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- Graphics Vision, version 2.0
-
- Copyright 1993 by Stefan Milius, Magdeburg
-
- Documentation
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- I General Information
- =====================
-
- This software package was especially developed for you as a professional
- programmer. It provides a class library for creating of graphical
- environments in Microsoft(R)-Windows(TM)-look under Turbo Pascal for DOS,
- version 6.0/7.0. The software is fully compatible with Borland's text
- environment Turbo Vision and offers moreover some enlargements.
-
- II Information to Graphics Vision, version 2.0
- ==============================================
-
- Graphics Vision (GV) consists of several Turbo Pascal units.
- These are:
-
- GVDriver.TPU
- ExtGraph.TPU
- GVViews.TPU
- GVDialog.TPU
- GVMenus.TPU
- GVApp.TPU
- GVStdDlg.TPU
- GVGadget.TPU
- GVMsgBox.TPU
- GVEdit.TPU
- GVValid.TPU
- GVWList.TPU
-
- The DPMI units have the extension TPP.
-
- (See the respective text files for detailed information.)
-
- Graphics Vision proceeding from the basic Turbo Vision class Tview builds
- up a class library for creating of graphical environments, which has the
- following features:
-
- 1. creation of any, structured, user defined pull down menus. Every menu
- option can be chosen by mouse, by keyboard (shortcut or cursor keys) or
- by hotkeys.
-
- 2. intelligent window management. Management of as much (different) windows
- as you like on the so-called desktop with the known functions, e.g.
- zoom, move, resize and so on.
-
- 3. user defined dialog windows with the elements known from Turbo Vision
- (for example, buttons, checkboxes, radiobuttons, inputlines, statictexts,
- labels, listboxes u.s.w.)
-
- 4. Usage of Hotkeys. The keyboard key combinations known from Turbo Vision
- for certain functions can be used in Graphics Vision, too.
-
- 5. context-sensitive hints in the statusline. Graphics Vision allows to give
- hints to menu options or elements of (dialog-) windows in the statusline.
-
- 6. improved mouse control because of the usage of MyMouse, version 1.5.
- See MyMouse documentation for detailed information.
-
- 7. adjustment of the mouse pointer onto different objects. By the usage of
- MyMouse the mouse pointers for window frames or inputlines or the hour
- glass known from Windows(TM) can be used in Graphics Vision, too.
-
- 8. support of resource files. Menus, statusline, dialog windows do not longer
- have to be created "life" in the program but can be loaded from a file
- what leads to a code optimization in your programs.
-
- 9. usage of the highly-optimized graphic routines of the MetaGraph package,
- version 1.0, for fast drawing of the objects. The routines directly
- access the VGA adapter which means fastest drawing of windows, menus
- and so on. (see MetaGraph documentation for more information)
-
- 10. usage of optionally existing Windows(TM) bitmap fonts. Graphical texts
- do not longer have to be output with the Turbo Pascal BGI routines.
- If there are no Windows(TM) fonts BIOS fonts automatically are used.
-
- 11. Graphics Vision is able to work together with the BGI. Although Graphics
- Vision is using the routines of the MetaGraph package which directly
- access the VGA adapter in order to reach higher output speed it is
- possible to use BGI routines.
-
- 12. Graphics Vision basically is in two languages. By setting a variable
- you can switch between English or German texts (e.g. with file dialog or
- message boxes and so on). All texts are linked in the executable file.
- So it is possible to change the used language at run-time. If you have
- purchased the source codes you also can also use a single language,
- which reduces the code size.
-
- 13. Graphics Vision is fully DPMI-able! With this you at last have enough
- memory for your efficient Graphics Vision applications.
-
- 14. Graphics Vision 2.0 is fully compatible to Borland's Turbo Vision 2.0.
- Multicheckboxes und Menupopups can also be used by Turbo Pascal 6.0
- programmers.
-
- Graphics Vision, version 2.0 has the following limitations:
-
- The definition of user defined mouser pointers will only be possible if you
- purchase MyMouse, version 1.5.
-
- III Technical Information
- =========================
-
- III.1 Classes, methods, fields
- ------------------------------
-
- See the documentations of the respective Graphics Vision units for
- information about classes, fields and methods of the several classes.
-
- III.2 Special features in contrast to Turbo Vision
- --------------------------------------------------
-
- Although we have tried to program Graphics Vision Turbo-Vision-like so that
- users will not have difficulties in using Graphics Vision there are some
- differences.
-
- (1) color palettes
-
- The palette of the application does not store attributes but the
- drawing color (constants from 0 to 15; known from unit Graph).
- Single objects can directly refer to the application palette
- (without referring to a palette of their parent window first;
- see TGview.GetColor)
-
- (2) state flags
-
- The state flags sfShadow, sfDefault and sfBuffer defined in Views
- should not be used in Graphics Vision programs.
-
- (3) option masks
-
- The flag ofBuffer defined in Views is used differently in Graphics Vision.
- Windows do not have a background buffer. The flag is enabled for all
- objects. If enabled the object has to be able to write into the VGA rest
- buffer. If your Draw methods use non-MetaGr routines you should disable
- the flag.
- Besides there is the flag ofMetaFile. If enabled an object has to be able
- to use the metafile concept provided by MetaGraph. It is again enabled in
- every object. If you use non-MetaGr routines in your Draw methods you will
- have to disable the flag.
- Graphics Vision additional defines the flag ofClip. If enabled every
- screen output an object does will be cut at its borders. If disabled
- outputs will be cut at the border of the GOwner. (see there)
-
- (4) message commands
-
- Message commands defined additionally by GVViews should not be used
- by Graphics Vision users.
-
- (5) standard mouse cursors
-
- By these contants the mouse pointer can be adjusted onto objects.
- Just set MyMouse.NewNum according to the mouse position
- (=MyMouse.MouseWhere; e.g. mouse pointer inside the object) on one
- of these constants or use the constants with GVDriver.MCurStandard or
- GVDriver.SetCurrentCursor. (also see TGview.ChMCursor)
-
- (6) dragging
-
- The Dragview methods have got an additional parameter (ResMode).
- (see Twindow.DragView for more information)
-
- (7) restoring the background
-
- Windows do not have a buffer in GV. If moving or closing a window
- the background will be restored with the help of a temporary buffer in
- the VGA rest buffer or the MetaFile concept (see MetaGr.TXT).
-
- (8) Writing into windows which are only partly visible
-
- GV for this provides the routines TGview.GetVisibleRect,
- TGview.GetInvisibleRect and TGview.DrawRectList. (see there)
-
- (9) Usage of BGI routines
-
- Because these routines are not compatible to GV (e.g. with the clipping)
- there is the compatibility unit BGI. (see BGI.TXT)
-
- III.3 Example programs
- ----------------------
-
- The Graphics Vision example programs were developed out of the programs to the
- OOP manual of Turbo Pascal, version 6.0, which means they are modified for
- GV.
- The program Demo shows the most important functions of GV and all dialog
- elements on one view.
-
- III.4 System requirements
- -------------------------
-
- Graphics Vision runs on all IBM PCs and 100% compatible (at least
- 80286 processor) with VGA adapter.
- The usage of a mouse is recommendable. (But this is not neccessary.
- The Graphics Vision applications also operate properly without mouse.)
- The used system should be MS-DOS or a comparable (e.g. DR-DOS).
- Because Graphics Vision consists of several units Borland's Turbo Pascal,
- from version 6.0 on is needed.
-
- IV Trademarks
- =============
-
- Microsoft is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corp., Inc.
- Windows is a trademark of the Microsoft Corp., Inc.
- Mouse Systems is a registered trademark of the Mouse Systems Corp.
- Borland is a registered trademarks of the Borland Internation, Inc.
- All other trademarks will also be admitted.