Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

[rmcgaffic]

I am trying to center a form on my Alpha Desktop using the code suggested by the A5V9 help for function UI_INFO as follows:

function center as L(window as C)
	p = obj(window)
	a5_height = UI_info(3)
	a5_width = UI_info(0)
	width = p.width
	height = p.height
	newtop = (a5_height - height)/2
	newleft = (a5_width - width)/2
	p.top = newtop
	p.left = newleft
	p.activate()
end function

When this cut and paste code is executed in debug mode, the following error is received:

An error occurred then running a script:
Property is write only
p.width subelement not found

I thought the dimension statements for width, height, newtop, and newleft might be needed so I inserted them in the function, defining each as numeric.

When I executed the function again, the same error occurred.

Considering that I simply cut and pasted this code, I am puzzled why it doesn’t work out of the box.

I have created two forms:
Form1 with a button to open Form2
Form2 with a size of 2.4 X 4.0 inches which I wish to center.

I have defined the following:
Form1 button on push event:
Center("frmForm2")

Form2 properties:
Form name: frmForm2
Caption: frmForm2

Any ideas of why this Alpha Five code isn't behaving as expected?

I am using A5V9 with the Build 1772-3208 (7-Oct-2008), the latest and greatest.

Thanks,
Bob McGaffic
Pittsburgh

[Steve Workings]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

This approach is pretty old, and mostly obsolete. It was developed before you could do this:

form.view("Main Menu", "", "", "center", "center")

Any reason you need the "old" method here?

[rmcgaffic]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

Steve,

The reason I was trying to center my form the "old-fashioned" way was that the code you suggested is unstable. Occasionally it works; most often it does not work.

I have now tried three different ways to center a form and none of them dependably work:

1. UI_INFO() code cut and pasted from A5V9 help

2. Xbasic code behind button:
form.view("frmForm2", "", "", "center", "center")

3. Action script behind button:
Form>Open Form or browse layout>Form2
On Options tab: (X) Override - use position specified here
X (horizontal): Center
Y (vertical): Center

Screen 1: Shows UI_INFO() code aborts
Screen 2: Shows form.view code does not work; but sometimes it does
Screen 3: Shows Action Script does not work; but sometimes it does

I am surprised that sometime so basic as centering a form on the desktop is so unstable. Is there something that I am overlooking here. Why is the first approach bombing out and the other two approaches behaving erractically?

My screenprints are two large as bmp's; I'll append them later this evening.

Bob McGaffic
Pittsburgh

[rmcgaffic]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

Just wanted to share some more unstable behavior of A5V9.

After reporting the problem of not centering a form properly, I had time at lunch to do the screen prints I cited above in my original post.

Guess what?
Screen1: UI_CODE() continues to fail
Screen2: XBasic code with form.view command now works, but didn't work this morning
Screen3:. Action script now works, but didn't work this morning

Screen4: So I closed out A5V9, open it up again and executed the Action Script,
and surprise, surprise IT FAILED. This worked three minutes ago, why is it failing now?

This behavior is absolutely schizo!!!

I can't reliably reproduce the error to report it as a bug.

Is anyone else having these problems with form centering with the A5V9 batch of last week?

Bob McGaffic
Pittsburgh

[MikeC]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

hey Bob,
Using version 8 here but have similar issues. And I did get the same error message with the "old" way but resolved it.

In v8 both the xbasic and AS fail.....but the "old" way works great when used in the following way. I took it out of the function but would work within as well--but have to create it as the function first (see second code block). Opened hidden so as not to show the form opening first in the default or form property setting location and then opening centered--just aesthetics really...form doesn't flash in one place and then move to where it is sent is all.

form.load("Your_Form_Name")
dim window as c
window="Your_Form_Name"
    p = obj(window)
    a5_height = UI_info(3)
    a5_width = UI_info(0)
    width = p.width
    height = p.height
    newtop = (a5_height - height)/2
    newleft = (a5_width - width)/2
    p.top = newtop
    p.left = newleft
form.Show()
    p.activate()

form.load("Your_Form_Name")

center("Your_Form_Name")

form.Show()

[Steve Workings]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

This is the first time I've ever heard/seen anyone have problems with this approach. I use it on a dozen databases for a dozen clients on hundreds of forms, and never found a problem. Not sure why ya'll are getting different behavior.

I suppose, under some circumstances, if the form is already loaded and you instruct another form.view() that you might have a problem, though even this is a stretch. A more complete syntax is more like this:

if is_object("MainMenu")
   MainMenu.show()    ' here's where you may want to use a centering function
else
   form.view("MainMenu", "", "", Center", "Center")
end if

[rmcgaffic]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

Mike,

What a creative approach!

I am just dismayed that A5V9 can't handle something so simple as centering a form without resorting to the wizardry of your suggestion.

I tried my three approaches in A5V8 and found exactly the same problems.

I am attempting to create a custom splash screen as a form (like Visual Basic), rather than a bitmap.

Why? Because Alpha apparently is incapable of simply displaying a bitmap image and leaving it alone. Instead, it adds a white border of uneven size around the image and then requires a progress bar be displayed. In short, their bitmap approach only works well for the A5 splashscreen with its white background, not necessarily for your client's!

I can't think of a Windows application package that takes this approach.
Here's a sampling of applications on my laptop that allow the image to be bled (extended all the way to edge of the bitmap):

Quicken 2007
Microsoft Office Accounting 2008
Any Microsoft Office 2007 producsts (Word, Excel, Access, etc)
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0
FileMaker Pro9 Advanced
Open Office 2.0

Notice that Visual Basic's template for a splash screen, shown below, is bled to edges. The splash screen for Windows Application 1 would look much weaker if it were surrounded by a 1/4 inch white border.

What's especially annoying is that even when you did use a A5 splash screen in Version 8, the desktop background was gray until the application opened. In Version 9, it the desktop is gray for a few seconds, then turns white until the application opens. This looks really bad.

I'm getting tired of making suggestions to improve this product that would be so simple to implement, but here are two more more:

Create shortcut genie | Appearance tab
Splash screen when Alpha Five is loading:
( ) Default
( ) No splash screen
( ) Custom bitmap [Filename browse]
( ) Omit white margin around custom bitmap image
( ) Omit progress bar imposed on custom bitmap image

Keep the dark gray background until the user's application opens, it shows off your bitmap better, makes it appear brighter. A5V9's switch to a white background only washes out your bitmap image. The purpose of a splash screen is to spotlight your application, not to overwhelm it!

Bob McGaffic
Pittsburgh

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

Robert, may I suggest again that your ideas (which are good by the way) be posted to the wishlist forum? It's a shame to invest the time you have put into your response only to bury it at the bottom of thread that Alpha personnel may never see.

[MikeC]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

Bob,
I don't think it as much creative as it was noticing that without a form already showing or at least loaded, that any command to alter it such as loction parameters, would invariably end up in error. The documentation simply does not have the entire context stated...

In Version 9, it the desktop is gray for a few seconds, then turns white until the application opens.

Version 8 still does this sometimes as well...but not consistently.

I also agree with Tom's suggestion to add this idea (actually all your suggestions) to the wishlist forum to give them more of a chance to have Alpha see them.

=================
Steve,
I have no clue as to why Bob and I have the exact same issues across two different versions and you (everyone else??) do not. I will do a little more digging to see if something else is a party to this problem.

[whanigsberg]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

For whatever it is worth I am unable to replicate the issues you are experiencing.

I use UI_Info() in code to load a different size form conditional upon monitor size so I often utilize the old method. But the "new method" also works for me.

[MikeC]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

Addendum to last post----In AlphaSports none of the aberrant behavior exists for me--but in 3 other sample databases/examples it does.....out of time to figure it out but something else is going on or at least different from AlphaSports.

[rmcgaffic]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

Just for the sake of completeness, the attached screenprints show what I am trying to accomplish.

Screen 1 shows commerical software splash screen.
Screen 2 shows what Alpha Five does with the same bitmap when it converts it to a splash screen. Ugh! And it's worse in version 9 which makes the desktop background white. Double ugh!

I'll post these attachments in the wish list section, but I'm not sure if I'm wasting my time. Alpha shows relatively little interest in improving the fit and finish of their product.

I well appreciate that a car's blemished paint job has no effect on how well it drives, but in the dealer's showroom, most buyers would prefer a mirror smooth finish.

Bob McGaffic
Pittsburgh

[Finian Lennon]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

Bob:

Looking at the Quicken bitmap you've posted, and I agree it's ugly, it has the appearance of a modeless xdialog with an embedded statusbar. I'm guessing that it's either the result of bad design or inherent limitations of how bitmaps can be embedded in xdialogs. I think this is one instance they should go back and code this portion of the program in C if they can't do it any better in xbasic.

While I could live with it, imperfect as it is, I just can't abide the white screen that appears between entering the database password and the initial form opening. That's been reported plenty of times and, as you point out, they don't seem to take the complaints seriously or be inclined to do anything about them. It makes any design look amateurish. And if first impressions are important well ...

[rmcgaffic]

Re: Cut and paste A5V9 center window function fails

Finian,

Well said!

Bob McGaffic
Pittsburgh