aMain

Window

Sizer

Help

Introduction

Definitions

Written by:  Brendan Delumpa

Benson Software Systems, Inc. (415)433-200

CompuServe ID 72410,520


Introduction

This Windows help file was created using a help authoring tool called

Help Edit.  With Help Edit, assembling the file took about an eighth of the

time it normally took me because I didn't have to write my own RTF

file or HPJ file.  For any one who needs to write help systems in Windows,

this program comes highly recommended.

If you're familiar with WinSize, then you're already familiar with what

getPos does with regards to fetching window size coordinates.  However,

I wrote getPos long before WinSize was available in response to the

lack of a sizing utility in Paradox.  But in addition to fetching window

size values, I wanted to be able to dynamically size windows from getPos.

Included are all the files I used to create getPos.  I also included all the

files used to create this help file so you can see what it takes.  If you

have any questions, please contact me at the number above, or send

me mail via CIS.

Brendan


DefinitionMain
Definitions

 Click on one of the selections to bring up a list of defined items on the Window Sizer Form.

Key Combinations

Field Object Definitions

pushButtons


KeyCombos
Key Combinations

I've included some Alt-<key> combinations with getPos to make it easier to use the form.  You'll notice that the key combinations are non-standard, or perhaps, even illogical key assignments.  This is because getPos is NOT MODAL, which means that everything in Paradox is available to the designer, and that includes menus, which can also be accessed with Alt-<key> combinations.  Below is the list of valid key combinations in getPos:

Alt-O 	Open Selected Form

Alt-I 	File Information

Alt-P	Clipboard Copy

Alt-D	Reset Coordinates

Alt-C	Close getPos


FieldDefinitions
Field Object Definitions

The following contain specific descriptions on purpose and usage of each object within the form.  While no ObjectPAL example are present, the concept is presented.

Form Name

Coordinate and Size : X, Y, Width, Height


FldFormName
Form Name Field

The Form Name Field is a list box object that contains the valid form names for the current directory.  The values are inserted into the list box at form open.  The open method calls a custom method called getFileList() which performs an enumFileList("*.fsl",dForms).  dForms is a dynamic array that's defined in the Var method of the form.  The dynArray values are then passed into the list box values through a FOR loop.


FldCoordinateReset
Coordinate and Size Fields

The coordinate and size fields (denoted by X, Y, Width, and Height) define the position and size of the selected form when it's opened.  These fields may be left blank when opening a form.  When left blank, once the called form is closed, its default position and size are returned to Window Sizer and Positioner and the corresponding values are returned to the fields.  This helps in gauging the amount needed to be increased or decreased to current values.


pushButtons
PushButtons and Features

The following are a list of features available in the utility:

Windows Help Facility

Open Selected Form

File Information

Copy Coordinates to Clipboard

Coordinate Reset to Blank

Close


btnHelp
Help File

This file explains the features and functions of the various objects contained in the utility.  Short definitions are made with references to ObjectPAL to give people an idea of what is going on behind the scenes in the form.


btnOpen
Open Selected Form

The Open button opens up the selected form from the picklist, and places it on the workspace.  In addition to opening the form, it grabs the current getPosition() parameters and inserts them into the appropriate fields.  This gives the developer a way of gauging how much a window must be sized or moved.


btnFileInfo
DOS File Information

This simply brings up a form that contains DOS file information.  The form's table is loaded using the second form of enumFileList() which writes the file information to a user-defined table.


btnCoordCopy
Copy Coordinates to Clipboard

Pressing this button will copy the currently display coordinates to the clipboard.

 Hint:  If you open up the form again immediately after copying, you go into Design Mode and enter in the setPosition method in the Open method of the form.


btnResetCoord
Reset Coordinates and Sizes

This clears all the coordinate and size parameters.  It's much easier than deleting the values field-by-field.


btnClose
Close

This will close the getPosition Form.