# TIP 179: Add -hide Option to panedwindow Widget
	State:		Final
	Type:		Project
	Tcl-Version:	8.5
	Vote:		Done
	Post-History:	
	Author:		Brian Griffin <bgriffin@model.com>
	Created:	22-Mar-2004
	Keywords:	Tk
	Implementation-URL: ftp://ftp.model.com/pub/tcl/pw_hide_TIP.tgz
-----

# Abstract

This TIP proposes adding a **paneconfigure** option to
**panedwindow**s that will control pane visibility.

# Rationale

Adding control over individual pane visibility to the **panedwindow**
widget would simplify the construction and control of complex user
interfaces.  For example, look at applications such as Komodo, or MS
Visual Studio, where the U/I contains 4-7 panes in 2 or more nested
panedwindows.  Both of these applications as well as many others allow
user controlled visibility of individual panes.  Trying to manage the
visibility and placement of these panes requires much additional code
and adds complexity to the U/I implementation.  Alternatively, if the
panedwindow allowed control of visibility while maintaining pane
position and configure options \(as does the **grid remove** method\),
the U/I code is essentially reduced to a simple one line [_$w_
**configure -hide**].

# Proposed Change

This TIP will add a **-hide** option to the **paneconfigure** for
individual panes.  The option will control the visibility of the pane.
When set to true \(as interpreted by _Tcl\_GetBooleanFromObj\(\)_\), the
pane will be unmapped and will not be considered when arranging the
remaining panes for display.  Hidden panes will still be reported by
the [_$w_ **panes**] method and can be referenced when adding panes with
the **-after** or **-before** options.

The advantage of a **paneconfigure** option over the **remove**
method of the **grid** command is that the pane is still query-able
and configurable.

# Draft Implementation

An implementation of this enhancement is available
[ftp://ftp.model.com/pub/tcl/pw_hide_TIP.tgz].

# Copyright

This document has been placed in the public domain.

