VisualAge RPG Windows Tips and Techniques
Note:
These sample programs are provided by IBM as simple examples. These examples have not been thoroughly tested under all conditions. IBM, therefore, can not guarantee or imply reliability, serviceability, or function of these samples.
All programs contained herein are provided to you "AS IS". The implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are expressly disclaimed.
Here are some tips from IBM developers to help improve your VisualAge RPG applications. Tips will be added periodically.
Creating non-GUI VisualAge RPG Programs
This section describes how you can create stand-alone VisualAge RPG applications and DLLs.
Calling Windows® DLLs from VisualAge RPG - Updated (09/03/98)
One of the many enhancements in V3R2M1 of VisualAge RPG is a much improved method of invoking Windows DLLs. This tip gives a brief overview of DLLs and how to invoke them in a VisualAge RPG program. There is also a sample VisualAge RPG program that demonstrates how to call Windows APIs.
Calling Windows APIs - Examples
In a previous tip, we described how you can call Windows APIs from a VisualAge RPG program. In this tip we give a few more examples on calling those APIs.
Using Windows Help with your VisualAge RPG application
One of the features of VisualAge RPG is the ability to create cursor sensitive help for your applications. This tip will explain how you can create true Windows help that can be displayed by your program.
Using Plugins in VisualAge RPG (with sample plugin)
One of the more interesting features of V3R2M1 of VisualAge RPG is the ability to write programs that interact with the GUI designer. You can write these "Plugins" in practically any language including C, REXX, and VisualAge RPG. Plugins allow you to add your own functions to the GUI designer by performing operations such as querying and creating parts in the GUI designer as well as interacting with the LPEX editor by issuing editor commands.
Reusing Components
This tip describes the structure of VisualAge RPG projects and how you can use this information to reuse or share a component with multiple applications.
Design Considerations
This tip discusses points to consider when designing your graphical user interface, such as colour and font choices.
Tabs and Groups
This tip discusses how to set the tab order for parts such as entry fields and push buttons on a window. It also describes how parts can be grouped together as tab groups.
Click here for more VisualAge RPG samples
You can find more sample programs here.
