PHP WinBinder 2: WinBinder portable: Difference between revisions

PHP is an excellent scripting language primarily designed for dynamic web sites however it also contains a command line interface. You run this via a command window although powerful it lacks a friendly user interface. The WinBinder project addressed this with a neat extension allowing a user to create windows applications.

To really appreciate WinBinders capabilities run the examples in folder C:\us_wb\wb\'''examples'''. All WinBinder windows scripts have the extension '''phpw''' you will notice that each script has a corresponding batch file. Double click on a batch file to run its associated script. These batch files were added purely for portability and connivance. (See [[PHP WinBinder 2: PHC-Win | '''PHC-win''']] how to create executables)

Run '''manytests_main.bat''' it provides an excellent example showing all controls available.

Form editor is an excellent tool for positioning Windows controls this overview will quickly get you up and running:

 

You will see three floating windows shown on the right.

* '''C)''' Control (component) selector you can close this and use the drop down menu '''D)'''

* E) After adding a control they are listed in this window. Click any item in the<br /> list to select a control, alternatively click on a control in the application design window.

* F) This window displays additional styles you can add to a control.

* G) These four controls allow you to finely tune the position of a selected control

You can delete a control by first selecting it and use menu '''Edit > Delete control'''

The form editor '''does not''' add functionality to any controls it is purely a layout tool.<br />Saving a project automatically exports a PHP script (file) containing layout information<br />this you can use either directly or cut and paste parts you require.

So as not to mask details of this process the example is intentionally basic.

The application has two buttons each toggling the state of it's corresponding image.

 

Several small files are used these simulate a larger project and demonstrate PHC-Win capabilities.

To store files and resources every application requires a main folder.

Reason for choosing this location is one of portability, you can copy folder '''us_wb''' to a USB memory stick and take your entire projects with you.

==== Basic Window app ====

'''''Basic Window app'':'''

Each windows application has a common format to save typing you will find a template in folder C:\us_wb\wb\us_tutorial copy the two files '''z_basic.bat''' and '''z_basic.phpw''' to folder C:\us_wb\'''my_app'''.

* '''z_basic.bat''' Required to run the application z_basic.phpw. It opens a command window that does not close while the application is running any PHP error messages are displayed in this window.

The error message is clear both files contain incorrect paths.

These files contain relative paths “'''..\php'''” the two periods means move up one folder level and down into folder php however it can not find the folder php. This folder resides inside folder “'''wb'''” hence must be included in the paths as shown in the next section.

==== Basic Window app corrected paths ====

'''''Basic Window app corrected paths'':'''

 

This time the basic windows application will run.

Our application looks a bit sparse however the structure is in place.

We will use the form editor to layout all controls this will automatically provide code for '''constants''' and '''control creation''' sections.

However before doing this it is worth making a list of ID names and caption values to be used in the application.

We have two buttons these can have the following ID’s and captions:

I have not provided details for a control’s position it’s your choice. Frame sizes are important they must match our images these are 20x12 pixels.

Before creating a form it is best to create a new folder that will contain the resulting form (refered to as a project). Create a new folder named '''my_project''' (or any other name) in folder C:\'''us_wb'''  

* Add a PushButton change ID to '''IDC_BUTTONRED1''' change caption to '''Red 1'''

* Create a second button change ID to '''IDC_BUTTONRED2''' change caption to '''Red 2''' Move this button just below the first button

* Create a Frame change ID to '''IDC_FRAMERED1''' delete the caption. In the styles select (check) the '''image box'''. Change the width to '''20''' and height to '''12''' . Move the frame to the right of button 1.

* Create a Frame change ID to '''IDC_FRAMGREEN1''' delete the caption. In the styles select (check) the image box. Change the width to 20 and height to 12 . Move the frame to the right of button 1 ('''left and top''' values identical to the above frame).

*Create a Frame change ID to '''IDC_FRAMERED2''' delete the caption. In the styles select (check) the '''image box'''. Change the width to 20 and height to 12 . Move the frame to the right of button 2.

*Create a Frame change ID to '''IDC_FRAMGREEN2''' delete the caption. In the styles select (check) the '''image box'''. Change the width to 20 and height to 12 . Move the  

frame to the right of button 2 (left and top values identical to the above frame).

* Resize the application window to so the buttons and frame are in the enter of the window.

Save the project with name '''my.prj''' to folder '''my_proj''' as follows

* Top meun, select '''File > Save Project as'''

* Eenter '''my.prj'''

In this example it is named '''my.form.php''' and has the following content

That completes form editor introduction you will appreciate how useful it is when you work with a larger application.

If you need to add additional controls or move the existing controls around open your project file in form editor make the changes and transfer these to your application. That really does save time.

Before looking at PHC-Win [[PHP WinBinder 2: Add code | '''next page''']] covers adding functionality to the buttons. This functionality is spread across several files providing PHC-Win with more than a single file to process.