WoW:How the user interface is rendered - Revision history

Move page script: Move page script moved page How the user interface is rendered to WoW:How the user interface is rendered without leaving a redirect

2023-08-15T04:48:30Z

Move page script moved page How the user interface is rendered to How the user interface is rendered without leaving a redirect

← Older revision

Revision as of 04:48, 15 August 2023

Bear at 00:19, 18 May 2020

2020-05-18T00:19:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:19, 18 May 2020
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	~~{{wikify}}~~		:From: Post in the WoW UI Forum by Slouken on 2005-05-26
	~~(Posted~~ in the WoW UI Forum by Slouken on 2005-05-26)


	== Page Composition ==		== Page Composition ==

	Well, an understanding of how the UI is rendered would help:		Well, an understanding of how the UI is rendered would help:

Bear: /* Page Composition */

2012-08-02T20:04:11Z

Page Composition

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:04, 2 August 2012
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	There are several strata that a frame goes into, e.g. background, normal, dialog, tooltip. A strata simply means that all frames in one strata will be rendered above frames in a lower strata, and below frames in a higher strata.		There are several strata that a frame goes into, e.g. background, normal, dialog, tooltip. A strata simply means that all frames in one strata will be rendered above frames in a lower strata, and below frames in a higher strata.

	The actual strata, according to UI.xsd are: PARENT,BACKGROUND,LOW,MEDIUM,HIGH,DIALOG,FULLSCREEEN,FULLSCREEN_DIALOG,TOOLTIP		The actual strata, according to UI.xsd are: PARENT, BACKGROUND, LOW, MEDIUM,
	Note that PARENT is a 'compile time' only strata, and doesn't exist at runtime, use GetFrameStrata at runtime.		HIGH, DIALOG, FULLSCREEEN, FULLSCREEN_DIALOG, TOOLTIP. Note that PARENT is a
			'compile time' only strata, and doesn't exist at runtime, use GetFrameStrata
			at runtime.

	Within a strata, each frame has a frame level, which determines the order in which it is rendered. The optimal layout is to have all frames in the same strata at the same frame level, since they can be batched and rendered at the same time. When a "toplevel" frame is clicked on, it is raised above other frames in the strata.		Within a strata, each frame has a frame level, which determines the order in which it is rendered. The optimal layout is to have all frames in the same strata at the same frame level, since they can be batched and rendered at the same time. When a "toplevel" frame is clicked on, it is raised above other frames in the strata.

WoWWiki>Pcj at 16:17, 7 November 2007

2007-11-07T16:17:16Z

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			{{wikify}}
	(Posted in the WoW UI Forum by Slouken on 2005-05-26)		(Posted in the WoW UI Forum by Slouken on 2005-05-26)

WoWWiki>Mikk: /* Event/Update Ordering */

2006-06-17T09:35:57Z

Event/Update Ordering

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:35, 17 June 2006
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	~~== Page Composition ==~~		{{uitech}}


	(Posted in the WoW UI Forum by Slouken on 2005-05-26)		(Posted in the WoW UI Forum by Slouken on 2005-05-26)


			== Page Composition ==

	Well, an understanding of how the UI is rendered would help:		Well, an understanding of how the UI is rendered would help:
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	Each time the screen is re-rendered (i.e. each Frame, in the FPS sense), the process runs as follows:		Each time the screen is re-rendered (i.e. each Frame, in the FPS sense), the process runs as follows:

	1. Handle pending UI Events, Key presses, Mouse Clicks.		# Handle pending UI Events, Key presses, Mouse Clicks.
	2. Execute OnUpdate on each visible Frame with a handler.		# Execute OnUpdate on each visible Frame with a handler.
	3. Repaint UI over the top of the game world.		# Repaint UI over the top of the game world.

	The most important part of this is that OnUpdates happen right before painting the UI, so you can defer making rendering decisions until then without any visible impact.		The most important part of this is that OnUpdates happen right before painting the UI, so you can defer making rendering decisions until then without any visible impact.


	~~[[Category:UI Technical Details]]~~

WoWWiki>Tarog: /* Event/Update Ordering */ (typo fix)

2006-06-15T17:39:17Z

Event/Update Ordering: (typo fix)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:39, 15 June 2006
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	3. Repaint UI over the top of the game world.		3. Repaint UI over the top of the game world.

	The most important part of this is that OnUpdates happen right before painting the UI, so you can defer making rendering decisions until ~~them~~ without any visible impact.		The most important part of this is that OnUpdates happen right before painting the UI, so you can defer making rendering decisions until then without any visible impact.


	[[Category:UI Technical Details]]		[[Category:UI Technical Details]]

WoWWiki>Flickering at 14:24, 3 April 2006

2006-04-03T14:24:38Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 (Posted in the WoW UI Forum by Slouken on 2005-05-26)
@@ Line 6: / Line 8: @@
   The actual strata, according to UI.xsd are: PARENT,BACKGROUND,LOW,MEDIUM,HIGH,DIALOG,FULLSCREEEN,FULLSCREEN_DIALOG,TOOLTIP
 Within a strata, each frame has a frame level, which determines the order in which it is rendered. The optimal layout is to have all frames in the same strata at the same frame level, since they can be batched and rendered at the same time. When a "toplevel" frame is clicked on, it is raised above other frames in the strata.
@@ Line 17: / Line 20: @@
 I hope that helps!
-[[Category:Interface Customization]]
+== Event/Update Ordering ==

WoWWiki>Raevanmorlock at 01:40, 27 January 2006

2006-01-27T01:40:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:40, 27 January 2006
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	Within a frame, there are several draw layers, e.g. background, artwork, overlay, which can contain textures and fontstrings. Within a single draw layer, textures are rendered first, and then fontstrings are rendered afterwards, so text always shows above textures within a single draw layer. Other than that, there is no defined render order, so if you have two overlapping textures in the same draw layer, you never know which will overlap the other.		Within a frame, there are several draw layers, e.g. background, artwork, overlay, which can contain textures and fontstrings. Within a single draw layer, textures are rendered first, and then fontstrings are rendered afterwards, so text always shows above textures within a single draw layer. Other than that, there is no defined render order, so if you have two overlapping textures in the same draw layer, you never know which will overlap the other.

			As of 1.9, the available levels are: BACKGROUND, BORDER, ARTWORK, OVERLAY, HIGHLIGHT

	Only frames can get mouse events, and then only if they have mouse event handlers or are frame types which are clickable (buttons). The mouse focus goes to the frame which is registered for mouse events with the highest strata and the highest frame level under the cursor.		Only frames can get mouse events, and then only if they have mouse event handlers or are frame types which are clickable (buttons). The mouse focus goes to the frame which is registered for mouse events with the highest strata and the highest frame level under the cursor.

WoWWiki>Flickering at 23:08, 25 January 2006

2006-01-25T23:08:07Z

New page

(Posted in the WoW UI Forum by Slouken on 2005-05-26)

Well, an understanding of how the UI is rendered would help:

There are several strata that a frame goes into, e.g. background, normal, dialog, tooltip. A strata simply means that all frames in one strata will be rendered above frames in a lower strata, and below frames in a higher strata.

The actual strata, according to UI.xsd are: PARENT,BACKGROUND,LOW,MEDIUM,HIGH,DIALOG,FULLSCREEEN,FULLSCREEN_DIALOG,TOOLTIP

Within a strata, each frame has a frame level, which determines the order in which it is rendered. The optimal layout is to have all frames in the same strata at the same frame level, since they can be batched and rendered at the same time. When a "toplevel" frame is clicked on, it is raised above other frames in the strata.

Within a frame, there are several draw layers, e.g. background, artwork, overlay, which can contain textures and fontstrings. Within a single draw layer, textures are rendered first, and then fontstrings are rendered afterwards, so text always shows above textures within a single draw layer. Other than that, there is no defined render order, so if you have two overlapping textures in the same draw layer, you never know which will overlap the other.

Only frames can get mouse events, and then only if they have mouse event handlers or are frame types which are clickable (buttons). The mouse focus goes to the frame which is registered for mouse events with the highest strata and the highest frame level under the cursor.

I hope that helps!

[[Category:Interface Customization]]