Questions about 2.0

[Chipp Walters]

Igor,

>
> 1) Will there be any enhancements in the way that Revolution deals with
> LAYERING of objects and groups? Will we be able to 'send backward' and
> 'bring forward' inside a group?

see Ken's tip in a previous post

>
> While this might seem like a small question, it has HUGE consequences
> in my application design. It means designing the entire application to
> function one way or another, and interface with the user using a single
> window, or a window and a series of palettes.
>
> 2) What are going to be the capabilities of the new 'spreadsheet'
> control? More precisely:
>
> a) Will we be able to access the data on a specified range
> automatically (ie, "get from row 8, col 2 to row 40, col 3"?)

Yes, but not using row and column terms. I think you'll find it works for
what you want.

>
> b) Will we be able to put any data other than strings inside cells? -
> ie, images, graphics?

I imagine so...though I haven't tried. I don't see why it wouldn't work.

>
> c) Will the appearance of the spreadsheet be customisable, and if so,
> to what extent? - will I be able to assign custom column/row labels,
> will I be able to colour the background of specific cells, will I be
> able to hide/show divider lines ?

Don't know, but I think you can certainly code 'around' these issues for
now? Check out my column labeler at:
http://www.altuit.com/webs/altuit2/RunRev/Downloads.htm

which does the trick for columns...now for the rows?

>
> Depending on the answers to these questions, I will have to either
> redefine the specs of my applications, redesign its functionality
> and/or redesign the user interface.
>
> 3) Will there be any changes to the list of built-in functions?
>
> My applications needs to use a variety of statistical and mathematical
> functions, some of which Rev 1.1.1 already has - and is quite speedy
> at! There are, however, a few that I will need that Revolution
> currently does not have. For instance, even though Revolutions has a
> function for calculating the MEDIAN, it does not have a function for
> calculating the QUARTILES - which are needed for drawing Box Plots.
> Should I start implementing all required functions, or will there be
> new functions in Rev 2.0?
>

'QUARTILES'...Not that I'm aware of. I'm working with my partner Chris (a C
programmer) on a basic primer for writing your own math functions in C and
compiling to a DLL for access in MC/RR. Look for an announcement on this
list next week.

> 4) To what extent will the text-entry capabilities be enhanced?
>
> We know that Revolution 2.0 will be capable of handling Unicode text
> natively, but does that mean that it will be able to write
> right-to-left and up-down as well? Will there be any text entry
> functionality that will make it easier for me to implement MATHEMATICAL
> EQUATION EDITING? - right now, I'm starting on the development of a
> very time-consuming sub-app that I will need to have for mathematical
> formula editing...

While Unicode is supported, I'll leave this question up to Tuviah or someone
from the RR team.

>
> 5) Will there be a new mechanism for automatically resizing interface
> objects?
>
> Frankly, the Geometry Manager simply does not work. It's unusable if
> the application contains multiple cards, and each card contains
> multiple groups inside groups. Others in this list have mentioned that
> they've hard-coded the required resizing onto every object, in order to
> guarantee that it functions properly. I have a GREAT suspicion that
> this would have to have been fixed by version 2.0, but there is no
> mention whatsoever of this anywhere. If this hasn't been dealt with,
> then I have to start hard-coding this RIGHT AWAY, before my application
> gets any more complex!

I don't know about Geo Mgr fixes.. but I've gotten accustomed to managing my
own geometry. It's not hard using resizestack msg and a Win Style stack
resizer. I put the stack resizer on a window (not necessarily a palette
window) and set the resizable to false. This way I can put 'on finish
resizing' commands in the script of the stack resizer and let the
resizeStack msg handle the rest. I find it can go faster, and handle more. I
can also 'check' on startup to see if a computer has enough processing power
to do realtime updating of all controls.

>
> 6) Will there be any changes in the graphing/drawing capabilities of
> Revolution?

I'm not aware of any -- though I don't know what else you would want
(besides of course a full implementation of OpenGL! ;-)

>
> I am writing an application with graphing capabilities, and I want my
> users to be able to have options such as: to be able to use GRADIENTS
> in their bars and backgrounds, feathered drop shadows, and bar-pictures
> (a custom bar/column picture that repeats a single row of pixels until
> the picture is 'to scale'). Will any of these features be available in
> Revolution 2.0, or should I start spending some time right away
> defining these functions?

While these aren't available at this time, one could easily roll them into a
DLL using the ImageMagick Open Source code. In fact, I'd like to make such a
DLL available (when Chris gets around to it) at a future date....

>
> I have been patiently waiting for Rev 2.0, and using that time as
> constructively as possible. I have been trying to advance the design
> and implementation of my apps as much as possible, taking into
> consideration the impending release of 2.0. I would have loved to be
> able to purchase a Professional Edition, and to have been included in
> the alpha/beta testing program, however, finances are prohibitive - I
> am a student - and some of these projects I am developing on a
> voluntary basis for free distribution by non-profit organisations. I am
> currently on holidays, and therefore had planned to program full-time
> until the- end of February. The delay on the release of even a beta of
> 2.0 has been quite disappointing, and has put a SERIOUS delay on all
> projects...

I certainly understand. I, too, was hoping for a late November release, but
alas, I'll be much happier with a stable, working version. I think it's best
to wait for the beta. Though, you can certainly develop in 1.1.1 and migrate
to the release version once it's ready. As Richard Gaskin mentioned in an
earlier post, "there's still plenty to do in 1.1.1!" (or something to that
effect!)

>
> I have very limited time to take my projects to completion, and the
> idea of sitting around twiddling my thumbs for 2 weeks, while I could
> be doing something useful and constructive, is truly torturous. Please,
> feed us some more detailed info on the 2.0 release, so we can continue
> our work with Rev 1.1.1 in the most constructive manner possible!

As with all prelease announcements, I think it best to plan less than more.
Also, if you absolutely, have to have the features and access to the
individuals at RR, I suggest you seriously consider the purchase of the Pro
license. You not only receive more support, but you'll have direct access to
the Alpha versions already in distribution. I know it's expensive, but
consider it an investment in your future!

-Chipp