If you have just upgraded from the alpha to the beta-release of PHP-GTK2, and you're wondering what's exciting in the beta release, you have come ot the right page!.

This page assumes that you have the beta-release of PHP-GTK2 up and running. If you have not, the installation instruction is here for linux and here for windows.

There are quite a number of new widgets and new methods introduced in the beta release. As you would have guessed, there are hardly any documentation available on the net for these new widgets/methods.

I'm trying out all the new features one by one, and will come out with notes, sample codes, and explanations as I go along.

If you're interested in how to use these new widgets and methods too, do bookmark this page and come back to discover the many new and exciting PHP-GTK2 functionalities!

New Widgets available in GTK+ v2.10

Below are the five main new widgets with sample codes for each one of them:

1. GtkStatusIcon - a cross-platform "tray icon" API.
Examples:

• How to set up an application to run in the system tray using GtkStatusIcon - Part 1?
• How to set up an application to run in the system tray using GtkStatusIcon - Part 2 - display GTK window on left click?
• How to set up an application to run in the system tray using GtkStatusIcon - Part 3 - display GTK app on left click?
• How to set up an application to run in the system tray using GtkStatusIcon - Part 4 - display popup menu on right click?


2. GtkAssistant - a widget for creating multi-step wizards.
Examples:

• How to set up wizards using GtkAssistant - Part 1?
• How to set up wizards using GtkAssistant - Part 2 - respond to forward button?
• How to set up wizards using GtkDialog - Part 1?
• How to set up wizards using GtkDialog - Part 2 - using OOP and classes?
3. GtkLinkButton - a widget that displays a clickable hyperlink.
Examples:

• How to set up clickable link using GtkLinkButton - Part 1 - using signal clicked?
• How to set up clickable link using GtkLinkButton - Part 2 - using set_uri_hook?
4. GtkCellRendererAccel - a cell renderer for key combinations.
Examples:

• How to display keyboard accelerator in GtkTreeView with GtkCellRendererAccel - Part 1?
• How to display keyboard accelerator in GtkTreeView with GtkCellRendererAccel - Part 2 - change hot keys on the fly?
• How to display keyboard accelerator in GtkTreeView with GtkCellRendererAccel - Part 3 - process the hot keys?
5. GtkCellRendererSpin - a cell renderer for numeric values.
Examples:

• How to input or edit numbers in GtkTreeView with GtkCellRendererSpin?

New Methods available in GTK+ v2.10

1. GtkTreeView::set_enable_tree_lines() - draw interconnecting lines for a tree structure.
   Example: How to display a tree structure with connecting lines?


2. GtkTreeView::get_dest_row_at_pos(x, y) - returns an array containing 2 elements. The first element is the path of the row. The second element is the drop position relative to the row of the position specified by x and y.
   Example: How to drag and drop between 2 GtkTreeViews - Part 3 - left to right with insert?
3. GtkTreeView::set_grid_lines() - draw horizontal and/or vertical grid lines in a treeview. Example:
• How to display grid lines in GtkTreeView - Part 1 - liststore?
• How to display grid lines in GtkTreeView - Part 2 - treestore?

Other new stuff in GTK+ v2.10

1. Support of svg (Scalable Vector Graphics) files.
   Example: How to display svg image file?

New Widgets in GtkExtra

1. GtkSheet - a widget for creating spreadsheet.
Examples:

• How to use GtkSheet - Part 1 - create the spreadsheet?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 2 - read values?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 3 - set values?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 4 - set values with justification?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 5 - set row and column headers?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 6 - non editable browser mode?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 7 - tab to move to next row?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 8 - alternate row colors?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 9 - using attach with justification?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 10 - display image in cell?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 11 - setup combobox in cell?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 12 - setup combobox in cell with custom values for each row?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 13 - setup checkbox in cell?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 14 - setup radio buttons in cell?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 15 - set column width?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 16 - set font?
• How to use GtkSheet - Part 17.1 - sort by clicking column header?