Clarion Folk

Three cheers! Huzzah!

Geoff just sent an email out, and check this out. What a fantastic show of support from the 3rd Party Clarion Community.

Kudos to you all!

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Clarion Folk Lore #3 is live!

Download: Here (16:07 mins)

URLs

• Top Blog Post:
• Negative Criticism post - http://tymesaid.com/negative-critisism-comes-in-all-forms-deal-with-it
• Top Web Site:
• Viget, Design blog - http://www.viget.com/inspire/
• News:
• NetTalkCentral  - http://www.nettalkcentral.com
• Outside The Blue Triangle:
• Google Application Engine - http://code.google.com/appengine/
• Team Viewer - http://www.teamviewer.com

Answers

1. What does MEMBER() do vs. MEMBER(’MyApp.clw’)

Every module needs to either have a PROGRAM statement or a MEMBER statement.

The main module of an EXE/DLL/LIB will have the PROGRAM statement. All others will have a MEMBER statement of some form.

- The form, MEMBER(’MyApp.CLW’) tells the module to use the global scope of MyApp.CLW

- The form, MEMBER() has no shared scope what so ever. This form is useful for generic code, these days typically for CLASSes

2. What is the purpose of having a MAP, when it has no procedures in it?

A MAP is used to declare prototypes for procedure. However an empty MAP isn’t quite as empty as it seems.

Every MAP brings in %cwroot%\libsrc\BUILTINS.CLW
   so

   MAP
   END

   becomes

   MAP
     INCLUDE(’BUILTINS.CLW’),ONCE
   END

Other files that are brought in:
   - EQUATES.CLW  (found in %cwroot%\libsrc)
   - Win32.LIB    (found in %cwroot%\lib)

3. How do you make a QUEUE of QUEUEs ?

You’ll need to use ,TYPEd Queues, and you’ll (typically) use NEW / DISPOSE .

   At it’s core:
   qtChild QUEUE,TYPE
   Name           STRING(42)
                   END

   ParentQ  QUEUE
   ID                  LONG
   Children     &qtChild
                       END

   Here a field of the ParentQ is a reference to another queue. Typically as you’re doing the ADD()s to the parent, you’ll either:
   a) ParentQ.Children &= NULL
   b) ParentQ.Children &= NEW qtChild  !instantiate a new one
   c) ParentQ.Children &= SomeChildQ   !already instantiated

   Remember when you’ve used NEW to instantiate, you are responsible for the matching DISPOSE, so typically when you’re doing DELETE(ParentQ) or wish to FREE(ParentQ) you will want to first DISPOSE(ParentQ.Children).

   qtFolder QUEUE,TYPE
   Name       STRING(FILE:MaxFileName)
   Path       STRING(FILE:MaxFilePath)
   ShortName  STRING(13)
   Date       LONG
   Time       LONG
   Size       LONG
   Attrib     BYTE
   SubFolders &qtFolder
            END

   Above is an example of a structure for a queue of queues, where the child queue is of the same structure as the parent queue.

   These sorts of structures lend themselves to recursive coding, however it’s not required.

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Steve Ryan is a shining light. When most other people are either disparaging the new Clarion (newsgroups) or not doing much with it at all (me), he’s toiling away. Sure, he’s struck a few hurdles, but it hasn’t slowed progress.

Steve and his crew are nearing the end of a big product. They are completing the end user GUI for the stand alone development report designer and runtime.

Steve has kindly sent me some screenshots+words, as follows:

Picture 1. The Report Listing Application.

Picture 2. The Report Designer.

The report layout editor supports multiple report breaks all with separate database access. Full range limit support and filters plus embed points at runtime for customised report statements using over 1000 commands supported by the runtime.

Picture 3. The Report Designer Database drop and drop tree control.

Drag database properties to the Report Layout and the layout will get it’s setting from the primary key its uses to report breaks, it’s all automatic. The simple ribbon toolbar expands to display the options on the tabs. This design approach splits the window into two parts. The Layout design and the ribbon (toolbar) options plus Report Layout Options which are shown in Pic4.

Picture 4.

The report setting mode allows the report designer to switch back and forth between layout design and report settings by simply pressing the view buttons
on the left. Report Design mode, Next, Previous and Back switch the user between modes so that all options are displayed on the one window without the need for toolbars or floating windows that clutter up the appearance design window. This makes it very easy for end users to master the report layout designer. Its all pretty easy.

Kudos to Steve and his Crew!

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That’s right. It’s a sad day, and Rastus got grumpy. In fact, the crazy clansman hasn’t stopped playing dirges on his pipes since.

Last night I made a vidcast for the Clarion Community. I’m still not sure if I’ll put it up. Just weighing up the options.

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