EsGRID, ExGRID and the tBOX grid controls!

srod · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2011 3:54 pm

7th Oct 2011

Hi,

thought it best to start a new topic for what is a combined announcement really.

I have added a new control to my EsGRID / ExGRID grid control package; namely tBOX.

tBOX is a professional grade property-box control which, like the ExGRID control, is built atop the EsGRID control. tBOX is a reworking of our previously freely available property-box control which was a part of the Nexus package. However, tBOX is one hell of a lot easier to use! :smile:

It has a dedicated OOP interface for one as opposed to the messy Nexus interface!

It is very easy to use and offers just about everything you might require in a property-box control. Indeed, I have used it very successfully in my Pyrex visual report designer (by way of an example of tBOX being used in a commercial program).

The following image shows a basic tBOX in action.

Here is the Purebasic code for creating the above tBOX :

Code:

IncludePath "..\..\"
XIncludeFile "tBOX\tBOX.pbi"

Define myBox.tBOX

OpenWindow(0,0,0,300,430,"©nxSoftware - tBOX demo",#PB_Window_SystemMenu | #PB_Window_SizeGadget | #PB_Window_ScreenCentered | #PB_Window_Tool | #PB_Window_Invisible | #WS_CLIPCHILDREN) 
  ;Create an instance of our tBOX control and check the return value.
    myBox = tBOX_Create(0, 0, WindowWidth(0), WindowHeight(0), 18, 100, 150, #tBOX_AutoStretchValueColumn|#tBOX_AlwaysShowSelection|#tBOX_GridLines|#tBOX_GradientTitles|#tBOX_EditableLabels)
    If myBox = 0
      MessageRequester("tBOX", "Could not create a tBOX control!")
      CloseWindow(0)
      End
    EndIf
  ;Add items. Note that many optional parameters are left out in the following calls.
    myBox\AddTitleItem(-1, "Gadget", "(String gadget)")
    myBox\AddComboItem(-1, "Use #Pb_Any", "False", "True"+Chr(10)+"False")
    myBox\AddStringItem(-1, "Constant", "#str1")
    myBox\AddTitleItem(-1, "Position")
    myBox\AddPositiveIntegerItem(-1, "X", 100, #tBOX_DefaultFont, #tBOX_DefaultFont, #tBOX_RightJustify)
    myBox\AddPositiveIntegerItem(-1, "Y", 100, #tBOX_DefaultFont, #tBOX_DefaultFont, #tBOX_RightJustify)
    myBox\AddPositiveIntegerItem(-1, "Width", 100, #tBOX_DefaultFont, #tBOX_DefaultFont, #tBOX_RightJustify)
    myBox\AddPositiveIntegerItem(-1, "Height", 100, #tBOX_DefaultFont, #tBOX_DefaultFont, #tBOX_RightJustify)
    myBox\AddTitleItem(-1, "Flags")
    myBox\AddComboItem(-1, "Numeric", "False", "True"+Chr(10)+"False")
    myBox\AddComboItem(-1, "Password", "False", "True"+Chr(10)+"False")
    myBox\AddComboItem(-1, "Read Only", "False", "True"+Chr(10)+"False")
    myBox\AddComboItem(-1, "Lower Case", "False", "True"+Chr(10)+"False")
    myBox\AddComboItem(-1, "Upper Case", "False", "True"+Chr(10)+"False")
    myBox\AddComboItem(-1, "Borderless", "False", "True"+Chr(10)+"False")
    myBox\AddTitleItem(-1, "Colors")
    myBox\AddColorItem(-1, "Front Color", #Black)
    myBox\AddColorItem(-1, "Back Color", #Green)
    myBox\AddTitleItem(-1, "Fonts")
    myBox\AddFontWithColorsItem(-1, "Font", "Arial", 12, #PB_Font_Italic|#PB_Font_Bold, #Blue)
    myBox\AddTitleItem(-1, "Custom")
    myBox\AddCustomTextDialogItem(-1, "Custom")
  HideWindow(0, 0)
  Repeat
    Event = WaitWindowEvent()
    Select Event
      Case #PB_Event_SizeWindow
        ;DO NOT use ResizeGadget() on a tBOX control.
        ;============================================
          myBox\Resize(#PB_Ignore, #PB_Ignore, WindowWidth(0), WindowHeight(0))
       Case #PB_Event_Gadget
        Select EventGadget()
        EndSelect
    EndSelect
  Until Event = #PB_Event_CloseWindow

Simples!

Please see the nxSoftware site for more details on the tBOX control (as well as EsGRID and ExGRID of course). You will of course find it lurking in the Grid Controls section.

The upshot of all this is that our commercial grid controls package now includes 3 controls; the original EsGRID control, the enhanced ExGRID control and the newly available tBOX control. All are available now to existing license holders (of the combined EsGRID / ExGRID package) at no extra charge.

New customers will need to purchase a license before access to the download section can be granted.

The download of EsGRID / ExGRID has been simplified. Now, a single download will yield access to all controls in one folder etc.

Please note that tBOX has no user manual at present. Look to the 2 demos to get a real good idea of how it all works though. The tBOX header file (tBOX_HeaderFile.pbi) lists and describes all constants (styles, colors etc.) as well as listing all interface methods etc. At this time I do not intend creating a manual because I really do not think there is the need. I shall of course answer all questions people might throw my way anyhow.

Please use this thread for all EsGRID / ExGRID / tBOX questions etc. (or the nxSoftware forums) rather than the original EsGRID / ExGRID threads. Saves too much monkeying around!

Regards.

Stephen.

Kiffi · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2011 4:05 pm

Great! Works like a charm.

Greetings ... Kiffi

P.S.:

srod · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2011 4:09 pm

Cripes, that was quick Kiffi!

Kiffi · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2011 4:32 pm

srod wrote:

Cripes, that was quick Kiffi!

yes, i was srod-hungry ;-)

netmaestro · **Joined:** Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:42 am **Posts:** 6465

Professional grade is right

Congratulations on some very fine work srod, this is the real deal!

Marco2007 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2011 6:30 pm

Perfect!!
Great to have you back

luis · **Posted:** Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:17 pm

Thank you very much srod!

Kuron · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:51 pm **Posts:** 919

srod wrote:

New customers will need to purchase a license before access to the download section can be granted.

How much does it cost?

I notice there is a "custom" field. Is there a way we can use custom images to be displayed in a field and use custom images in the combo box?

srod · **Posted:** Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:48 am

Kuron wrote:

srod wrote:

New customers will need to purchase a license before access to the download section can be granted.

How much does it cost?

I notice there is a "custom" field. Is there a way we can use custom images to be displayed in a field and use custom images in the combo box?

Purchase details are listed on the site.

EsGRID (and thus ExGRID) supports bitmap and icon cells (so no custom cell required for these). Custom cells are there for the host application to take charge of and, for example, offer support for cell-types that EsGRID does not natively support. tBOX does this in order to support the various 'selector' cells, e.g. the font choosers etc. tBOX also uses bitmap cells to support the 'node button', that is the buttons used to collapse/expand groups of properties etc.

It is not possible to utilise images in the combo-boxes no.

Kuron · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:51 pm **Posts:** 919

Is there an expiration date on licenses?

srod · **Posted:** Sat Oct 08, 2011 12:18 pm

Kuron wrote:

Is there an expiration date on licenses?

Kuron, all the info you need is in the website.

Quote:

Purchase of the EsGRID / ExGRID / tBOX control package comes with lifetime updates (and lifetime support). Purchase once and use on every computer you own.

No additional royalties will be payable. In particular, you can use the EsGRID / ExGRID / tBOX controls in as many applications as you see fit (commercial or otherwise).

Kuron · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:51 pm **Posts:** 919

srod wrote:

Kuron, all the info you need is in the website.

If they don't expire, can you clue me in as to why you disabled my account? I am copy and pasting the password exactly as it was in the email from a little over two years ago when the distribution method was changed.

Kind of ironic, my quote praising EsGRID is on the front page of the nxSoftware site, but I can't log in and download EsGRID. :lol:

srod · **Posted:** Sat Oct 08, 2011 12:40 pm

Ah, now I keep forgetting your various aliases... or just the one!

Your account hasn't been disabled... it's been removed - a distinct difference!

Actually, the members area now links directly to that for those who have purchased the full EsGRID/ExGRID/tBOX package or who have upgraded from the original EsGRID control. So few people have not upgraded that I decided to simply remove the entire download area for the original EsGRID control as it is now only required by these very few people.

EsGRID only sees bug-fix updates now because there is nothing more (feature-wise) that I can cram into it. I am happy to simply e-mail any bug-fix versions etc. to those few who have not upgraded.

Anyhow, the only way for anyone to access the new tBOX is to either upgrade or to buy a new license (for those new to EsGRID etc.)

ts-soft · **Posted:** Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:03 pm

thx for the new version.

srod · **Posted:** Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:26 pm

You're welcome Thomas.

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