RE: [Pythoncard-users] PythonCard Visual Card Creator

[Kevin A. <al...@se...>]

Which release are you using? You can check by selecting 'About
PythonCard...' from the 'Debug' menu if you've enabled the Message Watcher,
Property Editor, or Shell when you started a sample. It will display a list
of version numbers such as:

PythonCard version: 0.4.3
wxPython version: 2.3.1
PyCrust version: 0.5.3
Python version: 2.1 (#15, Jun 15 2001, 14:13:47) [MSC 32 bit (Intel)]
Platform: win32

Hopefully, you're using release 0.4.3. If so, have you tried the
resourceEditor sample? You can open up any of the sample .rsrc.py sample
files or just start creating your own layout. Use the Attributes menu item
under the View menu to see the descriptions of the widgets on the current
layout. I've posted a few messages about the resourceEditor and there is a
readme.txt in the directory that is displayed if you select 'About
resourceEditor...' from the 'Help' menu.

Anyway, the other things you are asking for will eventually show up in some
form. Remember that this is a prototype and alpha quality code at that (at
least it is alpha-quality to me). The main purpose of the samples is to
stress the framework and identify the features that need to be added or
fixed.

ka

> -----Original Message-----
> From: pyt...@li...
> [mailto:pyt...@li...]On Behalf Of Ronald
> D Stephens
> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2001 11:58 AM
> To: pyt...@li...
> Subject: [Pythoncard-users] PythonCard Visual Card Creator
>
>
> Unfortunately, just as I am making progress studying the samples
> code, I am forced to make an unexpected trip overseas again, I will
> be out of commission for a week and a half. So, at the risk of
> being embarassed by my obvious ignorance and naivete, I am going to
> summarize some thoughts I am having.
>
> What I most hope for is for someone to code a sort of visual card
> creator for PythonCard. In other words, a visual card creator
> might show a visual palette or window or card, with a group of
> icons at the top representing the various widgets that Kevin has
> already created for PythonCard. It is not necessary nor even
> desirable to show an infinite number of widgets; rather, only a  small
> but representative sample of the widgets, one of each generic
> kind, sort of a mini sampling of the functionality of PythonCard, to
> allow beginnners or neophytes to begin coding real, usable
> mini-PythonCard gui's right away, from the beginining of their
> experience.
>
> I really believe in the concept of "hooking" potential users
> right up front, allowing them to then evolve or grow into the coding
> environment naturally, by trial and error, a little at a time.
>
> In any intellectual creation task, such as  creating a program,
> the hardest thing of all, by far, is the first step. Most people
> never get started, because the first step is just too daunting
> and scary. But when and if a person completes a first step, no matter
> how small, and gets a psychic reward of success, they are hooked,
> and they may never turn back.
>
> So, a sample card or window, offering a small set of widgets,
> that can be pointed at and clicked on, and then dragged to the
> appropriate spot on the window, offers an inviting introduction
> to PythonCard. After placing the widget, a right click could bring
> up a properties window, or a menu offering the selection of all
> of the various PythonCard program modules, such as resource files,
> resource editors, or the master PythonCard programming environment.
>
> Some of this code to do this may be "borrowable" from elsewhere.
> What about Boa Constructor? With all of the open source programs
> like Boa, to do some sort of visual gui creation, aren't they
> available for code borrowing? Therr is nothing wrong with code
> borrwoing, as I understand it is an honor to have one's code
> stolen??? Of course, let me hasten to add, that what I have in moind
> here must be far simpler than anything Boa offers or does, or
> else it will miss sthe purpose.
>
> Now it would be nice if someone or some group would step up to
> the plate and help out on doing this piece of the programming. Kevin
> can't do it all by himself;-)))))))
>
> While we're at it, what about a visual metaphor for manipulating
> the cards in Pythoncard? Couldn't we create a visual "stack" of
> Pythoncards, sort of like the old Windows 3.1 Cardfile.exe
> program, does anyone remember that, that showed a rolodex type stack of
> cards for storing addresses, phone numbers and other contact
> information? A visual stack of Pythoncards could be manipulated easily
> and effectively.
>
>
> I hope someone will step up to the plate and help Kevn on this.
> I know that what I am so crudely and clumsily trying to describe
> must represent a tremendously difficult and arduous programming
> task, and so I am very presumptuous to even mention the topic. But
> think what a boon to programmers this could be?
>
> I am overwhelmingly impressed and overjoyed with what Kevin and
> you all have already created. I am humbled by my attempts to learn
> by studying the source code for the samples. I believe the
> programming model already being implented will represent a huge step
> forward for Python gui creation.
>
> But a visual metaphor for doing the simplest gui ceation, only,
> the introductory card creation, would be the coup de grace that
> would provide the introductory enticement to lure the multitudes
> of people, making PythonCard unstoppable, make it what some many of
> us have dreamed of. I hope I am not out of line to dream publicly
> on this list.
>
> Ron Stephens
>
> p.s. I must leave for the airport right now, so I apologize for
> the sketchy description of what I have in mind. I will be unable to
> add to it or answer questions for a week and a half. But maybe
> that's good. Those of you so much more knowledgeable and capable than
> I can probably create something much better than what I am
> imagining anyway. Suffice it to say, a visual, easy to use
> mini-introduction to creating pythoncards would be useful, and
> would help, even a this early stage in the development of Pythoncard,
> to attract users and maybe even contributors. It doesn't need to
> be fancy, not powerful, nor in any way complete; just an easy way
> to get started for users in creating the simplest PythonCard
> event driven gui applets, if you will.
>
> ...sorry for not being able to contribute, but admiring and
> grateful to all of those who do contribute, Ron Stephens
>
>
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