Bernard Bout

GDI+X Pad gets an update with added functionality and tutorial

2009-04-24T02:47:00Z

After some testing and additional functionality programmed in, I have decided to release this new version of the GDI+X Pad - v1.35. There are a number of enhancements to it, to enable it to be easier to use, which I will list here: 1. The Error handler was changed to the older conventional On Error from the Try...Catch style because Try...Catch was unable to process certain errors and threw up nesting errors. The Error handler now handles improper code statements correctly. 2.The image...(read more)

Update to GDI+X Pad

2009-04-16T03:34:00Z

Just a note to whoever reads this blog and downloaded the GDI+X Pad. that the post has been updated. The download has also been updated to v 1.12.Please check this link for the update and new download: http://weblogs.foxite.com/bernardbout/archive/2009/04/14/8096.aspx...(read more)

Introducing the GDI+X Pad

2009-04-14T06:18:00Z

Many times when trying out the GDI+X classes I have had to create a form and then type out the code and run the form to see the results. Another problem I have had is looking up sample code to see how things are done. I have always wanted an easier way to manage this. Note: Post has been updated with some new info. See below. Also the download is now V1.2 The GDI+X Pad is a Visual Foxpro 9 Sp2 application where you can type in your GDI+X code to see how it looks immediately,...(read more)

Creating the VFP Base Classes with GDI+x - The 3D Option Buttons

2009-03-28T06:23:00Z

Following on from my previous post about creating check boxes completely with GDI+x I decided to try something a bit different and create a 3D Option Button set with colour schemes. What follows is about this class as well as how to set it up and also to create your own colour schemes, in addition to the ten schemes included.Important:The GDI+X classes that are used in this class use Functions in system.app that are fixed and you will get errors if you use the release version. As pointed out by Cesar,...(read more)

Creating the VFP Base Classes with GDI+x - The Checkbox

2009-03-26T05:06:00Z

A reader on my blog posted - why don't I create other base controls with GDI+x so I thought I'd give it a shot. This post is about recreating the VFP Base classes using pure GDI+ and the GDI+x classes to achieve neat looking base classes. When I say "Base Class" I mean with VFP intrinsic ability to bind fields to controls. So while not all PEM's available in the Checkbox have been implemented the two most important have been - DataBinding using the ControlSource and of course sprucing up the UI experience.After...(read more)

White Butttons are not that bad looking after all

2009-03-06T03:06:00Z

Been working off and on, on a set of, believe it or not, White buttons using GDI+x So far they have come out pretty good looking. May complete them one day and post them. What do you think? Unfortunately because of the amount of junk mail being generated from the weblog I have switched off comments. Please post your comments, if any, at www.foxite.com...(read more)

Decorating a Grid with GDI+

2009-03-03T03:14:00Z

Many times I have seen where there are grid controls that have an image as their background. Now in VFP while it is not too difficult to display images in the grid, you just cannot get the effect as below. avior:url(#ieooui) } But with a little ingenuity and some technique this effect as above is certainly possible. That's where GDI+ comes in. To achieve this you need the GDI+x classes found on VFPX and the imgcanvas class. Create a new class and base it on the imgcanvas...(read more)

VFP Shape Tips & Techniques

2009-03-02T23:18:00Z

Here are a couple of tips for getting things done with your classes using the Shape control. With a listbox control, you have to actually click on it before any row is selected. If, for any reason you wanted to be able to just move your mouse over it and have a row selected, you will find that you cannot achieve this with the plain control. That is because this behaviour is not native. But given that you may want this specific effect, and remember that this technique can be used for other controls...(read more)

Don't let VFP's CLEAR ALL command scare you

2009-02-26T01:24:00Z

When developing, how many times have you had to issue a CLEAR ALL in the command window only to find your objects and other settings also were cleared?...(read more)

Transparent Forms with VFP Revisited with GDI+x

2008-11-07T05:14:00Z

More than 2 years ago I started blogging on getting VFP to have transparent windows. No, not the fully transparent ones, but the Vista like ones, where the window is transparent but the contents, including form objects, are opaque. This was my first post as proof of concept: http://weblogs.foxite.com/bernardbout/archive/2006/06/15/1838.aspx and from proof of concept to the "real" thing http://weblogs.foxite.com/bernardbout/archive/2006/08/16/2261.aspx with the technique described in detail here...(read more)

Glow-In-The-Dark Buttons with GDI+X

2008-10-24T01:09:00Z

The GDI+x Samples have a form that displays a "Halo" for text. So taking that idea I adapted it for these glowing buttons. To use these buttons you will need the GDI+x classes on the VFPX site. http://www.codeplex.com/Wiki/View.aspx?ProjectName=VFPX&title=GDIPlusX Click on the link on this page that says Latest Release of GDIPlusX and download the latest stable release. Do not download the Beta as that is not complete and may not work properly. I havd also posted a tutorial on how to...(read more)

Interesting Animated Background Effect for Forms

2008-10-23T00:41:00Z

Most of you have seen the effect of the Vista dialogs where the background of the form appears to move whe the form is moved. While difficult to describe, it is easy to see and even easier to implement for your forms. Obviously if you have Vista, then you already have the animated background effect. So this post is aimed at those of us who have upgraded to and still use XP. This effect is achieved with just 2 lines of code as you will see. Click on either of the images below to view it at full...(read more)

Lets Reflect a bit on GDI+

2008-10-17T05:57:00Z

One of the things I wanted was to be able to drop an image object on my form, set its picture property to an image and have the image "reflection" visible, which gives a very good effect. Well now that we have the GDI+x classes that is no longer a wish, but a fact. This implementation requires the GDI+x classes available from the VFPX site.Go get them. Basically the Imagecanvas is used, its picture property is set to your picture and the height of the reflection in pixels is set. That is all....(read more)

See through your buttons with GDI+x

2008-10-14T06:48:00Z

Important Note: GDIPLUSX uses the PictureVal to load a PNG image into the imgCanvas Object to get the transparent effect. VFP9sp1 does not support loading PNG images using the PictureVal property. As such, you must have VFP9 Sp2 to use these classes with the GDIPLUS classes v1.10. Alternately download the 1.20B version but change the RenderMode Property of my class to 5. Then these classes will work in VFP9 Sp1. I've been working on buttons recently using the GDI+x classes and there...(read more)

Shiny Glass Buttons updated and a tutorial

2008-10-05T02:33:00Z

There have been a number of requests for a tutorial on how to use the GDI+x classes and the Shiny Glass buttons. I am used to using these classes, so wrongly assumed that all users were up to speed. So I decided to fix that and post a tutorial about how to install and use GDI+x and the button class. Also I have made some updates to the class. It now respects the Enabled property. Also updated is the builder. Tooltips, colours & fonts remembered, and a live form preview, courtesy...(read more)