[Gnome-print] Re: The client-side configuration API

[Chema Celorio <chema celorio com>]

Lauris, 
	yes, we need to standarize the API for the communication
between the apps and gnome-print. The next time I see you in
#gnome-print we can talk about what the best way to do this is.

I think the next mayor thing for gnome-print is to integrate
it with gnome-print-admin.

Chema

Lauris Kaplinski wrote:
> 
> Well
> 
> I would like to start with standardized client-side configuration API.
> It will be
> extremely simple (client only needs to tinker settings that are really
> meaningful
> to it - paper size, number of copies etc.)
> 
> So I propose the following thing:
> 
> GnomePrintConfig - is an opaque GtkObject.
> It encapsulates ALL data relevant to printer, spooler and driver.
> 
> conf = gnome_print_config_default ()
> conf = gnome_print_config_get (const gchar *configstring)
> 
> pc = gnome_print_context_from_config (GnomePrintConfig *conf)
> 
> gnome_print_config_set_key (GnomePrintConfig *conf, const gchar *key,
> const gchar *value)
> const gchar *gnome_print_config_get_key (GnomePrintConfig *conf, const
> gchar *key)
> 
> Emits signal:
> "changed"
> void changed (GnomePrintConfig * config, const gchar *key, const gchar
> *value)
> 
> The logic:
> 
> App asks for default print config. Library provides it one.
> Now, if App is interested in showing printer/paper/etc. dialogs, it
> builds
> corresponding widgets, either:
> Using stock widgets, giving GnomePrintConfig as an argument
> Builds custom widgets, binding "changed" signal, so they can update
> themselves,
> if config changes.
> After showing and closing the dialog, printconfig contains up-to-date
> data,
> and app can get print context from it.
> 
> If you want to implement "select printer" widget in application:
> conf = gnome_print_config_default ()
> Build your own printer selection widget, binding it to "changed" signal
> Later, you can build paper, resolution etc. configuration widget,
> using the same conf object.
> 
> If you want to know paper size:
> Build printer configuration widgets, using conf object.
> gnome_print_config_get_key ("Paper/Size") - or something similar
> 
> Config can also generated from static string, allowing one to specify
> print options on command line.
> 
> Keys are probably in form "Domain/Parameter"
> All values are strings by default, although we can add convenience
> wrappers
> around them to get int/double/GnomePaper etc. values.
> 
> This can hopefully done without API breakage, deprecating functions like
> gnome_print_context_new_with_paper_size in future.
> 
> That's all
> Comments?
> 
> Lauris