amiga-news.de - GUI-Builder: Emperor V4.5 (Reaction)

13.Oct.2002
Matthias Gietelt (ANF)

GUI-Builder: Emperor V4.5 (Reaction)
Matthias Gietelt has released version 4.5 of the GUI builder 'Emperor'. 'Emperor' is not just a GUI builder, but a complete programming interface for easy creation of programs, which make use of Reaction and GadTools.

Emperor is targeted at all programmers and non-programmers (i.e. at Amiga users in general).

Version 4.5 features in short:

Implemented Drag'n'Drop of objects.
Full StormC V4 support.
Added category ToolTypes.
Implemented generation of install scripts.
Main window displayable in smaller mode.
Fixed problems with array window.
All lists keyboard controllable.
Added extended setup options.
Message handling as hierarchical list.
Optional custom screen for Emperor.
Fixed problems with preview window.
Optimized project open routines.
Fixed error in generated source text.
Reworked progress indicators.
Optimized some macro functions.
Optimized generated source text.
Icons can be created for all files.
Full AmigaOS3.9 support.
Extended functions in attribute window.
Improved programming help.
New text editor functions.
New project check routine.
Improved online help.
Extended GadgetHelp.
Optimized initialize functions.
Fixed smaller bugs.

Description:
'Emperor' is mainly to free the programmer of having to deal with complicated system structures. I.e.: Programming by simply clicking. Anyone who knows the Amiga a little is able to create programs with its help. The programming help offers a choice of macro functions which take over control and handling of partly rather complex operations. The two functions Get/SetGadgetAttr() should be especially highlighted. Merely the gadget to be queried has to be specified. Specifics like window and query property are unnecessary as most of the time only one particular tag has to be queried (set) (example: FUELGAUGE_Level, GA_Selected).

The integrated text editor provides the project's 'individualization' - it is here that the actual personal source text within own or generated functions is being written.

Message handling describes possible intervention variants into the standardised program sequence. A function can for example be called on 'Startup' or 'Shutdown'. Or when windows open or gadgets are selected.

Furthermore it is possible to write small tools withing a couple of minutes, or to create the graphical user interface for complex applications. A couple of small sample projects are included with the program.

The attribute windows are the most important means when creating own projects. Each gadget which lies within these attribute windows has a small help which is displayed in the main window (this applies to all windows in Emperor). It allows specific parameterisation of the single objects. A little delicacy can be found on the requesters page. In this attribute window it is possible to have Emperor specific ReAction based requesters created. For this you switch to 'Reaction' within the attribute window and activate 'ReactionRequest'. Now there are many settings available to adjust the requesters to your preferred taste and circumvent the system requesters (as those don't necessarily conform to the design of contemporary programs, and not everyone uses requester patches such as ReqAttack).

Another example are the predefined menus, which can added to the project with a single click. If you use these predefined menu macros, you not only get the menu itself, but also the complete translations in all 18 supported languages. Finally I'd like to point out this version's most important feature: Popup menus, which are based on ReAction based windows can also be created. These popup menus are objects which ReAction doesn't explicitly support as a rule - with Emperor these become reality.

Also a great help are the so-called ICMaps which are supported since AmigaOS 3.5: they allow to have gadgets communicate with one another uni- or bidirectionally (own creation), without having to type a single line of code. This is especially interesting for gadgets with similar or mutually exclusive functions.

Another highlight is the definable GadgetHelp output. It allows to select a gadget as output gadget. The respective GadgetHelp (on the attribute window's 'Misc' page) is transferred into this gadget. Thus it should be a string gadget.

There is an immediate visualisation for each GUI element, which facilitates a preview without compiling the project, e.g. for windows, requesters, ASL requesters, screens, popup menus and menus.

Download: dev/c/Emperor.lha (763K), Readme (sd) (Translation: cb)

[News message: 13. Oct. 2002, 15:16] [Comments: 0]
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