|
Home > Archive > dBASE Questions and Answers > December 2005 > How do I create a Splash Screen?
You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread.
To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to
this thread please [click here]
| Author |
How do I create a Splash Screen?
|
|
| Edward 2005-12-13, 8:25 pm |
| How do I create a splash screen that shows up when it starts my program?
| |
| Les Shewchuk 2005-12-13, 8:25 pm |
| 1. Use any design program you prefer to create the image you want.
2. Save the image as a 256 colour windows bitmap .bmp format.
3. Add the image to your application's project.
4. I recommend that you turn on the "Include file within executable" option
on the File Details tab.
5. On the Project tab, select your image on the Splash Bitmap dropdown.
Tips.
The splash screen is only on for a short time, so you do now want to have to
decipher clutter.
Avoid detailed photographs. You loose colour and details when you change to
256 colour bitmaps.
If you want detailed photo's make sure they are not the main focus of the
screen. Make them edge trim.
Use Larger letters and shapes. Keep any text on plain patches. Avoid fine
print.
Give the image an edge or border. A colour patch that just ends, looks
unfinished. Also, you never know what screen colour the user has set-up.
Without the edge, you might blend in with the user's desktop.
Stick to the rectangle. While XP frames have curved corners, the BMP format
doesn't support transparent spots. The 3-4 pixel white spots on the corners
really stand out.
Les Shewchuk
"Edward" <ed@ed.com> wrote in message news:094merCAGHA.1228@news-server...
> How do I create a splash screen that shows up when it starts my program?
>
| |
| Edward 2005-12-13, 8:25 pm |
| Thanks very much!
Les Shewchuk Wrote:
> 1. Use any design program you prefer to create the image you want.
> 2. Save the image as a 256 colour windows bitmap .bmp format.
> 3. Add the image to your application's project.
> 4. I recommend that you turn on the "Include file within executable" option
> on the File Details tab.
> 5. On the Project tab, select your image on the Splash Bitmap dropdown.
>
> Tips.
>
> The splash screen is only on for a short time, so you do now want to have to
> decipher clutter.
>
> Avoid detailed photographs. You loose colour and details when you change to
> 256 colour bitmaps.
>
> If you want detailed photo's make sure they are not the main focus of the
> screen. Make them edge trim.
>
> Use Larger letters and shapes. Keep any text on plain patches. Avoid fine
> print.
>
> Give the image an edge or border. A colour patch that just ends, looks
> unfinished. Also, you never know what screen colour the user has set-up.
> Without the edge, you might blend in with the user's desktop.
>
> Stick to the rectangle. While XP frames have curved corners, the BMP format
> doesn't support transparent spots. The 3-4 pixel white spots on the corners
> really stand out.
>
> Les Shewchuk
>
>
> "Edward" <ed@ed.com> wrote in message news:094merCAGHA.1228@news-server...
>
>
| |
| Zagrijs Venter 2005-12-14, 3:24 am |
| In addition to what Les said...
Because the built-in spalshscreen displays only for a short time, as Les
pointed, out, I (and I would think several other dBase developers) created
our own splasscreen and display it for as long as we choose.
Use a SDI form with properties sset as follows:
topmost = true
autocenter = true
smalltitle = true
sizeable = false
moveable = false
maximize = false
minimize = false
sysmenu = false
This will give you a form without the familiar windows minimize, maximize
and close buttons in the top right corner. Use the background property for
your picture and texts objects for the name of your program and other info
you want to display.
Create an instance of the form in your starting program storing a reference
to it in a local variable or a property of the _app, open it when needed and
close it when you have displayed it long enough. I create and open my
splashcreen early, do most of the other preparations of my program and then
close it. That way it displays long enough without having to include a
specific line to control the time that it is displayed. But if necessary
you can use "sleep" to determine how long it would be displayed.
Good luck
Zagrijs Venter
"Edward" wrote
> How do I create a splash screen that shows up when it starts my program?
>
|
|
|
|
|