Change background color AskItemList

[stevengraff]

how to do? Thanks. 8)

[Deana]

AskItemList merely uses the User defined System Settings for this dialog. If you want to create your own customized dialog, I recommend using the WIL Dialog Editor.

For Example:

Code (winbatch) Select Expand

ItemList = 'apples':@TAB:'bananas':@TAB:'cherries'
preselect = 'bananas'

AskItemFormat=`WWWDLGED,6.2`

AskItemCaption=`DlgAskItemList`
AskItemX=-01
AskItemY=-01
AskItemWidth=176
AskItemHeight=145
AskItemMinWidth=053
AskItemMinHeight=044
AskItemNumControls=003
AskItemProcedure=`AskItemCallbackProc`
AskItemFont=`DEFAULT`
AskItemTextColor=`DEFAULT`
AskItemBackground=`DEFAULT,0|64|128`
AskItemConfig=3

AskItem001=`041,123,036,012,PUSHBUTTON,"PushButton_OK",DEFAULT,"OK",2,10,32,DEFAULT,DEFAULT,DEFAULT`
AskItem002=`087,123,036,012,PUSHBUTTON,"PushButton_Cancel",DEFAULT,"Cancel",1,20,DEFAULT,DEFAULT,DEFAULT,DEFAULT`
AskItem003=`009,005,154,114,ITEMBOX,"ItemList",ItemList,DEFAULT,DEFAULT,30,256,DEFAULT,DEFAULT,DEFAULT`

AskItemButtonPushed=Dialog("AskItem") ;
Pause('Result', ItemList)

[DAG_P6]

AskItemList merely uses the User defined System Settings for this dialog. If you want to create your own customized dialog, I recommend using the WIL Dialog Editor.

Yes, you can, wherein lies the beauty and power of WinBatch. However, IMO, such tactics defeat the purpose of desktop color schemes. I believe that you should think twice, or even thrice, before you override a system color, and that you should be prepared to defend your decision before the court of the Windows UI Police. ;)

[stevengraff]

I have written a program that manipulates an SMS gateway, providing the user with round-trip texting.

The scenario is: I've sent you a text, and received a reply from you, no problem. This process repeats for a couple of minutes. You and I are having a conversation. You then say, "just a sec, I've got to take this phone call." After a good bit more than "a sec," I get tired of waiting with bated breath for your return, and go about doing other things, with one eye glued to my monitor, waiting for that uniquely colored little window to alert me to the fact that you have returned to the conversation. It's color is so unique, I can't miss it, thus allowing me to be a little less attentive to my computer for a few minutes, and more productive doing my other tasks around the office.

Anyway, should it please the court, what's so sacred about the askItemList box? I could, after all, do all that I want by creating my own box or dialog anyway, couldn't I? It'd just be more work than I like to do, when askItemList is soooo (nearly) perfect for the functionality I need at this time. Logical question I thought... after all, if I could change something so seemingly etched in stone as the button text, well, I thought, why not ask for the color as well.

[Deana]

AskItemList is a simple generic dialog exposed by the OS, to be used in circumstances in which you don't need a unique UI. If you want customization, you must create your own using the Dialog editor. You ask why AskItemList is sacred the answer: ease of use.

[DAG_P6]

Anyway, should it please the court, what's so sacred about the askItemList box? I could, after all, do all that I want by creating my own box or dialog anyway, couldn't I? It'd just be more work than I like to do, when askItemList is soooo (nearly) perfect for the functionality I need at this time. Logical question I thought... after all, if I could change something so seemingly etched in stone as the button text, well, I thought, why not ask for the color as well.

Motion granted.  ;D

[stevengraff]

AskItemList is a simple generic dialog exposed by the OS, to be used in circumstances in which you don't need a unique UI. If you want customization, you must create your own using the Dialog editor. You ask why AskItemList is sacred the answer: ease of use.

Is it any less easy to use if it has a few additional options? Users embracing "ease of use" would simply ignore the options.

[td]

Is it any less easy to use if it has a few additional options? Users embracing "ease of use" would simply ignore the options.

Not interested into getting into a tedious discussion of information theory or UI design but ease-of-use design simply doesn't work that way.   

[stevengraff]

How 'bout this theory: if I can't do what I want, easily, when I want to do it... it ain't easy to use! :)

[Deana]

How 'bout this theory: if I can't do what I want, easily, when I want to do it... it ain't easy to use! :)

Hmmm. But you can using the customizable WIL dialogs. I even took the time to write and post an example as a starting point. You can use that code to change the background color of your dialog dynamically using a dialog call back procedure or...

Here is a another example that can flash the window if need be.

Code (winbatch) Select Expand


;============================================================
;============================================================
;============================================================




#DefineSubRoutine InitDialogConstants()
   ;DialogprocOptions Constants
   MSG_INIT=0                    ; The one-time initialization
   MSG_TIMER=1                   ; Timer event
   MSG_BUTTONPUSHED=2            ; Pushbutton or Picturebutton
   MSG_RADIOPUSHED=3             ; Radiobutton clicked
   MSG_CHECKBOX=4                ; Checkbox clicked
   MSG_EDITBOX=5                 ; Editbox or Multilinebox
   MSG_FILESELECT=6              ; Filelistbox
   MSG_ITEMSELECT=7              ; Itembox
   MSG_COMBOCHANGE=8             ; Combobox/Droplistbox
   MSG_CALENDAR=9                ; Calendar date change
   MSG_SPINNER=10                ; Spinner number change
   MSG_CLOSEVIA49=11             ; Close clicked (Enabled via DialogProcOptions 1002
   MSG_FILEBOXDOUBLECLICK=12     ; Get double-click message on a FileListBox
   MSG_ITEMBOXDOUBLECLICK=13     ; Get double-click message on an ItemBox
   MSG_COMEVENT=14               ; COMCONTROL Event notification from DialogObject (NOT DialogProcOptions)
   MSG_MENUITEM=15               ; MenuItem selected
   MSG_MENUITEMINIT=16           ; MenuItem initialized
   MSG_RESIZE=17                 ; Dialog resized
   MSG_RVITEMSELROW=18           ; Reportview item select row
   MSG_RVDBLCLICKROW=19          ; Reportview double-click row
   MSG_RVCHECKEDITEM=20          ; Reportview checked/unchecked Item
   MSG_RVITEMTEXT=21             ; Reportview changed text of first column
   MSG_RVHEADER=22               ; Reportview header clicked

   DPO_DISABLESTATE=1000         ; codes -1=GetSetting 0=EnableDialog 1=DisableDialog
   DPO_CHANGEBACKGROUND=1001     ; -1=Get Current otherise bitmap or color string
   DPO_CHANGESYSMENU=1002        ; -1=Get Current 0=none 1=close 2=close/min 3=close/max 4=close/min/max
   DPO_CHANGETITLE=1003          ; Set/Get Dialog Title - (-1 to get)
   DPO_GETNAME=1004              ; Returns the name associated with a control's number.
   DPO_GETNUMBER=1005            ; Returns the number associated with a control's name.
   DPO_GETCLIENTAREA=1007        ; Returns a space delimited list of the width and height of the client area.

   ;DialogControlState Constants
   DCSTATE_SETFOCUS=1            ; Give Control Focus
   DCSTATE_QUERYSTYLE=2          ; Query control's style
   DCSTATE_ADDSTYLE=3            ; Add control style
   DCSTATE_REMOVESTYLE=4         ; Remove control style
   DCSTATE_GETFOCUS=5            ; Get control that has focus
   DCSTATE_MOVEMOUSEOVER=6       ; Move the mouse over the control

   DCSTYLE_DEFAULT=0             ; Set Default Style
   DCSTYLE_INVISIBLE=1           ; Set Control Invisible
   DCSTYLE_DISABLED=2            ; Set Control Disabled
   DCSTYLE_NOUSERDATA=4          ; Note: Setable via DialogControlState function ONLY SPINNER control only
   DCSTYLE_READONLY=8            ; Sets control to read-only (user cannot type in data) EDITBOX MULTILINEBOX SPINNER
   DCSTYLE_PASSWORD=16           ; Sets 'password mode' where only *'s are displayed EDITBOX
   DCSTYLE_DEFAULTBUTTON=32      ; Sets a button as the default button PUSHBUTTON PICTUREBUTTON
   DCSTYLE_DIGITSONLY=64         ; Set edit box to accept digits only EDITMOX MULTILINEBOX
   DCSTYLE_FLAT=128              ; Makes a 'flat' hyperlink-looking button PUSHBUTTON PICTUREBUTTON
   DCSTYLE_NOADJUST=256          ; Turns off auto-height adjustment  ITEMBOX FILELISTBOX
   DCSTYLE_TEXTCENTER=512        ; Center text in control VARYTEXT STATICTEXT
   DCSTYLE_TEXTRIGHT=1024        ; Flush-Right text in control VARYTEXT STATICTEXT
   DCSTYLE_NOSELCURLEFT=2048     ; No selection, cursor left EDITBOX MULTILINEBOX
   DCSTYLE_NOSELCURRIGHT=4096    ; No selection, cursor right EDITBOX MULTILINEBOX
   DCSTYLE_SHIELD=8192           ; Display Security Shield icon on button (Vista only) PUSHBUTTON PICTUREBUTTON
   DCSTYLE_MENUCHECK=32768       ; Adds a check mark to the left of a menu item MENUITEM
   DCSTYLE_MENURADIO=65536       ; Adds a radio button like dot graphic to the left of a menu item MENUITEM
   DCSTYLE_MENUSEP=131072        ; Separator bar graphic MENUITEM
   DCSTYLE_MENUBREAK=262144      ; Column break MENUBAR
   DCSTYLE_NOHEADER=524288       ; No header bar REPORTVIEW
   DCSTYLE_COLHEADER=1048576     ; First row column header REPORTVIEW
   DCSTYLE_GRIDLINES=2097152     ; Grid lines REPORTVIEW
   DCSTYLE_SELONEROW=4194304     ; Only one row can be selected at a time REPORTVIEW
   DCSTYLE_SELALLROW = 8388608   ; Highlight complete row REPORTVIEW
   DCSTYLE_SORTASC=16777216      ; Ascending sort REPORTVIEW
   DCSTYLE_SORTDESC=33554432     ; Descending sort REPORTVIEW
   DCSTYLE_EDITCOL=67108864      ; Edit first columns text REPORTVIEW
   DCSTYLE_COLCHECKBOX=134217728 ; Add checkbox to first column REPORTVIEW
   DCSTYLE_INSHEADER=268435456   ; Include column header text REPORTVIEW

   ;DialogControlSet / DialogControlGet Constants
   DC_CHECKBOX=1             ; CHECKBOX REPORTVIEW
   DC_RADIOBUTTON=2          ; RADIOBUTTON
   DC_EDITBOX=3              ; EDITBOX MULTILINEBOX
   DC_TITLE=4                ; PICTURE RADIOBUTTON CHECKBOX PICTUREBUTTON VARYTEXT STATICTEXT GROUPBOX PUSHBUTTON MENUITEM
   DC_ITEMBOXCONTENTS=5      ; ITEMBOX FILELISTBOX DROPLISTBOX REPORTVIEW
   DC_ITEMBOXSELECT=6        ; ITEMBOX FILELISTBOX DROPLISTBOX REPORTVIEW
   DC_CALENDAR=7             ; CALENDAR
   DC_SPINNER=8              ; SPINNER
   DC_MULTITABSTOPS=9        ; MULTILINEBOX
   DC_ITEMSCROLLPOS=10       ; ITEMBOX FILELISTBOX
   DC_BACKGROUNDCOLOR=11     ; RADIOBUTTON CHECKBOX VARYTEXT STATICTEXT GROUPBOX PUSHBUTTON ITEMBOX FILELISTBOX DROPLISTBOX SPINNER EDITBOX MULTILINEBOX REPORTVIEW
   DC_PICTUREBITMAP=12       ; PICTURE PICTUREBUTTON
   DC_TEXTCOLOR=13           ; RADIOBUTTON CHECKBOX VARYTEXT STATICTEXT GROUPBOX PUSHBUTTON ITEMBOX FILELISTBOX DROPLISTBOX SPINNER EDITBOX MULTILINEBOX REPORTVIEW
   DC_ITEMBOXADD=14          ; ITEMBOX FILELISTBOX DROPLISTBOX REPORTVIEW
   DC_ITEMBOXREMOVE=15       ; ITEMBOX FILELISTBOX DROPLISTBOX REPORTVIEW
   DC_RADIOVALUE=16          ; RADIOBUTTON
   DC_POSITION=17            ; ALL CONTROLS (Except MENUBAR and MENUITEM)
   DC_MENUNAMES=18           ; ALL CONTROLS
   DC_HANDLE=19              ; ALL CONTROLS (Except MENUBAR and MENUITEM)
   DC_RVCOLHEAD=20           ; REPORTVIEW
   DC_RVCOLWIDTH=21          ; REPORTVIEW
   DC_RVADDCOL=22            ; REPORTVIEW
   DC_RVREMOVECOL=23         ; REPORTVIEW
   DC_RVMATCHCOL=24          ; REPORTVIEW
   DC_RVCANCELEDIT=25        ; REPORTVIEW
   DC_RVCHECKEDROWS=26       ; REPORTVIEW
   DC_RVJUSTIFY=27           ; REPORTVIEW


   ;DialogObject constants
   DLGOBJECT_ADDEVENT=1      ; Call dialog callback when the specified event occurs
   DLGOBJECT_STOPEVENT=2     ; Stop calling dialog callback when an event previously requested with
   DLGOBJECT_GETOBJECT=3     ; Return an object references to the specified control
   DLGOBJECT_GETPICTURE=4    ; Create and return an object reference to a picture object

   ;Return code constants
   RET_DO_CANCEL=0           ; Cancels dialog
   RET_DO_DEFAULT= -1        ; Continue with default processing for control
   RET_DO_NOT_EXIT= -2       ; Do not exit the dialog
   return
#EndSubroutine
;============================================================
;============================================================
;============================================================


#DefineFunction AskItemCallbackProc(AskItem_Handle,AskItem_Message,AskItem_Name,AskItem_EventInfo,AskItem_ChangeInfo)
    InitDialogConstants()                                   ; Initialize Dialog Constants
   ON_EQUAL = @TRUE                                         ; Initialize variable ON_EQUAL
   switch AskItem_Message                                   ; Switch based on Dialog Message type
      case MSG_INIT                                         ; Standard Initialization message
;         DialogProcOptions(AskItem_Handle,MSG_TIMER,1000)
         DialogProcOptions(AskItem_Handle,MSG_BUTTONPUSHED,@TRUE)
;         DialogProcOptions(AskItem_Handle,MSG_ITEMSELECT,@TRUE)
         return(RET_DO_DEFAULT)

     case MSG_BUTTONPUSHED
        if AskItem_Name == "PushButton_Flash"              ; Flash Window
               User32 = StrCat (DirWindows (1),"user32.DLL")
               WinFlash = DllHwnd (WinGetActive())
               For xx = 1 To 10 ;Flash five times
                  DllCall (User32, long:"FlashWindow", long:WinFlash, long:1)
                  TimeDelay(0.2)
               Next
               DllCall (User32, long:"FlashWindow", long:WinFlash, long:0); Bring the window to normal position
               return(RET_DO_NOT_EXIT)

        elseif AskItem_Name == "PushButton_Cancel"         ; Cancel
              return(RET_DO_CANCEL)

        endif                                              ; AskItem_Name
        return(RET_DO_DEFAULT)

;     case MSG_ITEMSELECT                                   ; ID "ItemList"  ItemList
;       return(RET_DO_DEFAULT)

   endswitch                                                ; AskItem_Message
   return(RET_DO_DEFAULT)
#EndFunction                                                ; End of Dialog Callback AskItemCallbackProc



ItemList = 'apples':@TAB:'bananas':@TAB:'cherries'
preselect = 'bananas'

AskItemFormat=`WWWDLGED,6.2`

AskItemCaption=`DlgAskItemList Flash`
AskItemX=-01
AskItemY=-01
AskItemWidth=176
AskItemHeight=145
AskItemMinWidth=053
AskItemMinHeight=044
AskItemNumControls=003
AskItemProcedure=`AskItemCallbackProc`
AskItemFont=`DEFAULT`
AskItemTextColor=`DEFAULT`
AskItemBackground=`DEFAULT,0|64|128`
AskItemConfig=3

AskItem001=`041,123,036,012,PUSHBUTTON,"PushButton_Flash",DEFAULT,"Flash",2,10,32,DEFAULT,DEFAULT,DEFAULT`
AskItem002=`087,123,036,012,PUSHBUTTON,"PushButton_Cancel",DEFAULT,"Cancel",1,20,DEFAULT,DEFAULT,DEFAULT,DEFAULT`
AskItem003=`009,005,154,114,ITEMBOX,"ItemList",ItemList,%preselect%,DEFAULT,30,256,DEFAULT,DEFAULT,DEFAULT`

AskItemButtonPushed=Dialog("AskItem") ;
Pause('Result', ItemList)
exit

[stevengraff]

Thank you Deana... you're too kind!

[td]

How 'bout this theory: if I can't do what I want, easily, when I want to do it... it ain't easy to use! :)

Oy vey.

[lionking]

Hi Deana,

In the second example with the flash button, why I don't see the Pause dialog to show the ItemList value at all?

[Deana]

Hi Deana,

In the second example with the flash button, why I don't see the Pause dialog to show the ItemList value at all?

Not sure. Are you clicking on a button in the dialog? You should be able to click on either the Flash or Cancel button to get the Pause message to appear.

[lionking]

Yes, I click on the Flash button and I could see it flash 5 times but then I don't see the dialog to show the item that I have selected.

[Deana]

Yes, I click on the Flash button and I could see it flash 5 times but then I don't see the dialog to show the item that I have selected.

Currently the code for the flash button doesnt EXIT the dialog. TO have the dialog Exit change this line:

Code (winbatch) Select Expand

return(RET_DO_NOT_EXIT)
to

Code (winbatch) Select Expand

return(RET_DO_DEFAULT)

[lionking]

It works!

Thanks Daena