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Java

Posted by Reid Davis
Reid Davis
5,140 Points

Why use the <children> tag?

Rewatching the series, so you probably mentioned this somewhere and I've missed it, but why are you wrapping things in the <children> tags so frequently?

I've loved the concept of FXML but finding concise documentation for it has been frustrating at best...

2 Answers

Rob Bridges
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Rob Bridges
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 35,467 Points
Rob Bridges
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Rob Bridges
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Graduate 35,467 Points

Hey Reid, generally we need all of these things wrapped in tags in the XML so that we can modify their behavior and properties.

Is there a specific instance of code that you had in mind that you caused you extra concern?

Maybe I can help out if I saw what instance brought this about.

Reid Davis
Reid Davis
5,140 Points
Reid Davis
Reid Davis
5,140 Points

Hey Rob, thanks for the reply. I had intended the question to post directly to one of the "Pomodoro" steps of the JavaFX course, but guess I missed on that one.

Here's a sample of the FXML in question. I'm relatively sure it would work without the 'children' tags, and don't really understand the intent or benefit to including them.

        <HBox styleClass="buttons">
            <children>
                <StackPane>
                    <children>
                        <StackPane styleClass="nested-action,play">
                            <children>
                                <HBox styleClass="svg-container">
                                    <SVGPath styleClass="svg"
                                             content="M1.6 17C1 17 0 16.2 0 15.6V1.3C0 .1 2.2-.4 3.1.4l8.2 6.4c.5.4.8 1 .8 1.7 0 .6-.3 1.2-.8 1.7l-8.2 6.4c-.5.2-1 .4-1.5.4z"/>
                                </HBox>
                                <Button text="Resume"/>
                            </children>
                        </StackPane>

                        <StackPane styleClass="nested-action,pause">
                            <children>
                                <HBox styleClass="svg-container">
                                    <SVGPath styleClass="svg"
                                             content="M10.2 17c-1 0-1.8-.8-1.8-1.8V1.8c0-1 .8-1.8 1.8-1.8S12 .8 12 1.8v13.4c0 1-.8 1.8-1.8 1.8z" />
                                    <SVGPath styleClass="svg"
                                             content="M10.2 17c-1 0-1.8-.8-1.8-1.8V1.8c0-1 .8-1.8 1.8-1.8S12 .8 12 1.8v13.4c0 1-.8 1.8-1.8 1.8z" />
                                </HBox>
                                <Button text="Pause"/>
                            </children>
                        </StackPane>
                    </children>
                </StackPane>

                <StackPane styleClass="nested-action,restart">
                    <children>
                        <HBox styleClass="svg-container">
                            <SVGPath styleClass="svg"
                                     content="M21 2.9C19.1 1 16.6 0 13.9 0c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 1.9s.9 1.9 2 1.9c1.7 0 3.2.6 4.4 1.8 2.4 2.4 2.4 6.3 0 8.7-1.2 1.2-2.7 1.8-4.4 1.8-1.7 0-3.2-.6-4.4-1.8-1.8-1.8-2.3-4.4-1.4-6.7L9.3 10c.2.4.5.7.9.8.4.1.8.1 1.2-.1.8-.4 1.1-1.3.8-2.1L10 4.3c0-.5-.2-1-.6-1.4l-.1-.1-.1-.2c-.2-.4-.5-.7-.9-.8-.4-.1-.8-.1-1.2.1L.9 4.8C.1 5.2-.2 6.1.2 6.9c.2.4.5.7.9.8.4.1.8.1 1.2-.1l2-.9c-1.2 3.5-.4 7.6 2.4 10.4C8.6 19 11.2 20 13.9 20s5.3-1 7.2-2.9C25 13.2 25 6.8 21 2.9z"/>
                        </HBox>
                        <Button text="Restart"/>
                    </children>
                </StackPane>
            </children>
        </HBox>