Emerson Santon Reed

Ribbon in ThemedControls suite?

2010-02-25T17:00:00Z

I’m working on a new control, called Ribbon, that I presented in “Show Us Your App” session at Southwest Fox 2009.

Actually, it is fully functional, with a limited set of features found in Microsoft Office Ribbon interface, but I need to implement some builders, create a sample and a help to make it easier to use.

So, if you are interested in this control and would like to help me in these tasks, please contact me.

You can download the current version here: http://vfpx.codeplex.com/releases/view/7003

Here is a screenshot…

A simple guide on how to use ThemedControls - Part 1

2010-02-25T16:59:00Z

Add the following files to your project:

Text files from Other tab in Project Manager
Ctl32.h (mark it as "Excluded" from your project)
ThemedControls.h (mark it as "Excluded" from your project)
Themes.xml (mark it as "Excluded" from your project)
*** Don't forget to distribute these xml file together with your application! ***
Applications from Code tab in Project Manager
System.app (GDIPlusX from VFPX)
*** Don't forget to distribute these app file together with your application! ***
Programs from Code tab in Project Manager
Ctl32.prg
Ctl32_Api.prg
Ctl32_Classes.prg
Ctl32_Functions.prg
Ctl32_Structures.prg
Ctl32_Vfp2c32.prg
ThemedControls_Api.prg
ThemedControls_Structures.prg
Classes tab in Project Manager
Buttons.vcx
Ctl32.vcx
ExplorerBar.vcx
OutlookNavBar.vcx
Ribbon.vcx
ScreenTip.vcx
ThemedControls.vcx
ThemedControlsBuilders.vcx (mark it as "Excluded" from your project)
ToolBox.vcx
VFPX.vcx
ZoomNavBar.vcx
*** Don't use controls from Buttons.vcx, ExplorerBar.vcx, OutlookNavBar.vcx, ToolBox.vcx and ZoomNavBar.vcx directly because they are base classes. Use the subclassed controls in ThemedControls.vcx. ***

Before use any ThemedControl:

The ThemesManager object used to handle themes is created automatically, but you need to destroy it before finish your application.

* Destroy ThemesManager object
If Vartype(_Screen.ThemesManager)=="O"
   _Screen.RemoveObject("ThemesManager")
Endif
* Destroy BindWindowsEventsProxy object
If Type("_vfp.BindWindowsEventsProxy")<>"U"
   _vfp.BindWindowsEventsProxy = Null
Endif
* Remove all API libraries from memory
Set Library To

To use Button:

Add a ThemedButton object from ThemedControls.vcx to your form;
Double click CustomBuilder property in Properties Window to show the Builder;
Fill the properties and click in Save and Exit button;
Use Click method to handle the button click.

To use ExplorerBar:

Add a ThemedExplorerGroup object from ThemedControls.vcx to your form;
Double click CustomBuilder property in Properties Window to show the Builder;
Fill the properties and click in Save and Exit button;
Click with right mouse button in ThemedExplorerGroup and choose Edit from shortcut menu to edit the control;
Click with right mouse button in cntUserControls and choose Edit from shortcut menu to edit the control;
Place any control that you want inside cntUserControls;
Repeat steps from 1 to 6 to create how much groups you want;
Add a ThemedExplorerBar object from ThemedControls.vcx to your form;
Select all ThemedExplorerGroups you created and press CTRL + X in your keyboard;
Click with right mouse button in ThemedExplorerBar and choose Edit from shortcut menu to edit the control;
Press CTRL + V in your keyboard to move all ThemedExplorerGroups inside ThemedExplorerBar.

Or

Add a ThemedExplorerBar object from ThemedControls.vcx to your form;
Double click CustomBuilder property in Properties Window to show the Builder;
Fill the properties and click in Add this group to the bar button;
Repeat step 3 to create how much groups you want;
Click with right mouse button in ThemedExplorerBar and choose Edit from shortcut menu to edit the control;
Click with right mouse button in ThemedExplorerGroup and choose Edit from shortcut menu to edit the control;
Click with right mouse button in cntUserControls and choose Edit from shortcut menu to edit the control;
Place any control that you want inside cntUserControls;
Repeat steps from 6 to 8 for each group you created.

To use OutlookNavBar:

Add a ThemedOutlookNavBar object from ThemedControls.vcx to your form;
Click with right mouse button in ThemedOutlookNavbar and choose Edit from shortcut menu to edit the control;
Click in the empty control area to select the Panes pagreframe object;
Set the PageCount property to the number of buttons that you want to display;
In the Properties Window, activate each page and set Caption, HotKey, Picture16 and Picture24 properties;
Add the controls you want to display in each page (you can add any control: TreeView, TextBox, CommandButton, ...);
Use ButtonClicked method to handle the correspondent button click. This method receive 3 parameters about the button clicked: lnNumber, lcCaption and lcPicture24.

*** Note that at run time, the control will create a button for each page and will use Caption, HotKey, Picture16 and Picture24 page properties as the source of caption and picture button properties. ***

To use ToolBox:

Add a ThemedToolBox object from ThemedControls.vcx to your form;
Click with right mouse button in ThemedToolBox and choose Edit from shortcut menu to edit the control;
Click in the empty control area to select the Panes pagreframe object;
Set the PageCount property to the number of titles that you want to display;
In the Properties Window, activate each page and set Caption property;
Add the controls you want to display in each page (you can add any control: TreeView, TextBox, CommandButton, ...);
Use TitleClicked method to handle the correspondent title click. This method receive a parameter named lcTitle containing the name of title clicked.

*** Note that at run time, the control will create a title for each page and will use Caption page property as the source of caption title property. ***

To use ZoomNavBar:

Add a ThemedZoomNavBar object from ThemedControls.vcx to your form;

In the Init method, place the code to add the buttons that you want to display:

DoDefault()
With This
   .AddButton("Printers","Manage your printers.","Printer96.png")
   .AddButton("Display","Change the display settings.","Monitor96.png")
   .AddButton("Explorer","Show computer's files and folders.","Folder96.png")
   *
   .AddButton("Separator")
   *
   .AddButton("ControlPanel","Change your OS settings.","ControlPanel96.png")
   .AddStackButton("ControlPanel","Button1","Add/Remove programs","Software32.png")
   .AddStackButton("ControlPanel","Button2","Hardware settings","Hardware32.png")
   .AddStackButton("ControlPanel","Button3","Network settings","Network32.png")
Endwith

Use AddButton method to add a button and AddStackButton to add an option to a button menu.
Sintax:

AddButton( cButtonName, cToolTip, cImagePathAndName )
AddStackButton( cParentButtonName, cButtonName, cToolTip, cImagePathAndName )

Use ButtonClicked and StackButtonClicked to handle the correspondent button click:

Lparameters lcName
Do Case
   Case lcName=="Printers"
      apiShellExecute(0, "Open", "Control.exe", "Printers", "", 1)
   Case lcName=="Display"
      apiShellExecute(0, "Open", "Control.exe", "Desk.cpl", "", 1)
   Case lcName=="Explorer"
      apiShellExecute(0, "Explore", "", "", "", 1)
   Otherwise
      Messagebox("Button '"+lcName+"' was clicked!")
Endcase

There's a lot more to know about ThemedControls.

ASAP I'll post more information on how to use them.

If you have questions, suggestions or want to report bugs, feel free to contact me.

New ThemedControls version (3.5.7)

2010-02-25T16:15:00Z

Today I've posted a new ThemedControls version (3.5.7) at VFPX site.

You can download it here.

Recent changes:

Minor bug fixes;
ThemedControls take care itself when to create a ThemesManager object;
Help is available at VCX folder (ThemedControlsHelp.htm).
ThemesManager
- LoadThemes method was changed to support the load of additional XML themes files;
- MSXML 4 dependence was removed;
- ThemeNumber 0 (Automatic) was removed and a new InheritWindowsTheme property was created;
- Added a method named ShowPanel to display a form where you can change the active theme;
- Hardcoded themes was changed to a XML file (may be customized in the future);
- Performance improved.
Button (New control - Not finished yet!)
- Compatible with Outlook themes (just like OutlookNavBar);
- Keyboard navigation enabled.
ExplorerBar (New control)
- Panel groups like the ones in Windows XP;
- Compatible with Outlook themes (just like OutlookNavBar);
- Keyboard navigation enabled.
OutlookNavBar
- Support for HotKeys in button caption;
- Options to change the theme from shortcut menu are back;
- Added icons to Show More and Show Less shortcut menu options;
- Implemented a lot of suggestions;
- Now it works as expected in toolbars;
- Compatible with Outlook themes.
Ribbon (New control - Not finished yet!)
- Compatible with Outlook 2007 themes (just like OutlookNavBar);
- Support for the new Office 2007 tooltip style.
ToolBox
- Implemented a lot of suggestions;
- Similar to the new VFP ToolBox;
- Compatible with Outlook themes (just like OutlookNavBar);
- Keyboard navigation enabled.
ZoomNavBar
- Added the capability to disable/enable buttons and stack buttons;
- Implemented a lot of suggestions;
- Compatible with Outlook themes (just like OutlookNavBar);
- Now it works as expected in toolbars;
- Added a bar and reflection effect;
- Added balloons to show button's description;
- Added the capability to display a menu when button is clicked.

If you have any questions, suggestions or want to report bugs, please contact me.

Some features in this new version could not be implemented without the help and cool ideas from this folks: Bernard Bout, César Chalom, Carlos Alloatti, Rick Schummer, Doug Hennig, Craig Boyd, Mauricio Marques and Gary Williams.

Thank you guys!

Here are some screenshots...

Southwest Fox 2009

2009-11-20T01:00:00Z

In my previous post, I thanked all folks that I met at Southwest Fox 2009.

Now, I will try to show you in a few words why this conference exceeded all my expectations…

The best speakers in the world;
Sessions start and end without delay;
Everything is very well organized;
A lot of stuff: a bag with shirts, name badge, pens, a binder with a printed copy of the Conference Guide and a CD with all the speakers materials including slides, white papers and samples;
A chance to express your opinion filling the evaluation forms;
Buy printed copies of useful books for a cheap price;
A lot of door prizes;
Free wireless Internet access;
Good meal;
Comfortable accommodations;
Nice weather (warm and dry);
To meet some folks in person;
And last, but not least important: cool attendees!

You’re still not convinced that Southwest Fox really rocks?

Take a look at the following pictures that I took during the conference and start to think about to attend Southwest Fox next year.

Arizona Golf Resort

View entire album

Room

View entire album

Conference Center

View entire album

Speakers

View entire album

Aknowledgments

2009-11-18T22:16:00Z

Last month I attended Southwest Fox 2009 in Mesa, Arizona.

Was an awesome conference and I learned a lot.

But it couldn’t be feasible with my own resources, so I would like to publicly thank all those people that contributed to the Ceil Silver Ambassador Fund and selected me the first Ceil Silver Ambassador, giving me the chance to attend the conference and to represent the Brazilian VFP community.

I would like to thank Rick and Therese Schummer, Marshal and Tamar Granor, Doug Hennig and Christof Wollenhaupt for the royal treatment that I received. You were very attentive and kind to me! Thank you!

I also can’t forget to thank Kevin Ragsdale, Alan Stevens, Mike and Toni Feltman (thanks for the F1 shirt), Alan Griver, Cathy Pountney, Walt Krzystek, Steve Ellenoff, Rick Borup, Craig Boyd, Jodi Meyer, Paul Mrozowski, Kevin Cully, Bo Durban, Dan Freeman, Barbara Peisch, Rick Bean and all those people that kindly spent their time with me.

Was terrific to meet you all in person and I enjoyed every second together with you.

Was an amazing experience and I hope to meet you again in the future!

PS: I may have forgotten to mention any name, so please forgive me.

ZoomNavBar new feature

2008-09-10T12:06:44Z

I've added a new feature to disable/enable buttons and stack buttons in ZoomNavBar.

Now you can disable/enable a button passing a parameter in AddButton and AddStackButton methods (when button is created) or calling the new SetButtonState and SetStackButtonState methods.

ZoomNavBar is part of ThemedControls that you can download here.

Here is a screenshot of the new feature:

A new control is on the way... [Updated]

2008-05-30T20:22:00Z

Here are some screenshots from ThemedExplorerBar, the new ThemedControls member.

Currently the control is working like a charm but I'm trying to make it more easy to configure.

It will be available soon. Stay tuned!

VFP rocks!

C5 error in a grid with user defined column and header members

2007-11-23T13:39:00Z

Some days ago, while developing a new application, I get a C5 error in VFP 9 SP 2 that crashes my application.

Making some tests I found that the error occurs when I use a command in a menu item to run a form with a grid with user defined column and header members.

The only way to avoid this error was change the command in the menu item to a procedure to call the form.

Note that the same application run without any error in VFP 9 SP 2 prior versions.

I've made a sample application and posted at Foxite and UT forums with the steps to reproduce the error.

After receive confirmations from Carlos Alloatti and Sergey Berezniker (thanks for both) that this was a bug, I reported it at MS Connect site as you can see here:

https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=311857

This bug was also reported at Fox Wikis (thanks to Russell Campbell).

If you want to see this error fixed, please visit the bug link, download the sample, follow the instructions, validate the bug and vote to fix it.

VFP community count on you!

A new project is on the way...

2007-09-16T23:35:00Z

Currently, I'm working on a new project named ThemedControls.

This project includes new versions of OutlookNavBar (old Outlook2003Bar) and ZoomNavBar controls.

For now, I've made a short video (there's a link to download the zipped file at the bottom of this post) to let the community see what's coming in the next few days.

Enjoy it!

Here comes a new control... ZoomNavBar!

2007-06-22T11:50:00Z

A long time ago I saw a very cool control (I don't remember where) that "zoom" the image button when it receives the focus. So I think... I could do something like this in VFP!

After some days working at my lunch time in this project, I finally have a beta version.

Take a look at this screenshot:

At the bottom of this post there's a link to download a zip file including the class and a sample (with a help) on how to use this control.

Is this cool? So help me to improve it giving some feedback, suggestions or reporting bugs.

VFP rocks!

OutlookNavBar control preview (Attached file updated)

2007-05-07T18:25:00Z

Like I said in some VFP forums, I'm working on a new control named OutlookNavBar (download the project clicking in the link at the end of this post).

This new control basically do the same that Outlook2003Bar does, but not use GDI+ to create images and handle Themes tasks using a new class named ThemesManager.

Now the project has two classes:

OutlookNavBar.vcx - with the new improved control based on Outlook2003Bar;

ThemedControls.vcx - with lot of "themed" controls and a subclass of OutlookNavBar named ThemedOutlookNavBar.

How this new ThemedControls class work?

Firstly you need to do is create an object based on ThemesManager control and place them in a property named ThemesManager on _Screen and destroy the object when it will not used anymore - as you can see in Load and Unload method of ThemedForm control.
This object will be used to handle all theme changes.

So, create a form and place the controls from ThemedControls class and voila!

Take a look at Sample form to a better view of how this class works.

ASAP, I will post more details.

Feel free to make comments, send suggestions or report any bug.

Here is a screenshot...

Outlook2003Bar Version 1.0.2, a VFPX project

2007-03-13T16:14:00Z

I've posted a new Outlook2003Bar version at VFPX.
Download here.

This version has a bug fix with Citrix environment.

Read the help file in Outlook2003Bar\VCX folder to know how to use the control.

Please, feel free to make comments, send suggestions or request bug fixes.

VFP rocks!

This control is part of VFPX, a Visual FoxPro Community effort to create open source add-ons for Visual FoxPro 9.0.

I am tagged! (Too late...)

2007-01-31T15:05:00Z

I know that the "Tag Game" stopped a long days ago, but I've been very busy and can't answer to César Chalom and Rick Borup (both "tagged" me) until now, but better late than never...

1. Despite of living in São Paulo, I'm a Flamengo's fan (Rio de Janeiro soccer team)!
Everybody always asked me why...
My father was Santos's fan and my mother is Palmeiras's fan. They ever tried to influence me, but at that time, Flamengo had a great team (Zico, Junior, Andrade, Adílio, Nunes, Leandro and company) and they won a lot of championships (World Soccer's Team, Brazilian and Carioca) and I had never seen another team play like this. So I decided to be a fan of the Flamengo!

2. I don't smoke and don't drink.

3. I love music! My favorite bands are: Jars of Clay, dc Talk, Newsboys, Third Day, Kutless, Oficina G3, Resgate, U2, a-ha, New Order, Tears for Fears, Information Society and Kon Kan.
I also like to watch some TV Series like Smallville, The O. C., Seventh Heaven and Everwood.

4. When I'm nervous, I have a bad habit to scratch my head. My wife and my little daughter always reprehend me, but I still didn't get to stop. I think that I get this soon, because my wife helped me to stop another bad habit a few years ago: to gnaw nails.

5. When I began to date Georgea (my beloved wife), she told me that she was seated in a chair behind me in Baptist Church in my baptism day and that Angelica (my mother-in-law) said to her: "Oh, there is a beautiful boy in your front!" and she responded "I saw no one".
I want to say to Georgea: despite of this, honey, I still loving you!   ; )

I would like to "tag" these people:

Carlos Alloatti
Luis Navas
Ken Murphy
Pete Sass
Mike Gagnon

SplitterBar class

2006-11-01T18:43:00Z

I've developed a SplitterBar class and would like to receive some feedback about them.

Features:
- Anchor
- Collapse/expand "panels"

Download the post attachment file below and unzip them.
Open the project and run Form1, Form2 and Form3 samples.
Try to "resize" the panels or click on the "arrows".

The class will only work with VFP 9.

Please, send suggestions or report bugs.

This class is based on Christof Wollenhaupt class.

Outlook2003Bar Version 1.0.1, a VFPX project

2006-10-26T15:46:00Z

I've posted a new Outlook2003Bar version at VFPX.
Download here.

This version has minor bug fixes and some help updates.

Read the help file in Outlook2003Bar\VCX folder to know how to use the control.

Please, feel free to make comments, send suggestions or request bug fixes.

VFP rocks!

This control is part of VFPX, a Visual FoxPro Community effort to create open source add-ons for Visual FoxPro 9.0.