RTF Based Help Composer and Viewer

[blueb]

One of the things "I've always wanted" in PureBaisic is a way to create Help files
that show users how to use the programs I've written.

I created a 'Builder' for the programmer and a 'Viewer' for your users.

Because it has Icons, etc. I've zipped it all together, and placed it in my DropBox account:

NOTE: Windows only at the moment.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pspw2iibpiwki ... m.zip?dl=0

Total Freeware... All EXE's, source code and images are included.

[kvitaliy]

Unpleasant effect when scrolling text:

Win7 x64

[blueb]

Works well on my system (Win 10). I spent some time looking in the Event Loop, but

I'm not familiar enough with the Win API SendMessge function to spot the differences between Win 10 and Win 7.

Perhaps an API guru could take a look at the source and spot the problem in the event loop?

[chi]

Unpleasant effect when scrolling text

Works well on my Win7... (also tested on VirtualBox, both with or without desktop composition)
What sets your Win7 apart from a vanilla installation? I recognized the sharp corners on Min/Max/Close, that do not meet the standard.

[Kwai chang caine]

Works very well on W10 X64, no problem scrolling
Thanks for sharing your nice software and his source

[srod]

The editor gadget can behave very poorly I'm afraid. Bugs that have been reported in the past are still not fixed.

Your help viewer suffers with a similar problem that you can see with the following :

Code: Select all

If OpenWindow(0, 0, 0, 400, 400, "EditorGadget", #PB_Window_SystemMenu | #PB_Window_ScreenCentered | #PB_Window_SizeGadget | #PB_Window_MaximizeGadget)
  EditorGadget(0, 10, 10, 380, 380)
  For a = 0 To 30
    AddGadgetItem(0, a, "Line "+Str(a))
  Next
  Repeat
    event = WaitWindowEvent()
    Select event
      Case #PB_Event_SizeWindow
        ResizeGadget(0, #PB_Ignore, #PB_Ignore, WindowWidth(0) - 20, WindowHeight(0) - 20)
    EndSelect
  Until event = #PB_Event_CloseWindow
EndIf

Scroll down a bit in the editor gadget and then maximize the window. On my system (Win 7x64) the scrollbar has not been properly erased. Only happens if the maximised window is large enough to remove the need for a scrollbar.
You can get around this with some strategically placed HideGadget() calls, but it makes for some very flickery resizing!

If it were me, I would abandon the editor gadget in favour of either a canvas gadget or a web gadget.

[blueb]

The editor gadget can behave very poorly I'm afraid.

...Scroll down a bit in the editor gadget and then maximize the window. On my system (Win 7x64) the scrollbar has not been properly erased. Only happens if the maximised window is large enough to remove the need for a scrollbar.

Thanks for the info srod.

I tried your sample and my Win 10 system behaved like it should (unlike Fangbeast in a flock of sheep)

But I will keep your suggestions in mind.

[srod]

I tried your sample and my Win 10 system behaved like it should (unlike Fangbeast in a flock of sheep) :mrgreen

Any kind of flock or herd really. He just can't help himself I'm afraid... though not as afraid as any flock of sheep should be who happened to be wandering by his neighbourhood!

[blueb]

[RASHAD]

Hi blueb
- Avoiding what srod mentioned
- Eliminate flickering

Code: Select all

Procedure SizeCB(windowID, Message, wParam, lParam) 
     Define *SizeTracking.MINMAXINFO
     
     If Message = #WM_GETMINMAXINFO       ; To limit the smallest dimension
          *SizeTracking = lParam 
          *SizeTracking\ptMinTrackSize\x = 750 
          *SizeTracking\ptMinTrackSize\y = 550 
          *SizeTracking\ptMaxTrackSize\x = GetSystemMetrics_(#SM_CXSCREEN) 
          *SizeTracking\ptMaxTrackSize\y = GetSystemMetrics_(#SM_CYSCREEN)
          ResizeGadget(#RichEdit, 270, 40, WindowWidth(#MainWindow)-280, WindowHeight(#MainWindow)-85)
          ResizeGadget(#ListGadget, 10, 40, 250, WindowHeight(#MainWindow)-85)
     ElseIf Message = #WM_SIZE
          HideGadget(#RichEdit,1)
          Protected p.POINT
          SendMessage_(GadgetID(#RichEdit), #EM_SETSCROLLPOS, 0, @p)
          ResizeGadget(#RichEdit, 270, 40, WindowWidth(#MainWindow)-280, WindowHeight(#MainWindow)-85)
          ResizeGadget(#ListGadget, 10, 40, 250, WindowHeight(#MainWindow)-85)          
          HideGadget(#RichEdit,0)
     ElseIf Message = #WM_ENTERSIZEMOVE
          SendMessage_(GadgetID(#RichEdit),#WM_SETREDRAW,0,0)
     ElseIf Message = #WM_EXITSIZEMOVE
          SendMessage_(GadgetID(#RichEdit),#WM_SETREDRAW,1,0)
          ;RedrawWindow_(GadgetID(#RichEdit), 0, 0, #RDW_ERASE | #RDW_FRAME | #RDW_INVALIDATE | #RDW_ALLCHILDREN)          
     EndIf      
     
     ProcedureReturn #PB_ProcessPureBasicEvents 
EndProcedure 

[blueb]

Hi blueb
- Avoiding what srod mentioned
- Eliminate flickering

I tried your changes on my Win 10 system with no visible differences that I could tell.

So I made the changes to the source, rezipped the files to my DropBox account. (use first post)

I would appreciate Win 7 Users retrying the program.

Thanks Rashad... much appreciated.

[srod]

Yep, Rashad's workaround works fine here and eliminates the problems I saw with Win 7.

[Fangbeast]

I tried your sample and my Win 10 system behaved like it should (unlike Fangbeast in a flock of sheep)

You utter, umitigated, conscienceless bastard!!! I just saw this post!!

If it hadn't been for the fact that they were wearing srod's unwashed, steaming, fetid, rancid underpants, I would have have stayed true to form and gone with goats but well, I thought they were goats!!

I know you stole Idle's sheep and put srods shameful underpants on them to trick me, I just know it!

Oh, the humiliation, I will be known as a closet sheep shagger in the forums now (My goat mayleen will never forgive me!! Sob, sob, sob)

[Jan2004]

RTF Based Help Composer and Viewer - it is interesting idea. However, the program does not behave properly. I'm using Windows XP. If I move the program window out of the screen area of the monitor the EditorGadget window is decreasing - only re-clicking the window restores the proper size. Please check if the program behaves the same in other versions of Windows. Here is an illustration of the problem.
http://www.lokus.com.pl/pr1.jpg
http://www.lokus.com.pl/pr2.jpg

[srod]

That doesn't happen on my Win 7 system. However, the entire contents of the editor gadget sometimes disappears!