GUI Maker

[GoneWacko]

Hmm, not sure if I should create a topic about this yet because it's quite far from being finished or ready for a first release. (I wouldn't want to release it too soon, like I did with my TTDPatch Configuration Manager )
But I have to get 10k posts before Owen does so I had better spam the board like a wildebeast

I'm currently working on a tool that *should* help developers with their ventures into GUI-land.
Recently I've seen a lot of people upload patches, saying "Here's the patch. You can't configure it yet, because I found the GUI to be very daunting and I didn't feel like digging into it all".

So here's where my GUI Maker, or - if you like - Window Designer might come into play.
It will be able to import OpenTTD .C files, and parse the various windows that might be inside, to allow you to edit them in a graphical development environment, so to speak.

The source code will most probably be available, but because I'm writing it in Delphi (object pascal) I don't think too many people will even be able to edit it. (I might do a C conversion later and a linux port while i'm at it.. Not very experienced with GTK/Qt)

Currently, I'm mainly working on the drawing of the widgets and on the stuff happening in the background, so there aren't too many screenshots available, but here are 3 anyhow :

[LKRaider]

Awesome!

Will be even more awesome when it works!

[lucaspiller]

Nice, one question though: will it be cross-platform?

[Korenn]

great idea!

although personally, I think the window system is extremely simple

[GoneWacko]

Nice, one question though: will it be cross-platform?

That is my aim for the future, yes.
First I'll get it working in the first place, then I'll try getting it to work on Linux using crossplatform controls or by writing GTK+ version. Not sure yet

Korenn: well yes, the GUI was the first thing I changed when I looked at the OTTD source code.

[belugas]

Do you need a hand? I do lots of coding in Delphi 7 (which looks like your tool of dev...)
Maybe I can help.

[GoneWacko]

Do you need a hand? I do lots of coding in Delphi 7 (which looks like your tool of dev...)
Maybe I can help.

Hmm, well, so far I'm under the impression that I might be able to pull it off myself, but there are always chances that I might end up not quite knowing what to do. (I tend to have that with some of the more advanced stuff like when I start using the Windows API)
Parsing the C files will be a challenge but do-able.

But so far, I'm enjoying this

[Darkvater]

Looking great GoneWacko

A few suggestions:
1. If you want it portable, write it in QT. It has a free windows licence so you only have to write your application once.
2. Remember that the current maximum number of widgets in a given window is 32. (all the state variables, w->hidden_state, w->clicked_state, etc. are bitmasked 32bit variables).
3. Delphi

[GoneWacko]

Looking great GoneWacko

A few suggestions:
1. If you want it portable, write it in QT. It has a free windows licence so you only have to write your application once.
2. Remember that the current maximum number of widgets in a given window is 32. (all the state variables, w->hidden_state, w->clicked_state, etc. are bitmasked 32bit variables).
3. Delphi

Okay, thanks for the pointers, I'll keep them in mind

[antp]

1. If you want it portable, write it in QT. It has a free windows licence so you only have to write your application once.

In Delphi you can use CLX rather than VCL, this uses QT internally. Then the program can be compiled with Kylix under Linux (if not directly, with only few changes probably)

[Mek]

1. If you want it portable, write it in QT. It has a free windows licence so you only have to write your application once.

In Delphi you can use CLX rather than VCL, this uses QT internally. Then the program can be compiled with Kylix under Linux (if not directly, with only few changes probably)

but this of course requires you to make your program GPL, but i assume that was probably going to happen anyway?

[antp]

Only if you use the free version of Kylix.

[Bjarni]

this might be nice for some simple windows, but somehow I have never made a simple one. They always tend to be rather complex, but I have managed anyway. I would be impressed if you manage to allow this editor to make something as complex as say the autoreplace window...... when I made it, I even had to implement the option to have more than one vertical scrollbar

It looks great for simple and simi complex windows through and will for sure allow some people to make some windows

Great work

[GoneWacko]

I've just started trying to parse the C files for Widget arrays and window descriptions. And it's a bit harder than I had expected

I will probably just make it assume the code is compliant with the coding style (for now).
Finding widget arrays is not even that hard at the moment. Finding Window Descriptions will be a bigger challenge

[GoneWacko]

Hmm I think I may have hit a breakthrough with the code parsing. It's far from done but I have a general idea about how to do it

This is mainly a bump post (not really needed but I hate it when topics about my programs don't get any updates )

Today I was kind of bored so I recreated the 'do you want to quit' window >_>. What an achievement. Apart from the text and two pixels in the caption bar, everything's there

[bobingabout]

i can only notice 1 pixel difference, and imo, yours is the better 1

[mkxx]

I think so... Better is your version - without the "two pixels". I think that these 2 pixels is... ?Bug? in original TTD :wink:
You have not to modify there these pixels.

[Arsenal]

What two pixels?
I can't see the difference!

[bobingabout]

i can see the second 1 now.

1 is just to the right of the bottom of the X button, the other in in the top right corner.

[Arsenal]

i can see the second 1 now.

1 is just to the right of the bottom of the X button, the other in in the top right corner.

Ah, got them both!
That was devilishly difficult to find, wasn't it?