Forms, How Do I ?????

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

I know that there have been many posts on this subject. But all are as clear as mud to me. I've tried and tried and I just do not have a clue.

I can make an xdialog box and it doesn't matter what monitor or computer that I run the xdialog on, it's always centered perfectly in the middle of the screen.

Can someone explain "How do I design a form and have it centered exactly like an xdialog box". Is this even possible?

I may be asking a lot, but I guess I would need a fairly detailed explanation. I try hard but some of this stuff is difficult for me to comprehend.

TIA

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Ronald

Enter this

topparent.window_position("Center","Center")

on the OnActivate Event for the form.

Jerry

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Hi Jerry,

Thanks for your reply. I did exactly as you said. It didn't work.

I went into the form properties and tried so many different combinations, I moved the form, etc.....

I can't make it work. Obviously I've done something wrong, but I don't have a clue.

Ron

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Sorry Jerry,

Pushed the button too soon.

What's with the title bar below the tool bar?

Ron

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Ronald

Then effect you are seeing is what happens when the form is larger than the A5 window. First, make your dimensions of the form smaller, particularly in width. Second, the center option is not available in form properties, although you can experiment with the window position sizes to approximately center the form.

If you want to use the windows_position option, this is done in the form events, not the form properties.

1. Open the form for editing
2. From "Form" on the menu, select "Events"
3. Select the "OnActivate" event
4. Select action scripting
5. Add new action
6. Scroll down in the left window to "Window Commands"
7. In the right column, select "Position Window"
8. Click OK
9. The defaults are the current window and center for both x & y positions
10. Click "next", "Finish"
11. Close the editor and save the form

Now when you open the form, it will move to the center of the screen. If you still get the effect seen in the screen shot, make the form dimensions smaller.

Jerry

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Jerry,

I've done everything you said and it just does not work.

I've attached a simple little database in case there was something wrong with the other form and it doesn't work either.

Thank you for your help.

Ron

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Something happened when I tried to attach the file.

I'm trying again.

[Dan Blank]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

You were close. Basically just take the form properties and use form width and form height.

I've attached you example with it working.

Dan

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Ronald

Your example worked fine on my computer. However, my screen is at 1280 x 1024. In form properties, goto the window tab and set the form size properties for width and height to "use form --". Otherwise, the form may be too large for the A5 window.

Jerry

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Dan and Jerry,

Thanks to both of you for trying.

Dan, I took your zip file and tried it on my computer and it does not work. I've attached a screen shot of what I see.

I'm running an NEC PII, 333 Mhz with a 17" NEC monitor and I'm running it at 1024 x 768 x 32 bpp using a Diamond Viper V330 AGP video card.

As you know, the form is pretty small. It should fit on the screen.

Maybe someone from Alpha Software can help.

Ron

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Ok, I think I figured out what is going on.

The form does center. But I wanted the form to be centered when the form is Maximized.

From what I see now, the only time the form will be centered is when the form is opened as a window and not maximized.

Is this covered in a manual some place?

Thanks,

Ron

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Ronald

Maximized is maximized and should fill the a5 screen. If a form is truely maximized, then center makes no sense. I suspect what you might want is to "appear" maximized. Instead of "center" for each parameter, try "fill" for each. This will open the form to fill the a5 window. Or you could just use

topparent.maximize()

To maximize the form. If you maximize the form, all subsequent forms will also be maximized. This command is also available in action scripting under "Window Commands", "Maximize Window"

Jerry

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Ron

I reread your message. If one form is opened maximized, then all subsequent forms are maximized. If one form is opened as a window, then all subsequent forms are also opened as a window. This is a limitation of Windows, not Alpha and has been a frequent topic on the message board.

The workarounds are to open forms as dialogs if the main form is maximized, or simulate maximized by opening the underlying forms using the position property with the "fill" options.

Jerry

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by the "Fill Option".

I spent the afternoon replacing forms with Xdialog boxes. I do believe that this is a better way to go.

Listen to me. I've been struggling badly for a year now and I'm making judgements.

The one thing I didn't like about Xdialogs are that they pop up on top of the existing form. This isn't always very pleasing to the eye. The underlying form would usually have clutter sometimes making the screen confusing.

I solved this problem by making a form that had nothing on it. Now, just before I call up the xdialog, I open the blank form. This gives a very pleasing-to-the-eye screen. When the dialog closes, I close the blank screen.

I've included a screen shot.

Thanks for your help.

Ron

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Forms, How Do I ?????

Ron

A very interesting idea. Not something I would have thought about, but it is a pleasing effect.

If you want to play with the "fill" option, place this on any form OnActivate event

topparent.Restore()
topparent.window_position("Fill","Fill")

Jerry