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Post by tsh73 on Mar 14, 2023 22:11:21 GMT
I'm afraid something got broken
Previous version: big window (JB FORMS) holds nothing but menu tools window and form window are separate
Current version: form window freely floats tool window is confined to big window (JB FORMS) with menu !!! then I click tool window big window comes first, obscuring form window So I cannot insert a control
Really, having windows topmost too much a hassle (yes and they obscure JB I tried to run resulting program with) Damn. They obscure EVERYTHING so I literally had to shove them (big window and view window, and form too! ) apart just to get to Windows explorer to see if file is created. Because they are TOPMOST against explorer.
I suggest (and you can ignore of course): 1) do not use big window at all. Use narrow strip holding a menu (I think GIMP used to work like this some time ago) (and really old VB, too) 2) do not mess with "topmost". Just make windows float independently - folks could locate them on a taskbar and position to their liking.
As for changes/fixes * File write problem when a root directory is chosen * Source code wrap with long control caption text * SUB problem not setting control handle properly - works for me
* Menu item to the VIEW window. This item will only be displayed if "Write Code" from the "FILES" menu bar item on the JB Forms window. - so now file don't get written until you click "Write file" in "VIEW" window?
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whiskeyd
Member in Training
That that is is, that that is not is not, that that is not is not that that is.
Posts: 23
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Post by whiskeyd on Mar 14, 2023 22:22:58 GMT
Hello Walt Is load/save of working file is already here / not realized yet (in planning)? Do you mean insert the code directly into the JB IDE or shell to the JB IDE with a command line to load the specified file?
If you mean the former, JB does not have the proper functions. If you men the latter, I am not sure that the JB IDE can be run with a command line argument or if it can, I have no idea what the argument sequence is.
That is correct. It serves as a reminder that nothing will be saved unless you authorize it. As for the big window, it can be minimized. The tools window will minimize with the base window leaving just the form on the screen.
As for LB Forms Full, I am working on it. It will have load/save and hopefully insertion directly into the LB 4x IDE.
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Post by cundo on Mar 15, 2023 0:01:00 GMT
SAVE is not working for me yet. Walt, see if you can attach the windows to each other, the form as a CHILD of the PARENT window.
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whiskeyd
Member in Training
That that is is, that that is not is not, that that is not is not that that is.
Posts: 23
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Post by whiskeyd on Mar 15, 2023 0:30:09 GMT
SAVE is not working for me yet. Walt, see if you can attach the windows to each other, the form as a CHILD of the PARENT window. When you activate the "Write Code" item, what does the message box give as the path and file name?
Yes, I can make the form a child; however, cundo, Tsh, try this. You might like it better.
JBFORMS_LITE.ZIP
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Post by tsh73 on Mar 15, 2023 7:25:07 GMT
Yes works for me. Thank you.
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Post by tsh73 on Mar 15, 2023 7:26:58 GMT
Hello Walt Is load/save of working file is already here / not realized yet (in planning)? Do you mean insert the code directly into the JB IDE or shell to the JB IDE with a command line to load the specified file? I mean ability to save form drawn in form designer (actually, working session in form designer) to be able to open it in form designer later.
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Post by Rod on Mar 15, 2023 11:05:07 GMT
Gave the latest version another go. Is Cundo's idea about parent and child windows something to think about. As it stands it is very confusing. As soon as I open a form and click for a graphicbox the small form window disappears behind the main window. Also saving the file is confusing because simply selecting files from the top menu and then save does not save the file. I got it to save one file but I am not sure how I did that, is view file necessary before save will work, if so that needs to be automatic or much clearer. I would expect to be able to save and reload part finished form design.
Looking at the output I see that we are forced into sub or function style. Freeform kinda follows the help file convention where there is a main program block and either [branch] label handlers or sub handlers. Freeform code never did run, so code blocks that provide the form designed is all I would expect. Not sure how beginners will cope with immediate sub or function style.
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Post by Rod on Mar 15, 2023 12:24:57 GMT
Just tried the lite version. I think I like it but the stay on top still feels a little intrusive. I wanted to open files exlorer to check the file was saved and the form design window refused to budge. I would probably prefer that it performed like any other Windows window. It and the child windows stick together. If they are in the background they are all in the background, if they are clicked into focus ALL of the windows come to the fore with the child windows top most. Also do we really need to blank out my whole desktop if using the bigger main window, could it not be a finite size say 1024 x 768? But I do like the floating bar effect.
So if I open Paint Shop I get a main window and child windows. If I click on another app/window then that comes to the fore and covers both the main window and child windows.If I close the other app or if I simply click on the paint shop app then its main window and child windows come to the fore. I would like that to happen with form designer even if we stick with the floating main window bar. Click on it and the child windows come to fore.
Probably if we experiment we would actually want a bigger form designer main window else we might be clicking on other windows unintentionally and changing the focus and topmost window unintentionally.
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Post by marshawn on Mar 15, 2023 18:26:59 GMT
is this Walt Decker, #1 LB programmer? nice to see
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Post by Rod on Mar 15, 2023 18:55:27 GMT
Yes, JB has always been a place to play!
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whiskeyd
Member in Training
That that is is, that that is not is not, that that is not is not that that is.
Posts: 23
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Post by whiskeyd on Mar 15, 2023 20:24:18 GMT
Gave the latest version another go. Is Cundo's idea about parent and child windows something to think about. As it stands it is very confusing. As soon as I open a form and click for a graphicbox the small form window disappears behind the main window. Also saving the file is confusing because simply selecting files from the top menu and then save does not save the file. I got it to save one file but I am not sure how I did that, is view file necessary before save will work, if so that needs to be automatic or much clearer. I would expect to be able to save and reload part finished form design. Looking at the output I see that we are forced into sub or function style. Freeform kinda follows the help file convention where there is a main program block and either [branch] label handlers or sub handlers. Freeform code never did run, so code blocks that provide the form designed is all I would expect. Not sure how beginners will cope with immediate sub or function style. I am looking into the cause of the disappearing form window. The reason the output is not saved until View is activated is the output from the view window is copied directly to the output file. This can be changed. Cundo's idea of a child window has merit; however, Windows(tm) does not allow menus on child windows unless it is a multiple document interface (MDI) child window. That causes unneeded overhead in the app. There are other ways to handle that. I will work on the app design more and see what I can come up with.
Save/Load is in the app along with save as, new, and delete. They are not active. The saving part initially writes a configuration file to the desired directory plus it uses the file name to create a sub-directory. This sub directory contains another config file that contains the number of forms created, names of each form, and the name of the last form created. In addition, the data used to create the forms is stored in three additional files, and finally the source code output is stored.
When the load part is initiated it looks in the main configuration file for the last file name saved, then it looks in the sub-directory config file for the last form created. Finally it loads the form data and re-creates the last form.
I am not sure that people would like the above save/load style.
As for being forced to use the SUB/FUNCTION format, that is not so. Activate the Edit menu bar item, go down to the OPTIONS sub-menu item and click on "Use Functions". You will see that item checked. Click on the item to uncheck it. That enables the app to use labels. However, there are two functions written. These functions are used to size and place the form(s) when the code is run. To enable SUB/FUNCTION code, follow the above procedure to check the item.
I am exploring other main window and tool bar configurations. I think I can come up with something we all like. This includes docked/un-docked tool bar, sizing border on main window, main window as a strip and a kind of paint shop style.
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Post by cundo on Mar 15, 2023 21:01:04 GMT
is this Walt Decker, #1 LB programmer? nice to see Yes! he is.
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whiskeyd
Member in Training
That that is is, that that is not is not, that that is not is not that that is.
Posts: 23
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Post by whiskeyd on Mar 26, 2023 23:35:24 GMT
I hope this is something we can live with. There may be some bug. If so, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
The application will not create a file on your mass-storage device unless you allow it by selecting "ALLOW" when you first run this application ====================================================== PROGRAM ACTIVATION ====================================================== LB Form Designer can be activated from a link you place on your desktop, the Windows(tm) command line, or the LIBERTY BASIC shell (Run) statement. If activating from Windows command line or LB shell the command line parameters are: -D DirectoryName -D DirectoryNameFileName The first format instructs the application to set the directory path to "DirectoryName" when the file is saved. The default file name will be "NO NAME.BAS". The second form specifies both the directory and file name when the file is saved. EXAMPLES -D C:\LB Projects\Company Inventory\ -D C:\LB Projects\Company Inventory\INVENTORY.BAS Notice that the first format has a "\" at the end. The application uses the trailing "\" to determine whether to use the default file name when saving the file.
The zip contains Lb Forms Lite.exe and is approx. 260 K un-zipped.
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Post by Rod on Mar 27, 2023 8:05:38 GMT
Just had a short play. First off it looks stunning, fresh, tidy. I like the floating toolbar very much. The size is just right and does not hog the whole desktop. I am running it on my iMac M1 under Parallels.
I like the font control and we need to debate whether text controls should be restricted in height to font size. Statictext and textbox for example should take the font height, or multiples of the font height (+margin) no point in being any higher. Listbox and combobox different. But that's just my opinion.
Snap too still not working to my liking. not aligned with the dots and too easy to get a range of different sized controls.
Main thing I did not like was on creation of a control I get a heavy + cursor but no rubber banding and nothing appears till I release the mouse. Now that may be an artefact of my system and OS so we need to see if others get the same. It means you are never very sure if you are creating the control or not because all that happens is the + cursor moves.
The combobox is interesting because properties is only selectable on the down arrow not in the text area or the expanded list area. Not an issue once you know.
Now the output, still not sure wrapping everything in a function is good for beginners. Some will be stumped. I don't like the capitalisation, that looks like shouting and is a chore when adding code. lowercase all round is my preference. But it is just a preference. Mixed lowercase and capitalisation is worst choice unless we are talking system variable name, DefaultDir$, variable name, posX or global identification, Maxrecords.
I don't like the PRINT #NAME, command format we really should move everyone onto the shorter #name command format but again that's just my preference. Don't like the '----------------------- either.
The -D switch looks very interesting too. Not had time to play but being able to CD on Run will fix a lot of issues for .tkn running.
Hope we get lots more feedback.
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Post by xxgeek on Mar 28, 2023 17:35:02 GMT
On win10 pro Defender sees your exe file as Trojan:Win32/Wacatac.B!ml
I doubt Defender, but not willing to run it since I can't afford the down time right now if there is a problem.
FYI - Defender finds many of my exe files 'as they are being created' (created with IEXPRESS) as Trojan:Win32/Wacatac.H!ml - Notice the H in my trojans name, and a B in yours. Why? No clue.
Looks like another Microsoft issue to deal with.
The downside of posting exe files. At least with .bas files the user is creating the exe file locally and is less of an issue with Defender.
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