J M Oldak wrote:
> 
> This may or may not have been mentioned before, but I was wondering if it
> was possible to change the standard gadgets that applications use for
> scrollbars, buttons, writeable icons, menus etc.
> 
> I guess it can't be that hard, as on these SGI's at uni they have some of
> the exact same apps that I have at home (eg nedit) but they have a
> nicer-to-use and generally prettier interface due to the SGI gadgets.
> 
> Any ideas?

It denepds on the application. Basically, X windows allows client
applications to draw coloured rectangles with variable width borders,
nothing more automatically. However it does allow applications to draw
_into_ the coloured rectanges :-) So, most drawing functionality for
buttons, gadgets, widgets, icons (call them what you will) tends to be
on the client side.

Some clients will use libraries of widgets to make things easier. One
such library (which gives xterm-like scroll bars) is called Xaw; there
is a version called Xaw3D (I think) which one can link with instead in
order to get better looking icons.

SGs use Motif for most stuff. Motif is big and complex and epensive, but
there is a free versoin called Lesstif. Applicaitions that use this will
already look 3D. Another really cool C++ Library is called Qt which is
like Motif, byut provides a nice class hierarchy and is more
streamlined.

	Neil

-- 
Neil A. Carson   Business development, Causality and Chalice Technology
Causality:       WWW: http://www.causality.com email: neil@causality.com
Chalice Tech:    WWW: http://www.chaltech.com  email: neil@chaltech.com
Office contact:  Tel/Fax: +44 (0)181 930 7408  Mobile: +44 (0)370 593183
SA110+1100, 21285/PCI, ARM, 3D, RTOSs, NetBSD, Image Processing, NC OSs