World of Warcraft® Programming, Second Edition -- About the Authors -- About the Technical Editors -- Credits -- Acknowledgments -- Contents at a Glance -- Contents -- Introduction -- Part I: Learning to Program -- Chapter 1: Programming for World of Warcraft -- Customizing the User Interface -- Creating Your First Addon: HeyThere -- Summary -- Chapter 2: Exploring Lua Basics -- Downloading and Installing Lua -- Using the Lua Interpreter -- Working with Numbers -- Understanding Values and Variables -- Working with Strings -- Boolean Values and Operators -- Exploring Scope -- Summary -- Chapter 3: Basic Functions and Control Structures -- Using Functions -- Making Decisions with the if Statement -- Repeating Actions with the while Statement -- Looping with the Numeric for Statement -- Summary -- Chapter 4: Working with Tables -- Storing Data Using Tables -- Using Tables as Arrays -- Using Tables as Namespaces -- Object-Oriented Programming with Tables -- Extending Tables with Metatables -- Summary -- Chapter 5: Advanced Functions and Control Structures -- Multiple Return Values -- Using a Dummy Variable -- Using the select() Function -- Accepting a Variable Number of Arguments -- Declaring a Vararg Function -- Using select() with ... -- Generic for Loops and Iterators -- Summary -- Chapter 6: Lua Standard Libraries -- Table Library -- String Utility Functions -- Formatting New Strings -- Pattern Matching -- Pattern Matching Functions -- Math Library -- World of Warcraft Additions to Lua -- Function Aliases -- Summary -- Chapter 7: Learning XML -- XML as a Markup Language -- Validating an XML Document -- XML in World of Warcraft -- Summary -- Part II: Programming in World of Warcraft -- Chapter 8: Anatomy of an Addon -- Exploring an Addon's Files and Folders -- X-Label Directives -- Addon Categories -- Localizing Your Addons.

Introducing Frames, Widget Scripts, and Events -- Loading of an Addon -- Summary -- Chapter 9: Working with Frames, Widgets, and Other Graphical Elements -- Introducing BagBuddy -- Creating an Addon Skeleton -- Creating a Frame -- Adding Layers of Textures and Font Strings -- Understanding Object Visibility -- Finding Existing Frames -- Summary -- The Code -- Chapter 10: Saving Time with Frame Templates -- Understanding Templates -- Creating a Template for BagBuddy's Item Buttons -- Exploring Font Definitions -- Investigating UIPanelTemplates -- Summary -- The Code -- Chapter 11: Exploring the World of Warcraft API -- Understanding the WoW API -- Querying Item Information for BagBuddy -- Writing a Bag Scanner -- Finding the Right API Functions -- Summary -- The Code -- Chapter 12: Interacting with Widgets -- Making BagBuddy's Buttons Interactive -- Adding Clickable Buttons to BagBuddy -- Navigating Multiple Pages -- Adding a Name Filter to BagBuddy -- Exploring Widget Types -- Summary -- The Code -- Chapter 13: Responding to Game Events -- Understanding Events -- Tracking Changes to Inventory for BagBuddy -- Storing Data with SavedVariables -- Using Items from BagBuddy -- Finding the Right Event Using /eventtrace -- Summary -- The Code -- Chapter 14: Tracking Damage with CombatTracker -- Defining Specifications -- Creating the Addon's Skeleton -- Defining CombatTracker's XML Frame -- Testing CombatTrackerFrame -- Adding Script Handlers to CombatTrackerFrame -- Adding Functions to CombatTracker. lua -- Testing CombatTracker -- Summary -- Part III: Advanced Addon Techniques -- Chapter 15: Taking Action with Secure Templates -- Why Are Secure Templates Necessary? -- Protected Frames -- Using Secure Templates -- Applying Action Buttons in Practice -- Understanding Taint and Working Safely Around Secure Code -- Summary.

Chapter 16: Binding Keys and Clicks to Addon Code -- Defining Bindings in XML -- Creating Your Own Binding Actions -- Binding Keys to Actions -- Working with Existing Bindings -- Binding Keys to Secure Actions -- Summary -- The Code -- Chapter 17: Creating Slash Commands -- Creating Basic Slash Commands -- Tokenizing Strings -- Tokenizing with Patterns -- Using a Command Table -- Summary -- The Code -- Chapter 18: Responding to Graphic Updates with OnUpdate -- Understanding Graphic Updates -- Delaying Code Using OnUpdate -- Grouping Events to Avoid Over-Processing -- Grouping Multiple Events -- Repeating Code with OnUpdate -- Considering Performance with OnUpdate Scripts -- Summary -- Chapter 19: Altering Existing Behavior with Function Hooking -- What Is Function Hooking? -- Deciding When to Hook -- Designing an Addon: MapZoomOut -- Summary -- The Code -- Chapter 20: Creating Custom Graphics -- Common Rules for Creating Graphics -- The GIMP -- Adobe Photoshop -- Paint Shop Pro -- Testing Your Texture -- Summary -- Chapter 21: Responding to the Combat Log and Threat Information -- Understanding the Combat Log -- Writing CombatStatus -- Creating the Basic Addon Structure -- Summary -- Chapter 22: Creating Scroll Frames -- Using Scroll Frames -- Creating Faux Scroll Frames -- Summary -- The Code -- Chapter 23: Creating Dropdown Menus -- Creating a Basic Dropdown -- Creating Multilevel Dropdowns -- Adding Functionality to Dropdowns -- ColorPicker Menu Items -- Using Dropdowns for Selection -- Automating Menu Creation with EasyMenu -- Creating Dynamic Menus -- Summary -- Chapter 24: Scanning and Constructing Tooltips -- Understanding the Tooltip System -- Getting Information from Tooltips -- Summary -- Chapter 25: Taking Protected Action in Combat -- Snippets: The Basis of Secure Action -- Secure Handler Frames.

Preserving State and Controlling Information -- Frame Handles -- Wrapping Frame Scripts -- Triggered Changes -- Summary -- The Code -- Chapter 26: Creating Unit Frames with Group Templates -- Configuring a SecureGroupHeader -- Creating SquareUnitFrames -- Responding to Events and Clicks -- Enhancing SquareUnitFrames -- Adding Pets to SquareUnitFrames -- Creating a SecureGroupPetHeaderTemplate -- Summary -- The Code -- Part IV: Reference -- Chapter 27: API Reference -- API Reference Conventions -- API Meta-Types -- Chapter 28: API Categories -- API Reference -- Chapter 29: Widget Reference -- Widget Types -- Widget Scripts -- Chapter 30: Events Reference -- Part V: Appendixes -- Appendix A: Best Practices -- General Programming -- Lua Tips -- The WoW Environment -- Avoiding Common Mistakes -- Appendix B: Utilizing Addon Libraries -- What Is an Addon Library? -- How Do Libraries Work? -- Using a Library -- Other Library Resources -- Appendix C: Tracking History Using Version Control Systems -- Subversion -- Git and Mercurial -- Appendix D: Addon Author Resources -- Community Websites -- Internet Relay Chat (IRC) -- Distributing and Supporting Your Addon -- Index.