Creating and Maintaining Tools

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(New page: '''Overview''' Running CTMAINT Toolbar Items Accelerator Items Popup Items View Sample Tools Export Bitmaps Version Number Control Generate Tool File SuperNova tools are create...)
 
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'''Overview''' Running CTMAINT Toolbar Items Accelerator Items Popup Items View Sample Tools Export Bitmaps Version Number Control Generate Tool File
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*'''[[Overview]]'''  
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*'''[[Running CTMAINT]]'''
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*'''[[Toolbar Items]]'''
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SuperNova tools are created and maintained with the CTMAINT utility program. Each tool context has a unique name (6 characters maximum), and contains three types of tools:
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*'''[[Accelerator Items]]'''
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*'''[[Popup Items]]'''
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*'''[[View Sample Tools]]'''
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toolbars
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*'''[[Export Bitmaps]]'''
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accelerators
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*'''[[Version Number Control]]'''
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pop-up items
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*'''[[Generate Tool File]]'''
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A toolbar contains icons. These icons are bitmap images that represent a specific event (e.g., a picture of a comet represents the launching of a Comet session).
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The icons are BMP files. Comet98 supports two sizes:
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Small icons are 15 pixels wide by 16 pixels high (CTMAINT will accept images that are 16x16 pixels, but will truncate the bottom line of the image).
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Large icons are 32 pixels wide by 32 pixels high.
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For the sake of convenience, we recommend that you store the BMP files in a separate directory such as C:\BMP.
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Accelerators consist of keyboard shortcuts. For example, the default tool context (the "initial tools") offers two accelerators:
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Ctrl+N launches a new Comet session
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Ctrl+P prints the current screen
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A pop-up menu consists of menu headings plus one level of menu items. Each menu item represents a specific action. You can add separators between the menu items to visually separate sections of a menu.
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SuperNova Actions
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Each tool is associated with a specific action. For example, when you click the mouse on the comet icon, a new Comet session is launched. SuperNova provides a rich colletion of actions for each tool, including:
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launching the Comet Help System (help messages, lookup programs, lookup tables)
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executing a Comet subprogram
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replaying a text string into a data entry field
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launching a Windows document/application
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performing a system action (launching a new Comet session, exiting from Comet, etc.)
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intercepting the tool by the current MTB program
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Some of the above actions are the same as the actions performed the by Nova function keys. In fact, the NOVA program processes the following SuperNova actions: launching the Comet Help System, executing a Comet subprogram, and replaying a text string.
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The "system" actions consist of the following system-level operations:
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  1    Launch a new Comet session
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  2    Print the current screen (Windows dialog box)
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  3    Print setup (Windows dialog box)
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  4    Change font (Windows dialog box)
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  5    Change color (Windows dialog box)
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  6    About (Windows dialog box)
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  7    Exit from Comet
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  8    Toolbar display -- on/off toggle
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  9    Status bar display -- on/off toggle
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  10    Copy clipboard
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  11    Paste clipboard
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  12    Cut clipboard
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  13    Display Comet release notes (RELNOTES.TXT text file)
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  14    Tool button size -- toggle between small/large icons
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SuperNova also offers the ability for an MTB program to intercept and process a tool, leaving the NOVA program out of the picture altogether. For example, clicking the mouse on a particular icon could result in the current program branching to a specific statement label. Likewise, selecting a menu item or using an accelerator key could result in an action by the current MTB program, not the NOVA program. For this reason, this type of tool is given a "no action" value, indicating that no Nova action is being taken. In general, this feature extends the capability for creating "event-driven" MTB applications.
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Latest revision as of 22:30, 28 May 2009

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