# Settings ## Overview PowerToys provides a common framework for settings. It can be used to save and load settings on disk, and provides a user interface for changing the options. ## Initialization When a PowerToy module is created, it should load its configuration using [`PowerToyValues`](/src/common/settings_objects.h) class. The class provides static `load_from_settings_file` method which takes one parameter - the PowerToy module name. The `PowerToyValues` class provides methods to extract values. The method return `std::optional` - it is possible, that the method will return `std::nullopt` in which case you must use defaults. ```c++ class ExamplePowertoy : public PowertoyModuleIface { public: ExamplePowertoy() { auto settings = PowerToySettings::PowerToyValues::load_from_settings_file(L"Example Powertoy"); // See if value is set, otherwise keep the default value if (auto int_value = settings.get_int_value(L"int_setting")) { m_int_setting = *int_value; } if (auto string_value = setting.get_string_value("string_setting")) { m_string_setting = *string_value; } } // ... private: // Settings and their default values int m_int_setting = 10; std::wstring m_string_setting = L"default"; } ``` ## Settings screen When users starts the settings screen, the runner will call the [`get_config()`](modules/interface.md) method. The interface expects the method to fill provided buffer. Use the [`Settings`](/src/common/settings_objects.h) class to construct proper response with proper format. The class has helper method to set description and links fields, it also provides a way to define the content of the settings screen. Keep all the strings in the resource file and provide the resource IDs to the methods. ```c++ extern "C" IMAGE_DOS_HEADER __ImageBase; // Needed to get strings from the resource file bool ExamplePowertoy::get_config(wchar_t* buffer, int* buffer_size) { PowerToySettings::Settings settings(reinterpret_cast(&__ImageBase), L"Example Powertoy"); // Set PowerToy description settings.set_description(IDS_POWERTOY_DESCRIPTION); settings.set_icon_key("pt_icon_key"); settings.set_overview_link(IDS_POWERTOY_OVERVIEW_LINK); settings.set_video_link(IDS_POWERTOY_OVERVIEW_LINK); // Add int and string settings, provide current values: settings.add_int_spinner(L"int_setting", IDS_INT_SETTING_DESCRIPTION, m_int_setting, 0, 100, 10); settings.add_string(L"string_setting", IDS_STRING_SETTING_DESCRIPTION, m_string_setting); // Use the build-in machinery to return the configuration: return settings.serialize_to_buffer(buffer, buffer_size); } ``` The list of all the available settings elements and their description is [further in this doc](#available-settings-elements). New PowerToy icons need to be [added to the `settings-web` project](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/doc/devdocs/settings-web.md#updating-the-icons). ## User changes settings When user closes the settings screen, the runner will call the [`get_config()`](modules/interface.md) method. Use [`PowerToyValues`](/src/common/settings_objects.h) class static `from_json_string` method to parse the settings. After that, the code is similar to loading the settings from disk: ```c++ void ExamplePowertoy::set_config(const wchar_t* config) { auto settings = PowerToySettings::PowerToyValues::from_json_string(config); // See if value is set update the values if (auto int_value = settings.get_int_value(L"int_setting")) { m_int_setting = *int_value; } if (auto string_value = setting.get_string_value("string_setting")) { m_string_setting = *string_value; } // Save the new settings to disk settings.save_to_settings_file(); } ``` ## Detailed reference For a detailed reference of how the settings are implemented in the runner and in the settings editor, consult [this detailed guide](settings-reference.md). # Available settings elements ## Bool toggle
```c++ settings.add_bool_toggle(name, description, value) ``` A simple on-off toggle. Parameters: * `name` - Key for the element in the JSON. * `description` - Resource ID of the text displayed to the user. * `value` - Initial state of the toggle (`true` - on, `false` - off). The toggle value is stored as bool: ```c++ std::optional bool_value = settings.get_bool_value(L"bool_name"); ``` ## Int Spinner
```c++ settings.add_int_spinner(name, description, value, min, max, step) ``` Numeric input with dials to increment and decrement the value. Parameters: * `name` - Key for element in the JSON. * `description` - Resource ID of the text displayed to the user. * `value` - Initial control value. * `min`, `max` - Minimum and maximum values for the input. User cannot use dials to move beyond those values, if a value out of range is inserted using the keyboard, it will get clamped to the allowed range. * `step` - How much the dials change the value. The spinner value is stored as int: ```c++ std::optional int_value = settings.get_int_value(L"int_spinner_name"); ``` ## String
```c++ settings.add_string(name, description, value) ``` Single line text input. Parameters: * `name` - Key for element in the JSON. * `description` - Resource ID of the text displayed to the user. * `value` - Default value for the input. The input value is stored as `std::wstring`: ```c++ std::optional string_value = settings.get_string_value(L"string_name"); ``` ## Multiline string
```c++ settings.add_multiline_string(name, description, value) ``` Multiline text input. Parameters: * `name` - Key for element in the JSON. * `description` - Resource ID of the text displayed to the user. * `value` - Default value for the input. Can have multiple lines. The input value is stored as string: ```c++ std::optional value = settings.get_string_value(L"multiline_name"); ``` ## Color picker
```c++ settings.add_color_picker(name, description, value) ``` Allows user to pick a color. Parameters: * `name` - Key for element in the JSON. * `description` - Resource ID of the text displayed to the user. * `value` - Initial color, as a string in `"#RRGGBB"` format. The color picker value is stored as `std::wstring` as `#RRGGBB`: ```c++ std::optional value = settings.get_string_value(L"colorpicker_name"); ``` ## Hotkey
```c++ settings.add_hotkey(name, description, hotkey) ``` Input for capturing hotkeys. Parameters: * `name` - Key for element in the JSON. * `description` - Resource ID of the text displayed to the user. * `hotkey` - Instance of `PowerToysSettings::HotkeyObject` class. You can create `PowerToysSettings::HotkeyObject` object either by using helper `from_settings` static method or by providing a JSON object to `from_json` static method. The `PowerToysSettings::HotkeyObject::from_settings` take following parameters: * `win_pressed` - Is the WinKey pressed. * `ctrl_pressed` - Is the Ctrl key pressed. * `alt_pressed` - Is the Alt key pressed. * `shift_pressed` - Is the Shift key pressed. * `vk_code` - The [virtual key-code](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/inputdev/virtual-key-codes) of the key. The displayed key is deduced from the `vk_code` using the users keyboard layout and language settings. The hotkey value is returned as JSON, which can be used with the `from_json` method to create a `HotkeyObject` object. A typical example of registering a hotkey: ```c++ std::optional value = settings.get_json(L"hotkey_name"); if (value) { auto hotkey = PowerToysSettings::HotkeyObject::from_json(*value); RegisterHotKey(hwnd, 1, hotkey.get_modifiers(), hotkey.get_code()); } ``` ## Choice group
```c++ add_choice_group(name, description, value, vector> keys_and_texts) ``` A radio buttons group. Parameters: * `name` - Key for element in the JSON. * `description` - Resource ID of the text displayed to the user. * `value` - Key selected by default. * `keys_and_text` - Vector of radio buttons definitions: key and the displayed label. The chosen button value is stored as a string with the key of the button selected by the user: ```c++ std::optional value = settings.get_string_value(L"choice_group_name"); ``` ## Dropdown
```c++ add_dropdown(name, description, value, vector> keys_and_texts) ``` A dropdown. Parameters: * `name` - Key for element in the JSON. * `description` - Resource ID of the text displayed to the user. * `value` - Key selected by default. * `keys_and_text` - Vector of the options definitions: key and the displayed label. The chosen value is stored as a string with the key of the option selected by the user: ```c++ std::optional value = settings.get_string_value(L"dropdown_name"); ``` ## Custom action
```c++ add_custom_action(name, description, button_text, ext_description) ``` Adds a button with a description. Parameters: * `name` - Key for element in the JSON. * `description` - Resource ID of the text displayed to the user. * `button_text` - Resource ID for the button label. * `ext_description` - Resource ID for the extended description. When the button is pressed, the `call_custom_action` method of the module will be called, with JSON containing the name of the action. Parse it using `PowerToysSettings::CustomActionObject`: ```c++ void ExamplePowertoy::call_custom_action(const wchar_t* action) override { auto action_object = PowerToysSettings::CustomActionObject::from_json_string(action); auto name = action_object.get_name(); // same value as the 'name' parameter // .. do stuff .. } ``` # File organization ### [main.cpp](/src/settings/main.cpp) Contains the main executable code, initializing and managing the Window containing the WebView and communication with the main PowerToys executable. ### [StreamURIResolverFromFile.cpp](/src/settings/StreamURIResolverFromFile.cpp) Defines a class implementing `IUriToStreamResolver`. Allows the WebView to navigate to filesystem files in this Win32 project. ### [settings-html/](/src/settings/settings-html/) Contains the assets file from building the [Web project for the Settings UI](/src/settings/settings-html). It will be loaded by the WebView.