====== Phase 3: The Widgets (Functionality) ======

Widgets in Total Launcher are independent objects with specialized designs and features. They provide the functionality of a theme, acting as containers for apps, contacts, media controls, and system data.

===== Overview & Placement =====
  * **Placement:** Widgets can be added to any Page, Sliding Drawer, or Window.
  * **Floating Pop-ups:** By placing a widget inside a **Window**, floating tools (like a pop-up Music Player)can be created that appear on top of the content.
  * **Scrolling:** While Windows themselves do not scroll, scrolling widgets (like the App Drawer or RSS Reader) placed *inside* them will function correctly.

===== The "Big 4" Drawers =====
These four widgets are the primary tools for organizing and browsing setup content.

==== App Drawer ====
This is a comprehensive list of all applications installed on the device.
  * **Display:** Supports Grid (1-16 cols/rows) or List types.
  * **Smart Sorting:** Automatically ranks apps based on user patterns (time of day, location, frequency).
  * **Menu Bar:** Features a customizable bottom bar for Search, Sort, and Tagging.
  * **Search:** Supports full keyboard indexing and finding items inside folders.

==== App Drawer (Pager) ====
A specialized horizontal-scrolling drawer, similar to the standard Android experience.
  * **Key Difference:** Unlike the standard App Drawer which scrolls vertically, the Pager scrolls horizontally (Left/Right).
  * **Menu:** It does **not** feature the bottom Menu Bar (Sort/Search/Tag) found in the standard drawer.
  * **Default Layout:** Often defaults to a 4x3 grid structure but is fully customizable.

==== App Group ====
A "Super Folder" that acts as a container for a specific set of items (Apps, Windows, Shortcuts).
  * **Usage:** Best for curated groups like "Work Apps" or "Games".
  * **Sorting:** The only drawer that allows strictly **User Defined** manual ordering (drag and drop) within the widget Edit mode Options dialog.
  * **Constraint:** It does not update automatically when new apps are installed; they must be added manually.

==== Contacts ====
A specialized drawer for people.
  * **Interaction:** Supports **Long-click to Call** directly.
  * **Visuals:** Can display contact photos or default to a letter icon if no photo exists.
  * **Filter:** Can be set to hide contacts that have no phone number.

===== Utility Widgets =====
These built-in widgets provide system control and status information. An expanded discussion of these and more can be viewed [[section:section-widget|here]].

  * **Media Controller:** Controls music/video players (e.g., Spotify, Poweramp).
    * *Features:* Displays Title, Artist, and Album Art. [cite_start]Can be set to "Hide on no session" (disappear when music stops).
  * **Analog Clock:** A customizable clock face.
    * *Customization:* You can hide specific hands (e.g., make the Second Hand transparent) or apply custom images to the face.
  * **Compass:** Displays direction.
    * *Skin:* You can replace the needle with a custom image.
  * **Circle Indicator:** Visual status for **Battery**, **RAM**, **Storage**, or **SD Card**.
  * **Slider:** Linear control for **Brightness** or **Volume** (Media, Ring, Alarm).
  * **Checklist:** A simple to-do list widget.
    * *Management:* Tap an item to check it off; tap the "Edit" (Pencil) icon to add/delete items.

===== Visual Tools =====
Widgets designed purely for navigation and aesthetics.

  * **Page Indicator:** Visual dots showing the current page. Supports different images for "Current," "Normal," and "Home" states.
  * **Drawer Handle:** A larger, customizable trigger area to pull out a Sliding Drawer (Top/Bottom/Left/Right).
  * **Photo Slide:** A slideshow frame that cycles through images from a specific folder.
    * *Options:* Random pick, grayscale mode, and interval timing (6s - 60s).

===== Application Widgets (3rd Party) =====
Total Launcher can host any application's standard Android widget (e.g., Gmail, Calendar) whose application is installed on the user's device.

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**Critical Warning: Backup & Restore**
Total Launcher saves the **placeholder** for 3rd party widgets, but it cannot save the widget's internal settings.
* *Example:* When restoring a backup, a "Weather Widget" will appear as an empty gray box. It must be tapped to reinstall and then re-configured manually.
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===== Widget Comparison Chart =====
Here is a quick reference guide to the capabilities of the four drawer types. If preferred, a complete reference comparison can be viewed [[:section:section-widget_comparison|here]].

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^  Feature  ^  App Drawer  ^  App Group  ^  App Drawer (Pager)  ^
|  **Contents**  |  All Apps (Auto)  |  Manual Selection  |  All Apps (Auto)  |
|  **Scroll**  |  Vertical  |  Vertical  |  Vertical &\\ Horizontal  |
|  **Menu Bar**  |  Yes  |  No  |  Yes  |
|  **Sorting**((**Smart Sort** will display the most used apps within the App Drawer & App Drawer (Pager) widgets immediately following any //folders// included in the drawer. If this is not the desired effect, consider eliminating folders and instead use an App Group widget to manually set up "groups" (similar to folders) which will cause the App Drawer to show the "Smart Sort" at the beginning of the sort order.))  |  Smart / Name  |  Manual Drag & Drop  |  Smart / Name  |
|  **Set Tags\\ within widget**  |  Yes  |  No  |  Yes  |
|  **Shared Options\\ within widget**  |  Yes  |  No  |  Yes  |

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