David
Just to confirm the info I use for creating a printer:-
> SP-CREATE PRINTER-1 PROG lp -f -d WindowsPrinterName
This presumes I want to print to a Windows printer on the server called
"WindowsPrinterName", I can also use shared printers accessible from the
server eg.
> SP-CREATE PRINTER-1 PROG lp -f -d \\pcname\printersharename
So, you can SP-ASSIGN TO PRINTER-1 and any prints will despool to the
printer.
As far as developing Windows code goes, I ended up writing a dotnet dll in
vb.net which provides Dynamic Array aware text boxes, drop downs etc,
methodology for calling subroutines on the server from single line of code,
as well as "multi-value" bound grids etc.. It was several months worth of
work. The end result is not unlike mv.net..
It allows me to do things like draw my enhanced datagrid on a form and
populate it with vb.net code like :-
dms.data("Data",1)="Test"
report.populate("MYPROG",DMS.RECORD("Data"))
This ends up calling a subroutine on the server which does something like :
SUBROUTINE MYPROG (Details)
* Details contains the dynamic array "Data" in the vb code
* The code would take the dynamic array as input parameters and then
return code like :-
Details=''
Details<1,1>='Invoice No'
Details<1,2>='Date'
Details<1,3>='Amount'
Details<2,1>='L' ; ** Defines the column as left justified text
Details<2,2>='D' ; ** Defines the column as a date
Details<2,3>='R' ; ** Defines the column as right-justified numeric
* I'll just populate one line of data!
Details<3,1>='1234'
Details<3,2>='01/01/2001'
Details<3,3>='100.00'
RETURN
I know that none of the above is much use to you, as I've not given you any
idea how the middleware works.. The point is that we are data-basic guys not
vb, so I've moved nearly all the processing to the server in data-basic.
Writing anything useful using vb without doing the hard-work (or buying
mv.net) to build a standardised middleware layer is a pain.
If I want to do a simple data-entry form these days, I just draw all the
text boxes on the form (defining the dynamic array variable that I'm using,
the attribute and value offsets and the data type -text, numeric etc) and
then just have two lines of code behind the scenes, one in the LOAD event
such as DMS.CREATERECORD("Data","MyFileName","MyItemId") and another in the
close event (or perhaps behind a "save" button) which has
DMS.WRITERECORD("Data").
I also have drop-down widgets which are defined in their properties the
filename and itemid which contains a multi-attributed list to populate the
drop-down. So, I can have nice-dropdowns (eg a lookup for a supplier
list) without any code...
Once you have this, you'll find the forms easy to put together!! Don't
even try and hard-code each form individually, you'll end up with loads of
repeated code in every form.
I'd love to be able to send you some code examples, but it contains
proprietary code and relies on a number of third party controls (I didn't
like the standard windows controls in many cases!).
To summarise in a sentence - if you are serious about windows gui, get a
copy of mv.net. If you'd like web then maybe DesignBais will be more up
your street. Don't try and do it using the "raw" tools.
regards
Simon
-----Original Message-----
From: David Grenfell <[email protected]>
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:16:43 -0500
Subject: RE: Jbase question
Thank-you Dan. your advice re lp -? gave me the answers I wanted for the
options used in the SP-CREATE function. I am doing a full search right now,
but cannot find any program on my system called wlp.exe. I would have
thought it would be in the same file as the lp.exe. Perhaps I am running an
older version of Jbase, or should have downloaded this program in the past.
Is there a chance you could e-mail me a copy at [email protected] ?
Dave.
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:11:10 -0400
Subject: Re: Jbase question
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
To display all of the available 'lp' options:
lp -?
For other printing solutions, search 'http://jbase.markmail.org' for 'gdi'
and 'windows printer'.
Dan
On Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 8:27 AM, David Grenfell <[email protected]>
wrote:
Simon:
Thanks so much for your info. I have been looking for some extended info
regarding the printing process to no avail. Do you have a referenece or a
link ?
For example: SP-CREATE uses the options -f -d . The knowledge base does not
explain these or indicate if there are other options. wlp (now I see the
acronym) is not mentioned. Has anybody ever written the complete printer
bible? Are there any other devices besides lp, wlp?
I am releived to hear that you call the graphical conversion process
painfull. I thought it was just me. I created one screen to input company
name , address, and some options long ago, and quit at that. It did work
though, and looked pretty.
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:14:22 +0100
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Jbase question
David
I can't recall the exact syntax, but search the group for details, but wlp
is a replacement for lp such that instead of creating a jbase printer using
a command like :-
> SP-CREATE MYPRINTER PROG lp -f -d printername
you use something like :
> SP-CREATE MYPRINTER PROG wlp -d Gdiwindowsprintername
(this isn't the correct syntax but should give you the gist).
The ordinary jbase "lp" will spool to any "intelligent" printer (ie any that
supports pcl5 for example) but will just kick out blank pages to a GDI
printer (the cheap windows only printers that rely on Windows to render the
print). The wlp command willl fully process the print job through windows
and should render correctly on any windows printer.
AS far as writing a graphical front end goes. The old VB is a dead duck,
you should be thinking of web or vb.net as a methodolgy. This is not a
trivial exercise for any menu based character application and normally needs
you to completely seperate the user interface code from the business logic
(I know how painful this can be, I did this 6 or 7 years ago and it was a
major job both getting the concepts right, and making it actually work).
If you'd like to review this more and need more input then I might be able
to provide more assistance..
If you just want "mouse-compatibility" - you could make the mouse work on
your existing application by using a terminal emulator that sends mouse
clicks as code (I seem to recall that many of them do). This is a bit micky
mouse though, and you will find that most users will ignore the hard work
you did and just continue using the keyboard...
Regards
Simon
On 14/09/2011 03:40, David Grenfell wrote:
Hi Simon:
I think you are right about just going with what I have. I am just going to
re-vamp a current application, to make it a bit prettier (menus etc). I was
thinking of perhaps interfacing with VB to make it mouse compatible also,
but this looks like a lot of work. I don't know if it is really worth it.
Sorry, you lost me with the "wlp" reference. Do you mean there is actually
a process I can run my reports through to print on a normal (i.e. inkjet)
printer ?
Thanks again , for your input
Dave.
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:55:28 +0100
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Jbase question
David
The latest version of jBASE is v5.2.
It is a full 64 bit implementation so will require a 64 but version of
windows (Win 2008 64 bit?).
Depending on what you are actually going to do, you may or may not need to
upgrade. If you are doing basic stuff (databasic code and straightforward
jQL) then you may not notice the difference.
Having said that, it may be worthwhile having the latest and greatest
version to work with.
As far as printing goes, there are several solutions - in jBASE 3.4 there is
wlp which allows prints to be spooled to a windows printer (including the
"GDI" ones that jbase normally won't support). I think PrintWizard does a
similar job too (Tony Gravagno will be the expert on that one I think).
You don't give enough info as to what you are going to do to be able to
suggest the best way for you to proceed.
I don't know if jBASE do a free download for eval these days - I'd hope they
would do.
Hope this helps
Simon
On 13/09/2011 17:17, David Grenfell wrote:
Good Morning all:
I am an old retired Jbase guy, and am thinking about reviving some of my
work by re-writing.
I am still using 3.x on Windows XP pro. Should I look at upgrading before
starting my new career? If so, is jbase as a single user still available as
a free download for evaluation? What is the current version ? Sorry for
such dumb questions, but I've been away for about 6 years and I know things
have changed.
Also, some previous posts indicated that one of you uses an application that
lets you use any standard windows printer with jbase. Can you fill me in.
I have always just used laser printers or dotmatrix (now a dead horse).
Lasers have to be hp-III or higher compatible.
David Grenfell
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