Next Gen Visual Designer front end -testing

[Jules Marchildon]

I wonder if a few people can test out my latest compiled version work in progress.  This isn't going to be a full fledged designer + code generator, just a quick start with a a few of my own new personal features, when I get to that point in life.  I will make it available (source code) as custom control and include a small demo how to use it. But for now it's just the binary test file.  

Here's the zip file.   
  PBdesigner.zip (Size: 83.49 KB / Downloads: 5)  

It will create a temp avi file in the same folder as the exe, it cleans up once you exit. Once I add the properties dialog, you can swap avi files during design time.

Thanks in advance!

   

[Borje Hagsten]

Looks good, works fine. Don't know if we are supposed to test anything at this stage, but here's some things anyway: Redo seems to miss some of the last redo actions. Form and Tools start at same 0,0 position and Form has two looks since it is MDI base - "old" looks turns to new looks (sort of) when maximized. Maybe DwmSetWindowAttribute that you recently showed me exist can be helpful there. Select multiple controls works fine and keyboard size and move also seems to work fine. I like the outside grippers. Maybe should protect the Form from being closed via system meny x (%WM_SYSCOMMAND), because once gone - always gone. 

[Jules Marchildon]

Börje ,  
Thank you for testing.  Many thanks for the feedback as well!  I'll check the Redo logic for my silly mistakes and I'll block the close button [X] on the Form to prevent vaporizing it.  I was thinking about DwmSetWindowAttribute  all day but got side tracked.  I'm sure there are more mistakes  to be found or things I forgot to do coming down the pipes. I just started adding the code for creating/saving/opening a project, I'll go with a text based format similar to the VB days. Hopefull I have another hour available to clean some of mess up.  The MDI (not my cup of tea) is just something to test the dms control with. I will eventually re-use the multiple & the hidden window code that Dominic Mitchell helped me with back in the good ole days (PB forum circa 2001).  Dominic lived not too far from me, I wonder what he's up to these days?  Two of the apps I really like is your WinSpy++++ & EDM32 (well I like all of your apps!) , I want to plug them into this designer eventually.  The code generator will spit out into your EDM32 editor.  As Gary Beene would say, "Cool Beans!"

[Jules Marchildon]

Börje,
I've updated the code (in the first post. Attached zip file).  It now Saves Projects, each project is placed in a Project folder. I added your ini code from your demo you posted back in the day, saves options, locations etc.  Thank you for that!  I no longer vaporize the Forms when closed, just hide them, you can view again using the main menu. And I think I fixed the Undo/Redo.  Plus when testing Forms, I now hide the designer Forms and Toolbar.  Fixed the groupbox z-order in test mode in case you didn't notice that one.       

I may have gone down the rabbit hole again, but hey what the heck it's all about having some fun and learning at the same time.  I tried to make it as intuitive as possible to use.  Oh! Gosh! Darn! - I need to add the Tab control to the tool palette, OK next time.


Oh btw, did you notice you can copy and paste from one form to the other?  It would be cool to drag and drop, let me think that one.

[Borje Hagsten]

Very nice. An "Open recent files" option would be nice to have. I have tried to break it but you have done well - it still works.

Will be interesting to follow your fine work. Seem to recall you once created an ownerdrawn "Property list" control that could be useful for settings, maybe. In my own little form designer I have used a variation of a Property list, like screen shot below shows. I never really finished it, so it needs more work some day, but at least works for quick form design with code so I use it a lot. 

[Jules Marchildon]

WoW!  Very cool    Börje!    You are always surprising me. Never a dull moment.  Nice GUI, are they all popup's (tool palette/properties etc) that can float outside of the main window? Can it do mulitple dialogs? What controls are the ones I circled on your tool palette?  Do you have a menu editor as well? Are you using a transparent layer as well for the grab handles?  I did find a more modern SDK cpp properties code example to follow, I think from codeprojects or codeguru website, it was sometime ago, it resembled the one in Dominc's Pheonix VD. An MRU is a good idea thanks!   Sorry so many questions, but you got me really excited about this topic 

   

[Borje Hagsten]

Yes, they are floating tool windows and no - I can only do one dialog at the time. It's very basic, for design purpose only. The circled controls are Multiline Textbox, 3-D Progressbar (my old custom control), Date Time picker, Custom Control and last one Graphic control. Both Graphic and Custom controls are using a plain Label control in design mode, but the code generator inserts correct control code.

No menu editor, but I have one I once did separately (working, but one I also never really finished..) and I draw the grippers directly inside the control. I like your way better, though. Yes it is fun projects to work with and I have a plan that one day, I will find time to collect all these little utilities in one mighty PB code creator, but like my Greek son-in-law use to say - "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him you have a plan.." 

[Jules Marchildon]

>>"If you want to make God laugh, tell Him you have a plan.."

That's a good one!


Just found this first screen shot from 2003 when I first posted the release of Qtab's on my personal webpage. This is got to make you laugh, if not at least a smile. 

   

Speaking of a menu editor,  I started one a few years ago for my PIC micro Controller LCD projects to generate the C code. It's basically just a treeview control that you can insert, delete, add, move etc.  I would think it could also be used for PB projects, hmm... me thinking again - use this treeview idea to build your menu and trigger dynamic updates on the dialog at design time.