Beijing Paradise BBS Backup/PARADISE.ISO/software/BBSDOORW/GEN3D2.ZIP/READ.ME

Text File | 1995-01-30 | 8KB | 180 lines

GEN3D 1.0 - NOTES

Copyright (C)1995 Christopher L. Newland
P.O. Box 1411 , Long Island City, NY 11101
Compuserve ID#: 75242,430

Note: All occurances of the phrase GEN3D are references to the copyrighted
software package contained in this zip file.

Note: Microsoft Foxpro 2.5, 2.6 and all versions, DOS, Microsoft Windows and
GENSCRN.PRG are all references to trademarked or copyrighted material of
Microsoft Corporation.

Notes: GENSCRNX, all versions, refers to the GENSCRNX created by and
distributed by Steve Black.  Kudos for a great product!!!

Notes: Dbase II, Dbase III, Dbase III+ were all registered trademarks of
Ashton Tate.  I wonder what happened to these trademarks when Borland
brought Dbase.

Notes: Foxbase+ and Foxpro 1.02 were all registered trademarks of Fox
Software.  Microsoft has now full ownership of the Foxpro trademark.


Introduction to GEN3D
---------------------

GEN3D came about after spending an evening reviewing the latest trade magazines
and after looking at all of those pretty Windows screens out there.  They are
gorgeous...real eye-catchers.  But the thought that kept nagging at my mind is:
"What about all of my DOS based clients?"  "Should they be punished because they
don't have the budget to get machines that are capable of running Windows?"

I have been developing DOS and WINDOWS applications in some form of XBase or
another over the last 8 years.  I started out with Dbase II on a Kaypro
machine, then Dbase III, then Dbase III+, then Foxbase+, then Foxpro
1.02, then Foxpro 2.0, then 2.5 and finally 2.6.  Not to mention that
which shall never be mentioned.  And in all of my years programming, I
have never seen anyone attempt to make DOS screens have any 3D elements
in them.

To that end, GEN3D was spawned.  GEN3D's premise is simple....drawing 3D
style boxes around objects makes them look 3 dimensional.  Why not take
a moment out right now and run the SPR called SAMPLE3D.SPR from within
Foxpro 2.5 - 2.6a for DOS.

:Running the sample screen file:
1.  Copy your original GENSCRN.PRG/FXP from your Foxpro directory to a
    temporary area.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.  ALWAYS SAVE YOUR WORK!!

2.  Copy the contents of this zip file into your Foxpro directory

3.  Start foxpro and make sure that your _GENSCRN system variable is
    set.  If it isn't, set it manually to reflect the new GENSCRN.PRG
    located in your foxpro directory.

4.  At this point, since you put everything into your foxpro directory,
    you can just type DO SAMPLE3D.SPR without having to generate the
    screen.  Note:  DO NOT GENERATE THIS SCREEN YET.  THE GENERATOR HAS
    BEEN SET TO "DEMO" MODE.  THIS MEANS THAT ONLY SINGLE LINE BOXES CAN
    BE CREATED, ONLY BOXES CAN BE MADE 3D, AND ONLY 8 COLLISIONS ARE
    HANDLED.  LOOK AT THE SCREEN IN FULL MODE FIRST BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT
    TO REGENERATE IT.

5.  Press ESC when you are finished looking at the screen and type MODI
    SCREEN SAMPLE3D

Now we can explore the commands available to you in GEN3D.

Using GEN3D
-----------
Using GEN3D is easy.  Just draw boxes, fields, buttons, objects, and
basically anything you want on your foxpro screen.  As a matter of fact,
you can write your whole application and put in the 3D features last.
Just make sure to leave a little bit of room around the objects that you
want to make 3D, or your 3D objects will lose some of their effect.

To make an object 3D, simply go into the comments section in the object
and type
                *|3D

This will flag the object for 3D during generation time.  Create
a new screen right now, place a box on the screen and put *|3D in the
comments section.  Now Generate and run the screen.  As you can see, the
box appears to be in 3D.  That's all it takes.

*TIP:Expert users can quickly fly through the screen's SCX file (which
is a database, and replace all of the comments for a certain objtype very
easily and quickly.)

Extended Options
----------------
Of course, if all of the 3D elements looked like this, it would get
old in no time flat.  So what do I do, I give you options!! (How do I do
that??! I don't know how I do that!)  The options are basically 1 letter
commands that should go after the "*|3D" in your comments.  You should
not put any spaces between your 3D directives, but you can put them in
any order.

The commands are:
I or O      For Inset or Outset   Makes an object look like it is sunken
                                  in or bulging out.
S or D      For Single or Double  Makes an object's border a single or
                                  double line.
H(color)    For Hilight Color     The highlighted part of the 3d edge
                                  defaults to White, but you can
                                  override it by putting in something
                                  like H(BG+).
L(color)    For Lolight Color     The shadowed part of the 3d edge
                                  defaults to Black, but you can
                                  override it by putting in something
                                  like L(N+).


Some valid combinations for the above are:

#3DSI         This is the same as #3D.
#3DDI         Draws a double inset box.
#3DOS         Draws a single outset box.
#3DH(W+)L(W+) Draws the hilighted and lolighted parts in the same color
              on a single line inset box.

Any of these commands can be omitted, or moved around.  The system does
not expect to find anything in any order within the system except for
the #3D as the first few characters in your comment.

That's it!
I could go on and on about this package, but I think the best thing to
do would be for you to play with it and send any comments, suggestions,
or bug information to me at the address above (by address, I mean my
compuserve address or post office mail box address.)

If you find this package useful and wish to use it to generate screens
for your applications, you may.  I only ask that you register this software
with me first.

To become a registered user AND............

To receive a full version that can generate Single and Double lines,
that can resolve any conflicts created by overlapping lines, and that can be
activated within ANY object on your screen....................

Send a check for $29.95 to Chris Newland / P.O. Box 1411
                                           Long Island City,  NY 11101

If you want to receive everything above, with source code so that you can
further study, or customize it, for your own INTERNAL use..............

Send a check for $49.95 to Chris Newland / P.O. Box 1411
                                           Long Island City,  NY  11101

GEN3D has been tested on a 33MHZ 386 with 8MB of memory as well as on a
Pentium 90MHZ with 16MB of memory and it functioned well under Foxpro 2.5a
as well as 2.6a.  Please note that some of the screen colors in the SAMPLE3D
screen may not appear correctly on EGA or Monochrome monitors.


At no time does purchasing the full version or source code version of
this software entitle the purchaser the right to repackage this product,
sell or resell this product, or in anyway make profit off of the
package's generating abilities.  Of course, no royalty will be charged
for using GEN3D to create screen sets for any application that you wish
to develop.

GEN3D is offered as-is without any warranties implied or written.
Registered users will get further updates as they become available and
will get peace of mind in knowing that they helped a 24 year old
programmer make a living.  Non registered users get this file and that's
it.

When addressing mail to me on Compuserve, please allow a day or two for
a reply.  Especially if the reply requires me sending a patch or bug
fix.  (I do have a real 9-9 job and a wife and newborn child.  So my
time is a bit limitied.)

Thank you for trying.....
GEN3D