Programming with dBASE - Video Resolution

Author

Video Resolution

Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]

2005-12-22, 8:23 pm

I am sure this has been done, but ... I have a user of an app that has
her monitor set to "Large Fonts" and the app doesn't display data
properly. It works fine under "Normal Fonts".

I would like to know if I can find out if they are using "Large Fonts".
If so, maybe I can do something with this. (Make control heights a touch
larger, etc.)

I looked at Rick Miller's VideoRes.cc in the dUFLP and it doesn't appear
to be able to tell me this information (it does give me other useful
information, but ...)

Thanks in advance ...

Ken

--
/(Opinions expressed are purely my own, not those of dataBased
Intelligence, Inc.)/

*Ken Mayer* [dBVIPS]
/Golden Stag Productions/
dBASE at goldenstag dot net
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/dBASEBook.htm
http://www.goldenstag.net/GSP
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase

David Stone

2005-12-22, 8:23 pm

"Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]" wrote:

> I am sure this has been done, but ... I have a user of an app that has
> her monitor set to "Large Fonts" and the app doesn't display data
> properly. It works fine under "Normal Fonts".

The Large Fonts problem might be avoided by having her go back to the "Small
Fonts" setting, but then change her video resolution to the next lower
setting (1024 to 800, for example). It has a similar effect--makes
everything larger on the screen. Also consider buying her a pair of $10
reading glasses...;-)

David

Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]

2005-12-22, 8:23 pm

David Stone wrote:
> "Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]" wrote:
>
>
>
>
> The Large Fonts problem might be avoided by having her go back to the "Small
> Fonts" setting, but then change her video resolution to the next lower
> setting (1024 to 800, for example). It has a similar effect--makes
> everything larger on the screen. Also consider buying her a pair of $10
> reading glasses...;-)

Hahaha. Thanks. I will mention this to her (not the reading glasses bit
.... while it's a freeware package she's using, there's no need to
antagonize her ... <g> ).

Ken

--
/(Opinions expressed are purely my own, not those of dataBased
Intelligence, Inc.)/

*Ken Mayer* [dBVIPS]
/Golden Stag Productions/
dBASE at goldenstag dot net
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/dBASEBook.htm
http://www.goldenstag.net/GSP
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase

Rick Miller

2005-12-22, 8:23 pm

Hi Ken,

"Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]" < dbase@_nospam_golden
stag.net> wrote in
news:KHf0ROzBGHA.1448@news-server:

> I am sure this has been done, but ... I have a user of an app that
> has her monitor set to "Large Fonts" and the app doesn't display
> data properly. It works fine under "Normal Fonts".
>
> I would like to know if I can find out if they are using "Large
> Fonts". If so, maybe I can do something with this. (Make control
> heights a touch larger, etc.)
----

As i understand this, textLabels, entryfields,
and other controls do not fit in the area the form
has specified for them when Large Fonts are used.

It appears to be a problem for most windows developers
from what i've read so far.

The easy way is to specify the fontname
and fontsize for the controls ;-)

Don't know if this idea would work.
Use 2 text controls.
1 with a specified fontname and size for a basis.
1 without any font specification.
Assign the same text property to both.
The width and height should be large enough to fully display.
Use the getTextExtent() method for each to make comparison values.

The comparison values could be used to determine if
other sizing is needed and maybe how much.

There may be some api stuff with GetTextMetrics
and logFonts that might work to get a comparison.
Will need some time to check on that.

I like David's idea ;-)
Rick Miller

Roland Wingerter

2005-12-23, 3:24 am

Hi Ken,

Ken Mayer [dBVIPS] wrote

>
> I would like to know if I can find out if they are using "Large Fonts". If
> so, maybe I can do something with this. (Make control heights a touch
> larger, etc.)
------
Here is a solution Marc VdB posted a while ago in the German ng.

extern cint GetSystemMetrics(cin
t) user32
? getsystemmetrics(4) // sm_cycaption

26 = normal fonts
30 = large fonts
36 = very large fonts

Roland

Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]

2005-12-23, 1:23 pm

Roland Wingerter wrote:
> Hi Ken,
>
> Ken Mayer [dBVIPS] wrote
>
>
> ------
> Here is a solution Marc VdB posted a while ago in the German ng.
>
> extern cint GetSystemMetrics(cin
t) user32
> ? getsystemmetrics(4) // sm_cycaption
>
> 26 = normal fonts
> 30 = large fonts
> 36 = very large fonts

Ah, thanks. That could be handy. I am not sure if I will try to modify
the application at the moment (I'm busily working on my next book,
trying to get the organization worked out so I cover all the important
topics ...), but it can be useful anyway. I may throw together a
function for the dUFLP that works with this.

Ken

--
/(Opinions expressed are purely my own, not those of dataBased
Intelligence, Inc.)/

*Ken Mayer* [dBVIPS]
/Golden Stag Productions/
dBASE at goldenstag dot net
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/dBASEBook.htm
http://www.goldenstag.net/GSP
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase

Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]

2005-12-23, 1:23 pm

Rick Miller wrote:
> Hi Ken,
>
> "Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]" < dbase@_nospam_golden
stag.net> wrote in
> news:KHf0ROzBGHA.1448@news-server:
>
>
>
> ----
>
> As i understand this, textLabels, entryfields,
> and other controls do not fit in the area the form
> has specified for them when Large Fonts are used.
>
> It appears to be a problem for most windows developers
> from what i've read so far.

Definitely a pain.

> The easy way is to specify the fontname
> and fontsize for the controls ;-)

I do that, actually. The custom classes I use in the dUFLP all do that
(formcntl.cc). The problem is that even with those set, when the user
uses the large fonts setting, most of the controls can't display text
properly because the text is too big. The grid appears empty, for example.

> Don't know if this idea would work.
> Use 2 text controls.
> 1 with a specified fontname and size for a basis.
> 1 without any font specification.
> Assign the same text property to both.
> The width and height should be large enough to fully display.
> Use the getTextExtent() method for each to make comparison values.
>
> The comparison values could be used to determine if
> other sizing is needed and maybe how much.
>
>
> There may be some api stuff with GetTextMetrics
> and logFonts that might work to get a comparison.
> Will need some time to check on that.

No problem. I see the one thing I was looking for from Roland. Not sure
I want to modify the application for this one situation ...

> I like David's idea ;-)

Yeah. I did make the suggestion to her about the video resolution and
such, haven't heard back ...

Ken

--
/(Opinions expressed are purely my own, not those of dataBased
Intelligence, Inc.)/

*Ken Mayer* [dBVIPS]
/Golden Stag Productions/
dBASE at goldenstag dot net
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/dBASEBook.htm
http://www.goldenstag.net/GSP
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase

Roland Wingerter

2005-12-23, 8:23 pm

Ken Mayer [dBVIPS] wrote

>
> Ah, thanks. That could be handy. I am not sure if I will try to modify the
> application at the moment (I'm busily working on my next book, trying to
> get the organization worked out so I cover all the important topics ...),
> but it can be useful anyway. I may throw together a function for the dUFLP
> that works with this.
------
Maybe add a fonts property to videores.cc?

Roland

Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]

2005-12-23, 8:23 pm

Roland Wingerter wrote:
> Ken Mayer [dBVIPS] wrote
>
>
> ------
> Maybe add a fonts property to videores.cc?

D'oh. Yeah, that makes too much sense. <g> I put together a little
function in the MiscAPI program file, but it makes more sense to put it
into the VideoRes class.

Ken

--
/(Opinions expressed are purely my own, not those of dataBased
Intelligence, Inc.)/

*Ken Mayer* [dBVIPS]
/Golden Stag Productions/
dBASE at goldenstag dot net
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase/dBASEBook.htm
http://www.goldenstag.net/GSP
http://www.goldenstag.net/dbase

Marilyn Price

2005-12-24, 9:23 am

In article <43AB1326.3A4C1AC1@wholegrain.com>, dlstone@wholegrain.com
says...
> "Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]" wrote:
>
>
> The Large Fonts problem might be avoided by having her go back to the "Small
> Fonts" setting, but then change her video resolution to the next lower
> setting (1024 to 800, for example). It has a similar effect--makes
> everything larger on the screen. Also consider buying her a pair of $10
> reading glasses...;-)
>

Tried something similar with my mother. However, her resolution is
640x480 and still uses large fonts. Can't go any lower than that <g>.

However, she has macular degeneration (beginning stages), and has
trouble seeing much of anything. Reading glasses don't help something
like that.

--
Marilyn Price
M. P. Data

Ronnie MacGregor

2005-12-24, 9:23 am

In article <MPG. 1e17216bc824d95e9896
ef@news.dbase.com>,
mprice@tri_con.net says...

> However, she has macular degeneration (beginning stages), and has
> trouble seeing much of anything. Reading glasses don't help something
> like that.

Hi Marilyn

Sorry to hear this. We've had good results here in Scotland with these
two products, but the realistic hope is that consistant use of these
products may slow down the rate of progression. A few patients show
significant improvement.

> http://us.vitabiotics.com/visionace...aspx?ID=21&sm=1

> http://www.alconlabs.com/ca_en/eo/c...ons/icaps.jhtml

--
Ronnie MacGregor
Scotland

www.dBASEdeveloper.co.uk

Michael Nuwer [dBVIPS]

2005-12-26, 11:23 am

Ronnie MacGregor wrote:[color=darkred
]
>
> Sorry to hear this. We've had good results here in Scotland with these
> two products, but the realistic hope is that consistant use of these
> products may slow down the rate of progression. A few patients show
> significant improvement.
>
>
>
>

Thanks for the tips, Ronnie. I too have macular degeneration. My Doctor
recommended multi-vitamins with lots of zinc. These products look like
they may be a bit more specialized for the eye.

Michael

Marilyn Price

2005-12-27, 7:23 am

In article <MPG. 1e17776de07f20469896
e4@news.dbase.com>, no@spam.thanks
says...
>
> Sorry to hear this. We've had good results here in Scotland with these
> two products, but the realistic hope is that consistant use of these
> products may slow down the rate of progression. A few patients show
> significant improvement.
>

Thanks, Ronnie. Research is making progress. Thank goodness.

--
Marilyn Price
M. P. Data

Rick Miller

2005-12-27, 8:23 pm

Hi Ken,

"Ken Mayer [dBVIPS]" < dbase@_nospam_golden
stag.net> wrote in
news:mLxsVv#BGHA.1300@news-server:

<snips>

>
> I do that, actually. The custom classes I use in the dUFLP all do
> that (formcntl.cc).
----

Maybe the particular font makes a difference.
Could be just dumb luck but am not seeing the
behavior when using the MS Sans Serif font
for the controls below:

editor, entryfield, grid, notebook, pushbutton,
rectangle, text, textlabel, treeview.

You may want to use GetSystemMetrics to
know how much space the caption and menu
areas take for sizing the form.

Have a Happy New Year !!,
Rick Miller

Jean-Pierre Martel

2005-12-29, 3:23 am

In article <6wK28RjCGHA.2104@news-server>,
nuwermj@nospam.please.yahoo.com says...
> I too have macular degeneration. My Doctor recommended
> multi-vitamins with lots of zinc.

Do you know _why_ you have that? Is it caused by glaucoma or diabetes?

Jean-Pierre Martel, editor
The dBASE Developers Bulletin
Blue Star dBASE Plus Core Concepts Graduate

Michael Nuwer [dBVIPS]

2005-12-29, 7:23 am

Jean-Pierre Martel wrote:
> In article <6wK28RjCGHA.2104@news-server>,
> nuwermj@nospam.please.yahoo.com says...
>
>
>
> Do you know _why_ you have that? Is it caused by glaucoma or diabetes?

Hello Jean-Pierre,

No, I do not know the cause. My doctor mentioned aging, but he did not
explain why some aging people acquire it while others do not. I have no
family history of diabetes and my glaucoma tests are negative. Thanks
for asking.

Have a great new year.
Michael

Ronnie MacGregor

2005-12-30, 11:23 am

In article <6wK28RjCGHA.2104@news-server>,
nuwermj@nospam.please.yahoo.com says...

> Thanks for the tips, Ronnie. I too have macular degeneration. My Doctor
> recommended multi-vitamins with lots of zinc. These products look like
> they may be a bit more specialized for the eye.

I'm a bit taken aback to hear this, you're too young, hopefully it's
early stage with little impact at present.

I'm sure you've researched this, but if I can help with any info,
advice, opinion, etc., then let's take this to email.

--
Ronnie MacGregor
Scotland

www.dBASEdeveloper.co.uk

Ronnie MacGregor

2005-12-30, 11:23 am

In article <MPG. 1e1d1a89aebac2b89897
87@news.dbase.com>,
nospam@nospam.com says...

> Do you know _why_ you have that? Is it caused by glaucoma or diabetes?

Primary cause other than age is probably genetic predisposition,
followed by poor health and diet.

Glaucoma and Diabetes do not cause ARMD, but can be aggravating factors.

--
Ronnie MacGregor
Scotland

www.dBASEdeveloper.co.uk

Jean-Pierre Martel

2005-12-31, 3:23 am

In article <NerzelHDGHA.1488@news-server>,
nuwermj@nospam.please.yahoo.com says...
> No, I do not know the cause.

If that degeneration is serious (if reading will become a problem
for you before you're very, very old), then don't accept a "we don't know
why" answer. Go to a first-class clinic (Clinic Mayo, for example) which
will not stop searching for the cause until it's found and until a
medical solution is at hand.

Jean-Pierre Martel, editor
The dBASE Developers Bulletin
Blue Star dBASE Plus Core Concepts Graduate

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