Manipulation of Visual Elements

[Context: HL Kit … Basic Concepts and Terminology]

Overview

In addition to getting the underlying game mechanics correct, you'll also need to effectively present the information to the user and allow him to create a character. The overall hierarchy of visual elements has already been described. This section delves into the process of successfully manipulating those visual elements to achieve an interface that works smoothly.

Topics

There are various separate topics associated with the manipulation of visual elements. Each of these topics is discussed in the sections below.

• Screen Vs. Output
• How Visual Elements Behave
• Positioning Portals Within Templates
• Controlling Visibility
• Dynamically Changing Styles
• Tables Auto-Size Themselves
• Keyboard Tab Order
• Rendering Templates and Layouts
• Panel Display Order
• Panels Vs. Forms
• Using Automatic Placement