Improvements in Message functions

With HMG 3.1.3 release, (2013/06/16), all Msgxxx funstions (MsgBox, MsgExclamation, MsgInfo, MsgOkCancel, MsgRetryCancel, MsgStop, MsgYesNo) accept all type of data ( even in title ( except array ); not only characters, even others, including arrays 😮

( MsgMulti() has been replaced 😦 )

Now, we have a new ( and higly useful ) msg function MsgDebug() with an extra feature: this function accept “elastic” count of paramaters 😮

And another very handy debug function : ListCalledFunctions()

( WhereIsIt() has been replaced 😦 )

This little sample will try demonstrate these important ( at least for me 😉 ) enhancement in HMG.

Please don’t take wrong; absolutely I’m not sad by replaced my functions; on the contrary I’m very happy. Because of first, all advance in HMG make me happy; and second these new functions are definetely better than mines. And third, system functions are always better (both in speed and safety) than UDFs.

MsgFuncsEnhancements

Viva HMG, viva Dr. Soto 😀

HMG Message functions

As noticed in Hello Word – 3 sample, HMG has a lot of message functions with name prefixed by “Msg”:

MsgBox() :

Shows a Message Box

Syntax: MsgBox(<cMessage>,[<cTitle>]) –> Nil

Example : MsgBox( “This a simple message”, “MsgBox Example” )

MsgExclamation() :

Shows a message box with an exclamation icon and a special sound.

Syntax: MsgExclamation(<cMessage>,[<cTitle>]) –> Nil

Example : MsgExclamation( “Wrong selection !”, “MsgExclamation Example” )

MsgInfo() :

Shows a message box with an information icon and a special sound.

Syntax: MsgInfo (<cMessage>,[<cTitle>]) –> Nil

Example : MsgInfo( “For your information”, “MsgInfo Example” )

MsgStop() :

Shows a message box with an stop icon and a special sound.

Syntax: MsgStop(<cMessage>,[<cTitle>]) –> Nil

Example : MsgStop( “End of file reached”, “MsgStop Example” )

MsgOkCancel() :

Shows a message box with [Ok] and [Cancel] buttons

Syntax: MsgOkCancel(<cMessage>,[<cTitle>]) –> lResponse

Example : MsgOkCancel( “Are your to exit ?”, “MsgOkCancel Example” )

MsgRetryCancel() :

Shows a message box with [Retry] and [Cancel] buttons

Syntax: MsgRetryCancel(<cMessage>,[<cTitle>]) –> lResponse

Example: MsgRetryCancel( “File open error !”, “MsgRetryCancel Example” )

MsgYesNo() :

Shows a message box with [Yes] and [No] buttons

Syntax: MsgYesNo( <cMessage> , <cTitle> ) –> lResponse

Example: MsgYesNo( “Are you sure to delete file ?”, “Confirm Delete” )

Like MsgBox(), all message functions accept parameters as a string constant representing the message itself. All message functions also have a second parameter, again a string constant representing the title of message box.

As noticed in syntax, the first four message functions returns NIL, and the last three returns a logical value.

<lResponse> is .T. when selected first option; Ok, Retry and Yes.

Try and observe results.

Hints :

– As a rule, every HMG project must have one and only one “Main” window. This message functions are exception of this rule. If you have only message function(s) you can build a program without main window.

– For multiple lines message body you may use CRLF. CRLF is a predefined constant in HMG. If required you may define it:

CRLF := HB_OsNewLine()

Example :

MsgBox( "This is a" + CRLF + "multiple line" + CRLF + ;
        "message", CRLF + "Multi-Line" )

– Since message function accept only “C” ( Character ) type arguments as <cMessage> and <cTitle>; for messaging other that ‘C’ type arguments, you may use appropriate function to convert  to character type. See below for an example.

Example :

/*
 HMG Message functions
*/
#include <hmg.ch>

dToday := DATE()
lMaried := .T.
nSalary := 123.456

PROCEDURE Main()
  SET DATE GERM
  SET CENT ON

  dToday := DATE()
  lMaried := .T.
  nSalary := 123.456
  DEFINE WINDOW frmMsgFuncs ;
     AT 0,0 ;
     WIDTH 400 ;
     HEIGHT 200 ;
     TITLE 'Message Functions' ;
     MAIN
     DEFINE MAIN MENU

        DEFINE POPUP '&Test'

          ITEM 'Msg&Box' ACTION ;
                MsgBox( "This a simple message", "MsgBox Example" ) 
          ITEM 'Msg&Exclamation' ACTION ;
                MsgExclamation( "Wrong selection !", "MsgExclamation Example" ) 
          ITEM 'Msg&Info' ACTION ;
                MsgInfo( "For your information", "MsgInfo Example" )
          ITEM 'Msg&Stop' ACTION ;
                MsgStop( "End of file reached", "MsgStop Example" ) 
          ITEM 'Msg&OkCancel' ACTION ;
                MsgOkCancel( "Are your to exit ?", "MsgOkCancel Example" ) 
          ITEM 'Msg&RetryCancel' ACTION ;
                MsgRetryCancel( "File open error !", "MsgRetryCancel Example" )
          ITEM 'Msg&YesNo' ACTION ;
                MsgYesNo( "Are you sure to delete file ?", "Confirm Delete" )
 ITEM 'Multiple &Line' ACTION ; 
       MsgBox( "This is a" + CRLF + "multiple line" + CRLF + ;
               "message", CRLF + "Multi-Line" ) 
 ITEM 'Non-Character' ACTION ; 
       MsgBox( "Today : "   + DTOC( dToday ) + CRLF +;
               "Married : " + IF( lMaried, "Yes", "No" ) + CRLF +;
               "Salary : "   + LTRIM( STR( nSalary ) ) ,;
               "Non-Char" )
 SEPARATOR

 ITEM "E&xit" ACTION ThisWindow.Release

END POPUP // File

END MENU // Main()

END WINDOW // Main

CENTER WINDOW frmMsgFuncs

ACTIVATE WINDOW frmMsgFuncs

RETURN // Main()
*-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-

Hello World – 3

Don’t worry ! This is the last; and important.

Extract DEFINE LABEL – END LABEL structure or @ …,… LABEL command ( which one is currently exist) and then instead of them place this line :

MsgBox( "Hello World !" )

In HMG, there are a lot of message functions, with name prefixed by “Msg“; for details please look at HMG Message Functions page.

After building and running, try a more important feature: reduce your program to these minimum size:

#include <hmg.ch>
PROCEDURE Main
   MsgBox( "Hello World !" )

RETURN // Main()

In fact, as a rule, every HMG project must have one and only one “Main” window. This message functions are exception of this rule. If you have only message function(s) you can build a program without main window.