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1991-11-08
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November 8, 1991
DLGDSN Version 1.2
A Dialogbox Design Program for Turbo Vision
(C) Copyright 1990 by L. David Baldwin.
All Rights Reserved.
Further copyright information given below
OVERVIEW
DLGDSN takes some of the pain out of designing dialog boxes for Borland's
new Turbo Vision package. With DLGDSN, dialog views can be easily added,
edited, rearranged, and the dialogbox itself sized, moved, etc. Once the
design is satisfactory, DLGDSN can produce source code for the dialogbox to
be included in your program.
REQUIREMENTS
Borland's C++ version 2.0
Borland's Turbo Vision package
A mouse is desirable
The following files are supplied:
DLGDSNC.EXE The design program
DLGHLPC.HLP Online help file
DLGDSNC.DOC This one
TESTCASE.CPP A test program to check the source code produced by DLGDSN
DESIGNING A DIALOG BOX
DLGDSN has three modes of operation:
Design Mode
DLGDSN begins in design mode and this is the mode that you use for all
layout work and editing. In design mode, the dialogbox doesn't look or
act quite like it will in the final design. For one thing, there is a
'canvas' background which helps show the actual space occupied by the
views. Also, to facilitate editing, all views can be selected using the
mouse or tab key though some won't be selectable in an actual dialogbox.
Try Mode
Try mode is entered using the F9 key. In try mode, the dialogbox behaves
as it's supposed to. You can check the Tab order, make temporary
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entries, and push buttons to actually check how things will work. Exit
try mode with the escape key or click on the close box.
Ordering Mode
Ordering mode allows you to change the Tab order of your dialogbox. The
method for doing this is discussed further below. The F8 key toggles you
into and out of ordering mode.
While there is no fixed way to design a dialogbox, here's one suggested
sequence:
1.In design mode, work with the dialogbox fully zoomed.
2.From the Add menu, select a view to add. This will bring up a dialogbox
where you can enter the necessary information. Use the online help (F1
key) if you have a question as to what goes in a particular field. When
the OK button is pushed, the view will appear somewhere in the (fully
zoomed) design box. The view is then positioned by dragging it with the
mouse, or by using the arrow keys (Shift+arrow moves a little faster).
Work in the upper left corner of the box.
3.Continue adding views as desired. At any time, views can be repositioned
with the mouse or arrow keys. If something other than position needs
changing, select the view and from the Edit menu choose Edit Selected (or
use F7). This will bring up its dialogbox for changes.
4.When all the views have been added and positioned, size the box to fit
and move it to the desired location on the desktop. Be sure and add a
title (Dialog Title from the Edit menu).
5.Enter Try Mode with the F9 key and test the dialogbox. Be sure to check
how the views sequence using the Tab key. Exit Try mode with Esc or
click on the close box.
6.If the Tab sequence needs changing, use F8 to enter ordering mode. With
the mouse, click on each view to establish the desired order. Exit back
to design mode with F8.
Changing the sequence without a mouse is a little more complicated. Use
the Tab key to select (highlight) the next view to be sequenced. Then
press the Enter key to enter the selected view into the sequence. After
all views have been entered, exit back to design mode with F8.
Some views (such as Static Text, Labels, Scrollbars) don't enter into the
tab sequence of a dialogbox. You can order these if it's convenient, but
the order won't effect the final results.
Be sure to recheck the tab order in Try mode.
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7.This is a good time to save your work. Choose Save or Save As from the
File menu to create or update a .DLG file. Any file with the same name
will be renamed with a .BKP extension.
8.To create source code for your dialogbox, choose Write Source from the
Operations menu and choose a filename (.SRC is the default extension).
The source code produced will consist of a dialogbox definition function
and a data record with fields matching those required by the dialogbox's
SetData and GetData methods.
The .SRC file generated may be inserted directly into TESTCASE.CPP (at
the line of asterisks) to provide a program to test the dialogbox.
SOME DETAILS
Class Names
Many of the Add/Edit dialogboxes have a field labeled 'Class Name'. By
default, this field contains the standard Turbo Vision name for the view.
This field exists for situations where it may be desirable to use a derived
view which doesn't differ much from its standard view parent. The class
name entered here will be the one used when generating the source code for
the dialogbox.
Help Context
Many of the Add/Edit dialogboxes also have fields labeled Help Context and
Value. By default, these contain hcNoContext and 0. DLGDSN uses the help
context ID when generating source code and the value when producing a
resource.
For small projects, it may be convenient just to enter this information by
hand. However, if you're using Borland's demo help compiler, TVHC, DLGDSN
can work with the help definition file it produces. To do this, choose
Load Help ctx file from the Options menu and supply the filename of the
help definition file. Then clicking on the '*' box next to the help
context field (or typing '*' in the field) will bring up a pick list of the
definitions from which to choose.
COPYRIGHT
Documentation and Program (C) Copyright 1990 by L. David Baldwin.
All Rights Reserved.
DLGDSN may be copied and distributed freely by individuals to friends and
acquaintances providing that no fee is charged and it is not part of a
package for which a charge is made.
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Source code for DLGDSN is available for $15 (need not be sent in advance).
The bad news for C++ users is that the source is written in Turbo Pascal
version 6.0.
Also please report any problems, suggestions, etc.
Contact me by Compuserve (the best way) or at one of the addresses below.
Dave Baldwin
CompuServe ID #76327,53.
22 Fox Den Rd.,
Hollis, NH 03049 (Summer)
(603) 465-7857
144 13th St. East,
Tierra Verde, FL 33715 (Winter, of course)
(813) 867-3030
CHANGES
Vers 1.1 Fixed crash when Try mode toggled and no views present.
Vers 1.2 Added C++ source compile option. Minor fixes.
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