Gtk2::Notebook(3)

💖 Gtk2::Notebook 💖

okay bestie, welcome to the manual page for Gtk2::Notebook(3) — that's the Perl wrapper for GtkNotebook, from the User Contributed Perl Documentation. it's giving tabbed-interface royalty, and honestly? iconic. let's get into it 🎀

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🌸 NAME 🌸

Gtk2::Notebook — it's a wrapper for GtkNotebook. that's it, that's the name section, slay 💅

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🦋 HIERARCHY 🦋

so this is the family tree, and you gotta respect the lineage:

  Glib::Object
  +----Glib::InitiallyUnowned
       +----Gtk2::Object
            +----Gtk2::Widget
                 +----Gtk2::Container
                      +----Gtk2::Notebook

it's descended from Glib::Object all the way down through Glib::InitiallyUnowned, Gtk2::Object, Gtk2::Widget, and Gtk2::Container before it becomes its own main character as Gtk2::Notebook. periodt. 👑

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✨ INTERFACES ✨

these are the interfaces it's rockin':

• Glib::Object::_Unregistered::AtkImplementorIface
• Gtk2::Buildable

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💅 METHODS 💅

okay here's the good stuff, the actual things you can do. buckle up.

• widget = Gtk2::Notebook->new — makes you a shiny brand-new notebook, no cap.
• widget or undef = $notebook->get_action_widget ($pack_type) — grabs the action widget for a given pack type.
  • $pack_type (Gtk2::PackType)
  • Since: gtk+ 2.20
• $notebook->set_action_widget ($widget, $pack_type) — sets the action widget.
  • $widget (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $pack_type (Gtk2::PackType)
  • Since: gtk+ 2.20
• integer = $notebook->append_page ($child, $tab_label=undef) — appends a page to the end, obviously.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $tab_label (scalar)
  • (integer return since Gtk2-Perl 1.080)
• integer = $notebook->append_page_menu ($child, $tab_label, $menu_label) — append a page with a menu label too.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $tab_label (Gtk2::Widget or undef)
  • $menu_label (Gtk2::Widget or undef)
  • (integer return since Gtk2-Perl 1.080)
• integer = $notebook->get_current_page — which page are we on rn? this tells you.
• $notebook->set_current_page ($page_num) — sets the current page.
  • $page_num (integer)
• integer = $notebook->get_group_id — gets the group id.
  • Since: gtk+ 2.10
• $notebook->set_group_id ($group_id) — sets the group id.
  • $group_id (integer)
  • Since: gtk+ 2.10
• integer = $notebook->insert_page ($child, $tab_label, $position) — inserts a page at a specific spot, very precise of you.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $tab_label (scalar)
  • $position (integer)
  • (integer return since Gtk2-Perl 1.080)
• integer = $notebook->insert_page_menu ($child, $tab_label, $menu_label, $position) — inserts a page with a menu label, at a position.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $tab_label (Gtk2::Widget or undef)
  • $menu_label (Gtk2::Widget or undef)
  • $position (integer)
  • (integer return since Gtk2-Perl 1.080)
• widget or undef = $notebook->get_menu_label ($child) — gets the menu label widget for a child.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
• $notebook->set_menu_label ($child, $menu_label=undef) — sets the menu label for a child.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $menu_label (Gtk2::Widget or undef)
• string = $notebook->get_menu_label_text ($child) — gets the menu label text.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
• $notebook->set_menu_label_text ($child, $menu_text) — sets the menu label text.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $menu_text (string)
• integer = $notebook->get_n_pages — how many pages we got? this.
• $notebook->next_page — go to the next page, onward bestie ➡️
• widget or undef = $notebook->get_nth_page ($page_num) — grabs the widget at that page index.
  • $page_num (integer)
• integer = $notebook->page_num ($child) — what page index is this child on?
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
• $notebook->popup_disable — disables the popup.
• $notebook->popup_enable — enables the popup.
• integer = $notebook->prepend_page ($child, $tab_label=undef) — puts a page at the very front, main character behavior honestly.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $tab_label (scalar)
  • (integer return since Gtk2-Perl 1.080)
• integer = $notebook->prepend_page_menu ($child, $tab_label, $menu_label) — prepend a page with a menu label.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $tab_label (Gtk2::Widget or undef)
  • $menu_label (Gtk2::Widget or undef)
  • (integer return since Gtk2-Perl 1.080)
• $notebook->prev_page — go back a page ⬅️
• list = $notebook->query_tab_label_packing ($child) — returns a list about the tab label packing.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
• $notebook->remove_page ($page_num) — removes a page by index. bye bestie 👋
  • $page_num (integer)
• $notebook->reorder_child ($child, $position) — moves a child to a new position.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $position (integer)
• boolean = $notebook->get_scrollable — is it scrollable? asks.
• $notebook->set_scrollable ($scrollable) — sets the scrollable-ness.
  • $scrollable (boolean)
• boolean = $notebook->get_show_border — is the border showing?
• $notebook->set_show_border ($show_border) — toggles the border.
  • $show_border (boolean)
• boolean = $notebook->get_show_tabs — are the tabs showing?
• $notebook->set_show_tabs ($show_tabs) — toggles the tabs.
  • $show_tabs (boolean)
• $notebook->set_tab_border ($border_width) — sets the tab border width.
  • $border_width (integer)
• boolean = $notebook->get_tab_detachable ($child) — can this tab be detached?
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • Since: gtk+ 2.10
• $notebook->set_tab_detachable ($child, $detachable) — sets whether that tab is detachable.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $detachable (boolean)
  • Since: gtk+ 2.10
• unsigned = $notebook->get_tab_hborder — gets the tab horizontal border.
  • Since: gtk+ 2.22
• $notebook->set_tab_hborder ($tab_hborder) — sets the tab horizontal border.
  • $tab_hborder (integer)
• widget = $notebook->get_tab_label ($child) — gets the tab label widget for a child.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
• $notebook->set_tab_label_packing ($child, $expand, $fill, $pack_type) — sets the packing for a child's tab label.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $expand (boolean)
  • $fill (boolean)
  • $pack_type (Gtk2::PackType)
• $notebook->set_tab_label ($child, $tab_label=undef) — sets the tab label for a child.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $tab_label (Gtk2::Widget or undef)
• string = $notebook->get_tab_label_text ($child) — gets the tab label text.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
• $notebook->set_tab_label_text ($child, $tab_text) — sets the tab label text.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $tab_text (string)
• positiontype = $notebook->get_tab_pos — where are the tabs even at?
• $notebook->set_tab_pos ($pos) — sets the tab position.
  • $pos (Gtk2::PositionType)
• boolean = $notebook->get_tab_reorderable ($child) — can the user reorder this tab?
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • Since: gtk+ 2.10
• $notebook->set_tab_reorderable ($child, $reorderable) — sets whether it's reorderable.
  • $child (Gtk2::Widget)
  • $reorderable (boolean)
  • Since: gtk+ 2.10
• unsigned = $notebook->get_tab_vborder — gets the tab vertical border.
  • Since: gtk+ 2.22
• $notebook->set_tab_vborder ($tab_vborder) — sets the tab vertical border.
  • $tab_vborder (integer)
• Gtk2::Notebook->set_window_creation_hook ($func, $data=undef) — sets the window creation hook.
  • $func (scalar)
  • $data (scalar)
  • Since: gtk+ 2.10

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🎀 PROPERTIES 🎀

these are the notebook's own little settings, and yes, each one lists its type, default, and flags, so read carefully bestie:

• 'enable-popup' (boolean : default false : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — if TRUE, pressing the right mouse button on the notebook pops up a menu that you can use to go to a page 🖱️
• 'group' (gpointer : default 0 : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb / deprecated) — group for tabs drag and drop. heads up, this one's deprecated!
• 'group-id' (integer : default -1 : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb / deprecated) — group ID for tabs drag and drop. also deprecated, no cap.
• 'group-name' (string : default undef : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — group name for tabs drag and drop.
• 'homogeneous' (boolean : default false : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — whether tabs should have homogeneous sizes.
• 'page' (integer : default -1 : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — the index of the current page.
• 'scrollable' (boolean : default false : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — if TRUE, scroll arrows are added if there are too many tabs to fit.
• 'show-border' (boolean : default true : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — whether the border should be shown or not.
• 'show-tabs' (boolean : default true : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — whether tabs should be shown or not.
• 'tab-border' (Glib::UInt : default 2 : writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — width of the border around the tab labels. (note: writable only, not readable, iykyk)
• 'tab-hborder' (Glib::UInt : default 2 : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — width of the horizontal border of tab labels.
• 'tab-pos' (Gtk2::PositionType : default "top" : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — which side of the notebook holds the tabs.
• 'tab-vborder' (Glib::UInt : default 2 : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — width of the vertical border of tab labels.

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🧚 CHILD PROPERTIES 🧚

these are the properties that belong to the children of the notebook, one per page, and they're giving customization energy:

• 'detachable' (boolean : default false : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — whether the tab is detachable.
• 'menu-label' (string : default undef : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — the string displayed in the child's menu entry.
• 'position' (integer : default 0 : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — the index of the child in the parent.
• 'reorderable' (boolean : default false : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — whether the tab is reorderable by user action or not.
• 'tab-expand' (boolean : default false : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — whether to expand the child's tab or not.
• 'tab-fill' (boolean : default true : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — whether the child's tab should fill the allocated area or not.
• 'tab-label' (string : default undef : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — the string displayed on the child's tab label.
• 'tab-pack' (Gtk2::PackType : default "start" : readable / writable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — a GtkPackType indicating whether the child is packed with reference to the start or end of the parent.

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💜 STYLE PROPERTIES 💜

the aesthetic settings, the glow-up section, if you will:

• 'arrow-spacing' (integer : default 0 : readable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — scroll arrow spacing.
• 'has-backward-stepper' (boolean : default true : readable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — display the standard backward arrow button.
• 'has-forward-stepper' (boolean : default true : readable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — display the standard forward arrow button.
• 'has-secondary-backward-stepper' (boolean : default false : readable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — display a second backward arrow button on the opposite end of the tab area.
• 'has-secondary-forward-stepper' (boolean : default false : readable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — display a second forward arrow button on the opposite end of the tab area.
• 'tab-curvature' (integer : default 1 : readable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — size of tab curvature.
• 'tab-overlap' (integer : default 2 : readable / private / static-nick / static-blurb) — size of tab overlap area.

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🔥 SIGNALS 🔥

the notebook yells these out when stuff happens. connect to them, bestie, and vibe check accordingly:

• boolean = change-current-page (Gtk2::Notebook, integer)
• Gtk2::Notebook = create-window (Gtk2::Notebook, Gtk2::Widget, integer, integer)
• boolean = focus-tab (Gtk2::Notebook, Gtk2::NotebookTab)
• move-focus-out (Gtk2::Notebook, Gtk2::DirectionType)
• page-added (Gtk2::Notebook, Gtk2::Widget, Glib::UInt)
• page-removed (Gtk2::Notebook, Gtk2::Widget, Glib::UInt)
• page-reordered (Gtk2::Notebook, Gtk2::Widget, Glib::UInt)
• boolean = reorder-tab (Gtk2::Notebook, Gtk2::DirectionType, boolean)
• boolean = select-page (Gtk2::Notebook, boolean)
• switch-page (Gtk2::Notebook, gpointer, Glib::UInt)

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🌈 ENUMS AND FLAGS 🌈

the little named constants, all listed out because we do NOT skip details in this house:

enum Gtk2::DirectionType

• 'tab-forward' / GTK_DIR_TAB_FORWARD
• 'tab-backward' / GTK_DIR_TAB_BACKWARD
• 'up' / GTK_DIR_UP
• 'down' / GTK_DIR_DOWN
• 'left' / GTK_DIR_LEFT
• 'right' / GTK_DIR_RIGHT

enum Gtk2::NotebookTab

• 'first' / GTK_NOTEBOOK_TAB_FIRST
• 'last' / GTK_NOTEBOOK_TAB_LAST

enum Gtk2::PackType

• 'start' / GTK_PACK_START
• 'end' / GTK_PACK_END

enum Gtk2::PositionType

• 'left' / GTK_POS_LEFT
• 'right' / GTK_POS_RIGHT
• 'top' / GTK_POS_TOP
• 'bottom' / GTK_POS_BOTTOM

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and that's part 1, bestie — more of this page is coming, so don't go anywhere 💖

✨ SEE ALSO ✨

okay bestie, when you're done living your Gtk2::Notebook main character era, here's the lil friend group you're gonna wanna visit next 🫶

• Gtk2 — the whole vibe, the mothership, the it-girl of the family 💅
• Glib::Object — the ancestor at the very top of the tree, no cap
• Glib::InitiallyUnowned — also up there in the lineage, iconic behaviour
• Gtk2::Object — one rung down, still giving legacy
• Gtk2::Widget — everything you can see and touch basically descends from this
• Gtk2::Container — the direct parent energy, the one that taught notebook how to hold things

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💖 COPYRIGHT 💖

the receipts, periodt ✨

Copyright (C) 2003-2011 by the gtk2-perl team.

This software is licensed under the LGPL. See Gtk2 for a full notice. 🎀

fr fr, go read the Gtk2 page if you want the whole legal saga — it's all there, and it ate 💅

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and that's a wrap on Gtk2::Notebook, bestie!! 🌈 this lil legend was written up in perl v5.42.0, dated 2025-07-25, and it lives at Gtk2::Notebook(3) — go forth and build the cutest tabbed interfaces the world has ever seen 👑💜✨