Drop-down list (lv_dropdown)

Overview

The drop-down list allows the user to select one value from a list.

The drop-down list is closed by default and displays a single value or a predefined text. When activated (by click on the drop-down list), a list is created from which the user may select one option. When the user selects a new value, the list is deleted again.

The Drop-down list is added to the default group (if it is set). Besides the Drop-down list is an editable object to allow selecting an option with encoder navigation too.

Parts and Styles

The Dropdown widget is built from the elements: "button" and "list" (both not related to the button and list widgets)

Button

LV_PART_MAIN The background of the button. Uses the typical background properties and text properties for the text on it.
LV_PART_INDICATOR Typically an arrow symbol that can be an image or a text (LV_SYMBOL).

The button goes to LV_STATE_CHECKED when it's opened.

List

LV_PART_MAIN The list itself. Uses the typical background properties. max_height can be used to limit the height of the list.
LV_PART_SCROLLBAR The scrollbar background, border, shadow properties and width (for its own width) and right padding for the spacing on the right.
LV_PART_SELECTED Refers to the currently pressed, checked or pressed+checked option. Also uses the typical background properties.

The list is hidden/shown on open/close. To add styles to it use lv_dropdown_get_list(dropdown) to get the list object. For example:

lv_obj_t * list = lv_dropdown_get_list(dropdown) /*Get the list*/
lv_obj_add_style(list, &my_style, selector)      /*Add the styles to the list*/

Alternatively the theme can be extended with the new styles.

Usage

Options

Set options

Options are passed to the drop-down list as a string with lv_dropdown_set_options(dropdown, options). Options should be separated by \n. For example: "First\nSecond\nThird". This string will be saved in the drop-down list, so it can in a local variable.

The lv_dropdown_add_option(dropdown, "New option", pos) function inserts a new option to pos index.

To save memory the options can set from a static(constant) string too with lv_dropdown_set_static_options(dropdown, options). In this case the options string should be alive while the drop-down list exists and lv_dropdown_add_option() can't be used

You can select an option manually with lv_dropdown_set_selected(dropdown, id), where id is the index of an option.

Get selected option

The get the index of the selected option, use lv_dropdown_get_selected(dropdown).

lv_dropdown_get_selected_str(dropdown, buf, buf_size) copies the name of the selected option to buf.

Direction

The list can be created on any side. The default LV_DIR_BOTTOM can be modified by lv_dropdown_set_dir(dropdown, LV_DIR_LEFT) function.

If the list would be vertically out of the screen, it will be aligned to the edge.

Symbol

A symbol (typically an arrow) can be added to the dropdown list with lv_dropdown_set_symbol(dropdown, LV_SYMBOL_...)

If the direction of the drop-down list is LV_DIR_LEFT the symbol will be shown on the left, otherwise on the right.

Show selected

The main part can either show the selected option or a static text. If a static is set with lv_dropdown_set_text(dropdown, "Some text") it will be shown regardless to th selected option. If the text is NULL the selected option is displayed on the button.

Manually open/close

To manually open or close the drop-down list the lv_dropdown_open/close(dropdown) function can be used.

Events

Apart from the Generic events, the following Special events are sent by the drop-down list:

LV_EVENT_VALUE_CHANGED Sent when the new option is selected or the list is opened/closed.
LV_EVENT_CANCEL Sent when the list is closed
LV_EVENT_READY Sent when the list is opened

See the events of the Base object too.

Learn more about Events.

Keys

LV_KEY_RIGHT/DOWN Select the next option.
LV_KEY_LEFT/UP Select the previous option.
LV_KEY_ENTER Apply the selected option (Sends LV_EVENT_VALUE_CHANGED event and closes the drop-down list).

Learn more about Keys.

Example

Simple Drop down list

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_DROPDOWN && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

static void event_handler(lv_event_t * e)
{
    lv_event_code_t code = lv_event_get_code(e);
    lv_obj_t * obj = lv_event_get_target(e);
    if(code == LV_EVENT_VALUE_CHANGED) {
        char buf[32];
        lv_dropdown_get_selected_str(obj, buf, sizeof(buf));
        LV_LOG_USER("Option: %s", buf);
    }
}

void lv_example_dropdown_1(void)
{

    /*Create a normal drop down list*/
    lv_obj_t * dd = lv_dropdown_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_dropdown_set_options(dd, "Apple\n"
                            "Banana\n"
                            "Orange\n"
                            "Cherry\n"
                            "Grape\n"
                            "Raspberry\n"
                            "Melon\n"
                            "Orange\n"
                            "Lemon\n"
                            "Nuts");

    lv_obj_align(dd, LV_ALIGN_TOP_MID, 0, 20);
    lv_obj_add_event(dd, event_handler, LV_EVENT_ALL, NULL);
}

#endif

def event_handler(e):
    code = e.get_code()
    obj = e.get_target_obj()
    if code == lv.EVENT.VALUE_CHANGED:
        option = " "*10 # should be large enough to store the option
        obj.get_selected_str(option, len(option))
        # .strip() removes trailing spaces
        print("Option: \"%s\"" % option.strip())

# Create a normal drop down list
dd = lv.dropdown(lv.screen_active())
dd.set_options("\n".join([
    "Apple",
    "Banana",
    "Orange",
    "Cherry",
    "Grape",
    "Raspberry",
    "Melon",
    "Orange",
    "Lemon",
    "Nuts"]))

dd.align(lv.ALIGN.TOP_MID, 0, 20)
dd.add_event(event_handler, lv.EVENT.ALL, None)

Drop down in four directions

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_DROPDOWN && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES


/**
 * Create a drop down, up, left and right menus
 */
void lv_example_dropdown_2(void)
{
    static const char * opts = "Apple\n"
                               "Banana\n"
                               "Orange\n"
                               "Melon";

    lv_obj_t * dd;
    dd = lv_dropdown_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_dropdown_set_options_static(dd, opts);
    lv_obj_align(dd, LV_ALIGN_TOP_MID, 0, 10);

    dd = lv_dropdown_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_dropdown_set_options_static(dd, opts);
    lv_dropdown_set_dir(dd, LV_DIR_BOTTOM);
    lv_dropdown_set_symbol(dd, LV_SYMBOL_UP);
    lv_obj_align(dd, LV_ALIGN_BOTTOM_MID, 0, -10);

    dd = lv_dropdown_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_dropdown_set_options_static(dd, opts);
    lv_dropdown_set_dir(dd, LV_DIR_RIGHT);
    lv_dropdown_set_symbol(dd, LV_SYMBOL_RIGHT);
    lv_obj_align(dd, LV_ALIGN_LEFT_MID, 10, 0);

    dd = lv_dropdown_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_dropdown_set_options_static(dd, opts);
    lv_dropdown_set_dir(dd, LV_DIR_LEFT);
    lv_dropdown_set_symbol(dd, LV_SYMBOL_LEFT);
    lv_obj_align(dd, LV_ALIGN_RIGHT_MID, -10, 0);
}

#endif

#
# Create a drop down, up, left and right menus
#

opts = "\n".join([
    "Apple",
    "Banana",
    "Orange",
    "Melon",
    "Grape",
    "Raspberry"])

dd = lv.dropdown(lv.screen_active())
dd.set_options_static(opts)
dd.align(lv.ALIGN.TOP_MID, 0, 10)
dd = lv.dropdown(lv.screen_active())
dd.set_options_static(opts)
dd.set_dir(lv.DIR.BOTTOM)
dd.set_symbol(lv.SYMBOL.UP)
dd.align(lv.ALIGN.BOTTOM_MID, 0, -10)

dd = lv.dropdown(lv.screen_active())
dd.set_options_static(opts)
dd.set_dir(lv.DIR.RIGHT)
dd.set_symbol(lv.SYMBOL.RIGHT)
dd.align(lv.ALIGN.LEFT_MID, 10, 0)

dd = lv.dropdown(lv.screen_active())
dd.set_options_static(opts)
dd.set_dir(lv.DIR.LEFT)
dd.set_symbol(lv.SYMBOL.LEFT)
dd.align(lv.ALIGN.RIGHT_MID, -10, 0)

Menu

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_DROPDOWN && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

static void event_cb(lv_event_t * e)
{
    lv_obj_t * dropdown = lv_event_get_target(e);
    char buf[64];
    lv_dropdown_get_selected_str(dropdown, buf, sizeof(buf));
    LV_LOG_USER("'%s' is selected", buf);
}

/**
 * Create a menu from a drop-down list and show some drop-down list features and styling
 */
void lv_example_dropdown_3(void)
{
    /*Create a drop down list*/
    lv_obj_t * dropdown = lv_dropdown_create(lv_screen_active());
    lv_obj_align(dropdown, LV_ALIGN_TOP_LEFT, 10, 10);
    lv_dropdown_set_options(dropdown, "New project\n"
                            "New file\n"
                            "Save\n"
                            "Save as ...\n"
                            "Open project\n"
                            "Recent projects\n"
                            "Preferences\n"
                            "Exit");

    /*Set a fixed text to display on the button of the drop-down list*/
    lv_dropdown_set_text(dropdown, "Menu");

    /*Use a custom image as down icon and flip it when the list is opened*/
    LV_IMAGE_DECLARE(img_caret_down)
    lv_dropdown_set_symbol(dropdown, &img_caret_down);
    lv_obj_set_style_transform_rotation(dropdown, 1800, LV_PART_INDICATOR | LV_STATE_CHECKED);

    /*In a menu we don't need to show the last clicked item*/
    lv_dropdown_set_selected_highlight(dropdown, false);

    lv_obj_add_event(dropdown, event_cb, LV_EVENT_VALUE_CHANGED, NULL);
}

#endif

# Create an image from the png file
try:
    with open('../../assets/img_caret_down.png','rb') as f:
        png_data = f.read()
except:
    print("Could not find image_caret_down.png")
    sys.exit()

image_caret_down_argb = lv.image_dsc_t({
  'data_size': len(png_data),
  'data': png_data
})

def event_cb(e):
    dropdown = e.get_target_obj()
    option = " "*64 # should be large enough to store the option
    dropdown.get_selected_str(option, len(option))
    print(option.strip() +" is selected")
#
# Create a menu from a drop-down list and show some drop-down list features and styling
#

# Create a drop down list
dropdown = lv.dropdown(lv.screen_active())
dropdown.align(lv.ALIGN.TOP_LEFT, 10, 10)
dropdown.set_options("\n".join([
    "New project",
    "New file",
    "Open project",
    "Recent projects",
    "Preferences",
    "Exit"]))

# Set a fixed text to display on the button of the drop-down list
dropdown.set_text("Menu")

# Use a custom image as down icon and flip it when the list is opened
# LV_IMAGE_DECLARE(image_caret_down)
dropdown.set_symbol(image_caret_down_argb)
dropdown.set_style_transform_rotation(1800, lv.PART.INDICATOR | lv.STATE.CHECKED)

# In a menu we don't need to show the last clicked item
dropdown.set_selected_highlight(False)

dropdown.add_event(event_cb, lv.EVENT.VALUE_CHANGED, None)

API

lv_dropdown.h