XCL VISUAL


XCL WIZARD

Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.

(The times change, and
we change with them.
).

(John Owen)

Last updated: 08-02-2000

XCL Wizard - is a new project, intended to make XCL programming visual again.

   Programming in XCL was non-visual process before (like creating of new components). But now this is changing. Current project XCL Wizard is intended to make programming with XCL classes VISUAL again. And first release of XCL Wizard is coming very soon. Now You can read more detailed about status of the project in Last News.

    Here You get know more about structure of the Wizard, its capabilities, tools, etc.

STRUCTURE

    XCL Wizard contains three basic parts:

And now brief description of the interface. I think it is not necessary to describe, "how it works" very detailed. I only notice about some points, what could be lost among other documentation.

  1. To create new XCL project, use File|New XCL project.
  2. When edit source of dpr-file or units of XCL project, do not alter signature comments inserted on creating of those ones.
  3. In XCL mode (i.e. after creating new XCL project or after [re]loading already created XCL project, use new menu items
  4. Do not try to use File|New... or File|New form in XCL mode - such attempts will be cancelled.
  5. Do not open packages and other files in XCL mode.
  6. To finish working with XCL project and turn XCL mode off, just perform File|Close all or reopen any VCL project. Icon of XCL Wizard must be removed from the tray.
  7. When project is closed, its definition is stored in file with the same name as form's unit, but with extension .xfm. Definition is also stored before compiling, when unit is saved on disk, and when You close form editor window with given form.
  8. Previous state of xfm-file is stored in file with extension ~xf. You may rename xfm (to save it) or delete, and restore previous state of form definition, renaming ~xf file to xfm back.
  9. To show XCL Palette, move mouse up to the top edge of screen.
  10. To drop new object on form, press (by mouse) button on palette, which represents desired class, and then click on form.
  11. To delete selected objects, press DELETE key (form must be active).
  12. To get context help about (first of) selected object, press F1, when forms designer is active with selected object. If no objects selected, help about XCustomForm will be appeared. (XCL Help Generator must be installed).
  13. To show Property Inspector:
  14. To get context help about selected property or event in Property Inspector, press F1, when the Inspector is active. (XCL Help Generator must be installed).
  15. To show [closed] form of the unit with form:
  16. To show (make foreground) [opened] form, when current window is Property Inspector, press F11 or like above F12/Toggle.
  17. When button, corresponding to a class (control) is pressed in XCL Palette, currently inspecting (in Inspector) form becomes foreground too. And, if left mouse button pressed anywhere on Palette, current designer form also is bringing to foreground.
  18. To select group of controls in Visual Form Editor, use Shift + Left mouse click.
  19. It is possible also select controls from tab sheet 'Objects' in Inspector. Enter or Click - select single object. Space or Ctrl+Click - select/deselect one object (additionally to already selected).
  20. To easy select parent of selected control[s], press Escape in Form Editor.
  21. To rename object or form, press Ctrl+R in Inspector or double click its title bar.
  22. Keyboard in Inspector:
  23. It is possible in Inspector to edit properties with the same names for groups of objects, if such properties are of the same type. Just be careful. If value of property is not the same, You see value for only one of selected objects (usually for selected first).
  24. New code is generated by the Wizard in following cases:
    1. When new object is dropped onto form at design time or selected objects are removed - in that case declaration of form class is completing. New objects are added first into public section, created (if needed) immediately after start of class declaration. But You always can move declarations of desired objects into any other sections of the form class definition.
    2. When new event handler is created by double click of combo box or pressing SPACE on it (if combobox is empty) or by entering new name for event handler or by selecting event among available ones in dropped combo list. Or, when empty event handler is deleted by pressing DELETE, entering empty new name for handler or by saving unit(s) in IDE Editor.
    3. When unit(s) is(are) saved, or project is compiled or unit is closed (in last case form is closed too) - in that case overriden method CreateCustomObjects is generated and filled with creating of form objects and setting its properties.
  25. To clear all empty event handlers, save unit - like in VCL.
  26. To delete single empty event handler, select all the text of combobox with event handler name and press Delete.

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