Hi all!

I am trying to grow my application, some of you are familiar with the challenges I had thus far…

I would like to use a tabbed form – one of those forms on which there are tabs to go to different "windows" (forms)… From what I have read, the tab control form isn't yet functional. Is that still the case?

Are there any work-arounds for this? If I have a client screen on tab 1, I'd like to access his order history on some secondary tab – is there a way to mimick tabs without using the "tab" control provided?

I am looking for ideas too!

Thank you for you help!

Jeremy Harrison

WESTERNware

Jeremy,

We're using Tabs provided by SRP. You may want to checkout some of the other stuff that they have developed. Very sharp looking. They will make your application look "cool" and "fun". They work and I think that if you're making a transition from AREV, you won't look back.

Good luck. There are lots of helpful people on this forum.

Enjoy OI32, it's really neat! RTI has a wonderful job and it's only going to get better.

Ray Chan

Jeremy,

I believe the tab control you are referring to is the one that was included in 7.0/7.0.1. This control was not completed at this time so it was not meant to be used. However, you actually have several other options available to you. If you wait for 7.1, you'll have even one more very cool option.

Free Options

1. OpenInsight has documented how to create the same tabs they use themselves. Just look at the UI Workspace screens for Messages, Popups, or QuickHelp to see what these look like. The EXAMPLES application has a form called TABBED_TEMPLATE which has all the source code you need to replicate this approach. Keep in mind that this was developed several years ago and the tabs have a Win 3.1 look and feel. In addition to the dated visual look, this approach requires a lot of code to create.

2. You could create your own tabs using the BITMAP control. Just draw your tabs using a program like Paint. The key is to create a multiframed bitmap where you have a frame that represents each tab having focus. Then you can use the BUTTONDOWN event to capture where the user is clicking on the form. If the "x" and "y" coordinates fall within the designated areas of the bitmap then you respond accordingly by switching the image frame and and page of the form. While this approach allows you to create the exact look you may want, it requires that you be comfortable with Paint. Either way, it can take some effort to correctly draw these tabs.

Commercial Options

1. Sprezzatura (I believe) can sell you a DLL that will allow you to make calls to the Window API and draw tabs. I'm not sure how you are expected to capture the mouse click. However, this approach is much easier to create Microsoft standard looking tabs.

2. As Ray Chan mentioned, we sell an OLE control which will allow you to create tabs. This uses OpenInsight's support for OLE controls and OLE events. Creating and using tabs is very easy with this control. We don't have anything available on our website to download but if you are intersted just send me an email and I will send you an evaluation version of our control with a demo window that includes source code (so you can see how it works.)

Coming Soon Free Option

1. In OpenInsight 7.1, Revelation will reveal their completed tab control. Those of us who are beta testers will tell you that this control is very cool and very well done. While some of the other tab options have features that this control does not, I believe this control will work for the majority of your tab control needs.

dbakke@srpcs.com

SRP Computer Solutions, Inc.

If you are still interested, here is how I make tabs.

Your form has several pages and one tab per page. Create the tab from an ordinary push button (i.e., not associated with a table). At the bottom of the properties screen, select a bitmap called AUTOTAB. Size and position it. Click on combine text/bitmap. Create a CLICK quick event using @window for the control/form, PAGE for message and the page number for the parameter. Add text to the tab. For example, &Adjustments|&Adjustments which allows you to navigate with the ALT key.

Hope I got all the details. Good luck.

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