IceDesign GUI designer

[Mesa]

I've noted another lag: There is a lag time between when I check a gadget and when the grid is updated.

So i think, it's the main loop which is waiting for something before updating the propertygrid.
Are you using WindowEvent instead of WaitWindowEvent ?
Are you using WaitWindowEvent more than once ?
Are you using threads, mutex ?

Otherwise, you can speed up a soft in using procedureDLL instead of procedure, prototype to call procedure, interface and binding/unbinding not required events (propertygrid uses a lot of events, not of all are required at the same time).

M.

[CDXbow]

11 out of 10 to ChrisR for his great work. Well done.
Nice DPI friendly form designer that I have not had a problem with, no lag, no crashers.

On the other hand FD doesn't work at all in both the X86 and 64bit Windows PB versions I have on my laptop.
No idea why but the problem has persisted through a couple of upgrades.

Long live IceDesign!

[ChrisR]

@Marc56
Thanks for your detailed feedback on how you use FD
I fully understand your need for these additional features although I'm not sure it's widely used currently but I'm taking notes for maybe later
I have a bit of work to do before I can get these extra features, just a beta 1 for now...
It's not my real job so we'll probably have to be patient. It will also depend on its success or not, to go further

[ChrisR]

@Mesa,
Haha, No, No, Nothing special, there is no thread, no Mutex, Bind grid is done once and I use of course WaitWindowEvent once. Just classic and commum.
The event loop is even rather well simplified by using a module based on the beautiful property grid of Kenmo, nicely developed.

I'm confused, especially when you tell me that you have this lag when closing where there is nothing special.
Can we make a teamviewer or anydesk session to better see this behavior ?
or make a short video capture (the easiest is probably with a cell phone).

[ChrisR]

Thanks CDXbow
11/10 I don't think so but restarting from scratch after SweetyVD for fun, I tried to do it properly.

Thanks for confirming the lag, I now have about ten guys who do not have it.
I also shared it with 3 colleagues, friends in IT (2 on Windev) and their feedback was quite positive.
Even if they don't understand why I am doing this for PB, a niche for them.

[HwyStar]

Nice work on this Window GUI, Chris! I downloaded it earlier today for the first time.

1. Do you have any long-term plans of adding line drawing to it?

2. Does the object/gadget window support moving the controls up/down to afford tab-key order control?

Great work! You've done a great job with the code generation.

[ChrisR]

Hi HwyStar,
I haven't taken enough time for a future plan yet, I am still largely focused on dev.
I need feedback to see if it's worth the investment in time and work.
But I have to think about it.

For now, the tab-key order control is done through the Y and then X positions sorted
or more precisely sorted on:
Key = RSet(Str(\Level),2, "0") + RSet(Str(\TabIndex), 6, "0") + RSet(Str(\Y), 5, "0") + RSet(Str(\X), 5, "0")

[ChrisR]

Update IceDesign_Demo_Beta2.exe

• Constants or Flags are updated and displayed in real time now. Except for the Window and Containers where you have to wait for the code generation or the preview.
• Checking of Controls names (variables or constants), to always generate a correct code and avoid possible errors at compile time.
• Fixed a bug where children Gadgets were not unbinding when the container was deleted. As reported in Bind and unbind gadgets topic.
• The property grid is now updated in real time, without using PostEvents.
• Changing the Tab of a panel is now also possible from the Controls list or from the ComboBox.
• Open or Close a container is also now possible from the Controls list. Double Left click to Open a container and Double Right click to Close a container. As in the grid or drawing area.

[chi]

Hi ChrisR,

very nice and intuitive UI! The only thing I'm missing is the ability to preview the window with XP theme support. Right now I can only preview with the classic window theme, which is a bit boring and also ruins the modern GUI WYSIWYG experience (since we are designing with XP theme turned on). So if you'd add the /XP switch when starting pbcompiler.exe, this wouldn't be a problem anymore. Or make it switchable in the settings window?! Anyhow, great work

cheers, chi

[ChrisR]

Hi chi,
I haven't touched XP for a while now and I just forgot about the \XP switch for theme support.
It is added now. Same link.
Thanks

[chi]

Much better for my eyes, thx

[Caronte3D]

Awesome work!

Would be nice if you implement the "space equally" option, so we can select several controls and these will be spaced (vertically or horizontally) at same distance ones from others, like on another IDEs.

Continue the good work!

[ChrisR]

Thanks Caronte3D
It' an interesting idea that I had not noted, it is noted now, for future.
As I noted for Image Manager, used by Marc56 and others...

For now, I will have to choose a Host provider, see for the license, payment...
Not something I'm used to and not what I prefer. If someone wants to advise me, I'm interested

[Lord]

Update IceDesign_Demo_Beta2.exe
...

Nice and promising Tool.
But I'm still missing the SplitterGadget.
Is it on the agenda?

[ChrisR]

Hi Lord,
Yep, for the moment, I didn't see how I could simply make the Spiltter in the current model
and to make it look like the real one.
I preferred to move forward rather than getting stuck on this particular case.
But well, I'll have to think again later when I have a little more time, hoping to find a good idea.