Window To Start Centred

BlitzMax Forums/BlitzMax Programming/Window To Start Centred

Boulderdash

(Posted 2006) [#1]

I Have BMAX with MAX-GUI installed, Im using MAXGUI for the front end of an emulator with BMAX window for rendering the emulator game in (I need keyhit() etc).

The problem is that it looks untidy as the window starts top,left then jumps to the centre of the screen each time you start a new game.

Im guessing this requires a module tweak (something like an extra true/false flag to centre window) but im not sure exactly which path/file to look at. I know that I need minGW and thats ok.

Its a bit scary as I havent tried any module mods yet but it would be very useful to be able to start a window centred!

Boulderdash

(Posted 2006) [#2]

Ok I found the window module and some code that looks like this at the end, although Im not sure how to change it to centre the window.

I was using code like this in my BMAX before;
SetWindowPos(hwnd, -2, (desk.R / 2) - ((Window.R-window.L) / 2), (desk.B / 2.1) - ((Window.B-Window.T) / 2), 0, 0, 1)

Function Graphics:TGraphics( width,height,depth=0,hertz=60,flags=0 )

EndGraphics
flags:|_defaultFlags

Local g:TGraphics=CreateGraphics( width,height,depth,hertz,flags )
If Not g Return

GraphicsSeq:+1
If Not GraphicsSeq GraphicsSeq=1

SetGraphics g
_softSync=True

Boulderdash

(Posted 2006) [#3]

Im not sure of the syntax is there some command like:??

SetGraphicsPos x,y

This I have no clues to?

Grey Alien

(Posted 2006) [#4]

I'm centring the window after it's created too. A module tweak would work but I don't want to tweak the module. It would be nice if BRL made a special command that let you preset the window coords before it was created. I'm talking about non-GUI windows here.

Barnabius

(Posted 2006) [#5]

I usually create the window off-screen. Then the menus and other gadget paraphernalia is added and at the end the window is moved into the center of the desktop with the help of the SetGadgetShape function. No jumping, no flickering, works for me all the time.

Here's a quick example:

SuperStrict

Local style:Int = WINDOW_TITLEBAR|WINDOW_RESIZABLE|WINDOW_MENU|WINDOW_STATUS

Local MyWindow:TGadget
Local filemenu:TGadget
Local editmenu:TGadget
Local helpmenu:TGadget

Const MENU_NEW:Int=101
Const MENU_OPEN:Int=102
Const MENU_SAVE:Int=103
Const MENU_CLOSE:Int=104
Const MENU_EXIT:Int=105

Const MENU_CUT:Int=106
Const MENU_COPY:Int=107
Const MENU_PASTE:Int=108

Const MENU_ABOUT:Int=109


Global WinWidth:Int=320
Global WinHeight:Int=240

'Create a centered window with client size WinWidth, WinHeight

Local wx:Int=(ClientWidth(Desktop())-WinWidth)/2
Local wy:Int=(ClientHeight(Desktop())-WinHeight)/2

MyWindow=CreateWindow("This is centered window", -5000,-5000,WinWidth,WinHeight,Null,style)

filemenu=CreateMenu("&File",0,WindowMenu(MyWindow))
CreateMenu"&New",MENU_NEW,filemenu,KEY_N,MODIFIER_COMMAND
CreateMenu"&Open",MENU_OPEN,filemenu,KEY_O,MODIFIER_COMMAND
CreateMenu"&Close",MENU_CLOSE,filemenu,KEY_W,MODIFIER_COMMAND
CreateMenu"",0,filemenu
CreateMenu"&Save",MENU_SAVE,filemenu,KEY_S,MODIFIER_COMMAND
CreateMenu"",0,filemenu
CreateMenu"E&xit",MENU_EXIT,filemenu,KEY_F4,MODIFIER_COMMAND

editmenu=CreateMenu("&Edit",0,WindowMenu(MyWindow))
CreateMenu "Cu&t",MENU_CUT,editmenu,KEY_X,MODIFIER_COMMAND
CreateMenu "&Copy",MENU_COPY,editmenu,KEY_C,MODIFIER_COMMAND
CreateMenu "&Paste",MENU_PASTE,editmenu,KEY_V,MODIFIER_COMMAND

helpmenu=CreateMenu("&Help",0,WindowMenu(MyWindow))
CreateMenu "&About",MENU_ABOUT,helpmenu

UpdateWindowMenu MyWindow


Local MyButton:TGadget=CreateButton("Click me",140,60,80,40,MyWindow)

SetGadgetShape(MyWindow,wx,wy,WinWidth,WinHeight)

While True
	WaitEvent 
	Local text$=  "Current window size (w,h) is " + ClientWidth(MyWindow)+ "," + ClientHeight(MyWindow)
	Select EventID()
		Case EVENT_WINDOWCLOSE
			End
		Case EVENT_MENUACTION
			Select EventData()
				Case MENU_EXIT
					End
				Case MENU_ABOUT
					Notify "A non-jumping centered window example created by Barney"
			End Select
	End Select
Wend

End

Hope this will help...

Barney

Grey Alien

(Posted 2006) [#6]

good idea. Shame I can't do that with Non-GUI windows as they just create anywhere on the screen.

Boulderdash

(Posted 2006) [#7]

NO thats nothing like what im talking about, I have no problems centring a window made with MAX-GUI.

I use MAX-GUI window as a front-end for my emulator ,you select a game and this starts the new window for rendering the game on. (this is done with the old BMAX graphics command so I still have keyboard input etc.)

IT IS A BIG SHORTCOMING, LOOKS LIKE A BODGE BECAUSE IT IS A BODGE WITH WINDOWS BOUNCING AROUND THE SCREEN. TOTALLING UNACCEPTABLE BECUASE THE WINDOW IS REMADE FOR EACH GAME SELECTION.

OK so I have the code to move the window to the centre AFTER its creation this is the problem, it has to happen when the window is created to look any good.

Im sure this MUST BE DONE BY A MODULE TWEAK. I have no problems attempting this if I can figure the coding, I will just backup the old module.

I already tried downloading minGW and tried rebuilding modules - no problems there im ready to go, just dont know how to code modules.

what I need to know is how to position a window in the context of coding BMAX modules NOT MAX GUI PROGRAMMING.

Prehaps the NO ICON icon issue could be delt to in the same module.

Boulderdash

(Posted 2006) [#8]

This is the only way a window would ever be able to start out centred... by modifing this module....

C:\Program Files\BlitzMax\mod\brl.mod\graphics.mod

You can move the window after its creation but this is a BIG shortcoming. Looks bodge!

Boulderdash

(Posted 2006) [#9]

Here is a snippet of code from the graphics module, but I have no idea how to insert code to position the window???
Although MAX-GUI modules seem to be written in a different language, so the code from the GUI module is probably no good.

Function CreateGraphics:TGraphics( width,height,depth,hertz,flags )
flags:|_defaultFlags
Local g:TGraphics
Try
g=_driver.CreateGraphics( width,height,depth,hertz,flags )
Catch ex:Object
End Try
Return g
End Function

Function AttachGraphics:TGraphics( widget,flags )
flags:|_defaultFlags
Local g:TGraphics
Try
g=_driver.AttachGraphics( widget,flags )
Catch ex:Object
End Try
Return g
End Function

Rem
bbdoc: Close a graphics object
about:
Once closed, a graphics object can no longer be used.
End Rem
Function CloseGraphics( g:TGraphics )
If g=_exGraphics _exGraphics=Null
If g=_graphics SetGraphics Null
g.Close
End Function

Rem
bbdoc: Set current graphics object
about:
#SetGraphics will also change the current graphics driver if @g uses a different driver
than the current driver.
End Rem
Function SetGraphics( g:TGraphics )
If Not g
If _driver And _graphics _driver.SetGraphics Null
_graphics=Null
_gWidth=0
_gHeight=0
_gDepth=0
_gHertz=0
_gFlags=0
Return
EndIf
Local d:TGraphicsDriver=g.Driver()
If d<>_driver
If _driver And _graphics _driver.SetGraphics Null
_graphicsModes=Null
_driver=d
EndIf
g.GetSettings _gWidth,_gHeight,_gDepth,_gHertz,_gFlags
d.SetGraphics g
_graphics=g
End Function

THIS CODE IS FROM MAX-GUI MOD PURHAPS THIS COULD BE USEFUL....

void Win32Window::setShape( int x,int y,int w,int h ){
if( style()&32 ){
if( _status ){
RECT sb_rect;
::GetWindowRect( _status,&sb_rect );
h+=sb_rect.bottom-sb_rect.top;
}
RECT rect={x,y,x+w,y+h};
int wstyle=GetWindowLong( _window.hwnd(),GWL_STYLE );
bool menu=GetMenu( _window.hwnd() ) ? true : false;
AdjustWindowRect( &rect,wstyle,menu );
x=rect.left;
y=rect.top;
w=rect.right-rect.left;
h=rect.bottom-rect.top;
}
_window.setShape(x,y,w,h);
// BBWindow::setShape(x,y,w,h); WM_MOVE handler
}

kfprimm

(Posted 2006) [#10]

the mod can be found here,
http://www.blitzbasic.com/Community/posts.php?topic=64504

Boulderdash

(Posted 2006) [#11]

Thanks I told you I know nothing about it....

So the graphics.mod calls that routine to create the window for rendering on, sound like you know what your talking about ,and you even knew that my program has a selection from Open GL or Direct X drivers.

kfprimm

(Posted 2006) [#12]

lol, well I figured if I didn't say I would make a GL version then all those Mac people would get on me for not being cross platform...the GL is a bit harder to figure out...

Boulderdash

(Posted 2006) [#13]

Thanks dude, I just did the MOD .... Looks so smooooth now its really A++

no more window bounce! ,I didnt want to release my emulator front end with window bounce, it looked ugly!

Boulderdash

(Posted 2006) [#14]

How would you make this function as a new command parameter for the "graphics" command

I would be cool if we could add a style string and a true/false flag for centring the window.

like for example:

graphics 500,300,32,100,WS_VISIBLE,True

or a whole new command that makes it backward compatibility friendly

kfprimm

(Posted 2006) [#15]

here,
http://www.blitzbasic.com/Community/posts.php?topic=64504

kfprimm

(Posted 2006) [#16]

again,
http://www.blitzbasic.com/Community/posts.php?topic=64504

Grey Alien

(Posted 2006) [#17]

I just want this behaviour standard so I don't have to keep tweaking the modules.

ImaginaryHuman

(Posted 2006) [#18]

Open the window hidden, centered at given coordinates, then unhide it

Grey Alien

(Posted 2006) [#19]

Open the window hidden, centered at given coordinates, then unhide it

Can't do that with non-GUI graphics windows.

ImaginaryHuman

(Posted 2006) [#20]

Oh, non-maxgui eh.

kfprimm

(Posted 2006) [#21]

I just want this behaviour standard so I don't have to keep tweaking the modules.

well, you'd have to talk to BRL 'bout that...

Grey Alien

(Posted 2006) [#22]

I already did. (well via a thread just like this a while back). As I don't want to tweak the modules, I'm creating the window then moving it really quickly with a WinAPI call, it's not that neat (cos you see a flicker) but it's better than nothing.

Boulderdash

(Posted 2006) [#23]

Tweak the module, it took me less than 60 seconds , the mod is so straight forward, you can see it must work.

Back up the module before you change it, if your not sure.

Honestly better than nothing it not good enough for me, I cant think of any software on the net that bounces windows around the screen on there creation, and If I had to live with that I would start looking for a new compiler.

Just do the mod! it works great!

Grey Alien

(Posted 2006) [#24]

I might tweak for my current game (I've tweaked the mods in the past to get VSync in Windowed mode), but I don't want to do it for my framework as my framework needs to run on untweaked modules to make it easier for users.