rclarke
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-13 01:35 PM
KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

On behalf of Shawn, I would like to announce that KiXforms 2.0.4 is now available for download from the KiXforms website. Please check the release notes on the web site and the zipped release.txt file for details of added functionality and bug fixes.

Regards,

Rod.


punkie
(Getting the hang of it)
2002-09-13 01:51 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

There is no documentation attached with this release so i'm guessing it hasn't been written yet (those always gets behind).

Hasn't tested this one yet, but sounds pretty good.


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-13 02:03 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Punkie, I'm updating KIXLIST.DOC as we speak ... I wanted to get 2.0.4 out there (today) to cover-off some important outstanding issues.

punkie
(Getting the hang of it)
2002-09-13 02:16 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

That's understandable [Smile]

LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-13 02:24 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

rod, I scrolled your docu's and thought I might need to get involved too...

anyway, what comes to additem, doesn't it affect also combobox?

then, the button, I don't know the way shawn wants it to be, but I think, it or commandbutton could be written as just shortcut and linked to other.

now you have the button syntax as:
$form.commandbutton(....

just fine tuning...


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-13 02:48 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

I'll be posting some scripts today to demonstrate and test some of the new features and fixes in build 32 (2.0.4). This script leverages two new PROPERTIES:

TABGROUP
BUILD

It presents a "menu" of four option buttons - you can only select one of them ... but if you click the button - the script will partition the four option buttons into two groups of two - at which point you can select one from each of the groups. This script doesn't use frames.

TABGROUP.KIX

code:
;
; KIXTART 4.0
; KIXFORMS BUILD 32
;

Break On

$Form = CreateObject("Kixtart.Form")

If Val($Form.Build) < 32
?"This script requires Kixforms Build 32" Quit()
EndIf

$Form.FontSize = 10
$Form.Size = 250,300

$Label = $Form.Label
$Label.Size = 230,20
$Label.Location = 5,15
$Label.FontBold = 1
$Label.Text = "I WANT MORE"
$Label.Alignment = 2
$Label.BackColor = 255,255,255

$Opt1 = $Form.RadioButton("Pizza")
$Opt1.Top = $Label.Bottom + 20
$Opt1.Left = 20
$Opt1.Value = TRUE

$Opt2 = $Form.RadioButton("Sex")
;$Opt2.Size = 100,20
$Opt2.Top = $Opt1.Bottom + 8
$Opt2.Left = 20

$Opt3 = $Form.RadioButton("Beer")
$Opt3.Top = $Opt2.Bottom + 8
$Opt3.Left = 20

$Opt4 = $Form.RadioButton("Money")
$Opt4.Top = $Opt3.Bottom + 8
$Opt4.Left = 20

$Button = $Form.Button("Come On!!!")
$Button.Center
$Button.Top = $Opt4.Bottom + 20
$Button.OnClick = "Click()"

Function Click()

; Exit if button text set to "Exit"

If $Button.Text = "Exit"
Quit()
EndIf

; Change our message ...

$Label.FontSize = 10
$Label.Text = "OK, OK, I WANT MORE"

; Set Option 3 as the start of a new option group ...

$Opt3.TabGroup = TRUE

;
; Now re-initialize option values ...
;

$Opt1.Value = 1
$Opt2.Value = 0
$Opt3.Value = 1
$Opt4.Value = 0

; Draw some boxes to seperate our new options
; groups - look ma, no frames.

$Form.Rectangle(15,50,210,75)
$Form.Rectangle(15,124,210,75)

; Set button to exit on next go-around ...

$Button.Text = "Exit"

EndFunction

$Form.Center
$Form.Show
While $Form.Visible
$=Execute($Form.DoEvents)
Loop

Exit 1

-Shawn

[ 13. September 2002, 14:51: Message edited by: Shawn ]


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-13 02:59 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

A special note about the new BUILD property. It returns a number value indicating the current incremental release build of the object. It can be used to check a couple of things ... both at the same time.

Used like this, it can test to see if the latest build is installed:

code:
If $Form.Build < 32
?"Kixforms build not current"
Quit()
EndIf

But ... if Kixforms isn't installed on the platform, what happens then. Well - a more clever way of using this feature may be to add the VAL() function into the mix, like this:

code:
If Val($Form.Build) < 32
?"Kixforms not installed or build not current"
Quit()
EndIf

This catches both Kixforms not installed (an invalid $Form handle) and build not current.


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-13 04:53 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Just a bit more on option groups (tab groups) ... this example uses them in a more practical fashion ... like with those "wizard" dialogs, that have a whole whack of option buttons on them ...

TABGROUP2.KIX

code:
;
; KIXTART 4.0
; KIXFORMS BUILD 2.0.4.32
;

Break On

$Form = CreateObject("Kixtart.Form")

$Form.FontSize = 10
$Form.Size = 250,335
$Form.ForeColor = 0,0,200

$Form.PrintXY(10,30,"Please choose a color:")

$RedOption = $Form.OptionButton
$RedOption.Text = "Red"
$RedOption.Top = 60
$RedOption.Left = 20
$RedOption.TabGroup = TRUE
$RedOption.ForeColor = 200,0,0

$GreenOption = $Form.OptionButton
$GreenOption.Text = "Green"
$GreenOption.Top = $RedOption.Bottom + 5
$GreenOption.Left = 20
$GreenOption.ForeColor = 0,200,0

$Form.PrintXY(10,140,"Please choose a number:")

$OneOption = $Form.OptionButton
$OneOption.Text = "One"
$OneOption.Top = 170
$OneOption.Left = 20
$OneOption.Value = TRUE

$TwoOption = $Form.OptionButton
$TwoOption.Text = "Two"
$TwoOption.Top = $OneOption.Bottom + 5
$TwoOption.Left = 20

$Button = $Form.Button
$Button.Text = "Exit"
$Button.Center
$Button.Top = 260
$Button.OnClick = "Click()"

Function Click()

Quit()

EndFunction

;
; Initialize our options ..
;

$RedOption.Value = TRUE
$OneOption.TabGroup = TRUE

$Form.Center
$Form.Show
While $Form.Visible
$=Execute($Form.DoEvents)
Loop

Exit 1



rclarke
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-13 05:19 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Hi Jooel,

Any help you can give with updating the documentation is much appreciated. As already stated on the KiXforms website index page, I plan to work through the Properties, Objects, Methods and finally Events in alphabetical order, updating them accordingly. That is why the AddItem method does not currently reference ComboBoxes as I am only as far as the DrawWidth property. Please note that the Button and CommandButton Objects already point to the same HTML page, as does RadioButton and OptionButton.

Regards,

Rod.


LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-13 05:25 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

ok, that's why the syntax looked wrong...

didn't see your solution. what about adding some kind of info on the page then...
like:
button (commandbutton)
syntax: form.button (form.commandbutton)

not for all but just for me that I don't need to ask again when I forget your answer [Big Grin]
 


LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-13 06:03 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

rod, as I started, I can also go forward.

your page is working fine with konqueror 2.2.1!

lets check the netscape on fly too...
what comes to communicator version 4.78 passed the tests too...


LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-13 06:24 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

I'm not sure was it there before, but now, scrolling your docus at home, there is in the page:
quote:

Button Control & Method
CommandButton Control & Method



Radimus
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-13 06:24 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Today is the first time I've attempted to use kixforms, and the beginning of a whole series of questions.

I am writing text to the main form, then I have an event that changes the text that is printed there. It is writing on top of the previous text, but not erasing it.

any ideas?? $form.refresh?? or will I have to put it into a box


LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-13 06:36 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

you can write it to form as text...
I think I had in some point in codeparser similar stuff...

it's the same thing with kixtart.
if you type:
at(2,10)
"me here."
at(2,10)
"you"

the result will be:
youhere

to clean the old stuff made with, say printxy, write it again with the same color as your form has as background color...

little tricky...


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-13 07:12 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

In one of the early alphas of forms (Lonkero helped quite a bit in evolving forms, remember Jooel?) ... the Form had a property called BACKSTYLE = 0/1 that made it so that when text was printed using PRINT (no PRINTXY at the time) it printed it in an OPAQUE fashion ... overwriting any bits that were already there.

Most times I keep forgetting (even to this day) that printing text directly on a form is really "painting" text on the form ... just like drawing a circle or a rectangle ... once graphics get on the form, they stay on the form, at least until (like you say) the form is CLEARED or the BACKCOLOR is changed (or reset to the same color).

Having said all that, the BACKSTYLE property is pending in 2.0.4 ... im reserving it for transparent controls (like the transparent frame) ... it was a poorly chosen name anyways because the proper name should have been "FontTransparent" ... but because a Moderator is raising this issue i will implement FontTransparent this weekend in 2.0.5.

I myself have been moving away from creating simple labels that hold only one line of text. Easier and faster to just laydown a PRINTXY to identify a caption-less control (like a TEXTBOX) ... why use the extra resources (memory) when you don't have to eh ? Having said that, if the text is complex or multi-line or has to be justified in some way - the LABEL is the only way to go. Plus if the text changes (even once) - the Label pays for itself.

But back to printing ... the way (it used to (and will again)) work is like this:

code:
 
$Form.FontTransparent = FALSE

$Form.PrintXY(10,10,"Hello World")

; Now overwrite the text - tranparency is
; already turned off.

;
; Laydown a string of blanks - big enough to
; "cover-up" the largest string
;

$Form.PrintXY(10,10," ") ; Hi

$Form.PrintXY(10,10,"Hi !")

Something like that anyway. I'll add FontTransparent to the list for this weekend.

[ 13. September 2002, 19:14: Message edited by: Shawn ]


LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-13 07:33 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

have you tried that blank?

I think it did not work at some point when tried it...

what comes to printing, you are right, label is goodie if the contest changes...

what comes to remembering things, I gladly have really bad memory. [Razz]

I quess it's related to the times I somehow got myself to be a ICQ user...


Radimus
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-13 07:34 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

here is another...

is there a onchange event? I basically have a form (ripped from kix messenger) with about a half dozen text boxes on it (on the top half) and the 'output' painted on the bottom half of the form.

what I would like to have happen, is that as info gets typed into the text boxes, the bottom half dynamically updates... without having to press the 'former' send button


LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-13 07:48 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

there is...
checking the kixforms site shows most of the stuff...

and for you, I would suggest waiting for a kixforms package having kixlist.doc in it.

it has them all in a list (not easy to read for the ones haven't got used to typelib style...)

 


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-13 07:54 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

hehee ... know exactly where your going with this question Rad ... funky-town !

Check-out the OnChange event:

code:
Break On

$Form = CreateObject("Kixtart.Form")
$Form.FontSize = 12
$Form.Size = 300,300

$TextBox1 = $Form.TextBox
$TextBox1.Center
$TextBox1.Top = 20
$TextBox1.OnChange = "TextBox_Change()"

$TextBox2 = $Form.TextBox
$TextBox2.Center
$TextBox2.Top = $TextBox1.Bottom + 20
$TextBox2.OnChange = "TextBox_Change()"

$TextBox3 = $Form.TextBox
$TextBox3.MultiLine = TRUE
$TextBox3.Size = $Form.ClientWidth-20,100
$TextBox3.Center
$TextBox3.Top = $TextBox2.Bottom + 50

$Form.PrintXY(30,25,"To:")
$Form.PrintXY(30,75,"About:")

$Form.Center
$Form.Show
$TextBox1.SetFocus

While $Form.Visible
$=Execute($Form.DoEvents)
Loop

Exit 1

Function TextBox_Change()

$TextBox3.Text =
"Message to "
+ $TextBox1.Text
+ " about "
+ $TextBox2.Text
+ ". Lets do it!"

EndFunction



Bonji
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-13 08:12 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Shawn,

I'm experiencing an odd problem with a new feature in KixForms 2.0.4. When I utilize Sorted on a List it populates a different text field with a value from the list. I don't understand what it's doing at all. If I comment out the sorted line all works normally. I've updated the code on my site (Network Manager Script) so it can be replicated. I'm not sure what level of complexity is required to reproduce the problem.

Thanks,
Ben
http://www.rgcweb.org:90


rclarke
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-13 08:16 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Hi Jooel,

To answer your much earlier question [Wink] I have been using dual titles like ...

Button Control & Method
CommandButton Control & Method

... since day one as there are lots of properties to which it can be applied e.g. CursorX/CursorY, MouseX/MouseY etc. etc.

BTW this weekend I will be looking at making the website 'ToolTips' far more explanatory in that you will be able to hover the mouse over any link on the Documentation page and a window will popup containing similar information to that in Shawn's quick lookup list. Hopefully this will help the KiXforms newbies out while you, me and Chris (and others) flesh out the pages underneath.

Regards,

Rod.


LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-13 08:33 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

hey, thanks for reminding me of one question.

shawn, how can we have multiline tooltips?
also, is it possible to have tooltip shown just once?
I don't see it nice that user has tooltip in listbox everytime he stops moving the mouse.


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-13 08:40 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Ben - yeah - i see the problem - think i know what it is and will check it out tonight.

But just a comment though ... even though one can keep toggling the SORTED property on and off (except for this bug you have identified) - its really wasn't designed for that purpose. One should only have to set the sorted property once - when the control is first created. Like you might try here:

code:
$lstGroups1			= $fraDetails.ListBox
$lstGroups1.HEIGHT = 134
$lstGroups1.LEFT = $USR_LBLLEFT
$lstGroups1.TOP = $lblGroups1.TOP + 20
$lstGroups1.WIDTH = 220
$lstGroups1.Enabled = 0
$lstGroups1.Sorted = 1 ; <---

then just CLEAR and re-populate the list as required. It will always remain sorted as long as this property is set. The didn't really design the sort property to be a sort method ... just thought it would be usefull that if one "converted" an already populated listbox to sorted ... that it would automatically sort the items contained within it. But once that initial sort is done - no need to reset the property after that ... one can start a fresh list by using the CLEAR method (which you have already done) then carryon ...


Bonji
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-13 08:52 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Very good. I'll move that property to the initial definition of the list. Makes better sense anyway.

Thanks,
Ben


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-13 09:07 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Yeah - but its still a bug though ... thanks for spotting that.

krabourn
(Hey THIS is FUN)
2002-09-14 04:19 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

How come put these options here?

code:
;
; Initialize our options ..
;

;$RedOption.Value = TRUE
;$OneOption.TabGroup = TRUE

Why not add them when the Options are created? I changed it and it still works.


Vig
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-14 06:06 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Shawn,
Thanks for updating Kixforms and implementing the Sorted property, but I think there may be a problem. When I use sorted with listbox I lose the scroll bar that was by default on the right side of the listbox. When I comment out the sorted property the scroll bar returns. Hope I'm not jumping to any conclusions here.

Thanks


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-14 06:15 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Hi Vig ... your not seeing things ... This was identified yesterday to do with another problem that Ben identified ... Im going to be issuing a new release today (hope Rod is around to catch it) ... heres the revision list so far ... just trying to think of anything else I can squeeze in today:

code:
	- Improved task switching behavior. Form now restores
keyboard focus back to previous control when task
switching between forms and other windows applications.

- Added OnKeyDown Event. Occurs when a user presses
a key while the object has the focus.

- Added KeyCode Property. Gets the key code associated
with the key that caused the OnKeyDown Event.

- Fixed Sorted and List property memory leak.

- Fixed automatic vertical and horizontal scroll bars
for ListBox and ComboBox object.



[ 14. September 2002, 18:18: Message edited by: Shawn ]


Vig
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-14 06:26 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Oops, sorry for bringing it up again.

ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-14 06:28 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

eh - no problem man - actually, I think it was Kent that spotted that problem.

rclarke
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-14 06:43 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Hi Shawn,

Yep, no worries, I'm on-line. Send through 2.0.5 when you are ready and I will post a.s.a.p.

Rod.


rclarke
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-14 08:10 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Shawn, I notice that the SpecialEffect property (and several others properties that were not actually implemented) have disappeared in 2.0.4 compared to 2.0.3. Is this intentional?

Regards,

Rod.


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-14 08:18 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Yeah ... anything that was experimental or obsolete was purged from the interface in 2.0.5 - unfortunately, we can't have an unlimited number of properties and methods in a single interface ... so I just trying to clean house.

Im adding another very cool feature (imho) to Kixforms as we speak ... wonder if we should just go ahead with 2.0.5 now - and there will probably be another tomorrow - what you think ?

-Shawn


rclarke
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-14 08:25 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Errmm, if you are at a good break point to release 2.0.5 then let's go for it, otherwise if you are in full flow on something good then leave it until tomorrow. I will clean up the Documentation page and remove all the experimental (TBD) entries. BTW can you stop coming up with new properties that begin with the letters A, B or C, it's a real PITA to move all the table entries along by just one cell [Big Grin]

Rod.


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-14 08:26 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Actually Rod - your right about the Special Effect property - I moved this functionality into the BorderStyle border ... but the SpecialEffect property might be coming back in a future release ... Guess its best just to leave it out for now.

LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-14 08:27 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

so...

have you decided already about the listbox?
if you are going to change it in 2.0.5, post it now, so can change the checker...


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-14 08:46 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Think i will wait until tomorrow ... theres no rush and rushing things has gotten me into trouble before (ie, having to reverse things later on) ...

Jooel ... im going to defer the AddItem thingy until LISTVIEW support ...


Schuliebug
(Hey THIS is FUN)
2002-09-14 09:49 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Already said more on this BB than i remember: Shawn great new stuff! I immidiate have a look at this version and the new functions [Smile]

ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-14 09:52 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Jan .. check it out but wait for tomorrow until 2.0.5 is released ... 2.0.4 has some issues.

Schuliebug
(Hey THIS is FUN)
2002-09-14 10:03 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

I also read that... Also experiences loosing scrollbars with the latest version. Will wait till the next release with implementing it. Nevertheless i will look at the syntax of the new functions. I also have a question about a script i wrote: it seems not to get the focus when started with wkix32, but with kix32 it does ?

LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-14 10:09 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

if you don't have any output, meaning that the console does not popup, the focus should be set to it...

if it's not long script, you could post it.


Schuliebug
(Hey THIS is FUN)
2002-09-14 10:16 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

I have output, only it's not the active screen?

LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-14 10:33 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

well, windows takes care about the activeness.
new window always is active if it does not set itself inactive...


LonkeroAdministrator
(KiX Master Guru)
2002-09-15 03:43 AM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

eh, found something nice in my kixforms gallery...

shawn, remember those early days when you started with forms?

I have a build that says it's 1!

well, can't be anyway...
I found forms at the time of build 6
and the zip has bbchecker in it... [Confused]

maybe one of those QF builds you made some time ago...


Vig
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-15 05:37 AM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Thought of a couple things last night would be a nice addition.

First, the ability to select more than one item in a listbox by using the ctrl or shift key.

Second, the ability to resize a form by dragging the bottom right corner.

Would be nice to have these but not a necessity.


rclarke
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-15 10:33 AM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Hi Vig,

The resizable form has already been implemented. Take a look at the BorderStyle property and in particular a setting of:
code:
$Form.BorderStyle = 2

Please note that even though you do not see the normal visual cue in the bottom right hand corner that the form is resizable, the mouse pointer still changes shape as you approach the borders and you can resize normally. Try it out [Wink]

Rod.


Vig
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-16 12:34 AM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Thanks Rod, can't believe I missed that.

Time to play around and see if I can get the objects within the form to resize as the form changes size.


rclarke
(Starting to like KiXtart)
2002-09-15 08:24 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Just found an interesting little 'feature' with KiXforms 2.0.4. Try setting the BorderStyle property for a Form control to 5. The resulting application does not appear in the TaskBar, the title bar shrinks in height and contains only a miniaturised Close button.

Rod.


ShawnAdministrator
(KiX Supporter)
2002-09-15 09:30 PM
Re: KiXforms 2.0.4 Released

Rod - thats the undocumented ToolBar window style ... I put it in as an experiment - haven't played with it very much but if you discover any usefull new features, let us know.

Im just finishing-off some last minute changes/fixes to the HyperLink object ... we be in touch shortly.

[ 15. September 2002, 21:31: Message edited by: Shawn ]