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# 2.3 Add a Status Bar

The first component we will add to the application will be a status bar. A status bar is used to give information about a program when it runs. We will use the status bar to indicate to the user what is happening when slow actions occur, to give simple help messages or other information you might want to show.

- Select the Frame1 tab in the Editor to ensure that we are editing the Frame.
- Start the Designer, by clicking the designer button from the Editor toolbar.
- The Frame will be displayed as a drawing area.
- On the Palette select the tab called 'Containers/Layout'. This tab contains entries for components which are used with frames, the status bar is one of these.
- Move the mouse over the buttons. Balloon help should show, one of these buttons represents the wx.StatusBar control. This is the control we want. Select this button using the mouse.
- The button should change shading to indicate that it is pressed. The Palette contains a checkbox to show the currently selected component type. This should reflect wx.StatusBar.

- Now move the mouse cursor over the drawing frame. Press the mouse left button in the drawing area. This will create a status bar in the frame.
- The status line within the Inspector will display on the left the name of the current widget 'statusBar1', and on the right it shows which wxWidget class it is derived from, in this case 'wx.StatusBar' .
- In the Inspector select the 'Properties' pane. This pane is used to configure the properties of our status bar.
  - Click to edit the value of 'Fields'. The field will show a button with '+++'. Click the button. This opens the 'Collection Editor'.

- The Collection Editor is a tool, which is used to add multiple sub-components to components where required. We will add one field to the status bar, however you could add multiple fields.
- Press the 'New' button on the Collection Editor. This creates a new field within the status bar. This becomes the current field in the Inspector.
- Edit the field Text. Set the name from 'Fields0' to 'status'.
- The Collection Editor toolbar contains a 'Refresh' button . Press this button to see the Inspector change in the Collection Editor window.

- Close the Collection Editor window. Select the Designer window. Click the mouse anywhere in the drawing area to make the frame (Frame1) the current component.
- Select the properties pane in the Inspector.
- Edit the property 'StatusBar'. The drop down menu will show our new status bar. Select the status bar, this is necessary so that the frame can manage the status bar, i.e. it's possition at the bottom of the screen and it's size.

- Update the source code with the changes using either Post button .
- Save the source code changes using the Save button on the Editor toolbar.

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Next:Add a Menu Bar Up:Getting Started Guide for Boa Constructor Previous:Using the Designer to Set the Title