You need a graphical user interface, and it needs to run on multiple platforms. You don't have much time, and you're not a wizard with X/Motif, the Win32 GUI, or the Mac GUI. The project seems impossible, but with Tcl/Tk it's simple and fun. The Tcl scripting language and the Tk toolkit create a powerful programming environment for building graphical user interfaces. With two lines of code you can create a simple button; with two hundred lines of code, a desktop calculator; and with a thousand lines of code, an industrial-strength groupware calendar and appointment minder. Your applications run on all of the major platforms: UNIX, Windows 95/NT, and Macintosh. You can even embed your programs in a Web page to make them available online. Mark Harrison and Michael McLennan, two noted Tcl/Tk experts, combine their extensive experience in this practical programming guide. It is ideal for developers who are acquainted with the basics of Tcl/Tk and are now moving on to build real applications. Effective Tcl/Tk Programming shows you how to build Tcl/Tk applications effectively and efficiently through plenty of real-world advice. It clarifies some of the more powerful aspects of Tcl/Tk, such as the packer, the canvas widget, and binding tags. The authors describe valuable design strategies and coding techniques that will make your Tcl/Tk projects successful. You will learn how to: Create interactive displays with the canvas widget Create customized editors with the text widget Create new geometry managers, like tabbed notebooks or paned windows Implement client/server architectures Handle data structures Interface with existing applications Package Tcl/Tk code into reusable libraries Deliver Tcl/Tk applications that are easy to configure and install Embed applications in a Web page Build applications that will run on multiple platforms Throughout the book, the authors develop numerous applications and a library of reusable components. Learn from their approach, follow their strategies, and steal their code for your own applications! But don't bother retyping all of the examples. 0201634740B04062001

"The bulk of the book is about Tcl scripting and the aspects of C programming to create Tcl extentions is given a lighter treatment."--Author.

Machine generated contents note: Chapter 1: Tcl/Tk Features Chapter 2: The Mechanics of Using the Tcl and Tk Interpreters Chapter 3: Introduction to the Tcl Language Chapter 4: File System, Disk I/O and Sockets Chapter 5: Using Strings and Lists Chapter 6: Basic list, array and dict Chapter 7: Advanced List, array and dict Chapter 8: Procedure Techniques Chapter 9: Namespaces Chapter 10: Basic TclOO Chapter 11: Advanced TclOO Chapter 12: Packages and modules Chapter 13: Introduction to Tk Graphics Chapter 14: Overview of the canvas Widget Chapter 15: The text widget and htmllib Chapter 16: Themed Widgets Chapter 17: Tk Megawidgets Chapter 18: Writing a Tcl Extension Chapter 19: Extensions and Packages Chapter 20: Programming Tools Chapter 21: Debugging and Optimization techniques Chapter 22: Tips and Techniques .

In just a few chapters you will learn about Tcl features that allow you to isolate and protect your code from being damaged in large applications. You will even learn how to extend the language itself. Tcl/Tk: A Developer's Guide clearly discusses development tools, proven techniques, and existing extensions. It shows how to use Tcl/Tk effectively and provides many code examples. This fully revised new edition is the complete resource for computer professionals, from systems administrators to programmers. It covers versions 7.4 to 8.4 and includes a CD-ROM containing the interpreters, libraries, and tutorials to get you started quickly. Additional materials in the book include case studies and discussions of techniques for the advanced user. On the CD-ROM *Distributions for Tcl 8.3 and 8.4 for Linux, Solaris, Macintosh, and Windows. *A copy of ActiveTcl from ActiveState. *The latest release of TclTutor. *How-to's and tutorials as well as copies of all the tools discussed in the book.

This book describes a collection of extensions, tools, and applications that have played an essential role in the success of the Tcl scripting language and the Tk toolkit. Both packages are suited to a wide range of tasks, from serving as an embedded control language to controlling NASA's most advanced spacecraft.

The Tcl language and Tk graphical toolkit are simple and powerful building blocks for custom applications. The Tcl/Tk combination is increasingly popular because it lets you produce sophisticated graphical interfaces with a few easy commands, develop and change scripts quickly, and conveniently tie together existing utilities or programming libraries.One of the attractive features of Tcl/Tk is the wide variety of commands, many offering a wealth of options. Most of the things you'd like to do have been anticipated by the language's creator, John Ousterhout, or one of the developers of Tcl/Tk's many powerful extensions. Thus, you'll find that a command or option probably exists to provide just what you need.And that's why it's valuable to have a quick reference that briefly describes every command and option in the core Tcl/Tk distribution as well as the most popular extensions. Keep this book on your desk as you write scripts, and you'll be able to find almost instantly the particular option you need.Most chapters consist of alphabetical listings. Since Tk and mega-widget packages break down commands by widget, the chapters on these topics are organized by widget along with a section of core commands where appropriate. Contents include: Core Tcl and Tk commands and Tk widgets C interface (prototypes) Expect [incr Tcl] and [incr Tk] Tix TclX BLT Oratcl, SybTcl, and Tclodbc

Perl is a powerful programming language used primarily for system administration, web programming, and database manipulation. Perl/Tk is the marriage of Perl with the Tk toolkit, which allows Perl programs to be built with attractive, intuitive GUIs. Mastering Perl/Tk is the "Bible" of Perl/Tk: the one and only book needed not only to get started with Perl/Tk, but also to learn the techniques of experienced Perl/Tk programmers. The first half of the book contains the basics on how to use Perl/Tk, with coverage of all the basic widgets and a thorough tutorial of the geometry managers that determine how each widget is laid out. Mastering Perl/Tk then branches out into advanced applications of Perl/Tk, with a series of extensive program examples. The result is a book that is not only accessible for novices, but will also take experienced programmers to the next step in learning how to program elegantly and effectively in Perl/Tk. The book also includes a complete quick reference for each standard widget and listings of all the extended examples in the book. Book jacket.

The Tcl Programming Language is a comprehensive guide to the current version (8.6) of this immensely flexible and versatilelanguage. Starting with the basic features, it expands its scope toinclude the more advanced concepts, facilities and programming idiomsfrom which the language derives its power. Begin with the basics of Tcl syntax and commands for operating ondata. Get acquainted with the flexible and uniform execution model thatenables metaprogramming, custom control structures etc. Learn to modularize your code with namespaces, object-orienteddesign and packages. See how intrinsic support for Unicode and encodings makes it abreeze to localize your applications. Become conversant with the integrated event loop and how itfacilitates efficient asynchronous I/O models and the reactive styleof programming. Delve into Tcl's sophisticated I/O framework and write your ownreflected channels, transforms and virtual file systems. Understand the built-in facilities for inter-process communicationusing pipes or the network. See how concurrent programming facilities like coroutines andthreads can simplify your code and make it more performant. Learn how to secure your application through the use of safeinterpreters for sandboxing. Interact with databases through the Tcl Database Connectivityinterface. Discover how software distribution and installation headaches areeliminated with starkits and single file deployment. The breadth of coverage and numerous examples will familiarizenewcomers to every aspect of Tcl programming. At the same time, thedepth and level of detail, and an exhaustive index, make The TclProgramming Language a valuable reference in every Tcl programmer's library.

John K. Ousterhout’s Definitive Introduction to Tcl/Tk–Now Fully Updated for Tcl/Tk 8.5 Tcl and the Tk Toolkit, Second Edition, is the fastest way for newcomers to master Tcl/Tk and is the most authoritative resource for experienced programmers seeking to gain from Tcl/Tk 8.5’s powerful enhancements. Written by Tcl/Tk creator John K. Ousterhout and top Tcl/Tk trainer Ken Jones, this updated volume provides the same extraordinary clarity and careful organization that made the first edition the world’s number one Tcl/Tk tutorial. Part I introduces Tcl/Tk through simple scripts that demonstrate its value and offer a flavor of the Tcl/Tk scripting experience. The authors then present detailed, practical guidance on every feature necessary to build effective, efficient production applications–including variables, expressions, strings, lists, dictionaries, control flow, procedures, namespaces, file and directory management, interprocess communication, error and exception handling, creating and using libraries, and more. Part II turns to the Tk extension and Tk 8.5’s new themed widgets, showing how to organize sophisticated user interface elements into modern GUI applications for Tcl. Part III presents incomparable coverage of Tcl’s C functions, which are used to create new commands and packages and to integrate Tcl with existing C software–thereby leveraging Tcl’s simplicity while accessing C libraries or executing performance-intensive tasks. Throughout, the authors illuminate all of Tcl/Tk 8.5’s newest, most powerful improvements. You’ll learn how to use new Starkits and Starpacks to distribute run-time environments and applications through a single file; how to take full advantage of the new virtual file system support to treat entities such as zip archives and HTTP sites as mountable file systems; and more. From basic syntax to simple Tcl commands, user interface development to C integration, this fully updated classic covers it all. Whether you’re using Tcl/Tk to automate system/network administration, streamline testing, control hardware, or even build desktop or Web applications, this is the one Tcl/Tk book you’ll always turn to for answers.

Over 100 great recipes to effectively learn Tcl/Tk 8.5.