How to get an immediate Redraw

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

How can I force an an immediate Redraw?

 '       Control ReDraw hdlg, Id
    Control Send hdlg, Id, ReDraw, 0, 0 '<<<<<<<<< How to do this?

Control Redraw is a low priority?

===========================
"Sex:
The pleasure is momentary,
The position ridiculous,
The expense damnable."
Lord Chesterfield
===========================

[Paul Squires]

InvalidateRect followed by UpdateWindow.

UpdateWindow will send the WM_PAINT to the control's message procedure rather than queuing it in the application.

       InvalidateRect hWndControl, ByVal %Null, %TRUE
       UpdateWindow hWndControl

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

InvalidateRect followed by UpdateWindow.

UpdateWindow will send the WM_PAINT to the control's message procedure rather than queuing it in the application.

       InvalidateRect hWndControl, ByVal %Null, %TRUE
       UpdateWindow hWndControl

Thanks Paul but that doesn't do it either. Her's what I'm trying to do. Put a string in a label. then constantly change the text color. Sort of like it gradually appears (then gradually disappears)

Here's the first go at some code:

Bummer - won't Insert again. Will try later. (Code is attached instead) -Hmmph - now Insert works.

'

'PBWIN 9.01 - WinApi 05/2008 - XP Pro SP3
#Dim All 
#Compile Exe  
#Optimize SPEED
#Debug Display On '<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Remember to turn off for 
production code
#Include "WIN32API.INC"
#Include "COMDLG32.INC"
#Include "InitCtrl.inc"
'
  Global hdlg As Dword                
  Global g_Start_bg_Color, g_Start_fg_Color As Long
%Id_Label = 1000
'
Macro aa_Common_Locals
  Local hfont12, hfont16, hfont20, hfont24 As Long 
  Local ctr1, ctr, clor, Id, Row, col, stile, ht, wd As Long
  Local hx, s As String
  Local r, g, b As Byte
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 12 To hfont12
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 16 To hfont16
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 20 To hfont20
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 24 To hfont24        
End Macro
'
Function Show_Msg (m As String) As Long
  aa_common_Locals
  Id = %Id_Label  
  hx$ = Hex$(g_Start_fg_Color, 6)
  r = Val(Left$(hx$, 2))
  g = Val(Mid$(hx$, 3, 2))
  b = Val(Right$(hx$, 2))
  For ctr = 0 To 255
    Control Set Text hdlg, %Id_label, m$
    r = r + ctr
    b = b + ctr
    clor = RGB(r, g, b)              
    Control Set Color hdlg, Id,  clor, g_Start_bg_Color
'       Control ReDraw hdlg, Id
'    Control Send hdlg, Id, ReDraw, 0, 0 '<<<<<<<<< How to do this???
       'Paul Squires
       InvalidateRect hdlg, "", %TRUE 'False no work either
       UpdateWindow hdlg           
       
    'delay between updates
    Sleep 1
    'For ctr1 = 1 To 1000000: Next ctr1
  Next ctr
 ? "Done" 
End Function
'
CallBack Function Dialog_Processor
  Select Case CbMsg     'This is TO determine the message TYPE 
     '       
     Case %WM_INITDIALOG'<- Initialiaton when the program loads 
     '
     Case %WM_SYSCOMMAND 'Traps Any Alt key but only F4 closes        
      
     '
     Case %WM_COMMAND  'This processes command messages
       Select Case CbCtl
         'Case %Id_
           Select Case CbCtlMsg
           End Select
       End Select
  End Select
End Function
'
Function PBMain
  aa_common_locals
 g_Start_fg_Color = &hffffff '&hFFD7D7
 g_Start_bg_Color = g_Start_bg_Color '&hFFD7D7
  
 s$ = "With malice toward None, " & $CrLf & _ 
       "With charity For All,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "With firmness in the Right  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "As God gives us to see the Right,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "Let us strive on to finish the work we are in,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "To bind up the nation's wounds,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "To care for him who shall have borne the battle  " & $CrLf & 
_ 
       "And for his widow and his orphan,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "To do all which may achieve and cherish  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "A just and lasting peace among ourselves  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "And with all nations." 
       

  ht = 540
  wd = 700
  Dialog New Pixels, hdlg, Space$(60) & "Lincoln's Second Inagural 
Address", , , wd, ht To hdlg
      Dialog Set Color hdlg,  g_Start_fg_Color, g_Start_bg_Color
 wd = Wd - 20
 ht = ht - 20
 Row = 40
 Col = 10
 Id = %Id_Label  
 Stile = %SS_Center
  Control Add Label, hdlg, Id, s$, col, row, wd, ht, stile
  Control Set Font hdlg, Id, hfont20
  Control Set Color hdlg, Id,  g_Start_fg_Color, g_Start_bg_Color
  Control ReDraw hdlg, Id
  Dialog ReDraw hdlg' Tried this but no difference
  
  Call Show_Msg(s$)

     Dialog Show Modal hDlg   Call Dialog_Processor      
     
     
End Function 'Applikation beenden
'

[Paul Squires]

I'm not a DDT man but I do notice that you are calling your ShowMsg function prior to even displaying the dialog as modal.

You could try creating a user message and PostMessage that message to you callback during the WM_INITDIALOG message.

Something like this maybe:

%MSG_USER_SHOWMSG = %WM_USER + 1

CallBack Function Dialog_Processor
  Select Case CbMsg     'This is TO determine the message TYPE 
     '       

     Case %MSG_USER_SHOWMSG
       Local s As String
       s$ = "With malice toward None, " & $CrLf & _ 
             "With charity For All,  " & $CrLf & _ 
             "With firmness in the Right  " & $CrLf & _ 
             "As God gives us to see the Right,  " & $CrLf & _ 
             "Let us strive on to finish the work we are in,  " & $CrLf & _ 
             "To bind up the nation's wounds,  " & $CrLf & _ 
             "To care for him who shall have borne the battle  " & $CrLf & _ 
             "And for his widow and his orphan,  " & $CrLf & _ 
             "To do all which may achieve and cherish  " & $CrLf & _ 
             "A just and lasting peace among ourselves  " & $CrLf & _ 
             "And with all nations." 
       
        Call Show_Msg(s$)

     Case %WM_INITDIALOG'<- Initialiaton when the program loads 
        PostMessage hDlg, %MSG_USER_SHOWMSG, 0,0

[Rodney Hicks]

Gösta
When I run this, the first thing that shows up is the "Done" MSGBOX and when that is closed the dialog appears in its final form, that is, I get to see only magenta text on a black background.

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

I'm not a DDT man but I do notice that you are calling your ShowMsg function prior to even displaying the dialog as modal.

Quite right, Paul. Thanks. I put in a button that calls Show_Msg and now everything is hunky doryish. Now all that's left is to get the code to act/show like I want (an almost never won battle for me. {sigh})

=====================================================
"I myself have never been able to find out precisely
what feminism is;
I only know that people call me a feminist
whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me
from a doormat or a prostitute."
Rebecca West (1913)
=====================================================

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Here's (starting) code

''

'PBWIN 9.01 - WinApi 05/2008 - XP Pro SP3
#Dim All 
#Compile Exe  
#Optimize SPEED
#Debug Display On '<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Remember to turn off for production code
'
#Include "WIN32API.INC"
#Include "COMDLG32.INC"
#Include "InitCtrl.inc"
'
'
' *******************************************************
'
'
 'this next included file needed for button colors can be found here: 
 'http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums/showthread.php?t=38904
#Include "C:\Only_My_Programs\Include Files\ButtonPlus.bas"
'
' *******************************************************
'
  Global hdlg As Dword                
  Global g_Start_bg_Color, g_Start_fg_Color As Long
'
%Id_Label   = 1000
%Msg_Btn_Id = 2000
'
Macro aa_Common_Locals
  Local hfont12, hfont16, hfont20, hfont24 As Long 
  Local slp, wd1, ht1, ctr1, ctr, clor, Id, Row, col, stile, ht, wd As Long
  Local hx, s As String
  Local r, g, b As Byte
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 12 To hfont12
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 16 To hfont16
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 20 To hfont20
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 24 To hfont24        
End Macro
'
Function Show_Msg (m As String) As Long
  aa_common_Locals
  Local hx1 As String
 m$ = "With malice toward None, " & $CrLf & _ 
       "With charity For All,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "With firmness in the Right  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "As God gives us to see the Right,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "Let us strive on to finish the work we are in,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "To bind up the nation's wounds,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "To care for him who shall have borne the battle  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "And for his widow and his orphan,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "To do all which may achieve and cherish  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "A just and lasting peace among ourselves  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "And with all nations." 
'       
  Id = %Id_Label  
  hx$ = Hex$(g_Start_fg_Color, 6)
  r = Val("&h" & Left$(hx$, 2))
  g = Val("&h" & Mid$(hx$, 3, 2))
  b = Val("&h" & Right$(hx$, 2))
    Control Set Color hdlg, Id, g_Start_bg_Color, g_Start_bg_Color
    Control Set Text hdlg, Id, m$ 
'
  slp = 100 'Sleep time - 100 seems good but still flickers
'
  For ctr = 0 To 255
    r = ctr
    b = ctr
    g = ctr
    clor = Bgr(r, g, b)       
    hx$ = Hex$(g, 2)       
    hx1$ = hx1$ & hx$ & " " 
 
    Dialog Set Text hdlg, Using$("# Color = "  & Right$(Hx1$, 30), ctr) 'just to watch working
    Control Set Color hdlg, Id,  clor, g_Start_bg_Color
      Control ReDraw hdlg, Id
'    Control Send hdlg, Id, ReDraw, 0, 0 '<<<<<<<<< How to do this???
       'Paul Squires
'       InvalidateRect hdlg, "", %TRUE 'False no work either
'       UpdateWindow hdlg           
'       
    'delay between redraws
    Sleep slp
  Next ctr 
' 
 'now fade out  
   Reset hx1$
   For ctr = 255 To 0 Step -1 'Step 5
    r = ctr
    b = ctr
    g = ctr
    clor = Bgr(r, g, b)       
    hx$ = Hex$(g, 2)       
    hx1$ = hx1$ & hx$ & " " 'watch display with
'    
    Dialog Set Text hdlg, Using$("# Color = "  & Right$(Hx1$, 60), ctr) 'just to watch working
    Control Set Color hdlg, Id,  clor, g_Start_bg_Color
      Control ReDraw hdlg, Id
    Sleep slp
  Next ctr 
'
  Control Set Text hdlg, %Msg_Btn_Id, " Next Inspirational Message"
End Function
'
CallBack Function Dialog_Processor
  aa_common_Locals
  Select Case CbMsg     'This is TO determine the message TYPE 
     '       
     Case %WM_INITDIALOG'<- Initialiaton when the program loads 
     '
     Case %WM_SYSCOMMAND 'Traps Any Alt key but only F4 closes              
     '
     Case %WM_COMMAND  'This processes command messages
       Select Case CbCtl
         Case %Msg_Btn_Id
           Select Case CbCtlMsg
             Case %BN_CLICKED
               Show_Msg(s$)
           End Select
       End Select
  End Select
End Function
'
Function PBMain
  aa_common_locals
 g_Start_fg_Color =  %Black '&hff0046'&hFFD7D7
 g_Start_bg_Color = %Black 'g_Start_fg_Color '&hFFD7D7
'
  ht = 540: ht1 = ht
  wd = 700: wd1 = wd
  Dialog New Pixels, hdlg, Space$(60) & "Lincoln's Second Inagural Address", , , wd, ht To hdlg
      Dialog Set Color hdlg,  g_Start_fg_Color, g_Start_bg_Color
'
 wd = Wd - 20
 ht = ht - 45
 Row = 40
 Col = 10
 Id = %Id_Label  
 Stile = %SS_Center
  Control Add Label, hdlg, Id, "Inspirations", col, row, wd, ht, stile
  Control Set Font hdlg, Id, hfont20
  Control Set Color hdlg, Id,  %White, g_Start_bg_Color
 '
 Id = %Msg_Btn_Id
 Row = ht1 - 40 'Just off bottom 
 ht = 30
                                 '
  Control Add Button, hdlg, Id, "Inspirational Message", Col, row, wd, ht, stile
  Control Set Font hdlg, Id, hfont20
  'rem next two if no Button Plus included
  Btn_Set_Text_Color(hdlg, Id, &h000000) 
  Btn_Set_Face_Color(hdlg, Id, &hFFF546): 
'
  Dialog Show Modal hDlg   Call Dialog_Processor      
'     
End Function 'Abblikation beenden
'

Now to reduce the flicker. I'll probably have to learn Asm to do that (like that'll ever happen. {Hmmph.})

Note: If you use Button Plus (see calls in code) here's the mods I made to it so only one Include is needed. Just add them to the top of your copy of ButtonPlus.bas (with appropriate folder settings):

'  At top of ButtonPlus.bas add:
' *******************************************************
'
#Include "C:\Only_My_Programs\Include Files\ButtonPlus.inc"      
'  
Function  Btn_Set_Face_Color(ddlg As Dword, Id As Long, Btn_Color As Long) As Long
  ButtonPlus  ddlg, Id, %BP_FACE_BLEND, 255 'true color
   ButtonPlus dDlg, Id, %BP_FACE_COLOR, Btn_Color ' &H008FDF8F 
End Function 
'
Function Btn_Set_Text_Color(ddlg As Dword, Id As Long, Btn_Color As Long) As Long
   ButtonPlus dDlg, Id, %BP_Text_COLOR, Btn_Color ' &H008FDF8F 
End Function 
'
' *******************************************************
'

===================================================
"A bird that you set free may be caught again,
but a word that escapes your lips will not return."
Jewish Proverb
===================================================

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Gösta
When I run this, the first thing that shows up is the "Done" MSGBOX and when that is closed the dialog appears in its final form, that is, I get to see only magenta text on a black background.

Yup, that was my problem, Rodney. Paul's suggestion put me on the right track (see listing above).

[Rodney Hicks]

Well, when I run your latest (three times so far) I get at 52 color, 53 color, 49 color (not responding) and the program hangs there until I close it with task manager(I didn't try F4) I have commented out the two lines near the bottom and the

#Include "C:\Only_My_Programs\Include Files\ButtonPlus.bas"

However, while you were fiddling in your neck of the woods, I was working real hard and I did the following stealing some from your code, quite a bit that I subsequently removed to get it to work. I see that you've change the color development, which I did too.
I have used a %WM_TIMER instead of a FOR/NEXT loop, and the counter resets every 256 trips. By the way, there are better ways of doing this with the timer. This way did not get rid of the flicker.
You can change the speed by changing the '75' in the %WM_INITDIALOG.

#PBFORMS CREATED V1.51
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' The first line in this file is a PB/Forms metastatement.
' It should ALWAYS be the first line of the file. Other
' PB/Forms metastatements are placed at the beginning and
' end of "Named Blocks" of code that should be edited
' with PBForms only. Do not manually edit or delete these
' metastatements or PB/Forms will not be able to reread
' the file correctly.  See the PB/Forms documentation for
' more information.
' Named blocks begin like this:    #PBFORMS BEGIN ...
' Named blocks end like this:      #PBFORMS END ...
' Other PB/Forms metastatements such as:
'     #PBFORMS DECLARATIONS
' are used by PB/Forms to insert additional code.
' Feel free to make changes anywhere else in the file.
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#COMPILE EXE
#DIM ALL

'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'   ** Includes **
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#PBFORMS BEGIN INCLUDES
#IF NOT %DEF(%WINAPI)
  #INCLUDE "WIN32API.INC"
#ENDIF
#PBFORMS END INCLUDES
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'   ** Constants **
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#PBFORMS BEGIN CONSTANTS
%IDCANCEL    =   2
%IDC_LABEL1  =   3
%IDD_DIALOG1 = 101
#PBFORMS END CONSTANTS
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
%ID_TIMER1=100
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'   ** Declarations **
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DECLARE CALLBACK FUNCTION ShowDIALOG1Proc()
DECLARE FUNCTION ShowDIALOG1(BYVAL hParent AS DWORD) AS LONG
#PBFORMS DECLARATIONS
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'   ** Main Application Entry Point **
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNCTION PBMAIN()
  ShowDIALOG1 %HWND_DESKTOP
END FUNCTION
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'   ** CallBacks **
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALLBACK FUNCTION ShowDIALOG1Proc()
  STATIC hx,gosh,golly AS STRING
  STATIC r, g, b AS BYTE
  STATIC clor, ctr AS LONG
  STATIC g_Start_bg_Color, g_Start_fg_Color AS LONG
  hx = HEX$(g_Start_fg_Color, 6)
  r = VAL(LEFT$(hx, 2))
  g = VAL(MID$(hx, 3, 2))
  b = VAL(RIGHT$(hx, 2))
  gosh="With malice toward None, " + $CRLF + _
       "With charity For All,  " + $CRLF + _
       "With firmness in the Right  " + $CRLF + _
       "As God gives us to see the Right,  " + $CRLF + _
       "Let us strive on to finish the work we are in,  " + $CRLF + _
       "To bind up the nation's wounds,  " + $CRLF + _
       "To care for him who shall have borne the battle  " + $CRLF + _
       "And for his widow and his orphan,  " + $CRLF + _
       "To do all which may achieve and cherish  " + $CRLF + _
       "A just and lasting peace among ourselves  " + $CRLF + _
       "And with all nations."
   golly=SPACE$(50)+$CRLF + _
         SPACE$(50)+$CRLF + _
         SPACE$(50)+$CRLF + _
         SPACE$(50)+$CRLF + _
         SPACE$(50)+$CRLF + _
         SPACE$(50)+$CRLF + _
         SPACE$(50)+$CRLF + _
         SPACE$(50)+$CRLF + _
         SPACE$(50)+$CRLF + _
         SPACE$(50)+$CRLF + _
         SPACE$(50)+$CRLF
  SELECT CASE AS LONG CBMSG
    CASE %WM_INITDIALOG
      ' Initialization handler
'      g_Start_fg_Color = &hffffff '&hFFD7D7   used your variable names but as STATIC
'      g_Start_bg_Color = g_Start_fg_Color '&hFFD7D7  in these two cases
      STATIC idEvent AS LONG
      idEvent=SetTimer(CBHNDL,%ID_TIMER1,75,BYVAL %NULL) 'Increase 75 to slow it down.
      CONTROL POST CBHNDL,%ID_TIMER1,%WM_TIMER, 0,0
    CASE %WM_NCACTIVATE
      STATIC hWndSaveFocus AS DWORD
      IF ISFALSE CBWPARAM THEN
        ' Save control focus
        hWndSaveFocus = GetFocus()
      ELSEIF hWndSaveFocus THEN
        ' Restore control focus
        SetFocus(hWndSaveFocus)
        hWndSaveFocus = 0
      END IF
    CASE %WM_TIMER
      IF CBWPARAM=%ID_TIMER1 THEN
'        r = r + ctr
'        b = b + ctr
        clor = RGB(ctr, ctr, 0)
        'CONTROL SET TEXT CB.HNDL, %IDC_LABEL1, golly 'I do this to make sure it just doesn't overwrite.
        'control redraw cb.hndl, %IDC_LABEL1
        CONTROL SET COLOR CB.HNDL, %IDC_LABEL1,  clor, %BLACK
        CONTROL SET TEXT CB.HNDL, %IDC_LABEL1, gosh
        INCR ctr
      'msgbox "counter="+format$(ctr)+" color="+format$(clor) +" bcolor="+format$(g_Start_bg_Color)
        IF ctr=256 THEN ctr=0
          
'        sTime=TIME$
'        CONTROL SET TEXT CBHNDL, %IDC_TIME,nada
'        CONTROL REDRAW CBHNDL, %IDC_TIME
'        CONTROL SET TEXT CBHNDL, %IDC_TIME,sTime
      END IF
    CASE %WM_COMMAND
      ' Process control notifications
      SELECT CASE AS LONG CBCTL
        CASE %IDCANCEL
          IF CBCTLMSG = %BN_CLICKED OR CBCTLMSG = 1 THEN
            DIALOG END CBHNDL, 0
          END IF

        CASE %IDC_LABEL1

      END SELECT
    CASE %WM_DESTROY
         IF idEvent THEN
           KillTimer CBHNDL, idEvent
         END IF

  END SELECT
END FUNCTION
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'   ** Dialogs **
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUNCTION ShowDIALOG1(BYVAL hParent AS DWORD) AS LONG
  LOCAL lRslt,hfont20 AS LONG
  LOCAL gee AS STRING
  'Static g_Start_bg_Color, g_Start_fg_Color AS LONG
  'g_Start_fg_Color = &hffffff '&hFFD7D7   used your variable names but as STATIC
  'g_Start_bg_Color = g_Start_fg_Color '&hFFD7D7
  gee= "With malice toward None, " + $CRLF + _
       "With charity For All,  " + $CRLF + _
       "With firmness in the Right  " + $CRLF + _
       "As God gives us to see the Right,  " + $CRLF + _
       "Let us strive on to finish the work we are in,  " + $CRLF + _
       "To bind up the nation's wounds,  " + $CRLF + _
       "To care for him who shall have borne the battle  " + $CRLF + _
       "And for his widow and his orphan,  " + $CRLF + _
       "To do all which may achieve and cherish  " + $CRLF + _
       "A just and lasting peace among ourselves  " + $CRLF + _
       "And with all nations."
                                          
#PBFORMS BEGIN DIALOG %IDD_DIALOG1->->
  LOCAL hDlg  AS DWORD

  DIALOG NEW PIXELS, hParent, "                                                                   " + _
    "   Lincoln's Second Inagural Address", 70, 406, 698, 560, TO hDlg
  CONTROL ADD BUTTON, hDlg, %IDCANCEL, "DONE", 315, 535, 75, 25
  CONTROL ADD LABEL,  hDlg, %IDC_LABEL1, gee , 0, 0, 698, 536, _
    %WS_CHILD OR %WS_VISIBLE OR %SS_CENTER, %WS_EX_LEFT OR %WS_EX_LTRREADING
#PBFORMS END DIALOG
  
  FONT NEW "Comic Sans MS", 20 TO hfont20
  CONTROL SET FONT hdlg, %IDC_LABEL1, hfont20
  CONTROL SET COLOR hdlg, %IDC_LABEL1,  %BLACK, %BLACK
  DIALOG SHOW MODAL hDlg, CALL ShowDIALOG1Proc TO lRslt

#PBFORMS BEGIN CLEANUP %IDD_DIALOG1
#PBFORMS END CLEANUP

  FUNCTION = lRslt
END FUNCTION
'--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Michael Mattias]

then constantly change the text color. Sort of like it gradually appears (then gradually disappears)

Worth a look ???

AnimateWindow Function

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The AnimateWindow function enables you to produce special effects when showing or hiding windows. There are four types of animation: roll, slide, collapse or expand, and alpha-blended fade.

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Worth a look ???

It certainly is. Thanks M. Probably have to give up a bit of my DDT soul and use some API {shudder} but if it's in the line of duty....

===========================
"A dog's admiration
is not conclusive evidence
you are wonderful."
Ann Landers
===========================

[Michael Mattias]

>Probably have to give up a bit of my DDT soul and use some API {shudder)

In Michael's Ideal World that would be worded somewhat differently:

"I've done it using SDK style; now I'll see how much tedious coding work the use of DDT can save me, and at what cost to flexibility and/or features."


MCM

[Michael Mattias]

Of course, PowerBASIC Inc worded it differently still:

"Let's make something so easy to use we can capture the VB Refugee market."

[Paul Squires]

I noticed that you're creating a Timer but then using CONTROL POST. Why? Once you create the Timer then the WM_TIMER messages should start to flow. No need to post the WM_TIMER message.

I would think that your flicker is caused by doing a CONTROL SET TEXT on each iteration of your loop. I would think that should be done once before the For/Next starts. Also, I would assume that the CONTROL SET COLOR will do a repaint of the text so any redraw/invalidaterect code after that should be unnecessary. If you stick with the WM_TIMER method then simply set the Text once when the dialog is created (ie. move it out of the WM_TIMER handler altogether).

[Rodney Hicks]

I noticed that you're creating a Timer but then using CONTROL POST. Why?

Because I copied those steps out of a program in the Samples directory of PBWin 8.xx and have been using them in different programs ever since, expecting that whoever wrote it in the first place knew more than I did. Because you asked this question I commented out the line and you are right, there seems to be no good reason for it.(There may have been where I copied it from.)

Also, I would assume that the CONTROL SET COLOR will do a repaint of the text so any redraw/invalidaterect code after that should be unnecessary

I had tried that in mine, assuming as you do, but the screen just stays black without the CONTROL SET TEXT statement in there. I now think that the CONTROL SET COLOR statement merely prepares the control for the next statement. Sort of analogous the DOS COLOR 8,0:LOCATE 10,20: PRINT "What the ...?" where a subsequent COLOR 0,8: LOCATE 10,20 wouldn't make any changes until another PRINT statement.

Gösta, have you considered trying this in a GRAPHIC WINDOW to get rid of the flicker?

Michael, I really always thought that it was "Let's make something so easy even Rod can do it!"

[Michael Mattias]

Microsoft Visual Basic is - or at least was - a pretty good product... at least if you let the sales figures speak for it.

Unfortunately, products like VB and DDT allow people to "program" [quotes intentional, albeit likely insulting to some] without ever learning the fundamentals of Windows applications programming.

I am a big believer in fundamentals. YMMV.

I am a big believer that tools can only be used effectively when the user understands exactly what labor-savings the tool provides. YMMV.

I am a big believer that true programmers can program even when their tools are taken away... by falling back on their fundamentals. YMMV.

OTOH, DDT is a brilliant marketing ploy. A PB license purchase is a lot easier for the prospect when he/she can honestly say, "Hey, I can do that!"

MCM

[Paul Dixon]

One way to get pulsating text:

'PBCC5.01 program
$INCLUDE "WIN32API.INC"

%stop=0
%draw=1
FUNCTION Throb ( BYVAL xPos AS LONG, BYVAL yPos AS LONG, _
                        BYVAL DoWhat AS LONG, BYVAL wide AS LONG, BYVAL dw2 AS LONG) AS LONG
STATIC cnt&,col&() ,hWin???,TimerHandle&,wscale!,high&, hFont&

SELECT CASE DoWhat
    CASE %stop
        timeKillEvent TimerHandle&
        FONT END hFont&
        GRAPHIC WINDOW END

    CASE %draw
       ' exit function
        IF cnt&=0 THEN
            GRAPHIC ATTACH hWin???, 0  ,REDRAW
            GRAPHIC CLEAR %BLACK
        ELSE
 
        GRAPHIC SET FONT hFont&
        GRAPHIC SET POS (1,1)
        IF (cnt& AND &h100) THEN
            GRAPHIC COLOR col&(255-(cnt& AND &hff)),%BLACK
        ELSE
            GRAPHIC COLOR col&((cnt& AND &hff)),%BLACK
        END IF
        
        GRAPHIC PRINT  "And now is the time"
        GRAPHIC PRINT  " for all good men"
        GRAPHIC PRINT  "to come to the aid"
        GRAPHIC PRINT  "  of the party."
   
        GRAPHIC REDRAW
        END IF

        INCR cnt&

    CASE ELSE
        'it's not stop or draw so it must be start. doWhat is now the colour to use
        'colour should be saturated so R,G and B are either 00 or FF (e.g.&hFFFFFF or &hFF00FF..)
        'create a window to draw the busy indicator in
        GRAPHIC WINDOW "", xPos, yPos, wide&, dw2  TO hWin???
        
        wscale!=wide/256
        high&=dw2
        'set the colours
        BaseColour&=doWhat
        DIM col&(255)
        temp&=BaseColour&

        FOR r&=255 TO 0 STEP -1
            col&(r&)=(r&*65536 +r&*256+r&) AND BaseColour&
        NEXT
        
        FONT NEW "Courier New",30,1,0,0,0 TO hFont
        
        'start the timer
        '1=milliseconds between triggers, 0=maximum timer resolution
        TimerHandle& = timeSetEvent ( BYVAL 1, BYVAL 0, CODEPTR(Throb), BYVAL %draw, BYVAL %TIME_PERIODIC)

    END SELECT

END FUNCTION


FUNCTION PBMAIN () AS LONG

CONSOLE SET LOC 1,1
CONSOLE SET SCREEN 10,40

Throb(200,200,%YELLOW,500,250) 'at position 200,200 and 500 wide x 250 high
PRINT "Press a key to exit"
CONSOLE SET FOCUS

DO
    SLEEP 10 'this is where you do the main job while the pulsating text is displayed
LOOP UNTIL INSTAT

'end display
Throb (0,0,%stop,0,0)

END FUNCTION

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Rod, I like your idea of using Wm_Timer instead of a F/N loop like I do. I'm going to try to incorporate it. Also I like the idea of being able to end it at any point (your "DONE" button) where mine require Alt F4 (outside the loop) or ACD (inside it).

Tip: When testing, prefix the name with "z_", then after ACD'ing, press "z" and the prog is immediately highlighted ready to be Ended. As you may infer I have to ACD a LOT when I program {sigh}.

Paul, the Control Set Text is set before the F/N loop. There is a Dialog Set inside just to watch the variables.

I've fooled with the Timer but it seems instant. Watching the Dialog header shows that. Obviously I'm doing something wrong but dunno what.

'

'PBWIN 9.01 - WinApi 05/2008 - XP Pro SP3
#Dim All 
#Compile Exe  
#Optimize SPEED
#Debug Display On '<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Remember to turn off for production code
'
#Include "WIN32API.INC"
#Include "COMDLG32.INC"
#Include "InitCtrl.inc"
'
'
' *******************************************************
'
'
 'this next included file needed for button colors can be found here: 
 'http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums/showthread.php?t=38904
#Include "C:\Only_My_Programs\Include Files\ButtonPlus.bas"
'
' *******************************************************
'
  Global g_Tmr, hdlg As Dword                
  Global g_Quit_Flag, g_Start_bg_Color, g_Start_fg_Color As Long
  Global ms, g_Timer_Event As Long
  Global g_Now_Displaying As String
'
%ID_TIMER1=100
%Display_Msg_Id   = 1000
%Msg_Btn_Id = 2000
'
Macro aa_Common_Locals
  Local hfont12, hfont16, hfont20, hfont24 As Long 
  Local slp, wd1, ht1, ctr1, ctr, clor, Id, Row, col, stile, ht, wd As Long
  Local s1, hx, s As String
  Local r, g, b As Byte
  Local Title As String * 150
  
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 12 To hfont12
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 16 To hfont16
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 20 To hfont20
 Font New "Comic Sans MS", 24 To hfont24        
End Macro
'
Function show_Msg_New As Long
  aa_common_Locals
  Control Set Text hdlg, %Msg_Btn_Id, " Enough, Already!"
     g_Quit_Flag = 1
     g_Tmr = Timer
'
   g_Now_Displaying = "With malice toward None, " & $CrLf & _ 
       "With charity For All,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "With firmness in the Right  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "As God gives us to see the Right,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "Let us strive on to finish the work we are in,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "To bind up the nation's wounds,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "To care for him who shall have borne the battle  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "And for his widow and his orphan,  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "To do all which may achieve and cherish  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "A just and lasting peace among ourselves  " & $CrLf & _ 
       "And with all nations." 
'       
  Id = %Display_Msg_Id  
    Control Set Text hdlg, Id, g_Now_Displaying 
    Control Set Color hdlg, Id, %White, %Black 'g_Start_bg_Color, g_Start_bg_Color
    Control ReDraw hdlg, Id 
    
    
End Function
'
'
'
' *******************************************************
'
CallBack Function Button_Subclass_Processor() As Long
  aa_common_Locals
  Select Case cb.Msg
     '
     Case %WM_COMMAND  'Wm_Notify doesn't do it
       Select Case cb.Ctl
         Case %Msg_Btn_Id
           Select Case cb.CtlMsg
             Case %BN_CLICKED  
              '? "here"
               If g_Quit_Flag = 1 Then 
                  'Dialog End hdlg
                  Reset g_Quit_Flag 'while testing
                  Control Set Text hdlg, %Msg_Btn_Id, " Next Inspirational Message"
                  CSet Title$ = "Ain't Life just Grand!"
                  Dialog Set Text hdlg, Title$ 'just to watch working
                  KillTimer hdlg, g_Timer_Event
                 Else
                  ms = 75 'ms = milliseconds between beats '75 orig 
                  g_Timer_Event = SetTimer(hdlg, %ID_TIMER1, ms, 0) 'ms = milliseconds between beats '75 orig 
                  Control Post hdlg, %ID_TIMER1, %WM_TIMER, 0,0
                  g_tmr = Timer
                  Show_Msg_New
               End If   
           End Select
       End Select
  End Select
End Function
'
' *******************************************************
'
Macro Timer_Draw
   clor = RGB(ctr, ctr, 0)       
   Id = %Display_Msg_Id
    Control Set Color cb..Hndl, Id,  clor, %Black
         Control ReDraw cb..Hndl, Id 
        Incr ctr
        If ctr=256 Then ctr=0
End Macro
'
CallBack Function Dialog_Processor
  aa_common_Locals
  Static hx1 As String
  Select Case cb.Msg     'This is TO determine the message TYPE 
     '       
     Case %WM_INITDIALOG'<- Initialiaton when the program loads 
     ' 
     Case %WM_TIMER
     
        If cb.WParam=%ID_TIMER1 Then
'          Timer_Draw
   Id = %Display_Msg_Id
    r = ctr
    b = ctr
    g = ctr
    clor = Bgr(r, g, b)       
    hx$ = Hex$(clor, 6)       
    hx1$ = hx1$ & hx$ & " " 
    CSet Title$  = Using$("# Color = "  & Right$(Hx1$, 30) & "  # Seconds at #ms per ctr", ctr, Timer - g_Tmr, ms)
    Dialog Set Text hdlg, Title$ 'just to watch working
    Control Set Color hdlg, Id,  clor, g_Start_bg_Color
    'Control Set Text hdlg, Id, g_Now_Displaying$
      Control ReDraw hdlg, Id
         Incr ctr
         If ctr = 256 Then ctr = 0
        End If
     '
     Case %WM_SYSCOMMAND 'Traps Any Alt key but only F4 closes              
     '
     Case %WM_COMMAND  'This processes command messages
  End Select
End Function
'
Function PBMain
  aa_common_locals
 g_Start_fg_Color =  %Black '&hff0046'&hFFD7D7
 g_Start_bg_Color = %Black 'g_Start_fg_Color '&hFFD7D7
'
  ht = 540: ht1 = ht
  wd = 700: wd1 = wd         
  CSet Title$ = "Lincoln's Second Inagural Address"
  Dialog New Pixels, hdlg, Title$, , , wd, ht To hdlg
      Dialog Set Color hdlg,  g_Start_fg_Color, g_Start_bg_Color
'
 wd = Wd - 20
 ht = ht - (3 * 40)
 Row = 40
 Col = 10
 Id = %Display_Msg_Id  
 Stile = %SS_Center
  Control Add Label, hdlg, Id, "Inspirations", col, row, wd, ht, stile
  Control Set Font hdlg, Id, hfont20
  Control Set Color hdlg, Id,  %White, g_Start_bg_Color
 '
 Id = %Msg_Btn_Id
 Row = ht1 - 40 'Just off bottom 
 ht = 30
                                 '
  stile = stile Or %Bs_Notify ' send notification msg when clicked
  Control Add Button, hdlg, Id, "Inspirational Message", Col, row, wd, ht, stile, Call Button_Subclass_Processor
  Control Set Font hdlg, Id, hfont20
  'rem next two if no Button Plus included
  Btn_Set_Text_Color(hdlg, Id, &h000000) 
  Btn_Set_Face_Color(hdlg, Id, &hFFF546): 
'
  Dialog Show Modal hDlg   Call Dialog_Processor      
'     
End Function 'Abblikation beenden
'

=============================
He that is secure is not safe.
Ben Franklin
=============================

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Gösta, have you considered trying this in a GRAPHIC WINDOW to get rid of the flicker?

No, not yet. That's on the list, though {grin}.

Michael, I really always thought that it was "Let's make something so easy even Rod can do it!"

And here all this time I was thinking it was "Let's make something so easy a real man can snicker at it."

==============================
"Heav'n hath no rage
like love to hatred turn'd,
Nor Hell a fury,
like a woman scorn'd."
William Congreve (1670-1729)
==============================

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

I am a big believer in fundamentals. YMMV.

It does.

I am a big believer that tools can only be used effectively when the user understands exactly what labor-savings the tool provides. YMMV.

It does.

I am a big believer that true programmers can program even when their tools are taken away... by falling back on their fundamentals. YMMV.

It does/

OTOH, DDT is a brilliant marketing ploy. A PB license purchase is a lot easier for the prospect when he/she can honestly say, "Hey, I can do that!"

Before DDT, I ouldn;'t even spell "Prgramer". Now I are one.

==================================
"Where are we going,
and why am I in this handbasket?"
Bumper Sticker
==================================