toma@killer.UUCP (09/02/87)
There was a little talk on the net a little while back about screen and menu development tools for the PC. In response to that, here's my 9.375 cents worth... I work for a company that does a lot of PC development in Turbo Pascal and C. We bought a package a little while ago called SDL-PC and are VERY pleased with it, we bought a sight license so I don't know the exact cost, some where around $30 to $50??? SDL-PC contains an interactive screen type of editor to build/edit menus and screens with. From this editor you can add several types of input fields set their for/background colors, set the validation criteria, create duplicate fields, ect... You can also ad just plain text. After doing this you can press a key an see exactly what the screen will look like in real time. After you get all through, you save this screen as an object file and that is what your program interfaces with, the object file is compressed in some way, so the screen object files come out pretty small. From a program point of view: There is a runtime system that you include as an External procedure in turbo pascal or link to in C, there is a version for TurboC and I think MSC 3.0+ The interface is pretty neet, you set up a structure/record that points to character arrays, fill in those arrays with the input/output text and call the Run-Time system, it takes care of all the editing on the fields (delete, insert, moving between fields, ect...) and returns after the editing is done, (when the user presses an F-key ESC or PgUp/Dn, this criteria can be changed), you can change colors and field types on the fly. The screen access is very fast and uses NoSnow stuff for the Color monitors, this also works just fine under DOS 3.3 and the PS/2 line of PC's. After all of this is done, the end user (if you give him the interactive screen object editor) can change the format of the screens very easily, this editor has online help. One more note: The man that we bought from was very good about working with us when we asked for 'enhancements' or had questions... We are very happy with this package (It's by far the best I've seen for PC's) and recommend it HIGHLY!!! So much for the praise, you can get this by contacting: ZTech 17601 Preston Road, #191 Dallas, Texas 75252??? (not sure about the Zip) The Author is Patrick Nystrom and I believe this is his Home Addr??? Disclaimer: I don't get didly from this guy if you buy his product, I'm just a VERY satisfied user... Tom, Usenet : ...!ihnp4!killer!toma -- ------------- Tom Armistead UUCP: ...!ihnp4!killer!toma