To All,
I was just playing around with VFP last night after having developed my first metro app in Visual Studio last week and wondered how a Metro style interface could be developed in VFP. A small video of the results of my deliberations is at:
http://www.replacement-software.co.uk/VFP_Metro/
I haven't had time to add callouts and commentry etc just yet as the whole project took up my time (about 4 hours) but I will do once the classes are in a stable state at which time I hope to have a set of classes made that will allow Metro buttons and info to be easily put into any VFP App simply by dragging and dropping a Metro surface onto a form and polpulating it with Geoups and Items ...(you can see this in the video).
The result so far are:
1. A scrollable Metro "desktop" so that you can hold more buttons than can ve viewed on the desktop
2. Metro style buttons that can have the caption in either the centre or the four corners of the button as well as a relocatable picture on the button.
3. Metro Groups. Consisting of selections of metro buttons that can be dragged and dropped within the allocated group and re-ordered into a pre-defined column/row Metro sequence.
4. The ability to drag/drop the Metro Groups around on the desktop
5. The ability to drag/drop Metro buttons around within their parent group in real time ... and then re-order the group
The next step is to give the Metro interface a "skinnable colour" property that will be changeable in real time ... this is done but I haven't had time to incorporate it as of yet.
If anyone shows any interest in the video or the development then post on here with regards to possible enhancements etc. and comments will be gratefully accepted, good or bad.
When I have a set of classes in workable form then I intend to post the source on Codeplex with full source.
The fox can still run with the best...
Have fun,
Dave
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I just had an email off Kurt regarding the classes and rather than just reply to him thought I would copy the group with my response:
Dave
****************
* Email from Kurt:
*
Hey Dave!
On 11/13/2012 6:58 AM, Dave Crozier wrote:
> To All,
> I was just playing around with VFP last night after having developed my first metro app in Visual Studio last week and wondered how a Metro style interface could be developed in VFP. A small video of the results of my deliberations is at:
> http://www.replacement-software.co.uk/VFP_Metro/...
What U R working on here does sound interesting. I will definitely have to check out that video shortly...
> ...When I have a set of classes in workable form then I intend to post the source on Codeplex with full source.
> The fox can still run with the best...
Can it? It seems not according to some of the folks on the ProFox list -
who think that NOBODY should even CONSIDER doing New Apps Development
for a New client in VFP!
I'm surprised that Ed would even say that - considering his ProFox list
is based around FoxPro!
And - I have even been considering Real Basic as a new option to develop
in - since its so closely related to VFP.
L8r,
-K-
*****************
* Response
*
Kurt,
I must admit that getting back to VFP after aboout 4 months solid C# Visual Studio development was a real eye opener in terms of the speed you can do things in VFP. OK, I'm an old (very, very...) lag at VFP now but it is just refreshing being able to do things quickly and easily with a fully understood set of commands without spending most of your time finding out what methods/properties a particular component or framework has.
The thing that prompted me was the purchase of the Telrik set of components for designing Metro Apps in C# and I thought "what a good idea, why not the same thing in VFP.." and the rest is a concentrated 4 hour blast at programming up the components you can see in the video.
By objective was to generate all the components to easily drag/drop without having to resort to programming each component, hence the "drag Drop Component" you see in the video which is a class you just add to the Metro Workspace and/or Metro Group. It handles all the drag/drop of components within its own container without any programming whatsoever and this is what took most of the time up.
Please take a look and let me know your thoughts.
Dave
PS. As for RealBasic, it is great for cross platform work and Ed's comments about new work are spot on the button if you are NOT a VFP seasoned developer. However, as most on this list are, then it doesn't really apply.
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Cool.
You intend to call your forms from the click, but if u got MDI forms the layout is going to get messy.
That's why I prefer the menu up on top.
E.
>________________________________
> From: Dave Crozier <DaveC@Flexipol.co.uk>
>To: ProFox Email List <profox@mail.leafe.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 9:58 AM
>Subject: VFP Metro Interface
>
>To All,
>I was just playing around with VFP last night after having developed my first metro app in Visual Studio last week and wondered how a Metro style interface could be developed in VFP. A small video of the results of my deliberations is at:
>
>http://www.replacement-software.co.uk/VFP_Metro/
>
>I haven't had time to add callouts and commentry etc just yet as the whole project took up my time (about 4 hours) but I will do once the classes are in a stable state at which time I hope to have a set of classes made that will allow Metro buttons and info to be easily put into any VFP App simply by dragging and dropping a Metro surface onto a form and polpulating it with Geoups and Items ...(you can see this in the video).
>
>The result so far are:
>1. A scrollable Metro "desktop" so that you can hold more buttons than can ve viewed on the desktop
>2. Metro style buttons that can have the caption in either the centre or the four corners of the button as well as a relocatable picture on the button.
>3. Metro Groups. Consisting of selections of metro buttons that can be dragged and dropped within the allocated group and re-ordered into a pre-defined column/row Metro sequence.
>4. The ability to drag/drop the Metro Groups around on the desktop
>5. The ability to drag/drop Metro buttons around within their parent group in real time ... and then re-order the group
>
>The next step is to give the Metro interface a "skinnable colour" property that will be changeable in real time ... this is done but I haven't had time to incorporate it as of yet.
>
>If anyone shows any interest in the video or the development then post on here with regards to possible enhancements etc. and comments will be gratefully accepted, good or bad.
>
>When I have a set of classes in workable form then I intend to post the source on Codeplex with full source.
>
>The fox can still run with the best...
>
>Have fun,
>Dave
>
>
>_______________________________________________
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>
>
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Eurico,
The design mode I have in mind is to have the "Metro desktop" as free floating top form and using it to call other forms, which could be MDI in themselves. The thing about Metro is that it is only a "launcher" for the majority of apps anyway, but it looks sexy (if you are saddo geeks like us!) and will certainly become what end users expect, despite what we all say about M$.
You could also get it to launch other VFP Apps from a stand alone "Metro Desktop", that way your current apps wouldn't need any changes at all.
I have lots of ideas in the pipeline, if only to refresh some VFP apps here that I definitely DO NOT want to rewrite in C#!!
Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: ProFox [mailto:profox-bounces@leafe.com] On Behalf Of Eurico Chagas Filho
Sent: 13 November 2012 13:45
To: ProFox Email List
Subject: Re: VFP Metro Interface
Cool.
You intend to call your forms from the click, but if u got MDI forms the layout is going to get messy.
That's why I prefer the menu up on top.
E.
>________________________________
> From: Dave Crozier <DaveC@Flexipol.co.uk>
>To: ProFox Email List <profox@mail.leafe.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 9:58 AM
>Subject: VFP Metro Interface
>
>To All,
>I was just playing around with VFP last night after having developed my first metro app in Visual Studio last week and wondered how a Metro style interface could be developed in VFP. A small video of the results of my deliberations is at:
>
>http://www.replacement-software.co.uk/VFP_Metro/
>
>I haven't had time to add callouts and commentry etc just yet as the whole project took up my time (about 4 hours) but I will do once the classes are in a stable state at which time I hope to have a set of classes made that will allow Metro buttons and info to be easily put into any VFP App simply by dragging and dropping a Metro surface onto a form and polpulating it with Geoups and Items ...(you can see this in the video).
>
>The result so far are:
>1. A scrollable Metro "desktop" so that you can hold more buttons than
>can ve viewed on the desktop 2. Metro style buttons that can have the caption in either the centre or the four corners of the button as well as a relocatable picture on the button.
>3. Metro Groups. Consisting of selections of metro buttons that can be dragged and dropped within the allocated group and re-ordered into a pre-defined column/row Metro sequence.
>4. The ability to drag/drop the Metro Groups around on the desktop 5.
>The ability to drag/drop Metro buttons around within their parent
>group in real time ... and then re-order the group
>
>The next step is to give the Metro interface a "skinnable colour" property that will be changeable in real time ... this is done but I haven't had time to incorporate it as of yet.
>
>If anyone shows any interest in the video or the development then post on here with regards to possible enhancements etc. and comments will be gratefully accepted, good or bad.
>
>When I have a set of classes in workable form then I intend to post the source on Codeplex with full source.
>
>The fox can still run with the best...
>
>Have fun,
>Dave
>
>
[excessive quoting removed by server]
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Kurt,
I hope that I haven't oversold Real Studio / RealBasic. For Windows
only desktop applications, I still think that VFP has the edge in
development.
However, for being able to develop one application and compile for
Windows, Mac, and Linux desktop applications, then it is the best tool I
have found. Throw in the ability to develop Web applications as if you
are developing a desktop application (what they call Web 3.0) and that's
a big bucket of win. Did I mention that you can share business
applications and modules (anything non-UI) between desktop and web
applications? That's really cool.
Is it perfect? Certainly not. There are bugs that they work through.
It's not 64bit yet. Web application deployment is has some complexity
and expense. No, you cannot host a web application on a cheap Linux
hosting account that would be $7/month. It can't do phone applications
just yet (iOS or Android) although they are working on iOS development.
Yes, the web applications can be "Phone Browser" aware however.
(example: Session.OrientationChanged() fires when the connected device
orientation changes. 0=Portrait, 90=Landscape Left, 180=Upside Down,
-90=Landscape right.) ... and ... it's not free or open sourced, but
it's an established company from Austin, TX where the product has been
around for decades now.
All I can say is that the same "Fun Factor" I get when developing VFP
applications, I get the same good feelings and productivity developing
RealBasic applications. Your "VFP Mindset" works well in the
application world of RealBasic of Windows, Methods, Events, and Properties.
-Kevin
On 11/13/2012 08:32 AM, Dave Crozier wrote:
> And - I have even been considering Real Basic as a new option to
> develop in - since its so closely related to VFP.
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Author: Dave Crozier
Posted: 2012-11-13 08:39:54 Link
Full agreement here on RealBasic, both it's pro's and also its cons.
I just treat it as another tool in the developers arsenal and at multi platform it is certainly the best "one click multi compile" solution I have found.
I think all the comments regarding VFP and it's future bring into perspective the fact that being a "one horse" developer doesn't really hold credence any more now that there are so many platforms to develop on, hence diversity is king..... use the best tool for the job.
I know lots of people, myself included, have lots of times spouted how "VFP can do anything". Yes it can, but sometimes it is a pain and in those circumstances it is only the persistence and ingenuity of the developer that make the product "do it". Far better to get the job done quickly and efficiently, regardless of the product used and move on to the next money paying project in my opinion.
Yes, I could probably have done all the projects in my past using simply Access and VB but ..
(a) Would I want to ... NO
(b) Would I have even finished the first one yet... maybe not
(c) Would I have enjoyed the experience.... definitely NOT!
Life is to short to be stubborn and short sighted!
Dave
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Dave,
Is it my computer, or was there no audio in the video?
It looks good. I'm not big on fancy UI's. What I've seen of the Windows 8
Home page. What you've produced fits right in line.
Tracy Pearson
PowerChurch Software
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Author: Eurico Chagas Filho
Posted: 2012-11-13 10:14:15 Link
I would like an application that would not charge the developer when he is "developing".
Now if and when I sell the product of my development then I could be charged.
I think that way we could try several products till we find the best for us.
Some times a project takes months to be sold and 30 days trial is not enough.
E.
>________________________________
> From: Dave Crozier <DaveC@Flexipol.co.uk>
>To: ProFox Email List <profox@leafe.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 12:39 PM
>Subject: RE: [NF] RealBasic (was Re: VFP Metro Interface)
>
>Full agreement here on RealBasic, both it's pro's and also its cons.
>
>I just treat it as another tool in the developers arsenal and at multi platform it is certainly the best "one click multi compile" solution I have found.
>
>I think all the comments regarding VFP and it's future bring into perspective the fact that being a "one horse" developer doesn't really hold credence any more now that there are so many platforms to develop on, hence diversity is king..... use the best tool for the job.
>
>I know lots of people, myself included, have lots of times spouted how "VFP can do anything". Yes it can, but sometimes it is a pain and in those circumstances it is only the persistence and ingenuity of the developer that make the product "do it". Far better to get the job done quickly and efficiently, regardless of the product used and move on to the next money paying project in my opinion.
>
>Yes, I could probably have done all the projects in my past using simply Access and VB but ..
>
>(a) Would I want to ... NO
>
>(b) Would I have even finished the first one yet... maybe not
>
>(c) Would I have enjoyed the experience.... definitely NOT!
>
>Life is to short to be stubborn and short sighted!
>
>Dave
>
>
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Author: Kurt @ VR-FX
Posted: 2012-11-13 10:16:59 Link
Hey Kevin,
On 11/13/2012 9:29 AM, Kevin Cully wrote:
> Kurt,
> I hope that I haven't oversold Real Studio / RealBasic. For Windows
> only desktop applications, I still think that VFP has the edge in
> development.
Overselling sounds fine by me - nothing wrong with being a RealBasic
Evangelist!
> However, for being able to develop one application and compile for
> Windows, Mac, and Linux desktop applications, then it is the best tool
> I have found. Throw in the ability to develop Web applications as if
> you are developing a desktop application (what they call Web 3.0) and
> that's a big bucket of win.
Being that I can develop Web Apps - that sounds really enticing - since
my buddy now claims that is what his associates are REALLY Looking for.
> Did I mention that you can share business applications and modules
> (anything non-UI) between desktop and web applications? That's really
> cool.
When you say Non-UI, what does that really mean? Only the data
processing and manipulation routines can be shared?
What about the data. Is it DBF's and/or DBC's like VFP? OR is it
strictly that you tie into a server data source like MySql? Again - just
curious - and trying to figure out what's involved...
> Is it perfect? Certainly not. There are bugs that they work through.
Understood.
> It's not 64bit yet.
I suspect that is something that they ARE working on - for near future
releases?
> Web application deployment is has some complexity and expense. No,
> you cannot host a web application on a cheap Linux hosting account
> that would be $7/month.
Thanks for that heads-up.
> It can't do phone applications just yet (iOS or Android) although they
> are working on iOS development. Yes, the web applications can be
> "Phone Browser" aware however. (example: Session.OrientationChanged()
> fires when the connected device orientation changes. 0=Portrait,
> 90=Landscape Left, 180=Upside Down, -90=Landscape right.)
So - in essence - although one can NOT Yet make a native mobile app yet
- once Can run a Web app on a mobile device and it will be aware of it
being run on a Mobile device - and screen layout can be made to change
accordingly?
> ... and ... it's not free or open sourced,
It was mentioned in another e-mail thread that in 2013 - there would be
a "Free" version to use - or at least a version that one could try their
hands at - while there would be a cost to a version for deployment.
Right? I'm curious to know if there is a version now that I could play
with - like a demo version - before laying out cash I don't have. I
would essentially buy the dev. version if I can actually GET this
project I am currently looking into...
> ...but it's an established company from Austin, TX where the product
> has been around for decades now.
That truly IS a Good thing to know.
> All I can say is that the same "Fun Factor" I get when developing VFP
> applications, I get the same good feelings and productivity developing
> RealBasic applications. Your "VFP Mindset" works well in the
> application world of RealBasic of Windows, Methods, Events, and
> Properties.
Now - THAT Truly makes it enticing for someone like me - a Long time VFP
guy!
Thanks again Kevin for all your input!
-K-
On 11/13/2012 08:32 AM, Dave Crozier wrote:
>> And - I have even been considering Real Basic as a new option to
>> develop in - since its so closely related to VFP.
>
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Author: Kurt @ VR-FX
Posted: 2012-11-13 10:18:43 Link
Hey Dave - thanks again for your input. I agree with your 1 horse
comment - and hope that I CAN get this New project - and CAN use this as
the perfect opportunity to get a new tool under my belt!
L8r,
-K-
On 11/13/2012 9:39 AM, Dave Crozier wrote:
> Full agreement here on RealBasic, both it's pro's and also its cons.
>
> I just treat it as another tool in the developers arsenal and at multi platform it is certainly the best "one click multi compile" solution I have found.
>
> I think all the comments regarding VFP and it's future bring into perspective the fact that being a "one horse" developer doesn't really hold credence any more now that there are so many platforms to develop on, hence diversity is king..... use the best tool for the job.
>
> I know lots of people, myself included, have lots of times spouted how "VFP can do anything". Yes it can, but sometimes it is a pain and in those circumstances it is only the persistence and ingenuity of the developer that make the product "do it". Far better to get the job done quickly and efficiently, regardless of the product used and move on to the next money paying project in my opinion.
>
> Yes, I could probably have done all the projects in my past using simply Access and VB but ..
>
> (a) Would I want to ... NO
>
> (b) Would I have even finished the first one yet... maybe not
>
> (c) Would I have enjoyed the experience.... definitely NOT!
>
> Life is to short to be stubborn and short sighted!
>
> Dave
>
>
[excessive quoting removed by server]
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