When starting work with DesignBais all of us are introduced to that initial bit of code - the big Case block that does the Gosub to handle each event. Many of us copy this template to all of our programs, then cut out what we don’t need. Some of us leave it all in there, just in case we do want to handle some event later. Well, if you’re going to do that, then you might as well have all of the events defined.
The Graph component in DesignBais is great. The documentation might make the BASIC code for graphs look complex, but after you do it just once, you’ll realize it’s quite simple. This article discusses how to generate graphs using alternative components. As a bonus we’ll see how DesignBais can be integrated with lots of third-party products and services, to provide functionality for your users far beyond what’s "in the box".
A question came up in the DesignBais forum : "Is there any way for me to find the IP Address or Hostname of the requesting machine?" There are a couple "unorthodox" ways to do this. With the information provided here you will get an idea of how to get any data into your application from other sources in your network.
DesignBais uses CSS styles to help us maintain a consistent style and color palatte throughout our applications. Too much variety decreases the professional look and feel (L&F) of the environment. But there are times where a little splash of color can be helpful. Displaying one or more images programmatically can also help to accentuate significant data.
DesignBais requires very little maintenance but here are a couple pointers.
I’m not going to actually have a new quote every week but this one from Kevin King in the U2 forum just needs to be repeated:
"I think there’s a lot to be said for looking at a database like a refrigerator. Stuff goes in, stuff comes out, and if stuff stays in too long it becomes unusable. The big difference between MV and relational is one of flexibility. With the flexibility of MV I can open the fridge, grab the lemonade, and close the door without having to really think about it too much. With relational technology, I can’t grab the lemonade without knowing where the lemons are in relation to the water in the door and the sugar in the overhead storage, and that’s just too dang complicated when I’m thirsty."
DesignBais doesn’t have documented support for JavaScript or VBScript for customized client-side behaviors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Here’s a discussion on the topic.
Using graphical elements familiar to end-users will enhance the value of your application and show that you really are taking that next step toward a real GUI. A toolbar is an example of the sort of thick-client UI feature that end-users are starting to expect in browser apps now.
When adding an image in the Form Designer, the default Image File value is DBLOGO.JPG. When referring to images, we use this original Image File value, for example: DBIMAGESPEC<1> = "DBLOGO.JPG" This presents a problem as soon as another image goes on the form and you need to refer to it in code - which DBLOGO.JPG do you want?
For fields that input and display time, the default output format is MTHS, which will show AM/PM plus the seconds. Most applications don’t require seconds, but there is no way to display data in DesignBais with a mask like MTH. A similar situation applies to dates where you want to input or display dates in a variety of formats, depending on circumstances. This article goes into detail about how to do this, code included.