GtkMenuItem

GtkMenuItem — The widget used for item in menus

Functions

Properties

char * accel-path Read / Write
char * label Read / Write
gboolean right-justified Read / Write
GtkMenu * submenu Read / Write
gboolean use-underline Read / Write

Style Properties

Signals

Types and Values

Object Hierarchy

    GObject
    ╰── GInitiallyUnowned
        ╰── GtkWidget
            ╰── GtkContainer
                ╰── GtkBin
                    ╰── GtkMenuItem
                        ├── GtkCheckMenuItem
                        ├── GtkImageMenuItem
                        ├── GtkSeparatorMenuItem
                        ╰── GtkTearoffMenuItem

Implemented Interfaces

GtkMenuItem implements AtkImplementorIface, GtkBuildable, GtkActivatable and GtkActionable.

Includes

#include <gtk/gtk.h>

Description

The GtkMenuItem widget and the derived widgets are the only valid children for menus. Their function is to correctly handle highlighting, alignment, events and submenus.

As a GtkMenuItem derives from GtkBin it can hold any valid child widget, although only a few are really useful.

By default, a GtkMenuItem sets a GtkAccelLabel as its child. GtkMenuItem has direct functions to set the label and its mnemonic. For more advanced label settings, you can fetch the child widget from the GtkBin.

An example for setting markup and accelerator on a MenuItem:

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GtkWidget *menu_item = gtk_menu_item_new_with_label ("Example Menu Item");

GtkWidget *child = gtk_bin_get_child (GTK_BIN (menu_item));
gtk_label_set_markup (GTK_LABEL (child), "<i>new label</i> with <b>markup</b>");
gtk_accel_label_set_accel (GTK_ACCEL_LABEL (child), GDK_KEY_1, 0);

GtkMenuItem as GtkBuildable

The GtkMenuItem implementation of the GtkBuildable interface supports adding a submenu by specifying “submenu” as the “type” attribute of a <child> element.

An example of UI definition fragment with submenus:

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<object class="GtkMenuItem">
  <child type="submenu">
    <object class="GtkMenu"/>
  </child>
</object>


CSS nodes

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menuitem
├── <child>
╰── [arrow.right]

GtkMenuItem has a single CSS node with name menuitem. If the menuitem has a submenu, it gets another CSS node with name arrow, which has the .left or .right style class.

Functions

gtk_menu_item_new ()

GtkWidget *
gtk_menu_item_new (void);

Creates a new GtkMenuItem.

Returns

the newly created GtkMenuItem


gtk_menu_item_new_with_label ()

GtkWidget *
gtk_menu_item_new_with_label (const gchar *label);

Creates a new GtkMenuItem whose child is a GtkLabel.

Parameters

label

the text for the label

 

Returns

the newly created GtkMenuItem


gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic ()

GtkWidget *
gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic (const gchar *label);

Creates a new GtkMenuItem containing a label.

The label will be created using gtk_label_new_with_mnemonic(), so underscores in label indicate the mnemonic for the menu item.

Parameters

label

The text of the button, with an underscore in front of the mnemonic character

 

Returns

a new GtkMenuItem


gtk_menu_item_set_right_justified ()

void
gtk_menu_item_set_right_justified (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                                   gboolean right_justified);

gtk_menu_item_set_right_justified has been deprecated since version 3.2 and should not be used in newly-written code.

If you insist on using it, use gtk_widget_set_hexpand() and gtk_widget_set_halign().

Sets whether the menu item appears justified at the right side of a menu bar. This was traditionally done for “Help” menu items, but is now considered a bad idea. (If the widget layout is reversed for a right-to-left language like Hebrew or Arabic, right-justified-menu-items appear at the left.)

Parameters

menu_item

a GtkMenuItem.

 

right_justified

if TRUE the menu item will appear at the far right if added to a menu bar

 

gtk_menu_item_get_right_justified ()

gboolean
gtk_menu_item_get_right_justified (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);

gtk_menu_item_get_right_justified has been deprecated since version 3.2 and should not be used in newly-written code.

See gtk_menu_item_set_right_justified()

Gets whether the menu item appears justified at the right side of the menu bar.

Parameters

menu_item

a GtkMenuItem

 

Returns

TRUE if the menu item will appear at the far right if added to a menu bar.


gtk_menu_item_get_label ()

const gchar *
gtk_menu_item_get_label (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);

Sets text on the menu_item label

Parameters

menu_item

a GtkMenuItem

 

Returns

The text in the menu_item label. This is the internal string used by the label, and must not be modified.

Since: 2.16


gtk_menu_item_set_label ()

void
gtk_menu_item_set_label (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                         const gchar *label);

Sets text on the menu_item label

Parameters

menu_item

a GtkMenuItem

 

label

the text you want to set

 

Since: 2.16


gtk_menu_item_get_use_underline ()

gboolean
gtk_menu_item_get_use_underline (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);

Checks if an underline in the text indicates the next character should be used for the mnemonic accelerator key.

Parameters

menu_item

a GtkMenuItem

 

Returns

TRUE if an embedded underline in the label indicates the mnemonic accelerator key.

Since: 2.16


gtk_menu_item_set_use_underline ()

void
gtk_menu_item_set_use_underline (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                                 gboolean setting);

If true, an underline in the text indicates the next character should be used for the mnemonic accelerator key.

Parameters

menu_item

a GtkMenuItem

 

setting

TRUE if underlines in the text indicate mnemonics

 

Since: 2.16


gtk_menu_item_set_submenu ()

void
gtk_menu_item_set_submenu (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                           GtkWidget *submenu);

Sets or replaces the menu item’s submenu, or removes it when a NULL submenu is passed.

Parameters

menu_item

a GtkMenuItem

 

submenu

the submenu, or NULL.

[allow-none][type Gtk.Menu]

gtk_menu_item_get_submenu ()

GtkWidget *
gtk_menu_item_get_submenu (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);

Gets the submenu underneath this menu item, if any. See gtk_menu_item_set_submenu().

Parameters

menu_item

a GtkMenuItem

 

Returns

submenu for this menu item, or NULL if none.

[nullable][transfer none]


gtk_menu_item_set_accel_path ()

void
gtk_menu_item_set_accel_path (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                              const gchar *accel_path);

Set the accelerator path on menu_item , through which runtime changes of the menu item’s accelerator caused by the user can be identified and saved to persistent storage (see gtk_accel_map_save() on this). To set up a default accelerator for this menu item, call gtk_accel_map_add_entry() with the same accel_path . See also gtk_accel_map_add_entry() on the specifics of accelerator paths, and gtk_menu_set_accel_path() for a more convenient variant of this function.

This function is basically a convenience wrapper that handles calling gtk_widget_set_accel_path() with the appropriate accelerator group for the menu item.

Note that you do need to set an accelerator on the parent menu with gtk_menu_set_accel_group() for this to work.

Note that accel_path string will be stored in a GQuark. Therefore, if you pass a static string, you can save some memory by interning it first with g_intern_static_string().

Parameters

menu_item

a valid GtkMenuItem

 

accel_path

accelerator path, corresponding to this menu item’s functionality, or NULL to unset the current path.

[allow-none]

gtk_menu_item_get_accel_path ()

const gchar *
gtk_menu_item_get_accel_path (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);

Retrieve the accelerator path that was previously set on menu_item .

See gtk_menu_item_set_accel_path() for details.

Parameters

menu_item

a valid GtkMenuItem

 

Returns

the accelerator path corresponding to this menu item’s functionality, or NULL if not set.

[nullable][transfer none]

Since: 2.14


gtk_menu_item_select ()

void
gtk_menu_item_select (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);

Emits the “select” signal on the given item.

Parameters

menu_item

the menu item

 

gtk_menu_item_deselect ()

void
gtk_menu_item_deselect (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);

Emits the “deselect” signal on the given item.

Parameters

menu_item

the menu item

 

gtk_menu_item_activate ()

void
gtk_menu_item_activate (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);

Emits the “activate” signal on the given item

Parameters

menu_item

the menu item

 

gtk_menu_item_toggle_size_request ()

void
gtk_menu_item_toggle_size_request (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                                   gint *requisition);

Emits the “toggle-size-request” signal on the given item.

Parameters

menu_item

the menu item

 

requisition

the requisition to use as signal data.

[inout]

gtk_menu_item_toggle_size_allocate ()

void
gtk_menu_item_toggle_size_allocate (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                                    gint allocation);

Emits the “toggle-size-allocate” signal on the given item.

Parameters

menu_item

the menu item.

 

allocation

the allocation to use as signal data.

 

gtk_menu_item_get_reserve_indicator ()

gboolean
gtk_menu_item_get_reserve_indicator (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);

Returns whether the menu_item reserves space for the submenu indicator, regardless if it has a submenu or not.

Parameters

menu_item

a GtkMenuItem

 

Returns

TRUE if menu_item always reserves space for the submenu indicator

Since: 3.0


gtk_menu_item_set_reserve_indicator ()

void
gtk_menu_item_set_reserve_indicator (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                                     gboolean reserve);

Sets whether the menu_item should reserve space for the submenu indicator, regardless if it actually has a submenu or not.

There should be little need for applications to call this functions.

Parameters

menu_item

a GtkMenuItem

 

reserve

the new value

 

Since: 3.0

Types and Values

struct GtkMenuItem

struct GtkMenuItem;

struct GtkMenuItemClass

struct GtkMenuItemClass {
  GtkBinClass parent_class;

  /* If the following flag is true, then we should always
   * hide the menu when the MenuItem is activated. Otherwise,
   * it is up to the caller. For instance, when navigating
   * a menu with the keyboard, <Space> doesn't hide, but
   * <Return> does.
   */
  guint hide_on_activate : 1;

  void (* activate)             (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);
  void (* activate_item)        (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);
  void (* toggle_size_request)  (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                                 gint        *requisition);
  void (* toggle_size_allocate) (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                                 gint         allocation);
  void (* set_label)            (GtkMenuItem *menu_item,
                                 const gchar *label);
  const gchar * (* get_label)   (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);

  void (* select)               (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);
  void (* deselect)             (GtkMenuItem *menu_item);
};

Members

guint hide_on_activate : 1;

If TRUE, then we should always hide the menu when the GtkMenuItem is activated. Otherwise, it is up to the caller.

 

activate ()

Signal emitted when the item is activated.

 

activate_item ()

Signal emitted when the item is activated, but also if the menu item has a submenu.

 

toggle_size_request ()

   

toggle_size_allocate ()

   

set_label ()

Sets text on the GtkMenuItem label

 

get_label ()

Gets text from the GtkMenuItem label

 

select ()

Signal emitted when the item is selected.

 

deselect ()

Signal emitted when the item is deselected.

 

Property Details

The “accel-path” property

  “accel-path”               char *

Sets the accelerator path of the menu item, through which runtime changes of the menu item's accelerator caused by the user can be identified and saved to persistant storage.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read / Write

Default value: NULL

Since: 2.14


The “label” property

  “label”                    char *

The text for the child label.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read / Write

Default value: ""

Since: 2.16


The “right-justified” property

  “right-justified”          gboolean

Sets whether the menu item appears justified at the right side of a menu bar.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read / Write

Default value: FALSE

Since: 2.14


The “submenu” property

  “submenu”                  GtkMenu *

The submenu attached to the menu item, or NULL if it has none.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read / Write

Since: 2.12


The “use-underline” property

  “use-underline”            gboolean

TRUE if underlines in the text indicate mnemonics.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read / Write

Default value: FALSE

Since: 2.16

Style Property Details

The “arrow-scaling” style property

  “arrow-scaling”            float

Amount of space used up by the arrow, relative to the menu item's font size.

GtkMenuItem:arrow-scaling has been deprecated since version 3.20 and should not be used in newly-written code.

use the standard min-width/min-height CSS properties on the arrow node; the value of this style property is ignored.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read

Allowed values: [0,2]

Default value: 0.8


The “arrow-spacing” style property

  “arrow-spacing”            int

Spacing between menu item label and submenu arrow.

GtkMenuItem:arrow-spacing has been deprecated since version 3.20 and should not be used in newly-written code.

use the standard margin CSS property on the arrow node; the value of this style property is ignored.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read

Allowed values: >= 0

Default value: 10


The “horizontal-padding” style property

  “horizontal-padding”       int

Padding to left and right of the menu item.

GtkMenuItem:horizontal-padding has been deprecated since version 3.8 and should not be used in newly-written code.

use the standard padding CSS property (through objects like GtkStyleContext and GtkCssProvider); the value of this style property is ignored.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read

Allowed values: >= 0

Default value: 0


The “selected-shadow-type” style property

  “selected-shadow-type”     GtkShadowType

The shadow type when the item is selected.

GtkMenuItem:selected-shadow-type has been deprecated since version 3.20 and should not be used in newly-written code.

Use CSS to determine the shadow; the value of this style property is ignored.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read

Default value: GTK_SHADOW_NONE


The “toggle-spacing” style property

  “toggle-spacing”           int

Spacing between menu icon and label.

GtkMenuItem:toggle-spacing has been deprecated since version 3.20 and should not be used in newly-written code.

use the standard margin CSS property on the check or radio nodes; the value of this style property is ignored.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read

Allowed values: >= 0

Default value: 5


The “width-chars” style property

  “width-chars”              int

The minimum desired width of the menu item in characters.

GtkMenuItem:width-chars has been deprecated since version 3.20 and should not be used in newly-written code.

Use the standard CSS property min-width; the value of this style property is ignored.

Owner: GtkMenuItem

Flags: Read

Allowed values: >= 0

Default value: 12

Since: 2.14

Signal Details

The “activate” signal

void
user_function (GtkMenuItem *menuitem,
               gpointer     user_data)

Emitted when the item is activated.

Parameters

menuitem

the object which received the signal.

 

user_data

user data set when the signal handler was connected.

 

Flags: Action


The “activate-item” signal

void
user_function (GtkMenuItem *menuitem,
               gpointer     user_data)

Emitted when the item is activated, but also if the menu item has a submenu. For normal applications, the relevant signal is “activate”.

Parameters

menuitem

the object which received the signal.

 

user_data

user data set when the signal handler was connected.

 

Flags: Run First


The “deselect” signal

void
user_function (GtkMenuItem *menuitem,
               gpointer     user_data)

Flags: Run First


The “select” signal

void
user_function (GtkMenuItem *menuitem,
               gpointer     user_data)

Flags: Run First


The “toggle-size-allocate” signal

void
user_function (GtkMenuItem *menuitem,
               int          arg1,
               gpointer     user_data)

Flags: Run First


The “toggle-size-request” signal

void
user_function (GtkMenuItem *menuitem,
               gpointer     arg1,
               gpointer     user_data)

Flags: Run First

See Also

GtkBin, GtkMenuShell