BorlandTalk.com Borland discussion newsgroups   Archives   FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  OO GUI          BorlandTalk.com Forum Index -> Delphi OO design View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message Peter Morris [Droopy eyes Guest Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:15 pm    Post subject: OO GUI Hi all There's a small project I have to write, and before I started I wanted to post here for some advice/discussion. My usual apps allow the user to perform any task at any point. This new app I have to write has a set logical flow, like a Windows Wizard form. Depending on which option you choose in Task A, you will be presented with a different step, for example. 1) Visit site 2) Is this a restock visit or engineering visit? (Engineering visit) 1) Select machine 2) Replace part 3) Close machine (Restock visit) 1) Select machine 2) Restock brand A 3) Repeat #2 until all brands done 4) Count cash 5) Other options (replace part for example) 6) Close machine As you can see there are some "if" type branches depending on user selection, and there are also some common tasks that I could reuse. What I want to know is this, is there some kind of well established OOP technique for this sort of thing? I expect it is quite common. It's kind of like a state machine, but with sub-machines in there too. Any info/advice would be appreciated! Thanks -- Pete ==== ECO Modeler, Audio compression components, DIB graphics controls, FastStrings http://www.droopyeyes.com Read or write articles on just about anything http://www.HowToDoThings.com My blog http://blogs.slcdug.org/petermorris/ Back to top Bob Dawson Guest Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 8:23 pm    Post subject: Re: OO GUI "Peter Morris [Droopy eyes software]" wrote Quote: for this sort of thing? I expect it is quite common. It's kind of like a state machine, but with sub-machines in there too. There's absolutely nothing wrong with nesting statemachines. bobD Back to top Lee_Nover Guest Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:36 am    Post subject: Re: OO GUI Quote: Any info/advice would be appreciated! if you're gonna do it with ECO 3 you might as well use it's biggest addition - State Diagrams :) Back to top Peter Morris [Droopy eyes Guest Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 3:54 pm    Post subject: Re: OO GUI I forgot to mention, as with a standard Win32 wizard I will also need a Back option -- Pete ==== ECO Modeler, Audio compression components, DIB graphics controls, FastStrings http://www.droopyeyes.com Read or write articles on just about anything http://www.HowToDoThings.com My blog http://blogs.slcdug.org/petermorris/ Back to top Jim Cooper Guest Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:39 am    Post subject: Re: OO GUI Quote: I forgot to mention, as with a standard Win32 wizard I will also need a Back option Back as a navigation option still suggests state machines, but back as an undo operation always makes me look at the Command pattern in the first instance. Cheers, Jim Cooper __________________________________________ Jim Cooper [email]jcooper (AT) tabdee (DOT) ltd.uk[/email] Skype : jim.cooper Tabdee Ltd http://www.tabdee.ltd.uk TurboSync - Connecting Delphi to your Palm __________________________________________ Back to top Peter Morris [Droopy eyes Guest Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 10:22 am    Post subject: Re: OO GUI Hi Jim I was considering starting an ECO undo block at each stage. Reversing that block would undo everything, and then I would be able to display the GUI for the current element within the wizard form. Sounds good. Thanks for the input, I'll give it a spin and see how it works. Now, on to see if I can get ECO working on the compact framework (fingers crossed) :-) -- Pete ==== ECO Modeler, Audio compression components, DIB graphics controls, FastStrings http://www.droopyeyes.com Read or write articles on just about anything http://www.HowToDoThings.com My blog http://blogs.slcdug.org/petermorris/ Back to top Leonel Guest Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 2:32 pm    Post subject: Re: OO GUI Peter Morris [Droopy eyes software] wrote: Quote: I am tempted to hard-code the "what next" into the GUI, any other ideas/suggestions? "Select machine" could be a method in your "GUI workflow" class, popping up the appropriate dialog and storing the results in class attributes. The GUI workflow class would have a state machine that calls the appropriate methods in entry/exit/effect transitions, using action language. Is something like that you have in mind? -- Leonel Back to top Peter Morris [Droopy eyes Guest Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 2:44 pm    Post subject: Re: OO GUI There's one last obstacle in my mind. StateMachines always move in a kind of forward-flow, unlike subroutines which remember where they were called from and return to that point. Some of the tasks in my flow would be self-contained tasks that can be used from other tasks, and would have to return the logic flow to the calling task when finished, like so. 1) Select Visit type Quote: Restock visit 1A) Select machine 1B) Select brand 1C) Restock 1) Select Visit type Quote: Engineering visit 1A) Select machine 2A) Select part to replace As you can see "Select machine" is more like a "pop onto stack" type of task. As is "Select brand" (it is used for identifying the current stock level when auditing, and the new stock level for restocking). State machines don't work like, well, not in ECO anyway. I am tempted to hard-code the "what next" into the GUI, any other ideas/suggestions? -- Pete ==== ECO Modeler, Audio compression components, DIB graphics controls, FastStrings http://www.droopyeyes.com Read or write articles on just about anything http://www.HowToDoThings.com My blog http://blogs.slcdug.org/petermorris/ Back to top Leonel Guest Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:03 pm    Post subject: Re: OO GUI Peter Morris [Droopy eyes software] wrote: Quote: I don't follow what you are suggesting. You seem to want to set the "next step" manually. I think you should use a state machine where the button click "next" calls the trigger and the transiction effects update the "executing task", going to the next task according to the flow you have modelled. So you start your state machine and you're on the "Select Visit Type" state. The entry effect causes the GUI to update and display the appropriate fields for the "Select Visit Type" state. When you press next on the GUI, call the trigger on the State Machine. Leaving your "Select Visit Type" you can have two transitions, with guards set according to the visit type selected on that state. They go to the appropriate next state. And so on. -- Leonel Back to top Peter Morris [Droopy eyes Guest Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:17 pm    Post subject: Re: OO GUI I don't follow what you are suggesting. The closest I can come up with is to have a class for each task, and in a base class have a "ExecutingTask" reference. When the task reaches its last phase it displays a "Finished" button if ExecutingTask = nil, otherwise it displays a "Next >>" button (which then goes back to the ExecutingTask). I'd have to have a singleton somewhere that held a reference to CurrentTask, so that the GUI always knew which task to display a GUI for. So, something like this 1) Create a RestockVisit task 1A) This creates a SelectMachine task 1B) SelectMachine.ExecutingTask := Self; 1C) Singleton.CurrentTask := SelectMachine; 2) Create a SelectBrand task etc Looks like that might work, any additionaly suggestions/input always appreciated! -- Pete ==== ECO Modeler, Audio compression components, DIB graphics controls, FastStrings http://www.droopyeyes.com Read or write articles on just about anything http://www.HowToDoThings.com My blog http://blogs.slcdug.org/petermorris/ Back to top Jim Cooper Guest Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:28 pm    Post subject: Re: OO GUI Quote: Thanks for the input, I'll give it a spin and see how it works. Good luck :-) Quote: Now, on to see if I can get ECO working on the compact framework (fingers crossed) I think you'll need more than luck there Even in relatively straighforward apps I find things missing in the CF, so I would be surprised if ECO even compiles properly in that environment. I also find performance an issue with non-SQLCE code. Keep us posted though. Cheers, Jim Cooper __________________________________________ Jim Cooper [email]jcooper (AT) tabdee (DOT) ltd.uk[/email] Skype : jim.cooper Tabdee Ltd http://www.tabdee.ltd.uk TurboSync - Connecting Delphi to your Palm __________________________________________ Back to top Peter Morris [Droopy eyes Guest Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 7:33 pm    Post subject: Re: OO GUI Hi Leonel Quote: You seem to want to set the "next step" manually. No, I meant that the CurrentTask would do it. Calling "Next" on the CurrentTask is easy enough, in action script I can do this Singleton.CurrentTask := new SelectMachine(); Singleton.CurrentTask.ExecutingTask := self; The GUI always updates after the Next button is clicked. In the case where there is a decision to be made as to which task is executed, I would simply have guards on the transition, based on certain circumstances of the object instance being manipulated, or on the value of a transient attribute on the task instance itself. I didn't realise that this is what you originally meant, I agree that it is a good idea. The "ExecutingTask" and the generic "CurrentTask.Next" were the two key points that I needed to come up with I think. Thanks everyone for your input, it has been very useful! -- Pete ==== ECO Modeler, Audio compression components, DIB graphics controls, FastStrings http://www.droopyeyes.com Read or write articles on just about anything http://www.HowToDoThings.com My blog http://blogs.slcdug.org/petermorris/ Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         BorlandTalk.com Forum Index -> Delphi OO design All times are GMT Page 1 of 1   Jump to: Select a forum C++ Builder Newsgroups----------------C++ BuilderC++ Builder (ActiveX)C++ Builder (Announcements)C++ Builder (Command Line Tools)C++ Builder DatabasesC++ Builder Databases (ADO)C++ Builder Databases (Desktop)C++ Builder Databases (InterBase Express)C++ Builder Databases (Multi-Tier)C++ Builder Databases (SQL Servers)C++ Builder (Graphics)C++ Builder (IDE)C++ Builder (Internet)C++ Builder (Internet Socket)C++ Builder (Internet Web)C++ Builder (Jobs)C++ Builder (Language)C++ Builder (Language C++)C++ Builder (Compatibility with MFC)C++ Builder (Native API)C++ Builder (Non-Technical)C++ Builder (Students)C++ Builder (Third Party Tools)C++ Builder (Upgrade)C++ Builder (VCL)C++ Builder (VCL Components Usage)C++ Builder (VCL Components Development)C++ Builder (VCL Usage)C++ Builder (WinAPI)C++ Builder Installation Delphi Newsgroups----------------Delphi (General)Delphi ActiveX Controls UsageDelphi ActiveX Controls DevelopmentDelphi As400Delphi DatabasesDelphi Databases (ADO)Delphi Databases (dbExpress)Delphi Databases (Desktop)Delphi Databases (InterBase Express)Delphi Databases (Multi-Tier)Delphi Databases (SQL Servers)Delphi DeploymentDelphi GraphicsDelphi IDEDelphi InternationalizationDelphi InternetDelphi Internet Isapi-WebBrokerDelphi Internet WebSnapDelphi Internet WinsockDelphi JobsDelphi Language BASMDelphi Language ObjectPascalDelphi Model Driven Architecture (General)Delphi Model Driven Architecture (Third Party)Delphi MultimediaDelphi Native APIDelphi Non-TechnicalDelphi ObjectPascalDelphi OLE AutomationDelphi OO designDelphi OpenToolsAPIDelphi Reporting-ChartingDelphi RTLDelphi StudentsDelphi TeamSourceDelphi Thirdparty ToolsDelphi Thirdparty Tools (General)Delphi Thirdparty Tools (IntraWeb)Delphi Thirdparty Tools (RaveReports)Delphi UpgradeDelphi VCLDelphi VCL ComponentsDelphi VCL Components UsingDelphi VCL Components WritingDelphi WebServices SOAPDelphi WinAPIDelphi XMLDelphi Installationcomp.lang.pascal.delphi.components.misccomp.lang.pascal.delphi.components.usagecomp.lang.pascal.delphi.components.writingcomp.lang.pascal.delphi.databasescomp.lang.pascal.delphi.misccomp.sources.delphi JBuilder Newsgroups----------------JBuilderJBuilder AnnouncementsJBuilder Applet IssuesJBuilder As400JBuilder CompilerJBuilder CORBA/RMIJBuilder DatabasesJBuilder DB SwingJBuilder DebuggerJBuilder DeploymentJBuilder DocumentationJBuilder EnterpriseJBuilder HandheldJBuilder IDEJBuilder JavaJBuilder JavaAPIJBuilder Java LanguageJBuilder Java SwingJBuilder Java BeansJBuilder Java Beans UsageJBuilder Java Beans DevelopmentJBuilder JBCLJBuilder JDataStoreJBuilder JobsJBuilder LinuxJBuilder MacintoshJBuilder & MobileSetJBuilder MultiLingual AppsJBuilder Non-TechnicalJBuilder OpenToolsJBuilder Servlets (JSP)JBuilder StudentsJBuilder Team DevelopmentJBuilder Thirdparty ToolsJBuilder UpgradeJBuilder Installation InterBase Newsgroups----------------InterBaseInterBase Bug DiscussionInterBase GeneralInterBase IBConsoleInterBase OpenSourceInterBase ReplicationInterBase SQLInterBase ThirdpartyInterBase Installation Miscellaneous Borland Newsgroups----------------AppCenterAppServerEnteraVisiBroker  You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2006 phpBB Group SEO toolkit © 2004-2006 webmedic.