01-13-2006, version 0.9.5 is out!

[kornalius]

Version 0.9.5 beta is now available for download at http://ppl.arwen.com.

Here is a list of changes:

- Fixed GameAPI initialization to 60 FPS / 5 PPS default.
- Fixed sprites going over user set borders when SO_LOOP is specified.
- Fixed the PIDE Project->Close menu item to ask to save documents unsaved.
- Fixed ShowModal() function not to close the current dialog if another ShowModal() is used inside of it.
- Fixed modal dialogs not to call the default windows procedure on WM_CLOSE anymore.
- Buttons with modal ID sends a WM_CLOSE event to the form.
- PIDE Visual Form Builder has properties on main form now.
- Added a menu to the code edit toolbar button in the PIDE Visual Form Builder.
- Replaced View Source menu item in PIDE Visual Form Builder with a Create Source menu item in the File menu.
- More fixes to the PASM on the PPC.
- Activex event processing is now possible.
- New ActiveXEvents() function.
- Added a parameter for event processing in ActiveX() function.
- New functions ComMethods(), ComProperties(), ComInfo().
- Fixed PIDE when closing and active PPL program running, it now terminates the program properly.
- PIDE Visual Form Builder is now showing only Class and position in the hint window.
- New RS232.ppl demo added.
- New ActiveX.ppl demo added.
- Fixed compiler to accept case values starting with a -.
- New COMObjects() function.
- Started implementing ActiveX controls in the PIDE Visual Form Builder.
- Updated Main.ppl.
- Updated Editor.ppl.
- Updated VFB.ppl.

[bmanske]

Here is a little more detail on what has happened to the PPC apps.

1-VFB & Editor-fixed a bunch of small bugs (status bar, raster type font selection,Added CBS_HASSTRINGS to the ComboBox styles,...)
2-Main in PPL now has New File from the edit menu
3-Main in PPL got an option to track the Current Working Directory and save it and use that for the default directory for the next dialog.
4-VFB-added font selection to the editor
5-VFB-added button to the controls properties dialog when on the ComboBox or ListBox page to allow editing of lists
6-VFB-Font selection for controls properties dialog page.

I would appreciate your feedback on these programs. The VFB is nearly feature complete except for the lack of a few controls. (and of course Kornalius has added a new dimention to my life by adding Activex)

I like the changes to Main that track the directory, but I have decided that they are a bit confusing. In the next version I was thinking of putting a single entry at the top of the comboBox for selecting the option of following the working directory thus getting rid of the checkbox and the OR type operation. What do you think? Do you think this type of directory tracking should be used in Editor and VFB?

Next steps will probably include adding tab and updown controls. If anyone has a need, please let us know.

If I don't get much feedback, I will probably concentrate more time on PASM. In the last week, Kornalius and I have rooted out some long standing PASM bugs but I'm willing to bet that there are more out there.

bmanske

[kornalius]

Brad,

I will have to look into the main program over the weekend and let you know next Monday or so. From what I have seen so far, I like it better than before.

As for the VFB being feature complete, I would like to work with you on optimizing the control drawing. I think it's too slow like it is right now. I am thinking about keeping a bitmap in memory for each control and only draw the bitmap when moving and updating the bitmap only when needed.

Concerning the PASM, I hope we can get rid of all remaining bugs by next week or so. Let me know if you have time this week to work on PASM.

[kornalius]

Oh, I forgot, what about ActiveX controls in the VFB? I started to implement this feature in the PIDE. It should be pretty simple to implement in PPL, all the though COM coding is handled by PPL.

[bmanske]

[kornalius]

Hi Brad,

I will contact you tomorrow.

I will provide you with the piece of code to optimize VFB. I will also give instructions on how to implement ActiveX including the GenForm function for the PIDE.