2 Cando questions
18 messages in this thread
I have a couple of questions about Cando.
1. I notice many people use the DrawRectangle, PrintText functions, etc.to
put things on their windows. If the user has anything bigger than
thestandard topaz font for their title bars then there is a good chance
thatsome of the window information is going to be overlapped by the title
bar.
Is there any way around this?
2. Is there any way to allow the user to add buttons? I want to do
something very similar to the way AutoPilot works by allowing the user
toadd forums. I have looked throught the manual and all my sample decks
butI can't find anything like this.
Donavan, 1) I cannot imagine why you would use the PrintText command to add
text to the window/screen titlebar. You would normally use SetWindowTitle
or SetScreenTitle commands for this. They use the standard system font
your system is using. PrintText would normally be used for labeling,
printing information, etc to the window itself. You can use whatever font
you like, and it's up to you to make sure it isn't clipped at borders, etc.
2) Sure there are buttons in CanDo. Use the icon next to the ADD icon in
the CanDo bar. You'll be asked where and size of button, then you'll be
able to set the button borders, imagery, etc. You also set the scripts for
when the button is clicked, double clicked, dragged, released. You could
set them to 'TOGGLE' on/off so that they worked like AutoPilot if you
wished.
Hope above helps. Post if any other questions, or if I misunderstood what
you meant! –jp–
Hi John. Long time no read.
I must not have worded my question very well. I wasn't talking about
using PrintText to add text to the window/screen titlebar. I know to use
SetWindowTitle or SetScreenTitle for that. I am talking about people
_not_ making sure their PrintText information isn't being clipped at
borders. I noticed this a lot because I use a rather large titlebar font.
Even INOVAtronics examples did not use much caution when using the
PrintText command. Try it. Use a titlebar font like Coal 15, which I
think looks great, and run some CanDo made programs. Ugh.
The second question about buttons is this. Have you used AutoPilot?
There are some buttons along the bottom which are always there. I can
create those with no problem in CanDo. BUT, when the user clicks on Add a
Forum a whole new set of buttons are created that can be clicked on. I
can't think of how to do this in CanDo.
Thanks for your help and interest.
I should have gathered there was more substance to your questions…. 🙂
Unfortunately, many programs (both CanDo decks created by amateurs like me
and even professional programs) do not make sense of 'other than standard'
fonts. I suppose we shouldn't complain too loudly, since at least we have
the option to change fonts. Still, I agree it would be nice if authors
would check the font size in use, and adjust their spacing and such
accordingly. (still, there has to be some limits, right?)
Re the 'Button Swapping'…. I've solved that one in the past by using the
MOVEOBJECT command to move sets of buttons on and off the visible screen.
I've prepared and uploaded a short example deck called 'SWAPBUT.LZH' that
swaps two sets of buttons. Maybe it will be of use? The basic technique
I've used is:
Assume two sets of buttons: BEVEL BUTTONS & SHADOW BUTTONS
You want only one set on the screen at a time. There is one button in each
set that will show the other set, hiding its own set. (ie. swaps the
buttons) For each of these 'swap' buttons, there is a script something
like below:
; this script would clear the 'BevelButtons' and show the 'ShadowButtons'
MoveObject "BevelButton#1",700,25 ; moves this set off the visible window
MoveObject "BevelButton#2",700,40 MoveObject "BevelButton#3",700,55
MoveObject "BevelButton#4",700,70 MoveObject "BevelButton#5",700,85
SetDrawMode JAM1 SetPen 0 AreaRectangle 20,20,200,100 ; erase old
buttons MoveObject "ShadowButton#1",25,25 ; move new buttons onto the
window MoveObject "ShadowButton#2",25,40 MoveObject "ShadowButton#3",25,55
MoveObject "ShadowButton#4",25,70 MoveObject "ShadowButton#5",25,85
A nice feature of this method is that the buttons that are 'moved' retain
their selected/not-selected characteristics. If they were checkmarked, etc
when moved, they will stay that way when they come back.
The only problem with above is a small visual glitch when the
'AreaRectangle' command is used. Still, a small price to pay for a
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reasonably simple solution.
Hope this makes sense. Check out the example deck, or let me know if you
come up with a simpler way. Always looking for easier ways to do things!
🙂 ttfn
–jp–seattle–
That idea just might work for my purposes. I'll dl your sample deck right
away and give it a look.
Thanks much for the effort. I'll get back to you on how it's going.
Hey, John. Nice to see you back!
Martin
– via Whap!
Martin, nice to see you here…. I looked for you at the October WOA in
Pasedena, CA; but (alas) you weren't to be found. Still in Germany? (I
think that is where you were heading last time?)
I did have a very nice chat with Eddie however. Discussed a lot of CanDo
1.6 features (which was just being released at the show). Discussed a lot
of other potential features too.
BTW, whatever happened to the 'auto upgrade' club? I sent in my forms, and
am sure that there must have been some upgrades to Opus, Innovatools,
CanDo, etc since then, but have never seen anything in the mail. Did that
go bust or something?
Finally, who is doing active CanDo support here now? I'm going to start
hanging around CIS again regularly, so I'll check in here too; wondered if
there was someone 'official' that folks could leave their msg for? Or
leave me an Email with comments….
TTFN
–jp–seattle–
John,
Hmm!?!?! World of Commodore Amiga was in September, not October and
the (just being released) version of CanDo you were discussing with Eddie
Churchhill must have been 2.0.
Other than that, I love your message! <G>
Ric Fischer
SoftWood Tech Support
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
(602) 431-9151
Uhhhhhhhhh….. You're correct, WOA was in September (not Oct) and it was
CanDo 2.0 I was discussing with Eddie (not 1.6)…. other than that my
message was correct however 🙂
Oh well…. that's one argument against letting my fingers do the talking.
–jp–seattle–
You were at WOA and missed our AmigaForums rendezvous!
Shame shame shame
I wanted to see if you really look like you type 🙂
–pt–not seattle– 😉
"I wanted to see if you really look like you type :)"
You mean he's upper and lower case with a sideways smiley face??? 🙂
Steve
Well, I've been said to be backwards sometimes (: But never sidefaced.
I do smile however. (:
–jp–seattle–
There was a AmigaForums rendezvous? Geez, I would have really liked that.
I went down to visit my dad at last minute and discovered it was also WOA
weekend (!)….. rats.
Maybe there will be another get together next year? I did see a lot of
folks that I only get to see at those shows, and it sure was nice.
Heck, you're just up the coast, right? You'll have to give me another
month or so, and then get down to Seattle to visit when I have my official
own room finished. Or I may get up your way this summer? Keep in touch.
ttfn
–jp–seattle–
Yes, I am still in Germany. Running the Inovatronics GmbH office at
the moment. You are the second person to ask about why they have
received nothing so far via the Auto-pgrade club. I have checked the
database I have (not entirely up to date) and you are not listed for
AutoUpdating. I will ask the Dallas office and find out. Sorry
about that.
I am doing my best to do acive support here now. My link with CIS from
Cologne is not always functioning, so sometimes I am late getting back up
here. Anywa, please EMail me anytime!
Martin
– via Whap!
Don't worry about calling to check my autoupgrade status. I do know I
sent in the form with credit card # and all when I first received it,
but I'll just send them a letter again. I'm sure you have enough to
do w/o checking down every little user registration problem you
encounter.
Glad to chat with you again. and particularly glad to have your support
here online. Talk with you later.
–jp–seattle–
HE'S BACK.
Hello old friend 🙂
–Paul
Hey paul, glad to hear from you. I've been lurking about lately, but
haven't had time to participate much lately. With a 5 month old son (whew
how they grow!), a job that is taking toooo much time, and a
still-to-be-completed basement remodel I've been busy.
The basement remodel has me excited though. Finally can see the light at
the end of the tunnel. One of the rooms in the basement will be my studio,
where me and my Amiga (and maybe new amiga?) can work in peace and harmony.
It is great fun to be able to design a computer work room from the ground
up…. recessed lighting over workstations, power strips and cable runs
recessed into a horizontal 'gutter' assembly built into the walls (the hope
is to get rid of the 'cable nightmare' that I've lived with for years).
Built in countertops & storage. Room for a couple of workstations. Access
to the audio/video center of the basement. etc. etc. etc.
Anyway, we picked out the carpet that will be laid sometime in late Jan or
early Feb, so it looks like its all coming together. Then I can get my CIS
life back together. Am really looking forward to it!
Thanks for the message. ttfn
–jp–seattle–