[ANN] Data Grid Helper - What is it? - Text rewrote

[zryip theSlug]

Dear LiveCode users,

It seems that I was not really explicit about what exactly DGH is and
what it can do. So I rewrote a text and I send it to the list to have
your opinion about this new explanation.
Do you think that is more clear?

Thanks for any advice! 8-)


What is DGH?

DGH is a plugin for LiveCode. This plugin is a special and - we hope -
intuitive interface for building LiveCode's Data Grids.


DGH has:

1) its own interface for managing properties of a datagrid

With the standard LiveCode interface you have to manage the properties
of a datagrid for a part in the inspector palette and for another part
by code.
In DGH all the properties have an interface.

Some examples of properties that you have to manage habitually by code
with datagrids but fully integrated in DGH:
- text margins for header and rows
- text color for header
- gradient colors for header background and header background hilite
- color for header separators
- default header behavior and default column behavior. Here DGH allows
you to define default behavior by pointing an empty button or a button
with a behavior and clicking on it. If the script of the button is
empty, DGH will fill it with the required code from the datagrid
library. This future is named "Behavior picker".
- etc


2) its own interface for managing columns of a datagrid

DGH allows the creation or the deletion of columns in a datagrid with
a visual interface. When you are defining columns in DGH you are
really working on a datagrid:

- you can select a column by clicking on it (invisible columns included)
- you can reorder columns by drag & drop
- and you have an interface for managing properties that you have
habitually to manage by code like, define a column to be editable or
not, add a tooltip to a column.
- etc


3) Its own interface for managing templates in a datagrid

In a datagrid,  a template is the way to add custom objects in a
column or a datagrid form, like popup menus, radio buttons, etc.
In the standard datagrid to define a column template, you have to edit
two groups. Not in DGH.
In DGH, you select a column by clicking on its header and you open its
template directly in DGH in a special area named "TMPL area". You have
two ways to open the TMPL area:
- by double clicking on the header column
- with an expand button

Once the template updated, you click on the update button in the "TMPL
area" to save it and you can switch to another template by clicking on
the next column. No need to juggle between groups.


4) Can create scripts for column or form behaviors

If you have defined a template for a column, DGH can build for you the
required script to manage it.

For example, if you have a template with a popup menu, DGH knows what
code is required to manage it, in
- the fillindata handler
- the menupick handler

The name of this feature in DGH is "Script builder". Script builder is
actually capable to build on the fly the required structure of
handlers needed to manage a template. It possess its own dictionary
and is fully capable to build a coherent code by detecting all the
controls in the template.

For text, script builder manages the truncatetail feature of the
datagrid library.


5) Can install code in a datagrid group

DGH can install scripts for specific needs. The first script available
allows to reorder lines in a datagrid. Other scripts will come with
things like reorder columns (already existing in the column builder of
DGH) or sorting.



Regards,
-- 
-Zryip TheSlug- wish you the best! 8)
http://www.aslugontheroad.co.cc