dictionary

[StanHelton]

The Dictionary file is getting rather huge. Right now we're collating VB6 terms to PBWin terms and identifying the ones that will require wrappers to achieve similar effect. This is the latest communication between myself and Rod, who is building the dictionary. I've uploaded my latest copy of the of the dictionary. Please keep in mind that this will be obsolete by the time you read this post. The latest official versions of all the files are in the SVN repository.

Stan

Just got the email just now, I'll get back to you on the contents. It might have been part of what I'm looking for as well. I have a feeling that the dictionary may end up being a lot larger than we anticipated. It may take me a day or two assimilate.

I take it you decided not to post anything on the Cafe?
I don't know what we could say other than what you originally suggested.

I may post my reply in the Private forum just so PB knows we're still kicking and fighting with the BASIC beast.

Rod

----- Original Message -----
From: Stan
To: Rod
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 8:22 AM
Subject: VB6 keywords, objects, functions, and events


Hi Rod,

This list is not complete yet, but it's getting fairly long. Would you mind taking a look at it and maybe suggesting a way to include these VB6 terms in the dictionary? Let me know. The headers are in square brackets [Objects] and everything between headers belongs to the header above it. I'm taking this directly out of the MSDN CD that shipped with VB6 Pro back in 2003 (my copy).

I've attached a version of the dictionary with all the PBWin keywords added (no VB6 equivalents yet). How do you think we should deal with these?

Thanks for all your hard work.

The parser is posted in BRANCHES on the SVN. First draft of the Tokenizer is there too, but there's not much to that. Hopefully I'll get a working version in there in the next day or two.

Any issues? Need any help? Let me know. Hasn't been much activity on the Converter forum lately, so I decided I would contact you this way.

Thanks,
Stan

[StanHelton]

Rod,

What's the status of the dictionary with the new format? Have you been able to update it, or do you need some help? I'm at a critical point in the Tokenizer -- need the dictionary fairly soon to make progress.

Stan

[Rodney Hicks]

Here's a quick & dirty converter for the DCT file over to your new format. It doubles the size of the dictionary (expected), but runs very fast. Just saves the work you've already done into the new format.

Code:

DO NOT USE THIS CODE !!! Serious bugs! Will fix & repost.

We have a slight miscommunication about this, and it has been worrying me. I was waiting for your update. Will sort this out and have something for you to peruse in a couple of days.
I wasn't sure if your PM meant I should hold off on everything, so while I didn't do much work on this, I did get some thinking done about it.
Sorry, I should have enquired.

[StanHelton]

We have a slight miscommunication about this, and it has been worrying me. I was waiting for your update. Will sort this out and have something for you to peruse in a couple of days.
I wasn't sure if your PM meant I should hold off on everything, so while I didn't do much work on this, I did get some thinking done about it.
Sorry, I should have enquired.

My fault probably. I've got a lot of things on my mind right now. Noticed that my communications are not as clear as before. Thanks for replying.

I'll put the updated Dictionary Tool on the front burner again.

Stan

[Rodney Hicks]

Stan,
Carry on with some of the other stuff, I can whip up a tool that will create the file for reading, writing, adding, adjusting, reworking, etc.
There is no need for you to do everything, especially mundane stuff like this.
I know you have a lot to get done with all various aspects, so I'll get something that gets the job done.

[StanHelton]

Rod,
Thanks. I appreciate that.

[StanHelton]

Rod,

Finished the list of VB6 terms. Unzipped it's 146K. Just a list. Format is

[CATEGORY]
TERM TYPE COMMENT
...
...

Down in the CONSTANTS part of the list the format is

[CATEGORY]
TYPE COMMENT
- SUBTYPE COMMENT
-- CONSTANT VALUE COMMENT
-- ...
-- ...

Some CONSTANT TYPEs don't have SUBTYPEs, format there is

TYPE COMMENT
- CONSTANT VALUE COMMENT
- ...
- ...

COMMENTs are optional, but there are a lot of them.

Stan

[StanHelton]

Rod, take a look at this...

Rod,

I've been working with the list I made for your dictionary work. I finally got through the whole VB6 Language Reference this weekend. Take another look at the whole list. Today, I'm thinking maybe there's enough information in this format. Let me know if you think we can work with this in the short term.

First few lines of the txt file explain the format. I've used the pipe character (|) as a field delimiter. That way the comments were just cut-and-paste from the VB6 Language Reference. I've only made a very few minor notes of my own.

[John R. Heathcote]

Stan,

Took a look at the contents of this file and I must say there's alot there. How were you planning on handling some of the VB methods? My thought on this is to code up some replacement functions (or MACROs) to handle the intent of the processing chore. For example, we could code up a function to handle the QBColor method, even call it the same name and just #INCLUDE it at the beginning of the project. I think there may be many VB methods in this list that could be "converted" in much the same way.

Just a thought.

[StanHelton]

...
How were you planning on handling some of the VB methods? My thought on this is to code up some replacement functions (or MACROs) to handle the intent of the processing chore....

We are thinking the same way. Here's an example of how I'm doing it using the VB6 AmbientProperties Object. It's one of the simpler ones, only requires a GET and SET method. I think the same style can be used for most methods and classes.

My idea was to put this file in a code source template directory to get included into the output file. Copied into the output directory with the #INCLUDE statement as you suggest is a better way.

'vb2pb Converter
'VB6 Objects for PBWin 8.04
'    AmbientProperties object simulation
'===================================================================================================================
'   *** DECLARES ***
'===================================================================================================================

'Ambient Properties Object
DECLARE SUB Get_AmbientPropertiesObject(BackColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                        DisplayAsDefault AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                        DisplayName AS STRING, _            'control name, default = ""
                                        objFont AS FontObjectType, _
                                        ForeColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                        LocaleID AS LONG, _                 'language code of user
                                        MessageReflect AS LONG, _           'boolean
                                        objPalette AS PictureObjectType, _
                                        RightToLeft AS LONG, _              'boolean
                                        ScaleUnits AS STRING, _             'default = ""
                                        ShowGrabHandles AS LONG, _          'boolean
                                        ShowHatching AS LONG, _             'boolean
                                        SupportMnemonics AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                        TextAlign AS LONG, _                'enum, default as 0 (General Align)
                                        UserMode AS LONG, _                 'boolean, True = mode not supported
                                        UIDead AS LONG)                     'boolean, False = mode not supported

DECLARE SUB Set_AmbientPropertiesObject(BackColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                        DisplayAsDefault AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                        DisplayName AS STRING, _            'control name, default = ""
                                        objFont AS FontObjectType, _
                                        ForeColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                        LocaleID AS LONG, _                 'language code of user
                                        MessageReflect AS LONG, _           'boolean
                                        objPalette AS PictureObjectType, _
                                        RightToLeft AS LONG, _              'boolean
                                        ScaleUnits AS STRING, _             'default = ""
                                        ShowGrabHandles AS LONG, _          'boolean
                                        ShowHatching AS LONG, _             'boolean
                                        SupportMnemonics AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                        TextAlign AS LONG, _                'enum, default as 0 (General Align)
                                        UserMode AS LONG, _                 'boolean, True = mode not supported
                                        UIDead AS LONG)                     'boolean, False = mode not supported
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



'===================================================================================================================
'   *** TYPES ***
'===================================================================================================================

TYPE FontObjectType
    Bold AS LONG            'boolean
    CharSet AS LONG         'integer ID of Character Set to use
    Italic AS LONG          'boolean
    FontName AS STRING      'name of a form, control, or data access object
    FontSize AS LONG        'size in points
    StrikeThrough AS LONG   'boolean
    Underline AS LONG       'boolean
    Weight AS LONG          'boolean

    'additional code required for "PRIVATE SUB object_FontChanged(BYVAL propertyName AS STRING)"
    FontActive AS LONG      'boolean, check this value to simulate Event
END TYPE


'===================================================================================================================
'   *** Equates ***
'===================================================================================================================


'===================================================================================================================
'   *** Globals ***
'===================================================================================================================

    GLOBAL Picture AS LONG  'see PictureObject under ENUM below, use equates for PictureObject, not a true object

'===================================================================================================================
'   *** Set ENUM Values ***
'===================================================================================================================
    'PictureObject           'This is actually a VB6 ENUM
    %vbPicTypeNone = 0       '0 Icon type of Picture object
    %vbPicTypeBitmap = 1     '1 Bitmap type of Picture object
    %vbPicTypeMetafile = 2   '2 Metafile type of Picture object
    %vbPicTypeIcon = 3       '3 Icon type of Picture object
    %vbPicTypeEMetaFile = 4  '4 Enhanced metafile type of Picture object

'===================================================================================================================
'   *** Event Simulators ***
'===================================================================================================================


'===================================================================================================================
'   *** Object Simulators ***
'===================================================================================================================

'Ambient Properties Object
SUB AmbientPropertiesObject(Action AS LONG, _                   'from GET/SET subs, determine action to take
                            BackColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                            DisplayAsDefault AS LONG, _         'boolean
                            DisplayName AS STRING, _            'control name, default = ""
                            objFont AS FontObjectType, _
                            ForeColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                            LocaleID AS LONG, _                 'language code of user
                            MessageReflect AS LONG, _           'boolean
                            objPalette AS PictureObjectType, _
                            RightToLeft AS LONG, _              'boolean
                            ScaleUnits AS STRING, _             'default = ""
                            ShowGrabHandles AS LONG, _          'boolean
                            ShowHatching AS LONG, _             'boolean
                            SupportMnemonics AS LONG, _         'boolean
                            TextAlign AS LONG, _                'enum, default as 0 (General Align)
                            UserMode AS LONG, _                 'boolean, True = mode not supported
                            UIDead AS LONG) _                   'boolean, False = mode not supported

    STATIC dwdBackColor AS DWORD
    STATIC lDisplayAsDefault AS LONG
    STATIC udtFont AS FontObjectType
    STATIC dwdForeColor AS DWORD
    STATIC lLocaleID AS LONG
    STATIC lMessageReflect AS LONG
    STATIC udtPalette AS PictureObjectType
    STATIC lRightToLeft AS LONG
    STATIC sScaleUnits AS STRING
    STATIC lShowGrabHandles AS LONG
    STATIC lShowHatching AS LONG
    STATIC lSupportMnemonics AS LONG
    STATIC lTextAlign AS LONG
    STATIC lUserMode AS LONG
    STATIC lUIDead AS LONG

    IF Action = 0 THEN
        BackColor = dwdBackColor
        DisplayAsDefault = lDisplayAsDefault
        DisplayName lDisplayAsDefault
        TYPE SET objFont = udtFont
        ForeColor = dwdForeColor
        LocaleID = lLocaleID
        MessageReflect = lMessageReflect
        TYPE SET objPalette = udtPalette
        RightToLeft = lRightToLeft
        ScaleUnits = sScaleUnits
        ShowGrabHandles = lShowGrabHandles
        ShowHatching = lShowHatching
        SupportMnemonics = lSupportMnemonics
        TextAlign = lTextAlign
        UserMode = lUserMode
        UIDead = lUIDead
    ELSEIF Action = 1 THEN
        dwdBackColor = BackColor
        lDisplayAsDefault = DisplayAsDefault
        TYPE SET udtFont = objFont
        dwdForeColor = ForeColor
        lLocaleID = LocaleID
        lMessageReflect = MessageReflect
        TYPE SET udtPalette = objPalette
        lRightToLeft = RightToLeft
        sScaleUnits = ScaleUnits
        lShowGrabHandles = ShowGrabHandles
        lShowHatching = ShowHatching
        lSupportMnemonics = SupportMnemonics
        lTextAlign = TextAlign
        lUserMode = UserMode
        lUIDead = UIDead
    END IF
END SUB

SUB Set_AmbientPropertiesObject(BackColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                DisplayAsDefault AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                DisplayName AS STRING, _            'control name, default = ""
                                objFont AS FontObjectType, _
                                ForeColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                LocaleID AS LONG, _                 'language code of user
                                MessageReflect AS LONG, _           'boolean
                                objPalette AS PictureObjectType, _
                                RightToLeft AS LONG, _              'boolean
                                ScaleUnits AS STRING, _             'default = ""
                                ShowGrabHandles AS LONG, _          'boolean
                                ShowHatching AS LONG, _             'boolean
                                SupportMnemonics AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                TextAlign AS LONG, _                'enum, default as 0 (General Align)
                                UserMode AS LONG, _                 'boolean, True = mode not supported
                                UIDead AS LONG) _                   'boolean, False = mode not supported

    LOCAL Action AS LONG
    Action = 1
    CALL AmbientPropertiesObject(Action AS LONG, _                   'from GET/SET subs, determine action to take
                                 BackColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                 DisplayAsDefault AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                 DisplayName AS STRING, _            'control name, default = ""
                                 objFont AS FontObjectType, _
                                 ForeColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                 LocaleID AS LONG, _                 'language code of user
                                 MessageReflect AS LONG, _           'boolean
                                 objPalette AS PictureObjectType, _
                                 RightToLeft AS LONG, _              'boolean
                                 ScaleUnits AS STRING, _             'default = ""
                                 ShowGrabHandles AS LONG, _          'boolean
                                 ShowHatching AS LONG, _             'boolean
                                 SupportMnemonics AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                 TextAlign AS LONG, _                'enum, default as 0 (General Align)
                                 UserMode AS LONG, _                 'boolean, True = mode not supported
                                 UIDead AS LONG) _                   'boolean, False = mode not supported
END SUB


SUB Get_AmbientPropertiesObject(BackColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                DisplayAsDefault AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                DisplayName AS STRING, _            'control name, default = ""
                                objFont AS FontObjectType, _
                                ForeColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                LocaleID AS LONG, _                 'language code of user
                                MessageReflect AS LONG, _           'boolean
                                objPalette AS PictureObjectType, _
                                RightToLeft AS LONG, _              'boolean
                                ScaleUnits AS STRING, _             'default = ""
                                ShowGrabHandles AS LONG, _          'boolean
                                ShowHatching AS LONG, _             'boolean
                                SupportMnemonics AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                TextAlign AS LONG, _                'enum, default as 0 (General Align)
                                UserMode AS LONG, _                 'boolean, True = mode not supported
                                UIDead AS LONG) _                   'boolean, False = mode not supported
    LOCAL Action AS LONG
    Action = 0
    CALL AmbientPropertiesObject(Action AS LONG, _                   'from GET/SET subs, determine action to take
                                 BackColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                 DisplayAsDefault AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                 DisplayName AS STRING, _            'control name, default = ""
                                 objFont AS FontObjectType, _
                                 ForeColor AS DWORD, _               'color #
                                 LocaleID AS LONG, _                 'language code of user
                                 MessageReflect AS LONG, _           'boolean
                                 objPalette AS PictureObjectType, _
                                 RightToLeft AS LONG, _              'boolean
                                 ScaleUnits AS STRING, _             'default = ""
                                 ShowGrabHandles AS LONG, _          'boolean
                                 ShowHatching AS LONG, _             'boolean
                                 SupportMnemonics AS LONG, _         'boolean
                                 TextAlign AS LONG, _                'enum, default as 0 (General Align)
                                 UserMode AS LONG, _                 'boolean, True = mode not supported
                                 UIDead AS LONG) _                   'boolean, False = mode not supported
END SUB
'----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are an awful lot of these beasts! Please, code up some FUNCTIONs, SUBs, and/or MACROs!

Stan

[StanHelton]

Rod,

Any progress on the new terms list?

Stan

[StanHelton]

John,

Do you have anything on those functions?

Stan

[Rodney Hicks]

Rod just got back late last night from a weekend that was a lot more stressful than it had to be, these things being what they are. I'm hoping to get busy tonight, now I'm back to some quieter surroundings.

[StanHelton]

Rod just got back late last night from a weekend that was a lot more stressful than it had to be, these things being what they are. I'm hoping to get busy tonight, now I'm back to some quieter surroundings.

My sympathies. Glad you made it through.

Stan

[Rodney Hicks]

Stan,
A little progress, I think. I hope this is what your after.

So far I've just put the terms into your preexisting list, Statements, Functions, and a few(very) constants. I have not set of the other flags other than a %CHALLENGE equate(as yet unvalued) in the list to indicate at least some work required.

Check it out and get back to me.

[StanHelton]

Rod,

Will do.

Stan

a little later: Looks good. This will work.

[Rodney Hicks]

I shall plug away at filling as many constants as I can find, saving the fine tuning for later, simply because it may be a case by case scenario.
I'll check out that link from the other forum, but I don't know that it'll solve the issue of finding VB-PB matches.
A little rant here, why would VB change the word before adding the prefix to the SDK term? PB just left the SDK word and added %, but VB sometimes changed the word, and seems like sometimes the value.

[StanHelton]

I shall plug away at filling as many constants as I can find, saving the fine tuning for later, simply because it may be a case by case scenario.
I'll check out that link from the other forum, but I don't know that it'll solve the issue of finding VB-PB matches.
A little rant here, why would VB change the word before adding the prefix to the SDK term? PB just left the SDK word and added %, but VB sometimes changed the word, and seems like sometimes the value.

Now that I've had a few hours to think about it, we may not need the VB values. If the names are descriptive enough we could just plug in the PBWin values and ignore the silliness of VB on this point. What do you think?

Know what? I think VB was added to Visual Studio as an afterthought. If I remember the early 90's, MS wanted to end all support for BASIC and move everybody to VC++. Of course, that memory may be colored by my dissatisfaction with MS in general.

[John R. Heathcote]

Stan,

I seem to remember that VB was around before Visual Studio, or at least until Visual Studio became popular (?). I was under the impression that Visual Studio, at that time, was more of an after thought and VB 1.0 (and their version of Visual C) was Microsoft's primary focus.

If my memory is faulty and Visual Studio was around with VB 1.0 they certainly weren't as tightly integrated as they are today. I suspect some of the inconsistencies in constant naming you are encountering may be due to Microsoft's uncanny ability to back in VB functionality over a period of time so further Visual Studio releases could integrate and support VB and to make such changes as transparent to the end user as possible.

Now that I've had a few hours to think about it, we may not need the VB values. If the names are descriptive enough we could just plug in the PBWin values and ignore the silliness of VB on this point. What do you think?

I think this is the way to go, if not, we may be playing this game chasing constant meaning and equivalency depending on the VB release and even the service pack the original code was written for. Not my idea of profitable use of time. We do need to alert the user as to this condition and give them the opportunity to review what PB (and our converter) can and can't do for them under the circumstances.

[StanHelton]

Stan,

I seem to remember that VB was around before Visual Studio, or at least until Visual Studio became popular (?). I was under the impression that Visual Studio, at that time, was more of an after thought and VB 1.0 (and their version of Visual C) was Microsoft's primary focus.

You're probably right. I was into something else in the early 90's. All I can say for sure is that the whole VisualMess feels like an afterthought.

...
I think this is the way to go, if not, we may be playing this game chasing constant meaning and equivalency ... [forever?]

We do need to alert the user as to this condition and give them the opportunity to review what PB (and our converter) can and can't do for them under the circumstances.

Agree.

BTW, on the CCL, I posted a ConverterOptions Type. Just basic stuff so far. I think this might be a starting place for saving those commands? If you agree, please feel free to add whatever you think would be useful.

Stan