Hi to all who work with ScreenDesigner
Rev A2 of the Mach2Mill manual documents the format of a .SET (i.e. screen Layout) file.
Mach2ScreenTweak is a utility allows you to manipulate Layout files in the following ways:
(a) Export data on the controls from a layout to a text (CSV) file for analysis and documentation purposes
(b) Import data on screen controls from a CSV file
(c) Delete screen(s)
(d) Move screen number within a layout so the number in Designer is position when using Mach2
(e Append screen(s) from another layout (to include one's own favorites)
(f) Re-caption screen selection buttons to the logical F-keys etc.
(g) Resize a screen or whole layout to smaller or bigger screen resolution
(h) Re-order a group of DROs so arrow key moves through them more logically
(i) Produce a simple statistical report on the controls in a layout or one of its screens.
I have used the Export/Import feature to compare screens between successive releases on Mach2Mill and to make systematic changes of conventional buttons to bitmap buttons.
Appending, Deleting and Moving screens is useful when you want to merge a custom screen with the standard screens issued by Art,
Notice that the caption text on conventional buttons is the same font and size whatever the size of the button so shrinking screens can cause the captions not to fit on the buttons. Bitmap buttons scale without difficulty.
I have just released version A2.1 which I consider to be Beta status. This now:
(1) Implements sorting of DROs in a group
(2) Implements Statistics
(3) Implements Import of CSV format Layouts
(4) Has clearer user interaction when Undoing
(5) Fixes a bug whereby a Layout file overwritten by a smaller Layout by Save As did not physically shrink in size.
(6) Has a distinctive program Icon
The program, a Windows ActiveX control file which you may not have if you do not use other Visual Basic applications, and a sample Layout to experiment with importing screens are in a Zip in the folder M2ScreenTweak on this group.
The source also is available if you want to "play" with other features (not-for-profit). You will need Visual Basic 6.0 Professional or Enterprise edition. Let me know off list if you want access to the source files.
Comments and suggestions welcomed as always
John Prentice
