#CanDo Questions
7 messages in this thread
Martin,
Speaking of drawing boards, I know we started a discussion a couple of
weeks ago and I sort of dropped the ball…
First, I'd like to second the motion for whoever suggested other button
styles for standard user interface-type stuff, like "radio" buttons and
"check" buttons (that toggle on/off with standard OR custom imagery).
Next, to answer some of your earlier comments, a "re-edit last routine"
would be nice, but wouldn't solve ALL my problems. I tend to jump around
from one routine to another. Maybe another idea would be to double-click
on a routine name in my script and, rather than bring up a help screen,
change the script editor to the new routine name! That would help in
simplifying screen flow.
Lastly, on the issue of BM2 and your marketing, the BM2 I have uses an
EMACS-style editor which does NOT have ARexx control. In fact, I received
my BM2 package before ARexx was published, and I'm not aware of any major
upgrades since. Unless a programmer took the initiative to develop ARexx
ports in their programs, there is no "built-in" support for ARexx.
*** John
John,
That's OK, I've been real busy also. It looks like several CanDo Decks
have been posted here on CIS in this forum and in AmigaArts. It's
spreading…
Some easier methods of movement from script to script are being
discussed. Nothing concrete yet, but I'll post any info I can here about
those ideas and request input from everyone here about specific methods.
More styles for buttons sounds interesting. So far you've mentioned
"radio" buttons and "check" buttons. Can you show me what these look like?
Maybe we can do them. EMail me pictures or draw it in a message. Are
there other types of standard buttons you'd like to see?
I asked at the office and was told that the BM2 compiler and linker are the
programs that support ARexx. I guess the correct thing to do at this point
is to ask Leon Frenkel, BM2's author. Leon, are you there?
Later.
-Martin
Martin,
"Radio" and "Check" buttons are standard elements of a user interface,
according to Apple and IBM. You've used some in CanDo, and probably didn't
even realize it! While the shapes are standardized on those other
operating systems, the concept is what's important. (Although standard
shapes help the user recognize the difference.)
A radio button consists of a circle with text to its immediate right.
These are combined to show a user a fixed set of mutually exclusive
choices, so at least two choices must be present. Click anywhere on the
button to select the choice (which fills in the circle), and de-select any
previous choices. Only one button in the range of choices is selected at
any time. Perhaps you've seen a word processor requesting High/Normal/Draft
quality printing… that's an example of radio buttons.
A check box consists of a square with text to its immediate right. Unlike
radio buttons, these are not mutually exclusive. switches (toggles) it on
and off again (placing a graphic 'X' or a check mark in the box), and does
not affect other selections. These are often grouped into a logical
sequence, but since it doesn't involve competing choices, more than one
need not be present.
In both situations, the text is OUTSIDE the standard imagery, to the right.
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The "hit" area of the button is either the image OR the text associated
with the image. More than one grouping of radio buttons should be allowed
(for different sets of unrelated choices). It may be preferable, at least
on check boxes, to provide custom imagery for toggling on/off. Actually,
your interface design seems to combine the two types, for you have some
"check" boxes which request mutually-exclusive selections.
I hope that helps. As for Leon, maybe he's only in the Vendor's forum?
*** John
John,
Thanks. I will forward all of these notes to the interface-design
people. I know that they'll be interested. Based on what you've described,
I think that similar concepts are in the works.
-Martin
Martin, is there any way to make a toggle button? When you click on
it once it becomes selected and stays that way until clicked on again (much
like the buttons in your requestor to choose what gadgets [close window,
..] are in use). I imagine it could be simulated within scripts, but then
that wouldn't make the button look selected.
— Ethan
Martin, I own both M2S and Benchmark compilers and, as I said before, I can
state authoritatively that Benchmark's environment may not be controlled in
any way by AREXX. That's not a criticism, folks, but "dem's da facts."
Like any language compiler, you can use it to write a program that has
AREXX support but that's quite a different thing.
M2S's editor, compiler, and linker all have AREXX ports and will respond to
commands they understand sent to them via AREXX. — Art