This is a consolidated list of the announced (and sometimes observed) changes in the User Interface API's and functionality for the Burning Crusade expansion (2.0) release. Please note that this thread is to discuss the upcoming changes and any clarifications or features that are a direct result of those changes, or things which we've been asked to remind slouken of.

IMPORTANT: Off-topic or entirely redundant posts are liable to get deleted. It is however in everyone's best interest to not post them in the first place - We'd rather slouken could spend his time coding us cool things than moderating this thread!

WoW 2.0 represents a major change in the UI code, and as such ALL AddOns will need to be updated before they will work, if for no other reason than the Lua 5.0 to Lua 5.1 changes. Some AddOns will be more seriously affected, and a few will have to be redesigned.

Interface AddOn Kit
The WoW 2.0 *BETA* Interface AddOn Kit is now available for download here (For use with the Beta only):
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/downloads/expansion-bc/addonkit.zip

Significant Changes
The expansion will be using Lua version 5.1.1, which provides a number of useful features, most notably incremental garbage collection and memory-efficient variable arguments. There ARE some incompatible changes with Lua 5.0 and authors are advised to familiarize themselves with http://www.lua.org/manual/5.1
* There is a new unit "focus" which behaves like target, the "PLAYER_FOCUS_CHANGED" event is fired when it is changed, and you receive unit events for this unit.

The protected code mechanism introduced in 1.10 has been extended to cover more functions. Blizzard code is considered secure, all other code is untrusted. The following function types are restricted for AddOns:
* Movement is never allowed.
* Spell casting and targetting (including focus) are only allowed using secure templates or special slash commands (not /script).
* Programatic modification of macros, key bindings, and the action bar page only allowed outside of combat.
* Trading, placing auction bids, querying LFG, crafting, and reloading the UI are only allowed interactively.
* Action buttons and targeting frames are now "protected". Protected frames cannot be programmatically moved, shown or hidden, or have their attributes (unit, action, etc) changed during combat.

In addition:
* Script handlers defined in SecureXML templates remain secure when they are inherited, unless overridden by AddOn code.
* The parent of a protected frame is implicitly protected also, as are any frames which it is anchored to.

Lua environment
* The Lua coroutine library is now available - Coroutines create a new Lua state and should be used sparingly to conserve memory.

UI Performance
Performance of some elements of the UI engine has been improved:
* Frame method invocation is significantly faster (more than twice as fast in some cases!)
* Handler dispatch has been optimized, especially for simple handlers such as OnUpdate.

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Slash Commands
The following new slash commands will be available:
* Targeting: /targetlasttarget, /cleartarget, /clearfocus
* Items and equipment: /use <itemname>, /use <slot>, /use <bagid> <bagslot>, /equip <itemname>, /equipslot <slot> <itemname>, /userandom <item1>, <item2>, <item3> will attempt to use a randomly selected one of the specified items
* Pet control: /petattack, /petfollow, /petstay, /petpassive, /petdefensive, /petaggressive, /petautocaston <spell>, /petautocastoff <spell>
* Casting: /stopcasting will cancel the spell that is currently being cast, /castrandom <spell1>, <spell2>, <spell3> will attempt to cast a randomly selected one of the specified spells
* Action bar: /changeactionbar <num> and /swapactionbar <num1> <num2>
* Attacking: /startattack [unit], /stopattack
* Buffs/Auras: /cancelaura name - cancels an aura as if it were right clicked
* Buttons: /click ButtonName [mousebutton]
* /target, /focus, and /startattack take all valid unit ids as well as entity names. Where applicable they default to target if no unit is specified.
* In WoW 2.0, feeding your pet, poisons, etc. will be even easier to macro: /cast Feed Pet then /use Dry Pork Ribs. You will also be able to click on food in your action bar when you are targeting Feed Pet and other item targeting spells.
* The first cast in a macro that fails will prevent further casts in the macro as if the 1.5 second global cooldown had been triggered.
* Item names can be used interchangably with spell names in /cast, /castrandom, and /castsequence

Conditional Macro Commands
The /cast, /use, /cancelaura, /changeactionbar, /equip, /target, /focus and /assist commands can be given multiple actions and conditions on which to use those actions. The first matching action will be used. The syntax is as follows:

/command [option] action; [option1,option2] action

If multiple options are provided for an action, they must all be met before the action will happen. The options supported are as follows:
* target=unit - Run the command and perform tests on the specified unit (only applicable to spell casting or item use). You can specify 'none' as a target unit to act as if you have no target.
* help/harm - Choose depending on whether target is assistable or attackable
* combat - Choose depending on whether you're in combat or not
* stance or stance:# - Choose depending on your stance/shapeshift ("stance" alone matches any stance)
* stealth - Choose depending on whether you are stealthed
* mounted - Choose depending on whether you are mounted
* swimming - Choose depending on whether you are swimming
* flying - Choose depending on whether you are flying
* indoors - Choose depending on whether you are indoors
* outdoors - Choose depending on whether you are outdoors
* modifier or modifier:shift|ctrl|alt - Choose depending on any modifier keys you're holding at the time the macro runs
* equipped:<invslot>|<itemclass>|<itemsubclass> - Choose if you have the specific item type equipped
* actionbar:<bar> - Choose if a specific actionbar is shown
* button:Z - Choose if the specified button is held down
* pet:<name>|<family> - Choose if your current active pet has the specified name or family (e.g. pet:bear/wolf)
* channeling or channeling:spell - Choose if you are channeling (possibly a specific spell)
* exists - Choose if the target exists
* dead - Choose if the target is dead

For stance and modifier you can list multiple matching values separated by the / character for the option to be true if ANY of them are true. For example modifier:shift/ctrl matches if shift or control is held down.
Any option can be prefixed with 'no' to select if it does NOT match. For example [nocombat]

* There is a new /stopmacro [option,...] command that stops macro execution if the specified conditional options are met. e.g. /stopmacro [stealth].
* The pet action commands (/petattack etc) also allow for conditional execution as above.

Sequenced Casting
* A new command /castsequence reset=N/target/combat/shift/alt/ctrl spell1, spell2, spell3
* The reset line can specify a number of seconds after which a sequence resets, or if it should reset on target change or leaving combat.
* The sequence tracks the 'next' spell in the sequence until it resets, the next spell only advances on a successful cast.
* You can specify a conditional at the start of the command before the reset to filter whether the sequence is used (You cannot use per-spell conditionals)
* You can specify items as well as spells

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Macro Feedback
* # and - are comment prefixes in macros
* A macro that starts with # show <item or spell> shows feedback for that spell, # show none shows no feedback.
* Otherwise the first /cast, /randomcast, /castsequence, /use, or /randomuse command is used to select the feedback spell
* Sequences actually cycle the item/spell they show feedback for to match the next in seqence.
* A new question mark macro icon is available, selecting that will cause the feedback spell/item's icon to be used.

Spell Casting
* When casting a ranked buff spell that's too high a level for a friendly target the game will automatically use the highest appropriate rank of the spell instead.
* Toggleable abilities will have a 1.5 second delay after being cast before they can be cancelled by clicking on them, to prevent accidentally canceling them. You can still right click a buff to cancel it anytime.

Secure Templates
There are several secure templates that AddOns can use to create new functional buttons. Many of them have extensive documentation in the FrameXML .lua files.:
* SecureActionButtonTemplate
* SecureUnitButtonTemplate
* SecureRaidGroupHeaderTemplate
* SecurePartyHeaderTemplate
* SecureStateHeaderTemplate
* SecureStanceStateDriverTemplate
* SecureAnchorButtonTemplate
* SecureAnchorEnterTemplate
* SecureAnchorUpDownTemplate
* The secure button templates have support for pre-loaded items which are used as spell targets for feeding, poisoning, etc.

Actions
* The old CURRENT_ACTIONBAR_PAGE variable is no longer used. There's a new slash command /changeactionbar <num>. Macros that used to do /script CURRENT_ACTIONBAR_PAGE=2 ChangeActionBarChange() can now simply do /changeactionbar 2

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API Changes
* You no longer need to strip special codes from item links before passing them to item information functions.
* Item information functions accept an item ID, an item link, or the name of an item in your inventory.
* Inventory functions will accept a slot name in addition to a slot number.
* Spell information functions take a spell name, or the spell ID followed by "pet" or "spell"; e.g. IsSpellInRange("Growl") or IsSpellInRange(2, "pet"); (Updated 10/13)

API Changes: Strings
* NEW ... = strsplit("delimiters", "string" [,"limit"]) -- Split a string on any of the delimiter characters.
* NEW string = strjoin("separator", ...) -- Join strings with a separator
* NEW string = strconcat(...) -- Join strings without a separator
* NEW string = strtrim("string"[,"characters"]) -- Trim characters from the ends of a string (defaults to whitespace charaters)
* string.trim, string.split, and string.join are also references to the new functions.

API Changes: Bindings
* NEW SetBindingSpell("KEY", "Spell Name") -- Set a key binding directly to a spell, uses the same spell name syntax as /cast
* NEW SetBindingClick("KEY", "ButtonName" [,"mouseButton"]) -- Set a key binding directly to a Button object. The click sends a mouse down when the key is pressed, and a mouse up when it is released.
* NEW SetBindingItem("KEY", "itemname")
* NEW SetBindingMacro("KEY", "macroname"|macroid)
* NEW SetOverrideBinding(owner, isPriority, "KEY" [,"COMMAND"]) -- Set (or clear) an override key binding.
* NEW SetOverrideBindingSpell(owner, isPriority, "KEY", "spellname")
* NEW SetOverrideBindingClick(owner, isPriority, "KEY", "ButtoName"[,"mouseButton"])
* NEW SetOverrideBindingItem(owner, isPriority, "KEY", "itemname")
* NEW SetOverrideBindingMacro(owner, isPriority, "KEY", "macroname"|macroid)
* NEW ClearOverrideBindings(owner) -- Reset all overrides belonging to an owner.
* NEW SetMouselookOverrideBinding("KEY" [,"COMMAND"])
* UPDATED action = GetBindingAction("KEY" [,checkOverride])
* NEW IsModifierKeyDown() -- equivalent to (IsShiftKeyDown() or IsControlKeyDown() or IsAltKeyDown())
* NEW IsMouseButtonDown([button or "button"])

API Changes: Security and Protection
* NEW isSecure = issecure() -- Determine if the current environment is secure
* NEW isSecure = issecurevariable([table,] "name") -- Determine if the specified variable is secure.
* NEW ... = securecall(function or "functionName", ...) -- Call a function from a secure environment without risking secure status.
* NEW hooksecurefunc([table,] "functionName", hookfunc) -- Creates a secure 'post hook' for the named function. The hookfunc is invoked after the original function, and receives the same parameters. Return values from hookfunc are discarded. This is the only safe way to hook functions that execute protected functionality.
* NEW locked = InCombatLockdown() -- Returns true if the in-combat AddOn restrictions are active.

API Changes: Information
* NEW GetCritChance()
* NEW GetRangedCritChance()
* NEW GetSpellCritChance(school)
* UPDATED itemName, itemLink, itemRarity, itemLevel, itemMinLevel, itemType, itemSubType, itemStackCount, itemEquipLoc, invTexture = GetItemInfo(itemID|"itemLink") -- Now returns item level WARNING - This change is not backward compatible
* NEW count = GetItemCount(itemID|"itemLink")
* NEW spell, rank, displayName, icon, startTime, endTime = UnitCastingInfo("unit")
* NEW spell, rank, displayName, icon, startTime, endTime = UnitChannelInfo("unit")
* NEW type, id, subtype = GetActionInfo(slot)
* NEW startTime, duration, enable = GetItemCooldown(item)
* NEW usable, noMana = IsUsableItem(item)
* NEW consumable = IsConsumableItem(item)
* NEW equipped = IsEquippedItem(item)
* NEW casting = IsCurrentItem(item)
* NEW hasRange = ItemHasRange(item)
* NEW result = IsItemInRange(item, [unit]) - nil for no valid target, 0 for out of range, 1 for in range
* UPDATED result = IsActionInRange(slot,[unit])
* NEW isEquipped = IsEquippedItemType("type") - where "type" is any valid inventory type, item class, or item subclass
* NEW swimming = IsSwimming()
* NEW flying = IsFlying()
* NEW mounted = IsMounted()
* NEW afk = UnitIsAFK("unit") -- Only works for friendly units
* NEW dnd = UnitIsDND("unit")

API Changes: Spell Information
* RENAMED isPassive = IsPassiveSpell(spell) -- Formerly IsSpellPassive(spell)
* NEW isAttack = IsAttackSpell(spell)
* NEW isAutoRepeating = IsAutoRepeatSpell(spell)
* NEW usable, noMana = IsUsableSpell(spell)
* NEW hasRange = SpellHasRange(spell)
* NEW result = IsSpellInRange(spell, [unit]) - is nil for no valid target, 0 for out of range, 1 for in range
* NEW name, rank = GetItemSpell(item)
* NEW index, item, spell = QueryCastSequence(sequence)

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API Changes: Spell Casting
* NEW SetActionSelfCastKey("SHIFT" or "CTRL" or "ALT")
* NEW key = GetActionSelfCastKey()
* NEW down = IsActionSelfCastKeyDown()

API Changes: Auto Looting
* NEW SetAutoLootDefault(enabled)
* NEW enabled = GetAutoLootDefault()
* NEW SetAutoLootToggleKey("SHIFT" or "CTRL" or "ALT")
* NEW key = GetAutoLootToggleKey()
* NEW down = IsAutoLootKeyDown()

API Changes: Attacking
* NEW StopAttack()

API Changes: Active Buffs/Auras
* NEW name, rank = GetPlayerBuffName(id or "name"[,"rank"]);
* UPDATED texture = GetPlayerBuffTexture(id or "name"[,"rank"]) - Added name/rank
* UPDATED type = GetPlayerBuffDispelType(id or "name"[,"rank"]) - as above
* UPDATED count = GetPlayerBuffApplications(id or "name"[,"rank"]) - as above
* UPDATED CancelPlayerBuff(id or "name"[,"rank"]) - as above
* UPDATED name,rank,icon,count = UnitBuff("unit", id or "name"[,"rank"]) - as above
* UPDATED name,rank,icon,count,type = UnitDebuff("unit", id or "name"[,"rank"]) - as above

API Changes: Party Management
* NEW InviteUnit("unit" or "name") - Replaces InviteByName/InviteToParty
* NEW UninviteUnit("unit" or "name") - Replaces UninviteByName/UninviteFromParty
API Changes: Macros
* UPDATED name,texture,body,isLocal = GetMacroInfo(id|"name") - Now takes ID or name
* UPDATED DeleteMacro() -- as above
* UPDATED EditMacro() -- as above
* UPDATED PickupMacro() -- as above

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Frame Features
* Frames can now specify multiple comma separated templates in the inherits XML attribute, and will inherit each of them in the order they appear
* Frame handlers now are passed parameters in addition to setting the global variables when executed. Accessing these parameters locally is faster than accessing the globals, and is recommended.
* Frames no longer share a single virtual metatable, instead each type has its own metatable with a pre-populated index for faster method lookups.
* In addition to OnClick, Button frames also have PreClick and PostClick handlers, invoked before and after the OnClick respectively.
* GameTooltipS now automatically create new lines as needed.
* Script handlers defined in XML are implicitly wrapped with a function declaration (and trailing end) as follows (NOTE: AddOns that hook script handlers must now pass these parameters):
* default: function(self)
* OnAttributeChanged: function(self,name,value)
* OnChar: function(self,text)
* OnCharComposition: function(self,text)
* OnClick: function(self,button,down)
* OnColorSelect: function(self,r,g,b)
* OnCursorChanged: function(self,x,y,w,h)
* OnDoubleClick: function(self,button)
* OnDragStart: function(self,button)
* OnEnter: function(self, motion)
* OnEvent: function(self,event,...)
* OnHorizontalScroll: function(self,offset)
* OnHyperlinkClick: function(self,link,text,button)
* OnHyperlinkEnter: function(self,link,text)
* OnHyperlinkLeave: function(self,link,text)
* OnInputLanguageChanged: function(self,language)
* OnKeyDown: function(self,key)
* OnKeyUp: function(self,key)
* OnLeave: function(self, motion)
* OnMouseDown: function(self,button)
* OnMouseUp: function(self,button)
* OnMouseWheel: function(self,delta)
* OnMovieShowSubtitle: function(self,text)
* OnScrollRangeChanged: function(self,xrange,yrange)
* OnSizeChanged: function(self,w,h)
* OnTooltipAddMoney: function(self,cost)
* OnUpdate: function(self,elapsed)
* OnValueChanged: function(self,value)
* OnVerticalScroll: function(self,offset)
* PostClick: function(self,button,down)
* PreClick: function(self,button,down)

Frame Methods
* NEW minx,miny,width,height = Region:GetRect()
* NEW minx,miny,width,height = Frame:GetBoundsRect()
* NEW isProtected = Frame:IsProtected()
* NEW canChange = Frame:CanChangeProtectedState()
* NEW Frame:SetAttribute("name", value) -- Set an attribute on a frame, for protected frames this method is protected in combat.
* NEW value = Frame:GetAttribute("name")
* NEW Frame:AllowAttributeChanges() -- Temporarily allow attribute changes during combat, this function is protected.
* UPDATED Button:RegisterForClicks("button"[,"button"...]) -- Now accepts "AnyUp" and "AnyDown" to receive all buttons' up and downs.

XML Improvements
* You can set initial attributes on frames from frames from XML: <Attributes><Attribute name="foo" type="nil|boolean|number|string" value="bar"/></Attributes>

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Event Changes
There are a number of new events:
* UNIT_TARGET, "unit" is fired when a unit's target changes (primary units only)
* PLAYER_FOCUS_CHANGED is fired when the focus unit is changed
* UNIT_SPELLCAST_SENT, "player", spell, rank, target
* UNIT_SPELLCAST_START, unit
* UNIT_SPELLCAST_STOP, unit
* UNIT_SPELLCAST_FAILED, unit
* UNIT_SPELLCAST_INTERRUPTED, unit
* UNIT_SPELLCAST_DELAYED, unit
* UNIT_SPELLCAST_SUCCEEDED, "player", spell, rank
* UNIT_SPELLCAST_CHANNEL_START, unit
* UNIT_SPELLCAST_CHANNEL_UPDATE, unit
* UNIT_SPELLCAST_CHANNEL_STOP, unit
* The old SPELLCAST_* and SPELLCAST_CHANNEL_* events are obsolete.
* PLAYER_REGEN_DISABLED is sent before protected frames are locked down
* PLAYER_REGEN_ENABLED is sent after protected frames are unlocked
* MACRO_ACTION_FORBIDDEN: sent when a macro tries use actions that are always forbidden (movement, targeting, etc.). The first argument is the name of the protected function that was called.
* ADDON_ACTION_FORBIDDEN: sent when an addon tries use actions that are always forbidden (movement, targeting, etc.). The first argument is the name of the addon that was last involved in the execution path, and the second argument is the protected function that was called.
* MACRO_ACTION_BLOCKED: sent when a macro tries use actions that are blocked in combat or require interactive input (spell casting, trading, etc.). The first argument is the name of the protected function that was called.
* ADDON_ACTION_BLOCKED: sent when an addon tries use actions that are blocked in combat or require interactive input (spell casting, trading, etc.). The first argument is the name of the addon that was last involved in the execution path, and the second argument is the protected function that was called.
* MODIFIER_STATE_CHANGED, key, state: Sent whenever a modifier key's state changed, modifier is one of "SHIFT" "CTRL" or "ALT", state is 1 for down, 0 for up.

Bug Fixes
* Fixed missing CHAT_MSG_SPELL_SELF_BUFF messages (Opening, Mining, Gathering)

Last updated 2006-11-19 12:14 pacific

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Q u o t e:
Will macros like this still be able to be made ?

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I'm afraid not once you're in combat, no.