thinForm - clunky to use, but a form designer none the less :)

**kryton9** · 03-04-2009, 05:09

I started thinking about the next thinForm and I thought I would bring up an alternative:

What about using a free form designer, like Microsoft Visual Basic or C# Express IDE's for making the forms?
Then the new thinForm could be written to use the form files generated by the MS IDE to generate
thinBasic scripts. or perhaps the script generator could be written in MSVisualBasic or C#.

Let me know what you guys think or if you have any other suggestions or ideas.

**Michael Hartlef** · 03-04-2009, 09:43

Well, if I would have to install Visual Basic anyway, I would use that totally for a project.

**Michael Hartlef** · 03-04-2009, 09:56

Before I forget, Eros had a nice sample somewhere where he used a trick with bitmaps to move elements around on a dialog. It worked great. But I can't find that script. Maybe Eros is willing to share it.

**zlatkoAB** · 03-04-2009, 10:50

Hi people...
I just download thinForm v1.8 and try start them.
But I only recive error message ( on screenshot).
What is wrong ? or what I do wrong

**ErosOlmi** · 03-04-2009, 12:06

Many changes has been done in UI since thinForm so ... not sure if better to rewrite it from the basis or amend it.

Originally Posted by Michael Hartlef

Before I forget, Eros had a nice sample somewhere where he used a trick with bitmaps to move elements around on a dialog. It worked great. But I can't find that script. Maybe Eros is willing to share it.

It is on the official thinBasic release

See sample in \thinBasic\SampleScripts\UI\MDI\MDI_Test_DialogEdit.tbasic
Than use File/New menu and click on button/checkbox, They will be dragged.

Eros

**Michael Hartlef** · 03-04-2009, 13:07

Doooh

**Petr Schreiber** · 03-04-2009, 14:58

There was a problem in using IF around CASE statements - earlier version tolerated it.
New version attached.

Kent - it also occurred to me to use Visual Studio Designer, which is great - but it would be temporary solution.
Why should thinBasic user download and install pretty big software to be able to design forms visually?

I see two ways which could lead to good result - community project based on mentioned sample script, or UI designer hardwired to ThinAir.

Petr

**zlatkoAB** · 04-04-2009, 11:30

Yes, this version works

Idea is not bad ...

**kryton9** · 05-04-2009, 00:56

I am open to any ideas, probably making it a community project would move it along quicker whichever way we go.
I guess I download so many languages and IDE's the thought of downloading MS IDE for that purpose didn't seem like a problem, but I do understand the concerns and you guys are right about it not being efficient.

Maybe Eros and Roberto can decide how they would like a form designer for thinBasic and we can go on from there.
I guess the two options are a module for thinAir or a stand alone app for thinBasic as the first thinForm was.
If there is another alternative let us know here.

Thanks guys for input and ideas.

**Michael Hartlef** · 05-04-2009, 09:26

I would say that the sample from Eros would make a great start. I think the fact that you have the WYSIWYG feature covered is alo great. You would use thinBasic dialog elements and features.