photocraft/docs/ui-dialogs.md

Dialogs

Modal and modeless parameter windows in the egui shell. They mirror Photoshop: no dimmed backdrop, canvas pan/zoom under an open dialog, Tab cycles text and number fields only, Esc cancels, Enter confirms when OK is enabled. Automation drives the same fields map as the UI (ui.dialog.* in control-protocol.md).

Architecture

Piece	Location	Role
Frame, routing, OK/Cancel/Esc, stacking	crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs	Single hub for every UiState::dialogs entry
Alt+Cancel → Reset (opt-in)	crates/ui-egui/src/dialog_alt_reset.rs	Relabels Cancel while Alt is held; dispatches per-marker reset
Tab-through-fields	crates/ui-egui/src/field_tab.rs	Photoshop-style Tab / ⇧Tab (tests in same file)
State	crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs	Dialog, DialogKind, open_dialog
Button row	crates/ui-egui/src/widgets.rs	dialog_buttons, focus_first_field; number_edit registers for Tab
Menu / command entry	dialogs::open_command_dialog, menus.rs	Picks a dedicated module, schema dialog, or bare confirm
Filters	filter_dialog.rs	Schema from engine params, live preview
Adjustments	adjust_dialog.rs	Shared editors with Properties; preview via adjust_preview
Generic forms	view_cmds.rs	__form grids for simple command params
Dedicated bodies	See Command routing below	body + usually open / confirm

Routing. Non-command kinds use DialogKind alone. DialogKind::Command bodies are chosen by marker keys on fields (owns() or contains_key("__export"), etc.); first match in dialogs::show wins, so new markers must not collide with an earlier arm. show, confirm, and cancel share the same dispatch table—wire all three when adding a dialog.

Field contract. Dialog.fields is a JSON map: command parameters agents read and write, plus private keys prefixed with __. Never use __ for user-facing or engine params.

DialogKind (top-level stack)

Kind	Body module	Typical entry
NewDocument	new_doc_ui.rs	File › New, file.new with no size params
About	dialogs.rs (About / Contributors / Models tabs)	Help › About PhotoCraft; systemInfo: true → System Info variant
Command	Routed—see below	Most menu commands with parameters
LayerStyle	layer_style.rs	Layer › Layer Style…
Error	inline in dialogs.rs	message field only (e.g. move lock, locked transform)

Command routing (DialogKind::Command)

Dispatch order matches dialogs::show in dialogs.rs (check earlier rows before adding a marker).

Match	Module	Role
__guideLayout	guide_layout_ui.rs	View › New Guide Layout…
__fill	fill_ui.rs	Edit › Fill…
__patternFill	pattern_fill_ui.rs	Pattern Fill layer / New Fill Layer › Pattern…
__stroke	stroke_ui.rs	Edit › Stroke…
__createShape	shape_dialog.rs	Click-with-shape-tool creation (rectangle, ellipse, …)
__deleteLayer	delete_layer_prompt.rs	Layers panel trash confirmation
__newLayer	new_layer_ui.rs	Layer › New › Layer… (⇧⌘N)
__rasterize	rasterize_prompt.rs	Rasterize-before-paint prompt
__resetAllTools	tool_reset.rs	Reset All Tools confirmation
__cropPresetNew / __cropPresetDelete	crop_presets.rs	New / delete crop preset
__variables	variables_ui.rs	Image › Variables (Define, Data Sets, Apply)
__web / __print	file_ui.rs	Save for Web, Print
__colorPicker	color_picker_ui.rs	Foreground/background, nested field/command pickers (see nested keys below)
__colorRange	color_range_ui.rs	Select › Color Range…
__prefsui	prefs_ui.rs	Edit › Preferences… and related preset/import subdialogs
__export	export_dialog.rs	Export As (document or layer)
__sizing	sizing.rs	Image › Image Size… / Canvas Size…
__adjust	adjust_dialog.rs	Image › Adjustments… (also sets __filter + __preview for live preview)
__filter	filter_dialog.rs (+ select_mask_view.rs when __command is select.refineEdge)	Filter Gallery commands, Edit › Color Settings…, Select and Mask, and other schema dialogs
__form	view_cmds.rs	Simple param grids (e.g. slice options, many Image › Apply Image-style commands)
(none of the above)	—	Bare confirm: title + OK/Cancel only; OK runs __command with fields via generic confirm

Menu shortcut. dialogs::open_command_dialog opens guide layout, stroke, and color range directly; then tries adjust_dialog::open, then filter_dialog::open; otherwise a bare confirm with __command + __label. Other dedicated modules are opened from menus.rs, tools, or panel actions with their marker already set.

Shared private keys

Key	Meaning
__command	Engine command id run on OK (bare confirm, filters, sizing, …)
__label	Menu/catalog label for the title
__document	Target document id (validate staleness)
__dialog / __field	Nested color picker: parent dialog id and field name to write on OK
__params	Extra command params for command-targeted color pickers
__preview	Live canvas preview enabled (filters and adjustments)
__choices	Dropdown options for __form dialogs
__filter	Filter-schema body (filter_dialog); also set on adjustments for preview plumbing
__adjust	Image › Adjustments editor kind (adjust_dialog)
__form	Generic view_cmds::form_body
__formOrig	Snapshot of non-__ params at open; Alt+Reset restores it for __form dialogs
__variablesOrig	Snapshot of __variables at open; Alt+Reset restores it
__altReset	Set to false to opt a dialog out of Alt+Cancel → Reset
__export	Export As
__sizing	Image Size / Canvas Size

Routing markers (dedicated Command bodies)

Key	Module
__guideLayout	guide_layout_ui
__fill	fill_ui
__patternFill	pattern_fill_ui
__stroke	stroke_ui
__createShape	shape_dialog
__deleteLayer	delete_layer_prompt
__newLayer	new_layer_ui
__rasterize	rasterize_prompt
__resetAllTools	tool_reset
__cropPresetNew, __cropPresetDelete	crop_presets
__variables	variables_ui
__web, __print	file_ui
__colorPicker	color_picker_ui
__colorRange	color_range_ui
__prefsui	prefs_ui (string sub-kind: prefs, presetsIO, …)

Nested color pickers (__colorPicker on the stack)

Same hub entry as standalone pickers; color_picker_ui::confirm branches on extra keys:

Extra key	Behaviour
__layerStyleColor	Layer Style child; OK writes effect colour on parent LayerStyle dialog
__textStyleColor	Character/paragraph style colour (type panels)
__shapeFill	Shape layer solid fill via shape.edit
__command = layer.fill.solidColor.set	Solid Color fill layer (no __shapeFill)
__dialog + __field	OK updates one field on a parent command dialog (e.g. Fill › Color…)

Parallel modal systems (not the main stack)

System	Location	When
Unsaved changes	discard_ui.rs	Close, Revert, Close Others/All, Exit—Save / Don't Save / Cancel
Shell dialog	control.rs, ui.inspect id "shell"	Workspace, custom pixel aspect, show-extras options
Camera Raw	camera_raw_ui.rs	Separate OS window on desktop; see control-protocol § Camera Raw
Error message	DialogKind::Error	e.g. move_lock—message + OK
Nested pickers	color_picker_ui (+ markers in Nested color pickers)	Stack on parent; parent confirm refused while child open

Rules

Architecture and commands

1. Thin UI, engine command on OK. Run app.run or a dedicated *_ui::confirm; one history step unless the command itself batches.
2. Register in the hub. Add owns() (or a stable marker), body(), open() if needed, and matching arms in dialogs::show, confirm, and cancel (and open_command_dialog when menu-driven).
3. Extend existing paths first. Filters → filter_dialog; adjustments → adjust_dialog; simple param grids → __form; avoid a second modal stack unless product needs Camera Raw–level UX.
4. fields is the automation contract. Anything agents must drive lives in named fields, not only in local egui state.
5. Remember last-used values after successful OK where Photoshop does (filter_dialog::remember, prefs dialogs["…"], module-specific helpers).

Chrome and layout

6. Use dialog_buttons for OK / Cancel / Apply—platform order via ButtonRole (macOS default action in the corner).
7. Respect width rules in dialogs::show unless file_ui::dialog_width, color picker, or kind-specific mins apply (typical 380–440; Layer Style / export / picker up to 600; New Document 800).
8. Scroll long bodies inside the content (DIALOG_CHROME for filters); title and button row stay visible.
9. Transparent backdrop—no dimming; previews are judged at true contrast.
10. Position: first open centered; then persist offset (place_id per command or kind); title bar drag; clamp on screen.
11. Stacking: only the top dialog is interactive; non-top instances render disabled; raise the live dialog if an older modal steals focus.

Keyboard and focus

12. Tab / ⇧Tab: text and number fields only. Frame calls field_tab::begin / end; each field calls field_tab::register (number_edit does this; custom TextEdit must register manually).
13. Do not rely on egui default Tab through sliders, dropdowns, checkboxes, or preset cards.
14. Open on first value: first_field_focused + widgets::focus_first_field for value-first dialogs (most filters; Image/Canvas Size; not Select and Mask view keys).
15. Select-all on focus when reached via Tab or field arrows (field_tab::select_all; see value_field, new_doc_ui).
16. Enter confirms when OK is enabled (can_ok); exceptions must be explicit (guide_layout_ui, color picker).
17. Esc on topmost dialog with no popup open → Cancel. Click outside does not dismiss (canvas may still pan/zoom via free_pointer_over, pan_delta, free_press). Esc ignores Alt (it does not become Reset).
18. Alt turns Cancel into Reset when the dialog opts in via dialog_alt_reset::supported (dialog stays open). Opt-in markers: __guideLayout, __fill, __variables, __colorPicker, __sizing, __adjust (all kinds), __filter, __form. Each module implements its own reset; set "__altReset": false to disable.

Canvas and preview

19. Live preview for filters/adjustments uses filter_preview / adjust_preview; cancel() clears preview and related shell state.
20. Under-dialog canvas respects dialog rects and open popups; Hand / Space / middle-button pan on free canvas only.

Labels and i18n

21. Titles: command dialogs use __label (catalogued; trailing … stripped in chrome); fixed kinds use dialogs::title + tl!.
22. User-visible strings: tl!("…"); command labels from the menu catalog where possible.

Confirm / cancel safety

23. Child dialogs first—refuse parent confirm if a nested color picker is open; cancel parent closes children where implemented.
24. Validate before close when params can be inconsistent (guide_layout_ui::validate in confirm).
25. Disable OK when required input is missing (crop_presets::can_confirm, Preferences Apply when unchanged).
26. Preferences over control: whole-dialog OK/Apply may be refused; safe single prefs via prefs.set (see control-protocol).

Testing

27. egui_kittest: open dialog, run_steps, key presses, assert fields or accessibility roles (field_tab tests are the reference harness).
28. Tab-order regressions: add tests when a dialog gains multiple text/number fields.
29. Filter preview: dialogs.rs tests for preview persistence across background jobs.

Anti-patterns

30. No panics in body / confirm on bad input—errors to status or validation.
31. No hard-coded colours or radii—theme::Tokens and widgets.rs.
32. Do not skip confirm dispatch—Enter and ui.dialog.confirm use it.
33. Do not expect click-outside-to-close on egui::Modal.
34. Do not register sliders or dropdowns for field_tab unless product explicitly changes Photoshop parity.

Adding a command dialog (checklist)

1. Choose path: see Command routing (adjust_dialog, filter_dialog, __form, __sizing, …, or new *_ui with a unique marker).
2. open: build fields (__command, __label, params, marker); app.ui.open_dialog(DialogKind::Command, f).
3. body(app, ui, &mut fields)—mutate fields only; use shared widgets.
4. confirm / cancel arms in dialogs.rs (or delegate to module confirm).
5. Tab: register every text/number field; use value_field / number_edit where possible.
6. Alt+Reset (optional): implement reset on the module and add an arm in dialog_alt_reset (same dispatch order as dialogs::show). Snapshot open values under a __*Orig key when Reset should restore “as opened” rather than factory defaults.
7. Tests: at least open + confirm or Tab sequence if non-trivial; if Alt+Reset is supported, assert Reset restores fields and leaves the dialog open.
8. If menu-visible: command already in engine; menu id opens dialog via existing menu wiring.

Known gaps

• Tab registration for plain TextEdit is manual; generic __form string fields may not join field_tab unless wired.
• “Dialog module” is any UI routed from dialogs::show, not only files named *dialog*.
• Numeric field parity (units in expressions, scrubby labels) is tracked in ui-parity.md (Navigation / numeric fields), not duplicated here.

Revision history

Date	Change
2026-10-11	Initial doc from dialog codebase audit
2026-10-11	Document all DialogKind values and Command routing markers
2026-10-11	Alt+Cancel → Reset hub (dialog_alt_reset); opt-in markers