Palette that reacts when changeing the top stack....

[Wilhelm Sanke]

David Bovill david at openpartnership.net wrote on
Sat May 31, 2008:

> Its been a while since I've done this... what's the best way to trap for
> this? Do I need a front script (in case the stack blocks a message) - 
> or can
> I intercept and pass a Rev IDE specific message?



and on Mon Jun 2, 2008

> Yeah - and what a nightmare to debug! Not sure if it does this in Rev IDE
> but any bug or event that causes something to be put into the messagebox -
> triggers the resumeStack again which can then cause infinite loops - goto
> block that....
>
> 2008/6/2 Mark Schonewille <m.schonewille at economy-x-talk.com>:
>
> > Hi david,
> >
> > I'd trap the resumeStack message, sometimes the (pre)openStack 
> message, in
> > a front script.



Concerning the refreshing of a palette or a modeless stack when 
something in the topstack changes or when the topstack itself changes:
three examples and hints:

1. Rev Application Browser

If you select - with the pointer tool activated - a control in the 
topstack and have previously chosen the card that contains the control 
in the Application Browser, then you can "refresh" the Application 
Browser by clicking in the left window or the decorations bar of the AB. 
The AB will then hilite the line of the control (tested with Rev version 
2.9).

2. The Metacard Control Browser

The Control Browser of the MC IDE is more efficient in this respect. It 
will update immediately and automatically when you select a control of 
the topstack, i.e.  without need to enter the Control Browser or click 
on it. As far as I remember this is brought about by the "refresh" 
handler in the card script of the Control Browser.

3. MCBrowser and "RevBrowser"

These personal tools were developed 8 years ago at a time when the 
performance of the precursor of the Application Browser was 
unsatisfactory in many respects, "RevBrowser" is not a web-browser and 
should therefore not be mistaken for the new Rev web-object.
 Quite a number of such tools have been developed by members of this 
list addressing a whole range of specific needs that are not covered by 
the Rev IDE.

Both MCBrowser and RevBrowser reflect

- the changing of the topstack
- going to a different card of the topstack
- choosing (selecting) a different control

when you re-enter the Browsers (triggered by a mouseenter-handler).

Have a look at the card and stack scripts of these stacks to see how 
this was implemented. Basically, it must be possible - using a routine 
similar to that ot the Metacard Control Browser - to achieve a "refresh" 
automatically without entering the browsers with the mousecursor.
I haven't looked at the scripts myself for a longer time, so bear with 
me that you should have a look for yourself, but I use especially the 
McBrowser - as I still prefer the MC IDE over the Rev IDE for faster and 
more efficient workflow - on a regular basis with larger stacks when I 
need to change the scripts of a greater number of controls.

You can get and inspect these stacks from page "Tools and Samples for 
Development" of my website

<http://www.sanke.org/MetaMedia>

===========================

 From the text of that page:

"RevBrowser":
for "Revolution" only: The small, convenient, and fast alternative to 
Rev's "Application Browser" and "Object Browser". Includes a fast script 
searching tool that lists all found scripts lines - with the 
searchstring colored - along with the addresses of the objects. Clicking 
on the object address lets you edit the respective script.
Stack is from 2001 and needs to be updated - there are some bugs - and 
because it is not yet able to access and edit "unplaced" groups - which 
you also cannot do with the above-mentioned Rev-IDE tools.

MC-Browser:
The Metacard version of the above "RevBrowser". It is basically an 
enhanced and refined Metacard "Control Browser" with an added 
fast-search function that lets you search all scripts of a stack. The 
search tool lists all found scripts lines - with the searchstring 
colored - along with the addresses of the objects. Clicking on the 
object address enables you to edit the respective script. (Stack is from 
2001, may have some bugs, and especially is unable to deal with 
"unplaced" groups).-

Best regards,

Wilhelm Sanke