget or alter fonts, colors, gradients, images — practically every visual element — without writing a single line of code.

Deploy and conquer

Dashcode organizes all the files that make up your widget, including images, JavaScript code, style sheets, generated files, and localizations. Add new files and the Dashcode project manager takes care of updates automatically. And when your widget is ready for prime time, Dashcode packages up all your files and the Apple-provided resources required to deploy your widget to Dashboard or submit it to Apple.com.

Dashcode for the power user

Instant-on debugging. Total integration of project management, design, and code in Dashcode makes your widget ready to test. Just click Run and your widget instantly starts up. Click Pause to inspect the running widget or set breakpoints to debug specific sections of code. The built-in debugger provides all the features you’d expect from a professional developer tool.

Professional source code editor

Dashcode offers all the text-editing features of a professional integrated development environment (IDE) — including color syntax highlighting, line numbering, and Code Sense code completion — optimized for the JavaScript programming language. The editor also integrates with the debugger, so you can easily set and view breakpoints and track your widget’s execution through the source code.

Code snippets

The Dashcode library includes more than just GUI controls. It also provides a rich collection of JavaScript code snippets for many common programming tasks. Simply drag the snippet from the library and drop it into your JavaScript source file. Each snippet includes instructions for changing the behavior to meet your needs. The snippets complete many common tasks you would otherwise have to hand-code, including:

RSS parsing

Download and understand RSS feeds to provide up-to-date information to your widget.

Animate elements

Fade, move, or resize elements in your widget.

String and data processing

Format and localize text.

Preferences

Manage user preferences for your widget: Perfect for the back panel.

Parts APIs

Manipulate the include GUI parts using JavaScript.

Sample Codes for Dashcode !

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Dashboard is a display and management system for Mac OS X desktop utilities, called widgets.
Developers can create widgets, such as a clock or a calculator, to provide functionality that doesn't require the complexity of a large application.
Widgets can also act as an interface to other applications; for example, a widget can act as a remote control for iTunes.
...or much much more !!!

Hello World
Introductory Dashboard widget example

(HTML)
(DMG)
(ZIP)

Fortune
Deprecated - Demonstrates use of a widget plug-in

(HTML)
(DMG)
(ZIP)

Scroller
Dashboard widget with a DHTML scrollbar implementation

(HTML)
(DMG)
(ZIP)

Birthdays

Dashboard widget with a plug-in that queries AddressBook.framework for contacts with upcoming birthdays

(HTML)
(DMG)
(ZIP)

Fader
Demonstrates fading of elements inside a Dashboard widget

(HTML)
(DMG)
(ZIP)

Goodbye World
Demonstrates display and use of widget preferences to save a widget's state

(HTML)
(DMG)
(ZIP)

Hello Welt
Demonstrates localization techniques for Dashboard widgets

(HTML)
(DMG)
(ZIP)

Voices
Demonstrates use of the widget.system command from Dashboard

(HTML)
(DMG)
(ZIP)

Resizer

A widget that demonstrates how to use the Apple Animation and Animator classes.

(HTML)
(DMG)
(ZIP)

Syncer
A widget that demonstrates how to use handle a Dashboard Sync event.

(HTML)
(DMG)
(ZIP)

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Key Combos !

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Startup:

Press X during startup - Force Mac OS X startup
Press Option-Command-Shift-Delete during startup - Bypass primary startup volume and seek a different startup volume (such as a CD or external disk)
Press C during startup - Start up from a CD that has a system folder
Press N during startup - Attempt to start up from a compatible network server (NetBoot)
Press T during startup - Start up in FireWire Target Disk mode
Press Shift during startup - Start up in Safe Boot mode and temporarily disable login items and non-essential kernel extension files (Mac OS X 10.2 and later)
Press Command-V during startup - Start up in Verbose mode.
Press Command-S during startup - Start up in Single-User mode

Finder window:

Command-W - Close Window
Option-Command-W - Close all Windows
Command-Right Arrow - Expand folder (list view)
Option-Command-Right Arrow - Expand folder and nested subfolders (list view)
Command-Left Arrow - Collapse Folder (list view)
Option-Command-Up Arrow - Open parent folder and close current window

Menu commands:

Shift-Command-Q (Apple Menu) - Log out
Shift-Option-Command-Q (Apple Menu) - Log out immediately
Shift-Command-Delete (Finder Menu) - Empty Trash
Option-Shift-Command-Delete (Finder Menu) - Empty Trash without dialog
Command-H (Finder Menu) - Hide Finder
Option-Command-H (Finder Menu) - Hide Others
Command-N (File Menu) - New Finder window
Shift-Command-N (File Menu) - New Folder
Command-O (File Menu) - Open
Command-S (File Menu) - Save
Shift-Command-S (File Menu) - Save as
Command-P (File Menu) - Print
Command-W (File Menu) - Close Window
Option-Command-W (File Menu) - Close all Windows
Command-I (File Menu) - Get Info
Option-Command-I (File Menu) - Show Attributes Inspector
Command-D (File Menu) - Duplicate
Command-L (File Menu) - Make Alias
Command-R (File Menu) - Show original
Command-T (File Menu) - Add to Favorites (Mac OS X 10.2.8 or earlier), Add to Sidebar (Mac OS X 10.3 or later—use Shift-Command-T for Add to Favorites)
Command-Delete (File Menu) - Move to Trash
Command-E (File Menu) - Eject
Command-F (File Menu) - Find
Command-Z (Edit Menu) - Undo
Command-X (Edit Menu) - Cut
Command-C (Edit Menu) - Copy
Command-V (Edit Menu) - Paste
Command-A (Edit Menu) - Select All
Command-1 (View Menu) - View as Icons
Command-2 (View Menu) - View as List
Command-3 (View Menu) - View as Columns
Command-B (View Menu) - Hide Toolbar
Command-J (View Menu) - Show View Options
Command - [ (Go Menu) - Back
Command - ] (Go Menu) - Forward
Shift-Command-C (Go Menu) - Computer
Shift-Command-H (Go Menu) - Home
Shift-Command-I (Go Menu) - iDisk
Shift-Command-A (Go Menu) - Applications
Shift-Command-F (Go Menu) - Favorites
Shift-Command-G (Go Menu) - Goto Folder
Command-K (Go Menu) - Connect to Server
Command-M (Window Menu) - Minimize Window
Option-Command-M (Window Menu) - Minimize All Windows
Command-? (Help Menu) - Open Mac Help
Command-Space - Open Spotlight (Mac OS X 10.4 or later)
Command-esc (Front Row) - Activates Front Row for certain Apple computers

Universal Access and VoiceOver:

Option-Command-8 - Turn on Zoom
Option-Command-+ (plus) - Zoom in
Option-Command-- (minus) - Zoom out
Control-Option-Command-8 - Switch to White on Black
Control-F1 - Turn on Full Keyboard Access

When Full Keyboard Access is turned on, you can use the key combinations listed in the table below from the Finder:

Control-F2 (Full Keyboard Access) - Highlight Menu
Control-F3 (Full Keyboard Access) - Highlight Dock
Control-F4 (Full Keyboard Access) - Highlight Window (active) or next window behind it
Control-F5 (Full Keyboard Access) - Highlight Toolbar
Control-F6 (Full Keyboard Access) - Highlight Utility window (palette)
Command-F5 or fn-Command-F5 - Turn VoiceOver on or off (Mac OS X 10.4 or later)
Control-Option-F8 or fn-Control-Option-F8 - Open VoiceOver Utility (Mac OS X 10.4 or later)
Control-Option-F7 or fn-Control-option-F7 - Display VoiceOver menu (Mac OS X 10.4 or later)
Control-Option-; or fn-Control-option-; - Enable/disable VoiceOver Control-Option lock (Mac OS X 10.4 or later)

The Universal Access preference pane allows you to turn on Mouse Keys. When Mouse Keys is on, you can use the numeric keypad to move the mouse. If your computer doesn't have a numeric keypad, use the Fn (function) key.

Mouse Keys:

8 - Move Up
2 - Move Down
4 - Move Left
6 - Move Right
1, 3, 7, and 9 - Move Diagonally
5 - Press Mouse Button
0 - Hold Mouse Button
. (period on keypad) - Release Mouse Button (use after pressing 0)

Other Commands:

Option-Command-D - Show/Hide Dock
Command-Tab - Switch application
tab - Highlight next item
Command-Up Arrow - Move up one directory
Command-Down Arrow - Move down one directory
Page Up or Control-Up Arrow - Move up one page
Page Down or Control-Down Arrow - Move down one page
Option-Drag - Copy to new location
Option-Command-Drag - Make alias in new location
Command-Drag - Move to new location without copying
Shift-Command-C - Show Colors palette in application
Command-T - Show Font palette in application
Command-Shift-3 - Take a picture of the screen
Command-Shift-4 - Take a picture of the selection
Command-Shift-4, then press Control while selecting - Take a picture of the screen, place in Clipboard
Command-Shift-4, then Spacebar - Take a picture of the selected window
Option-Command-esc - Force Quit
Control-Eject - Restart, Sleep, Shutdown dialog box
Control-Command-Eject - Quit all applications and restart
Option-Command-Eject or Option-Command-Power - Sleep
Command-click window toolbar button (upper right corner) - Cycle through available views for the window's toolbar (dependant on the nature of the Finder or application window)
Command-` - Cycle through windows in application or Finder (if more than one window is open)
Function-Delete - (portables only--PowerBook, iBook, MacBook, MacBook Pro) Forward Delete - (delete the character to the right of your cursor)