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What is a Project in LiveCode Create?

A Project is the foundation of app development in LiveCode Create. It is the top-level container that holds everything your app needs—layouts, workflows, scripts, media assets, and settings. Projects are organized in a workspace, which acts as a folder containing all your apps.

Understanding Projects and Layouts​

In LiveCode Create:

  • A Project: This is your app. It contains all the elements needed to build and run your application, such as layouts, media assets, workflows, and scripts.
  • Layouts: Each layout represents a single screen or view in your app. Layouts sit within a project and can be displayed as:
    • Main Windows: Screens that serve as primary user interfaces.
    • Modal Dialogs: Pop-up screens for user interaction.
    • Embedded Views: Layouts temporarily displayed inside other windows or containers.

By keeping projects and layouts separate, you gain flexibility. A single layout can act as a standalone modal dialog or as part of the main app window—without refactoring or duplication.

How Projects Fit in the Workspace​

LiveCode Create organizes your work as follows:

  1. Workspace: A workspace contains all your projects. Think of it as a folder holding multiple apps.
  2. Project: Each project is self-contained and includes:
    • Layouts: Screens of your app.
    • Workflows: Visual logic created with Action Blocks.
    • Media Assets: Images, videos, documents, and other files.
    • Datastore: Shared across all projects in the same workspace.
    • Scripts: Custom code written using the Script Editor.
    • Theme Settings: Global styles such as colors and fonts.

Key Features of a Project​

Here’s what a project contains:

  1. Layouts:

    • A layout is a screen or page where you design your app interface.
    • Layouts sit on the Canvas Area and can be customized with widgets.
    • Display layouts as main windows, modal dialogs, or embedded views.

  2. Workflows:

    • Define app logic visually using the Workflow Editor.

  3. Scripts:

    • Use the Script Editor to add custom logic and advanced functionality.

  4. Media Assets:

    • Manage and store files like images, audio, and documents in the Media Assets library.

  5. Datastore:

    • Define and manage your app’s collections and views. (Note: The datastore is shared across projects in the same workspace.)

  6. Theme Settings:

    • Set global color palettes, fonts, and styles to ensure consistent design across your app.

Creating a Project​

To create a new project:

  1. Open LiveCode Create.
  2. Click on "Create New Project" from the dashboard.
  3. Enter a name for your project.
  4. Click Create.

Your new project will appear in the workspace, and the App Building Environment will open for you to begin designing your layouts.

Organizing Projects and Layouts​

  • Projects: Contain everything that makes up your app.
  • Layouts: Are the screens or views in your app. You can create multiple layouts within a project for different purposes:
    • A Home Layout for the main screen.
    • A Settings Layout for app preferences.
    • A Modal Dialog Layout for pop-up windows.

You can switch between layouts using the Project Browser or by adding Actions to navigate between them.

Tips for Managing Projects​

  1. Keep Projects Organized: Use clear and descriptive names for your projects and layouts.
  2. Reuse Layouts: A layout can serve multiple roles (e.g., modal dialogs or embedded views). No duplication needed.
  3. Shared Datastore: Take advantage of the shared datastore to avoid duplicating data across projects.
  4. Focus on Modular Design: Break your app into logical layouts to make design and logic easy to manage.

Example: A Simple Project​

Imagine building a To-Do List App:

  • Project Name: "To-Do List"

  • Layouts:

    • Main Layout: Displays the list of tasks.
    • Add Task Modal: A separate layout that pops up to add a new task.

  • Workflows:

    • When a button is clicked in the Main Layout → Open the Add Task Modal.

  • Datastore:

    • A collection called Tasks to store task names and statuses.

Conclusion​

A Project is the core container for building apps in LiveCode Create. It brings together all the components—layouts, workflows, scripts, and assets—that make up your app. Layouts provide flexibility, acting as the screens or views displayed to users. With a clear project structure and shared workspace, you can efficiently manage your app’s design, logic, and data.

For further learning:

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