NOMADS Enhancements v7.50 & v8.00. Presented by: Yvonne Sampson

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1 NOMADS Enhancements v7.50 & v8.00 Presented by: Yvonne Sampson

2 Presentation Outline V7.50 & v8.00 Enhancements Preserve Folder Controls File Maintenance Objects Embedded Panels Enhancements Library Default Menu Colours Panel Designer Enhancements Updated Designer Utilities New Control Properties QA Automation Support

3 NOMADS Enhancements V7.50 Preserve Folder Controls File Maintenance Objects Embedded Panels Enhancements Library Default Menu Colours V8.00 Panel Designer Enhancements New Properties Window New Format Definition for Grids/Listboxes Updated Designer Utilities Bulk Edit Drag and Drop Dependency Definition New Control Properties QA Automation Support

4 Preserve Folder Controls Controls no longer destroyed and redrawn when moving between tabs Controls renamed using the new directive RENAME CONTROL RENAME CONTROL from_to_list {HIDE SHOW} [,ERR=stmtref] Controls assigned unique negative CTL value Example: From.ctl=10001,To.ctl= ctls$+=bin(from.ctl,2)+bin(to.ctl,2)! build ctl string RENAME CONTROL ctls$ HIDE

5 Preserve Folder Controls Benefits controls such as grids and list boxes that contain a large amount of data Logic to load the control would only need to execute after the control is initially drawn Improves overall system performance - data does not have to be re-read from disk each time the control is drawn

6 Preserve Folder Controls Existing application logic (Pre-Display/Post- Display) may need to be changed in order to use this new feature Application must indicate when the Pre- Display and Post-Display logic will execute

7 Preserve Folder Controls Activating Preserve Folder Controls Option Turn on the Preserve Controls checkbox in the Tabs panel of the folder definition Turn on the Execute Pre-Disp One Time and Execute Post-Disp One Time attributes in the grid control on the Tabs panel of the folder definition If you want the logic to execute every time, then leave these options off.

8 Preserve Folder Controls Activating Preserve Folder Controls Option Sample Panel:

9 Preserve Folder Controls What Happens when a Tab is Selected? The first time a tab is activated: Pre-Display logic executes Controls are drawn Controls are resized (if applicable) Object persistence is applied (if applicable) Post-Display logic executes

10 Preserve Folder Controls What Happens when a Tab is Selected? When a new tab is selected: On-Exit logic for current tab executes Controls are renamed and hidden using the RENAME CONTROL directive with the HIDDEN option Fonted text, frames, pictures, and shapes are hidden using 'IMAGE'(DISABLE Img_nm$)

11 Preserve Folder Controls What Happens when a Tab is Selected? The next time the tab is selected: Pre-Display logic executes if the check box Execute Pre-Disp One Time is off Controls are renamed and restored using the RENAME CONTROL with the RESTORE option Fonted text, frames, pictures and shapes are shown using 'IMAGE'(ENABLE Img_nm$) Initially hidden fonted text, frames, pictures and shapes will be set back to their hidden state Controls are resized if the folder control is set to Auto Size and the panel had been resized Post-Display logic executes if the check box Execute Post-Disp One Time is off

12 Preserve Folder Controls Force Re-execution of Pre-Display/Post-Display Logic at Runtime New methods ForcePreDisp(Id) - Force Pre-Display logic to re-execute ForcePostDisp(Id) - Force Post-Display logic to re-execute Where Id is the tab sequential ID (set Id to zero for all tabs) Application is responsible for invoking methods For example, in your application logic, after reading a new customer you would issue Fldr'ForcePostDisp(0) This will cause the Post-Display logic to re-execute when moving between tabs.

13 Preserve Folder Controls New folder property Fldr'CurrentTab'NextId used in combination with the Execute Post- Disp One Time option Property is loaded with the value assigned in the NEXT_ID variable The next time the tab is selected, NOMADS will use this property to reload the NEXT_ID variable This property is only used if the Execute Post-Disp One Time option is turned on.

14 File Maintenance Objects The File Maintenance Utility will now handle objects Panels generated can use either a generic or custom object Panel is generated with no logic attached to the panel header or the controls

15 File Maintenance Objects Defining File Maintenance Objects Two program types added to the Parameter Selection panel in the File Maintenance Utility: Generic Object System pre-loads the Maintenance Program multi-line with the text (Standard file maintenance object) Custom Object Requires the name of the.pvc program for the file maintenance panel

16 File Maintenance Objects Defining File Maintenance Objects Sample Panel:

17 File Maintenance Objects Generic Objects Flmaint Object *win/flmaint.pvc Handles panel and control events Inherits the NOMADS object (*nomads.pvc) and the FlmaintIO object FlmaintIO Object *win/flmaintio.pvc File IO handling

18 File Maintenance Objects Flmaint Object Methods DefaultChange( ) Read current record. This logic will only execute if the control name is part of the key definition. DefaultInitialize( ) Setup key definition fields, required fields and numeric fields. DefaultOnFocus( ) Check if current record has been changed and enable/disable field inputs. See NOMADS Enhancements-V75

19 File Maintenance Objects FlmaintIO Object Methods OpenFile(_File_Name$) Open file. Returns 1 if successful, 0 if not. _File_Name$ - Name of physical file. ReadFirst( ) Return first record using same key. Returns 1 if successful, 0 if not. Update(_KeyType) Update current record. Returns 1 if successful, 0 if not. _KeyType set to 1 if the file contains an external key. Default is 0. See NOMADS Enhancements-V75

20 File Maintenance Objects Invoking a File Maintenance Panel Generic Object Cust_Id$="0001" O=new("*win/flmaint","Customer","Mylib.en") O'Process(Cust_Id$) Data for customer 0001 will automatically be loaded after the panel is displayed. Custom Object O=new("<.pvc program>","<panel name>","<library name>") O'Process(arg_1$,arg_2$...arg_20$) Note: arg_1$ thru arg_20$ are optional

21 File Maintenance Objects Customizing File Maintenance Objects Browse/Edit Buttons Panel FlmaintObj - vertical buttons Panel FlmaintObj.v horizontal buttons Copies panels to an alternate library and loads the global variable %Flmaint_Lib$ with the alternate library name. NOMADS uses these custom panels when a file maintenance is generated.

22 File Maintenance Objects Customizing File Maintenance Objects Generic Object adding custom code Copy *win/flmaint.pvc to another program name and enter this name in the Maintenance Program input field Program name must contain a.pvc extension

23 Embedded Panels Enhancements Panel header logic events (Pre-Display, Post- Display, On-Exit) will now be carried forward to the container panel The order of execution for the panel header logic events is determined by a series of options presented in a grid control on the embedded panels definition screen Default Program assignment on the Embedded Panel is also carried forward to the container panel The default program in the container panel will only be used if one does not exist on the Embedded Panel.

24 Embedded Panels Enhancements Assigning Embedded Panels Sample Panel:

25 Library Defaults Menu Colours The menu text background and left edge colours can now be defined in the Library Defaults Colours are applied to two areas of the menu giving a two-tone appearance Left edge bitmap portion of the menu Individual menu entries text background Valid Colour formats Pre-defined system colour such as Light Green Custom (RGB codes) User Defined (fixed or string expression) System Default - uses Windows system colours

26 Library Defaults Menu Colours To Assign Default Menu Colours Turn on the Menus (Text Background/Left Edge) checkbox in the Font/Clr tab of the Library Defaults definition.

27 Library Defaults Menu Colours To Assign Default Menu Colours Press the colour palette button

28 Library Defaults Menu Colours Order of Precedence for applying colours: 1. Menu definition settings 2. Library Defaults settings 3. Global settings: %NOMAD_MENU_LEFTEDGE_CLR$ - Left edge colour %NOMAD_MENU_TEXTBACKGROUND_CLR$ - Text background colour

29 Panel Designer Enhancements Completely redesigned Simpler, faster, and more intuitive Build applications faster Save valuable development time New look and feel is up-to-date and used by many other designer tools available in the market

30 Panel Designer Enhancements New interactive Properties window Uses a grid to display the control properties Control and panel properties are stored in the Providex file *win/providex.prp Properties are grouped by categories On-The-Fly changes Automatically updated This new format eliminates the need to navigate through folder tabs and panels to select various properties and values

31 Panel Designer Enhancements Resizable active window Window is anchored to the right of the Panel Designer window when the designer is invoked Window can be moved within the Panel Designer window Components include properties list, preview button and help text display For editing both the panel header and control properties

32 New Designer Interface Your Panel Toolbar Controls Toolbox Properties Window

33 Properties Window Components of the Properties Window Properties list grid control Preview Button Help text display field

34 Properties Window Properties List Uses a grid control to hold the available properties for the panel header or control Grid contains 2 columns: Property Name of property Only properties that apply to the specified control or panel header will be displayed Value Contains the current value defined for the property or the default value assigned

35 Properties Window Value Column Four cell types used to represent data: Normal CheckMarkRecessed DropBox Query

36 Properties Window Preview Button Button will be visible or hidden depending on the object type View font and colour properties of true GUI objects such as buttons and check boxes Help Text Locked borderless multi-lines Property name and brief description of the property Help text appears when clicking on a cell in the Property or Value column

37 Properties Window Properties File Contains the details for all the properties of the controls and panel header Providex keyed file *win/providex.prp Key Information Primary key - property name (30 characters) Alternate key - property group (20 characters) + property name File Details Contains info such as property name, applicable object types, property categories, format mask, validator program and help text

38 Properties Window Property Grouping Properties are grouped into categories Property category order stored in keyed file *win/providex.grp Ten property categories Default order: Name/Type, Coordinates, Display, Events, Validation, Attributes, Colours, Font, User Aids, Other

39 Properties Window Property Grouping Name/Type Contains the Control Name, Object Type, Data Class, and any additional properties such as List Box Type and Shape Coordinates Object co-ordinates: Column, Line, Width and Height Display Visual display information; e.g., Text/Bitmaps, Input Length, Format Mask, Pen Style Events Logic that will execute when a particular event occurs; e.g., On Change, On Focus and Post Create events Validation Validation logic for multi-line controls; e.g., Rules, Formatter and Validator

40 Properties Window Property Grouping Attributes Control attributes represented as check box cells in the property list; e.g, Auto Tab Skip, Numeric, Initially Hidden Colours Background and Foreground colours of the control or panel Font Graphic Font User Aids Floating Tip, Help Reference and Message Bar text Other Additional panel/object features; e.g., Groups, Popup Menu, Query, User Tag and Security references

41 Properties Window Changing the Property Order Select Options > Property Categories in the designer menu New order used the next time control or panel header is selected

42 Properties Window Editing the Panel Header By default, the panel header properties are loaded into the Properties window when the designer is invoked Changes to the font, background and foreground colours are automatically applied to all the controls in your panel Use the Undo button ( ) to reverse last change

43 Properties Window Editing Control Properties Select control by using the mouse (single click) or by selecting an entry from the drop box on the designer toolbar Properties window automatically loaded Changing a value in the Properties window is automatically reflected in your panel and the library Use the Undo button ( ) to reverse last change

44 Format Definition New Format Definition for Grids/List Boxes New interface for format definition of grid and list box controls Invoked using Format Definition property in the Display group Use the Insert Above or Insert Below buttons to add a new row in the grid Column information will vary if grid or list boxes are selected

45 Format Definition New Format Definition for Grids/List Boxes Different cell types used to represent each column: Normal Used for free form values, such as Column Name CheckMarkRecessed Used for On/Off selections, such as Uppercase Sort or Bitmap DropBox Used for preset selections, such as Alignment and Cell Type Query Used for values requiring more than 1 input, such as Title and Width. To add or edit a Title or Width value, press the lookup button to the right of the cell.

46 Format Definition New Format Definition for Grids/List Boxes Sample Panel:

47 Updated Designer Utilities New Look and Feel For Designer Utilities Bulk Edit Utility Dependencies Utility Drag&Drop Utility

48 Bulk Edit Utility Improved interface uses a grid control Resizable window Changeable properties retrieved from the keyed file *win/providex.prp Property categories loaded: Events Attributes Coordinates Display Colours Font User Aids Other

49 Bulk Edit Utility Grid consists of 2 columns: Property Value Name of property Value to apply to the property Different cell types represent Value column DropBox Normal Query Help Text Used for preset selections (As is/off/on) -Used for Coordinates group (Width and Height) Used for values requiring more than 1 input such as Events, Font and Colours groups. Note: To edit, press the lookup button to the right of the cell. - Floating tip for Property column - Contains a list of all applicable controls

50 Bulk Edit Utility Sample Panel:

51 Dependencies Utility New interface uses a grid control Grid consists of five columns: Condition Actions for Controls (press the lookup button to add/edit an action) Actions for Groups (press the lookup button to add/edit an action) Invert Logic (press the lookup button to add/edit logic) Resizable window Use the Insert Above or Insert Below buttons to add a new row Use the move up/move down buttons ( ) to change dependency order

52 Dependencies Utility Sample Panel:

53 Drag and Drop Utility New interface uses a grid control Grid consists of 3 columns: Drag From Drop On Logic (press the lookup button to add/edit logic) Resizable window Use the Insert Above or Insert Below buttons to add a new row

54 Drag and Drop Utility Sample Panel:

55 New Control Properties Line Colour - LineColour$ Display colour of connecting lines in a Tree View control Added to the Colours group in the Panel Designer Valid Colour formats: Pre-defined system colour such as Light Green Custom (RGB codes) User Defined (fixed or string expression) Multi-line Auto Resize On Focus On Focus Resize Width - OnFocusCols On Focus Resize Height OnFocusLines Added to the Display group in the Panel Designer Numeric value between

56 QA Automation Support Activated by setting global variable %NOMAD_AUTOMATION_ENABLED=1 GUI controls created using OWN= extension Automation Text Text/name exposed to external automation tools Added to the Display group in the Panel Designer Value can be fixed, expression or message library reference If blank, NOMADS uses the control name as default Attend QA Automation session for full details

57 Questions and Answers

58 End of Presentation THANK YOU!