Uber MDX Configurator Beta Testing...

**h3rk** · 03-30-2008, 11:34 PM

woohoo, this software is great. Nick, you're really out-doing yourself man.

here's a couple of things that are coming to mind.

Will there be a way to easily convert an image from static to multi or button, etc.? That may cause a bunch of property checks for each object, to make sure each property agrees with the class you are changing it to. Before, when static images weren't available yet, I just laid out the object as a button, to continue with my design, but then changed some of the properties to make it a static or multi, later (which was a source of headache, being that I didn't change all of the properties properly as I converted (i'm sure there's evidence of it somewhere atound here

).

I really like how it places a copy of all of the images in the content folder, that's a time-saver.

How would I arrange images in the z direction? I remember it's based on the order they are listed in the config file, but if the goal is to eliminate as much need as possible to go into xml editing, maybe a way to use that z variable you made way back when? I dunno, just a thought.(ok I see z-order for buttons)

Here's to 4 days off work

after working all but one other day of March. Can't wait to probe more into this.

EDIT:
Can you change the modal nature of at least the graphics child windows? I do a lot of cross-referencing, and it is hard to do with for instance the graphics editing window up and then a button property form window. I can't look up from another xml form, the values I need for the button.

**2k1Toaster** · 03-31-2008, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by jimp

Well What I meant though is that I cannot edit the button properties any longer once I have a background image, no biggie, I can always just wait to add the background after i have it all set the way i want it.

That should not be true. Please download the latest copy from the first post. If it still happens:

What OS are you on?
Does the icon in the top right change from red circle to unlocked to locked at all?

I cannot reproduce this, and you should be able to change even with a background image. What background option are you using (Stretch, centre, tile)?

Originally Posted by Ryann

this is looking amazing, cant wait to dive into it, soon enough.. awesome work 2k

Originally Posted by rgarjr

2K1,
r
Software looks amazing, good work.. now, hurry up and complete it already.. *joking*

thanks

Originally Posted by h3rk

woohoo, this software is great. Nick, you're really out-doing yourself man.

here's a couple of things that are coming to mind.

Will there be a way to easily convert an image from static to multi or button, etc.? That may cause a bunch of property checks for each object, to make sure each property agrees with the class you are changing it to. Before, when static images weren't available yet, I just laid out the object as a button, to continue with my design, but then changed some of the properties to make it a static or multi, later (which was a source of headache, being that I didn't change all of the properties properly as I converted (i'm sure there's evidence of it somewhere atound here

).

I really like how it places a copy of all of the images in the content folder, that's a time-saver.

How would I arrange images in the z direction? I remember it's based on the order they are listed in the config file, but if the goal is to eliminate as much need as possible to go into xml editing, maybe a way to use that z variable you made way back when? I dunno, just a thought.(ok I see z-order for buttons)

Here's to 4 days off work

after working all but one other day of March. Can't wait to probe more into this.

EDIT:
Can you change the modal nature of at least the graphics child windows? I do a lot of cross-referencing, and it is hard to do with for instance the graphics editing window up and then a button property form window. I can't look up from another xml form, the values I need for the button.

Cross converting is not something I am wanting to support. I suppose I could try it later, but everything that crosses between classes in another source of errors or instability, and I am trying to limit that as much as possible.

The z-direction is for every image. No longer has to be in the order in the xml file. 0 is top, and 1 is the bottom. You can do greater than 1, but 0 is always top and the larger the number the farther back it is. Industry standard is 0.0 to 1.0 though.

And for the edit part, what do you mean? You mean not having the windows be forcing "ontop"? Currently they are programmed as dialog boxes. Basically it pauses the main code while the window is open. Instead of events firing back and forth and again room for error and instability. I have never been strong with event programming, and I dont want to comprimise the stability of the new program because of it. Or is this not what you mean?

**h3rk** · 03-31-2008, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

Cross converting is not something I am wanting to support. I suppose I could try it later, but everything that crosses between classes in another source of errors or instability, and I am trying to limit that as much as possible.

Ok, it's easy enough to make new objects. Stable is good.

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

The z-direction is for every image. No longer has to be in the order in the xml file. 0 is top, and 1 is the bottom. You can do greater than 1, but 0 is always top and the larger the number the farther back it is. Industry standard is 0.0 to 1.0 though.

ok, works for me.

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

And for the edit part, what do you mean? You mean not having the windows be forcing "ontop"? Currently they are programmed as dialog boxes. Basically it pauses the main code while the window is open. Instead of events firing back and forth and again room for error and instability. I have never been strong with event programming, and I dont want to comprimise the stability of the new program because of it. Or is this not what you mean?

here's a picture:

I cant see what is on the xml file in the background and the child windows in the configurator won't let me bring anything else to the front of the screen. Two screens would fix this, I suppose.

Also, how do I edit a button I've already made? I'm trying to understand the nothing, lock, unlock states. Is this similar to the original configurator, where I'm supposed to be able to drag a button around and drop it where I want?

**2k1Toaster** · 03-31-2008, 12:33 AM

Oh, like an IME window... Interesting. I like it. I will see what I can do.

Also to edit, you click 1 time (either left or right) and it will change to prelock status. Now the second click if it is a left click locks it and pins it to your cursor for moving it around. If your second click is a right click then it will bring up the edit window.

**h3rk** · 03-31-2008, 12:46 AM

I have been trying to edit a button which is (z) on top of a static image (button is the image in your red-gray gradient area). But everytime I click the button, I get the static image's properties. If I click elsewhere, I get the same static's properties. I can't for the life of me get the button's property window to pop up, using the click-rightclick combo.\

**jimp** · 03-31-2008, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

That should not be true. Please download the latest copy from the first post. If it still happens:

What OS are you on?
Does the icon in the top right change from red circle to unlocked to locked at all?

I cannot reproduce this, and you should be able to change even with a background image. What background option are you using (Stretch, centre, tile)?

I just downloaded it yesterday AM but I will download again and see, no the red "do not smoke" button doesn't change for me. I was using center and am running it on XP.

oK I just downloaded again and it is still the same, the red button does not change and with a background I cant get back to the button edit screen.

Ok maybe it doesn't have anything to do with the background image because I just tried again without it and I still can't change it!

**2k1Toaster** · 03-31-2008, 02:41 AM

I just uploaded a new copy that gets the bounds based on the z-order, so that should fix h3rk's problem.

**2k1Toaster** · 03-31-2008, 03:22 AM

Originally Posted by jimp

I just downloaded it yesterday AM but I will download again and see, no the red "do not smoke" button doesn't change for me. I was using center and am running it on XP.

oK I just downloaded again and it is still the same, the red button does not change and with a background I cant get back to the button edit screen.

Ok maybe it doesn't have anything to do with the background image because I just tried again without it and I still can't change it!

Can you describe what buttons you are pressing and what you are trying to do in a sequence so I can recreate it or something? I have no idea what is happening on your computer because I have checked and checked an there is no way for this to happen.

**2k1Toaster** · 03-31-2008, 03:25 AM

I should also mention that the newest version 31/03/08 fully supports reading in logic files now. I have to work with the auto-layout of non-designer accompanied files to make it look nicer but that can go later. It does lay them out good enough so far.

And I can open and save everything currently supported with 1 exception. It adds a requirement for a non-existant function for each if statement you have. I need to find a way to check to include a function it needs, but not one that is already in the skin. So once you save, look in the "require" area and if there is something there that shouldnt be, know that you can delete it, and I will find a fix for it.

**h3rk** · 03-31-2008, 04:13 AM

I've tried the 1st post's download link for the update,but, I still have to move the static image to another page in order to click on and edit the button's properties. But that does work. Button's z = 0.0, static image is as large as the background, and z = 1.0.

And when I move the static to a new graphics page, (Page 2), save the original page (Page 1), then open page 2 to click the static, open it's properties, (I was going to move it back to page 1) I see the button from page 1. I went back to page 1 to check the button's properties to make sure, and sure enough, the button's properties indicate that the button is only on page 1. Checking the xml shows that both buttons page property = 0, but the static image has an additional multiple pages property = 1.
I deleted the multiple pages property in xml, changed the static image's property to 1.

Going back into the configurator, I still see the button on page 2, that shouldn't be there.
And with a static image covering the same area as the button, I can't select the button and access it's properties.

Concerning the static images multiple pages property in the xml, I orginally selected both pages checkboxes in the property page, but I then deselected page 1. So my guess the multiple pages entry shouldn't be there and it's page property should have changed from 0 to 1.