Last update Thu Mar 22 15:50:26 2007

IDDE
Reference

Part 1: Welcome to Digital Mars C++
1. Introducing Digital Mars C++
2. Introducing the IDDE

Part 2: Creating an Application with Digital Mars C++
3. Starting a Project and Defining Workspaces
4. Generating an Application Framework
5. Defining Classes and Their Hierarchies
6. Editing Program Code
7. Adding Look and Feel with Resources
8. Testing an Application

Part 3: Learning Digital Mars C++ by Example
9. Introduction to the Tutorial
10. Lesson 1: Create the DOS Application
11. Lesson 2: Generate an Application Framework
12. Lesson 3: Customize the Interface
13. Lesson 4: Add Messages with ClassExpress
14. Lesson 5: Add a Dialog Box with ClassExpress

Part 4: More about Creating Programs
15. More about Projects and Workspaces
16. More about Project Build Settings
17. More about AppExpress
18. More about ClassExpress
19. Class Editor Reference
20. Hierarchy Editor Reference
21. Text Editor Reference
22. Using Version Control

Part 5: More about Testing Programs
23. Controlling and Configuring the Debugger
24. Commands Available in Debugging Mode

Part 6: About Managing Resources
25. ResourceStudio Resource Editor
26. Dialog Editor
27. Menu, Accelerator and String Table Editors
28. Bitmap, Cursor, Icon, and Font Editors
29. Version Information and Custom Resource Editors

Part 7: Appendixes
A. Expression Evaluation
B. IDDE Settings and Command-Line Options
C. Using NetBuild

26. Dialog Editor

This ResourceStudio reference chapter contains details about the commands and options found in the Dialog editor. For an introduction to ResourceStudio, see Chapter 7, "Adding Look and Feel with Resources."

Dialog Editor

The Dialog editor (see Figure 26-1) is used to edit dialog resources.

[Figure 26-1 The Dialog editor

The Dialog editor displays the dialog box and its controls as they will appear at run time. To add a new control to the dialog box, select a tool from the Tool menu (or from the toolbox), then place the control in the dialog box by clicking and dragging. Controls can be moved and resized by clicking and dragging as well. Commands in the Controls menu can be used to center and align controls. The dialog box can be tested by choosing Test Dialog in the Dialog menu. For more information about using the Dialog editor, see Chapter 7, "Adding Look and Feel with Resources."

DialogExpress

As a new dialog resource is created, the DialogExpress dialog box opens (see Figure 26-2). DialogExpress lets you select a predefined dialog box type to use as a starting point for your dialog resource.

[Figure 26-2 DialogExpress

Select dialog type

Specifies a type of dialog box to create as a starting point for the dialog resource.

Standard:: Creates a dialog box with no controls.
About box:: Creates a dialog box with static text and an OK button.
Standard, buttons on the bottom:: Creates a dialog box with OK and Cancel buttons along the bottom.
Standard, buttons on the right:: Creates a dialog box with OK and Cancel buttons along the right edge.

3-dimensional look

Specifies that the dialog box and controls should look 3-dimensional.

File menu commands

The File menu (see Figure 26-3) contains commands to save the resource file, edit resource IDs, and perform other miscellaneous functions.

[Figure 26-3 Dialog editor File menu

Save

Saves the resource file. If the file is unnamed, this command executes Save As.

Save As

Opens a Windows File Save As dialog box, which is used to save the resource file under a new name.

Edit Resource IDs

Opens the Resource ID Browser dialog box, used to browse and modify resource IDs. For more information about managing resource IDs and using the Resource ID Browser dialog box, see "Managing Resource IDs," in Chapter 7, "Adding Look and Feel with Resources."

ClassExpress

Runs ClassExpress, passing the filename of the resource file as the project that ClassExpress should open. This command is only enabled if the Dialog editor is running in the right pane of the Browser window.

Close Editing

Closes the Dialog editor.

Edit menu commands

The Edit menu (see Figure 26-4) contains standard editing commands. You can undo operations, and can cut, copy, paste, and delete single or multiple controls. Note that to select multiple controls, you must press Shift or Control while clicking the second and subsequent controls, or must use the selection tool to drag a box around the controls.

[Figure 26-4 Dialog editor Edit menu

Undo

Undoes the last Dialog editor operation.

Redo

Redoes the last action that was undone.

Cut

Copies the selected control to the Clipboard, then deletes it from the dialog box.

Copy

Copies the selected control to the Clipboard.

Paste

Copies the control in the Clipboard to the dialog box.

Delete

Deletes the selected control from the dialog box.

Select All

Selects all controls in the dialog box.

Dialog menu commands

The Dialog menu (see Figure 26-5) contains commands to control the grid, display tab stops, test the dialog, and check for duplicate control IDs.

[Figure 26-5 Dialog editor Dialog menu

Grid Options

Opens the Grid Settings dialog box (see Figure 26-6), used to set grid options.

[Figure 26-6 Grid Settings dialog box

Width

Specifies the grid point horizontal spacing.

Height

Specifies the grid point vertical spacing.

Snap to grid

If checked, controls can only be moved to positions which coincide with grid points. When controls are resized, horizontal and vertical sizes are adjusted to multiples of the grid point spacings.

Display grid

If checked, the grid is displayed.

Grid

Toggles display of the grid.

Snap to Grid

Moves the selected control to the nearest grid point.

Display Tab Stops

Toggles the display of tab stop numbers on controls. Tab order can be adjusted with commands in the Tab Order submenu of the Controls menu.

Test Dialog

Runs the dialog. End testing by clicking on a button with a resource ID of IDOK or IDCANCEL, or by pressing Alt+ F4.

Check Duplicate IDs

Checks the dialog for duplicate control IDs. If any two items have the same ID, the Resolve Duplicate IDs dialog box opens (see Figure 26-7).

[Figure 26-7 Resolve Duplicate IDs dialog box

To resolve duplicate IDs, first click on a number in the Duplicate IDs list. The Used By listbox displays the controls that are using that ID. Click on Resolve One to automatically assign new IDs (with unique values) to the controls.

Note that all static text usually shares the same ID; in general, this is acceptable and does not cause conflicts in the application.

Controls menu commands

The Controls menu (see Figure 26-8) contains commands to align, space, and center controls, and to adjust tab order.

[Figure 26-8 Dialog editor Controls menu

Align

Opens the Align submenu (see Figure 26-9). Before choosing one of these commands, select two or more controls and designate one as the standard by clicking on it while pressing the Control key.

[Figure 26-9 Dialog editor Controls menu Align submenu

Left

Aligns the left edges of the selected controls with the left edge of the standard.

Right

Aligns the right edges of the selected controls with the right edge of the standard.

Top

Aligns the top edges of the selected controls with the top edge of the standard.

Bottom

Aligns the bottom edges of the selected controls with the bottom edge of the standard.

Space Evenly

Opens the Space Evenly submenu (see Figure 26-10). Before choosing one of these commands, select three or more controls.

[Figure 26-10 Dialog editor Controls menu Space Evenly submenu

Vertical

Spaces the selected controls evenly in the vertical direction.

Horizontal

Spaces the selected controls evenly in the horizontal direction.

Center

Opens the Center submenu (see Figure 26-11). Before choosing one of these commands, select one or more controls.

[Figure 26-11 Dialog editor Controls menu Center submenu

Vertical

Centers the selected controls vertically within the dialog box.

Horizontal

Centers the selected controls horizontally within the dialog box.

Make Same Size

Opens the Make Same Size submenu (see Figure 26-12). Before choosing one of these commands, select two or more controls and designate one as the standard by clicking on it while pressing the Control key.

[Figure 26-12 Dialog editor Controls menu Make Same Size submenu

Vertical

Changes the vertical size of the selected controls to that of the standard.

Horizontal

Changes the horizontal size of the selected controls to that of the standard.

Both

Changes both the vertical and horizontal sizes of the selected controls to those of the standard.

Tab Order

Opens the Tab Order submenu (see Figure 26-13). Before choosing one of these commands, select a single control.

[Figure 26-13 Dialog editor Controls menu Tab Order submenu

First

Moves the selected control to the front of the tab sequence.

Forward

Moves the selected control forward in the tab sequence.

Back

Moves the selected control back in the tab sequence.

Last

Moves the selected control to the end of the tab sequence.

Tool menu commands

The Tool menu (see Figure 26-14) lets you select tools used to place controls in the dialog box. After selecting a tool, click and drag in the dialog box to place and size the new control. Once the control is placed, the Select tool is selected automatically.

[Figure 26-14 Dialog editor Tool menu

Select

Selects the Select tool. With the Select tool, you can select individual controls. You can select groups of controls by clicking in the dialog box outside of any control and dragging a box over the controls to be selected.

Picture

Selects the Picture tool, used to place a static image (a box, frame, or icon) in the dialog box.

Text

Selects the Text tool, used to place static text in the dialog box.

Edit Control

Selects the Edit Control tool, used to place an edit control (a textbox) in the dialog box.

Group Box

Selects the Group Box tool, used to place a group box in the dialog box.

Push Button

Selects the Push Button tool, used to place a push button in the dialog box.

Check Box

Selects the Check Box tool, used to place a check box in the dialog box.

Radio Button

Selects the Radio Button tool, used to place a radio button in the dialog box.

List Box

Selects the List Box tool, used to place a listbox in the dialog box.

Combo Box

Selects the Combo Box tool, used to place a combobox in the dialog box.

Vertical Scroll Bar

Selects the Vertical Scroll Bar tool, used to place a vertical scroll bar in the dialog box.

Horizontal Scroll Bar

Selects the Horizontal Scroll Bar tool, used to place a horizontal scroll bar in the dialog box.

Toolbar commands

The Dialog editor toolbar (see Figure 26-15) provides quick access to frequently used menu commands. Left-click on these buttons, except where noted.

[Figure 26-15 Dialog editor toolbar

Undo:: Same as choosing Undo from the Edit menu. You can right-click on this button to undo multiple operations at once.
Redo:: Same as choosing Redo from the Edit menu. You can right-click on this button to redo multiple operations at once.
Cut:: Same as choosing Cut from the Edit menu.
Copy:: Same as choosing Copy from the Edit menu.
Paste:: Same as choosing Paste from the Edit menu.
Test Dialog:: Same as choosing Test Dialog from the Dialog menu.
Align Left:: Same as choosing Left from the Align submenu of the Controls menu.
Align Right:: Same as choosing Right from the Align submenu of the Controls menu.
Align Top:: Same as choosing Top from the Align submenu of the Controls menu.
Align Bottom:: Same as choosing Bottom from the Align submenu of the Controls menu.
Center Vertical:: Same as choosing Vertical from the Center submenu of the Controls menu.
Center Horizontal:: Same as choosing Horizontal from the Center submenu of the Controls menu.
Space Evenly Vertical:: Same as choosing Vertical from the Space Evenly submenu of the Controls menu.
Space Evenly Horizontal:: Same as choosing Horizontal from the Space Evenly submenu of the Controls menu.
Same Size Vertical:: Same as choosing Vertical from the Make Same Size submenu of the Controls menu.
Same Size Horizontal:: Same as choosing Horizontal from the Make Same Size submenu of the Controls menu.
Same Size Both:: Same as choosing Both from the Make Same Size submenu of the Controls menu.
Grid:: Same as choosing Grid from the Dialog menu.
Tab Stops:: Same as choosing Display Tab Stops from the Dialog menu.

Toolbox

The Dialog editor toolbox (see Figure 26-16) provides quick access to the tools available in the Tool menu, plus tools for adding custom controls and user controls (not pictured). For more information, see "Tool menu commands," earlier in this chapter.

[Figure 26-16 Dialog editor toolbox

Dialog box properties

The dialog box has three pages of properties (four if the target platform is Windows 95). The General properties are shown in Figure 26-17.

[Figure 26-17 Dialog box General properties

The Text field is used to specify the dialog box title.

Styles properties are shown in Figure 26-18.

[Figure 26-18 Dialog box Styles properties

Look properties are shown in Figure 26-19.

[Figure 26-19 Dialog box Look properties

The dialog box font can be set by clicking on Set Font and selecting a font from the dialog box which opens. The Reset Font button resets the dialog box font to the system default.

If the target platform is Windows 95, the dialog box has an extra page of properties, as shown in Figure 26-20.

[Figure 26-20 Dialog box Win95 properties

See your Windows 95 documentation for more information.

Picture properties

Pictures (static images) have properties as shown in Figure 26-21.

[Figure 26-21 Picture properties

Select a Type from the drop-down list. If you select Icon, you must also select an icon from the Icon drop-down list.

Text properties

Static text properties are shown in Figure 26-22.

[Figure 26-22 Text properties

Type the static text into the Text textbox. Newlines can be entered by typing Ctrl+ Enter.

Edit control properties

Edit controls have two pages of properties. The General properties are shown in Figure 26-23.

[Figure 26-23 Edit control General properties

Edit control Styles properties are shown in Figure 26-24.

[Figure 26-24 Edit control Styles properties

Group box properties

Group box properties are shown in Figure 26-25.

[Figure 26-25 Group box properties

Push button properties

Push button properties are shown in Figure 26-26.

[Figure 26-26 Push button properties

Check box properties

Check box properties are shown in Figure 26-27.

[Figure 26-27 Check box properties

Radio button properties

Radio button properties are shown in Figure 26-28.

[Figure 26-28 Radio button properties

Listbox properties

Listboxes have two pages of properties. The General properties are shown in Figure 26-29.

[Figure 26-29 Listbox General properties

Listbox Styles properties are shown in Figure 26-30.

[Figure 26-30 Listbox Styles properties

Combobox properties

Comboboxes have two pages of properties. The General properties are shown in Figure 26-31.

[Figure 26-31 Combobox General properties

Combobox Styles properties are shown in Figure 26-32.

[Figure 26-32 Combobox Styles properties

Scroll bar properties

Scroll bar properties are shown in Figure 26-33.

[Figure 26-33 Scroll bar properties

Custom control properties

These pages let you work with custom controls. A custom control resides in a DLL that implements the standard functions for manipulating and displaying the control. ResourceStudio can display a custom control as it will appear in your application.

Custom controls have two pages of properties. The General properties are shown in Figure 26-31. Use the ID field to edit a custom control's resource ID. To change its style attributes, click Style; this displays the dialog box that the control DLL implements for that purpose.

[Figure 26-34 Custom Control General properties

Custom control Extra properties are shown in Figure 26-32. You edit the initialization data for custom controls in this page.

[Figure 26-35 Custom Control Extra properties

Working with custom controls

Installed custom control DLLs provide ResourceStudio with the information it needs to display the control as it will appear in the application, and open the DLL's control-specific dialog box, with which you specify the control's attributes.

To place a custom control in a dialog box:

Install its DLL using the Add button on the Controls page of the Preferences dialog box.
Click the button in the Toolbox that corresponds to the control, and drag it into the dialog box. Right-clicking on a custom control's button displays its name.
Use the General property page to specify the control's resource ID and style attributes.
Use the Extra property page to specify any initialization data for the control. At run-time, the control's window procedure receives a pointer to this data in lParam of the WM_CREATE message.

User control properties

These pages let you work with user controls. A user control is any control that either is not implemented in a DLL, or whose implementation is non-standard. ResourceStudio can only display a user control as a box. ResourceStudio treats VBX controls as user controls.

User controls have two pages of properties. The General properties are shown in Figure 26-36. You use this page to edit a user control's resource ID or change its style bits.

[Figure 26-36 User Control General properties

User control Extra properties are shown in Figure 26-32. You edit the initialization data for user controlsin this page.

[Figure 26-37 User Control Extra properties

Working with user controls

To place a user control in a dialog box:

Click the user control button in the Toolbox, and drag it into the dialog box.
Use the General property page to specify the control's resource ID, style bits, and other information.
Use the Extra property page to specify any initialization data for the user control. At run-time, the control's window procedure receives a pointer to this data in lParam of the WM_CREATE message.