FireFly Visual Designer Version 3 - No easier way to create PowerBASIC applications

[Paul Squires]

FireFly Visual Designer Version 3 - The Wait is Over!

Since FireFly3 was released two weeks ago, the Private Members Area has seen an explosion of almost 1,000 forum posts! The response to this new version has been overwhelming. The Private Members Area already had over 5,000 posts related to FireFly2. The FireFly community is strong, growing every single day, and ready to help you with any of your programming needs.

Take the program for a test drive by downloading the 30-day trial version today (trial version is based on v3.02).

All the details of the trial version are available at: http://www.planetsquires.com/download.htm

Purchase is available from: http://www.planetsquires.com/purchase.htm
Upgrade from FireFly2 for only $47
New FireFly3 purchases are $97

Registration gains you access to the Members Only Area where all things FireFly3 is discussed. It is also the central hub for training material, videos, screencasts, and priority and peer support.

Over the next little while I will post some links to videos that show you just how easy it is to design elements that many people constantly have trouble with:

TabControls - A complete visual editor to make your TabControls. No coding necessary. (That's right... TabControls can be easy!)
ToolBars - A complete visual editor to make your ToolBars (and Rebars!). No coding necessary.
Top Menus - A complete visual editor to make your Top Menus. No coding necessary.
StatusBars - A complete visual editor to make your StatusBars. No coding necessary.

No need to struggle with programming.... FireFly's built-in visual design editors make coding your application so incredibly easy.


Minimum requirements:
PBWIN9 or PBWIN8 compilers.
Windows XP, although the registered version will work on Windows 2000.
Windows 95, 98, ME are not supported.
ActiveX controls require José Roca's alternative Win32 API Include files http://www.jose.it-berater.org/smffo...p?topic=3347.0

What's New
- Smaller EXE's.
- Much faster code generation times.
- Image Manager
- Functions Library
- Reference Charts
- Project Notes/Tasks
- New FF_AppStart handler. Area where you can specify #Includes or compiler directives.
- More built in FireFly Functions.
- Expandable "code snippets"
- New custom controls; FireLines, FireImage, FireAniGif, FireTextBox, FireLink, FireSplitter.
- XP Themed button by Jose Roca
- My Little Grid by James Klutho
- Code Completion
- Expandable/Collapsable subs/functions (ie. code folding)
- Improved Project Explorer for finding subs/functions.
- New, modern, look and feel for the application.
- Find in Files, Find/Replace in Project
- Option to run previously compiled EXE without re-compiling.
- Builtin support for Patrice Terrier's zTrace utility.
- Full support for Jose Roca's alternative Win32 API Include files.

What's Changed
- Console and DLL projects can no longer be created.
- ActiveX handling is different (better). Uses Jose Roca's new WinApi Includes.
- Support forum is now private. Support is only available to registered FireFly3 customers only.
- FireFly 2 support (email) will end June 30, 2010.
- No more built in ADO/ADOX support. You now need to manually include Jose Roca's ADO files.
- New project folder structure.
- Images are no longer stored in form .frx files.
- New Code Editor built 100% using PB (no more reliance on CodeMax/CodeSense control)


Trial version is available at: http://www.planetsquires.com/download.htm

Purchase is available from: http://www.planetsquires.com/purchase.htm
Upgrade from FireFly2 for only $47
New FireFly3 purchases are $97

[Bud Durland]

I've been working with FireFly 3 for a couple weeks now, as an upgrade from FF2. I can tell you that Paul's post is truth in advertising. FireFly 3 is an elegant, polished development enviroment that can make even old DOS hacks like me productive. And the technical (and peer!) support is second to none.

[Martin Francom]

Bud, you're absolutely right. FireFly-3 is definately one tool that every PB programmer should have in his tool box.

[Paul Squires]

FireFly Visual Designer v3.06 is now available for all registered users. The update can be downloaded from the private members area on the PlanetSquires website: http://www.planetsquires.com/member_login.htm

Details of what has changed in the 3.06 version is available in the private support forums.

The trial version has not been updated.

[Patrick Harvey]

So true - support Firefly 3!

You know, Firefly is what makes me stick with PB (and I don't mean that in a bad way at all) because as a team they are unbeatable! and Paul is always happy to help.... I am a big believer that the gui (and its code) should not bog you down..... visually design your program, set the properties and write the key code....that's what I like.... I am so glad I found this combination! I've been casually using PB since the Dos version.....and I stick with PB because it's rock solid, but honestly, the DDT threw me and I don't want to mess around with GUI code... that why I love this comobination.... As an old VB 6 person, this just felt right... Paul's product fits right in with PB and I feel at home...

[Rudolf Fürstauer]

FF3 is an absolutely fantastic product.
I work in my company every day with this tool and it works fine.
Specifically, the support in the forum is simply great!

[Doug McDonald]

I'm new to FF3, just a few days and so far its been great. From the prospective as a new user some things are not intuitive and the help file is a bit vague in details, I'm collecting a list. I wish there were some sample files, detailed ones not 'Hello World' stuff. In time and with more use I wont notice these I'm sure. The bottom line is that it works and is well worth the money.

Doug

[Paul Squires]

The 30-day trial version has been updated to v3.06.

[Brice Manuel]

FF3 is officially on my Christmas list

The new site design and layout is very nice. Good job on it!

[Cho Sing Kum]

Being a VB6-Refugee, I have checked out other variation of BASIC.

REALbasic does not even allow creating a toolbar, their support saying toolbar is not part of Windows. I could not believe this and I still have their email.

Visual Basic .NET (2002 to 2008) is just plain sluggish even with a Core 2 Duo 6600 and a AMD X2-6000+. Granted the IDE is fantastic but no matter how many times I tried to accept it, the .NET Framework is just too sluggish. and then I have to worry about code obfuscation. Otherwise, "by default and design", I would be shipping my source code with the exe. .NET obsfucator, they are just too costly and there were already 4 compulsory costly upgrades in the last 7 years - 1.0 to 1.1 to 2.0 to 3.5.

Somehow, I never get to progress much with Purebasic.

I like what I see in PowerBASIC. I have been lurking in the forum for quite long. And the trigger that made me finally to migrate to PowerBASIC is FireFly.

FireFly is a gem. It gives me the VB6 feel. Even while learning a new language, I still go about the Visual and code design much like what I have been doing for many years. It makes migrating to PowerBASIC so much easier.

It is my personal opinion that FireFly should have been the front-end (IDE) for PowerBASIC. It will draw a lot of people to PowerBASIC. It did for me.

And Paul Squires' support is fantastic. A nice guy who knows what he is doing.

Thank you FireFly and PowerBASIC.

[David Warner]

I agree completely, FireFly 3 is brilliant and the support is truly excellent.

Regards,

David

[Roger Garstang]

Interesting posts. Don't know if I'd go as far as saying it should be the IDE since I know PB is really close to their products and protect them like their own children, but it is a very good Full IDE to develop in one product from start to finish and not need multiple applications or extra DLL files to do what you need.

I've got around 3-4 different PB-DOS versions starting back in the Learning BASIC book I saw in DOS Magazine. Went from there to almost every version on the Windows side except the DLL only editions. Still deciding on whether or not to get the latest Console since most of my apps don't need the latest features on the console side and one compiler that can do both would be better. I did get the latest PB/Win although usually only use the IDE to check codegen files from FireFly to debug and open inc files since VS is so slow and PB always has opened/searched/scrolled quicker even in DOS days. Haven't bought past PBforms 1.5 though...they have new DDT functions, but the design still hasn't changed from 1.0. You can't design in one place, properties other than styles have to be changed in code and it is still too command driven. I made a lot of good tools early on with DDT and it is a good starting place that shows you a little of how Windows works yet shields you from big stuff like VB does, but anything large is hard to maintain.

I tried many designers back when it was practically a warzone on here- Had the EZ-Designers, Phoenix, FireFly, and 2-3 other big ones. For me it was a close race between Phoenix and Firefly right down to the end. Phoenix had a lot of advanced features, Firefly had a nice interface for design, and they both had some wild bugs early on. It was mostly the ease of use and Paul's personality that won out in the end. Phoenix is still around, although doesn't appear to be actively developed. While those that made Phoenix are some very smart guys, Paul was an average guy like me and many others and open to any new and fresh idea. I've helped when I can and gave many ideas...some great, some just plain crazy. Firefly has grown with both the creator and with the users. Comparing Version 3 to 1 is an amazing growth. And 3.06 to 3.07 will will almost be as big of a jump as Version 1 to 2 was. New forum is great too. Lots of familiar faces and a lot of new comers all with different things they are good at.

[Dominic Mitchell]

Phoenix is still around, although doesn't appear to be actively developed.

Development of Phoenix is still active. The next version is 3.0. See here

http://www.phnxthunder.com/forums/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=11

While those that made Phoenix are some very smart guys,...

Thanks for the compliments.

[Roger Garstang]

Cool, I may just need to have another designer. Never hurts to have too many since each one has strengths and something it can do others can't. Everything still compile to straight code and no DLLs needed?

I never even went to the forums to see what was going on, just looked at the Download page and all the dates said Jan 2006 and the bottom Coming Soon text for the help file has been there a while, so I assumed it stopped then. Be sure to post here when Version 3 is out.

[Paul Squires]

Version 3.07 has been out for a few weeks now. Just wanted to post here to ensure that all Firefly users are aware of the new update.

There are several pretty substantial new features in this release. Check out these:

- New "ResizeRules" property. Allows for code free, automatic control resizing at runtime.

- Reintroduced the ability to create DLL FireFly projects (similar to FireFly Version 2). You can even have Forms in your DLL's.

- Ability to change multiple common control properties. For example, select a group of controls and change the color, font, text of all controls at once rather than having to edit each control separately.

- Automatic CodeTips for user entered subs/functions (previously, only FF functions, WinAPI and native PB functions displayed codetips).


Here are all of the changes (bugs and new features):

FireFly3 - 3.07
===========
- 0000698: [New Feature Request] Allow folding of Methods in the code editor. (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000697: [New Feature Request] Allow DLL FireFly projects (similar to FireFly Version 2) (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000685: [New Feature Request] FF_FireTextBox_GetNumeric and FF_FireTextBox_SetNumeric functions (gets value based on user's computer regional settings) (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000691: [Bug] Many fixes to the FireTextBox custom control (especially honoring Windows regional settings) (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000695: [New Feature Request] Changed the TABCONTROLCHILDAUTOSIZE property to only be active at runtime rather than design time. (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000693: [New Feature Request] Now able to TAB in and out of a multiline textbox. (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000694: [Bug] Form Class Styles were not being saved in the PropertyList when they were changed. (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000692: [New Feature Request] Code Editor: Tab Size honors tab positions in addition to also converting the tab size to spaces. (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000689: [New Feature Request] New "ResizeRules" property. Allows for code free, automatic control resizing at runtime. (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000688: [Bug] MDIClient name not showing in F4 Handles and ID list (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000687: [New Feature Request] MinWidth, MinHeight, MaxWidth and MaxHeight properties for Forms (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000590: [New Feature Request] Menu Editor and ToolBar Editor generate SELECT CASE (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000686: [Bug] FireTextBox beeping when TAB is pressed (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000634: [New Feature Request] Automatic CodeTips for user entered subs/functions (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000684: [New Feature Request] Sort "Find in Files" columns by clicking on column header (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000683: [Bug] Screen garbage displayed behind "Find in Files" results listview. (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000677: [New Feature Request] Save Bookmarks between sessions in the project file (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000619: [New Feature Request] Ability to change multiple common control properties (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000682: [Bug] BackColor in designer not correctly honoring the BackStyle property when Transparent is selected (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000681: [Bug] FireLines should not FillRect with rectangles with round corners. (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000680: [Bug] FireFly Functions not recognized when used in CLASS structures (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000678: [Bug] Some FireImages display under WinXP but not Win7. (Paul Squires) - closed.
- 0000679: [Bug] FireFly Function names found in quoted strings are wrongly added to the project's code output. (Paul Squires) - closed.
[23 issues]

Registered users gain priority support and access to a private forum containing over 8200+ posts. Very active community of fellow FireFly users.

[David Warner]

Hi Folks,

I read the thread title again and just couldn't agree more. I really do not know of an easier way to develop a re-editable project which gives me a single exe. I immediatley felt 'at home' when I first used it, having previously been used to the VB6 and MS Access environments.

I just love the fact that the learning curve is so much gentler when using FireFly and there is always someone willing to help with your questions at the FF Forum. Much like here really.

Most of all, I like the fact that the full application is output as source code which in itself is a great learning resource. I think Paul has been very generous with that feature alone, no 'hiding the magic' here.

And no, I don't have shares, I am just a very happy customer and have been since version 1.

Best Regards,

David

[Patrice Terrier]

Most of all, I like the fact that the full application is output as source code which in itself is a great learning resource.

I am 100% with you, this is without contest, the greatest FireFly feature, because instead of using a blackbox and a proprietary syntax, you got everything with full SDK source code. Ensuring that you can maintain the code yourself or sell it to someone else in the long run.

...

[Patrice Terrier]

Custom controls

I have posted a new project example, on the FireFly forum, to explain the use of WinLIFT/GDImage custom controls with FF3.

...

[Patrice Terrier]

I have posted another new project, on the FireFly forum, to explain the use of templates in the visual designer, to create WinLIFT's custom buttons on the fly.

...

[Patrice Terrier]

I have posted a new "Panorama 360" OpenGL/WinLIFT/GDImage project on the FF3 forum.

...