Customization layout won't hold

[fortesque]

Thomas, et.al.

Problem: Layout error; layout of Software Objects editors doesn't hold in proper design after application is built.

This may be a repeat to an existing thread but couldn't find it if it exists.

1. Creating Software Objects stage works just like in the video. Editors all set and saved.

2. Run Software stage works just like in the video on customizing the layout.

3. In "Run Software" after getting the Software Object editors laid out nicely, I click "close" then "no" when asked to save.

4. Click "new" again and the Software Object editors are positioned as they should be. Test works.

5. Click "close" then "no" and now back to "Miscellaneous" and click "create setup."

6. Asked whether I want to "update software" and I clicked "yes."

7. Setup file created. File named and saved to directory. Everything appears to be okay.

8. Install the application and shortcut appears as it should.

9. Open the application just created, click on software object, then"new" and application opens but Software Objects editors are not laid out as I had designed them.

10. Editors appear to be laid out in "new" window in some sequence similar to their positioning on "grid" page. However, don't understnd why there should be physical connection between "grid" page sequencing of editors and what appears in new window.

Have now created three more Software Projects and still having the same problem with layout error.

Any ideas on how to correct what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks in advance
John Burns

[Dexx]

What I typically do is I always make sure to Exit the "test software run" using the Exit button and not closing the software.

Then when I return to the software project I always save and close.

Then I go back and check.


The problem has something to do with the empty space object, they sometimes resize themselves sometimes, dunno why.

Remove some of them and you should see your layout remains more normal...

[stevinium]

I've had this problem a few times also.
I layout the software, and after I build and install,
sometimes the objects are the reverse of where I put them.
Like I will have:
Name
Address
City
State

And after I will have:
State
City
Address
Name

If I group the objects together this fixes the problem,
but it really shouldn't be that way.

Steve

[TigerSoftware]

I am changing the way the layouts are saved. It should take care of the problems. At least I am crossing my fingers. :)

I was going to try to get the update out this week but my sister ended up at the hospital and I have been there most of the time. I try to get home to do some support but haven't been able to finish up my fixes and documentation.


Thomas

[fortesque]

Thomas, Dexx,Stevinium:

Thanks for the inputs. I'll try some of your suggestions. I did group the editors and noticed in the revised format the editors were co-mingled along with reversions to name changes, that is, name chang didn't take.

I'll update you on my findings.

Best to all
JWB

[MikeM]

I was going to try to get the update out this week but my sister ended up at the hospital and I have been there most of the time.

Family comes first buddy. Unfortunately for you, we'll always be here, but not always so with family members.

[Dexx]

I was going to try to get the update out this week but my sister ended up at the hospital and I have been there most of the time. I try to get home to do some support but haven't been able to finish up my fixes and documentation.


Thomas

Sorry to hear about your sister Thomas, I hope she gets well soon from whatever ails her!

[TigerSoftware]

Thanks guys.

It was a blood clot to the lung. Very serious and we are lucky she went into the hospital when she did. I lost my aunt to the same thing about 6 months ago.

So I am trying to use time better to be there for her and for you guys. :)


Thanks for the support,



Thomas

[fortesque]

I am changing the way the layouts are saved. It should take care of the problems. At least I am crossing my fingers. :)

I was going to try to get the update out this week but my sister ended up at the hospital and I have been there most of the time. I try to get home to do some support but haven't been able to finish up my fixes and documentation.


Thomas

Thomas:

I have a wish for you. And that is that you step back, take a deep breath and relax. I know it's easier said than done, but really hope you are able to do it.

Hey, I even had success with the customization layout! Sought of any way. Built one more project using same object as earlier and the layout in the new project came out as designed.

Then I tried a second project using same object and made only one change which was in the skin selection.

In that effort the "create setup" build didn't like something about me and the layout reverted. Those darn molecules and electrons. They are always up to something!;)

Thought it might be due to having date editor widget not sufficiently wide enough to handle full mo/day/yr display. But on another redesign and I tested and corrected for that possible error and it still failed to hold created layout.

I'm feeling good about the one success and I'm confident that we'll get the problem corrected.:)

Best to you and hope your sister does well.

John Burns

[TigerSoftware]

Thomas:

I have a wish for you. And that is that you step back, take a deep breath and relax. I know it's easier said than done, but really hope you are able to do it.

Hey, I even had success with the customization layout! Sought of any way. Built one more project using same object as earlier and the layout in the new project came out as designed.

Then I tried a second project using same object and made only one change which was in the skin selection.

In that effort the "create setup" build didn't like something about me and the layout reverted. Those darn molecules and electrons. They are always up to something!;)

Thought it might be due to having date editor widget not sufficiently wide enough to handle full mo/day/yr display. But on another redesign and I tested and corrected for that possible error and it still failed to hold created layout.

I'm feeling good about the one success and I'm confident that we'll get the problem corrected.:)

Best to you and hope your sister does well.

John Burns


Hi John,


I am fine thanks for the concern. :)

The layouts haven't work consistently for me as well. I think I know how I can fix that. The change wouldn't have been my first choice and will make me change other functionality but will be worth it if we can get this working more consistent.

I think the layouts and the naming conventions are the main problems right now.

Like I said, this is a work in progress. :D

My sister is doing good. She should be out of intensive care tomorrow.


Thanks,


Thomas

[waller]

Hi Thomas,

Sorry to hear about your sister, but good news that she's doing well.

Take care of yourself and get some rest,

Waller

[stevinium]

Hi Thomas,
Glad to hear your sister is doing better. I Hope she gets well soon.
Don't worry about us, family does come first.
Steve

[stevinium]

Thomas:

I have a wish for you. And that is that you step back, take a deep breath and relax. I know it's easier said than done, but really hope you are able to do it.

Hey, I even had success with the customization layout! Sought of any way. Built one more project using same object as earlier and the layout in the new project came out as designed.

Then I tried a second project using same object and made only one change which was in the skin selection.

In that effort the "create setup" build didn't like something about me and the layout reverted. Those darn molecules and electrons. They are always up to something!;)

Thought it might be due to having date editor widget not sufficiently wide enough to handle full mo/day/yr display. But on another redesign and I tested and corrected for that possible error and it still failed to hold created layout.

I'm feeling good about the one success and I'm confident that we'll get the problem corrected.:)

Best to you and hope your sister does well.

John Burns

Hi John,
I've had some success too. I figured out that if I customize the grid layout after the object layout, my changes go awry.
Then I tried it differently, changing the grid layout first, then customizing, then it stayed the right way.

I'm not sure if this is the answer, so if anyone else can test this theory, please feel free to either confirm or deny this suspicion.
Steve

[fortesque]

Hi John,
I've had some success too. I figured out that if I customize the grid layout after the object layout, my changes go awry.
Then I tried it differently, changing the grid layout first, then customizing, then it stayed the right way.

I'm not sure if this is the answer, so if anyone else can test this theory, please feel free to either confirm or deny this suspicion.
Steve

Hi Steve:

Thanks for the idea of first arranging the grid before working layout.

I'll try that approach out.

Question I have is how to handle editors within and by group.

Wondering whether to arrange the editors in the grid by group, starting the grid list at the left with the editor I want at the top of that group first. Then follow in the grid with those editors that I want to position below and lastly those that are lateral within a group. :confused:

I'll review some application layouts that didn't go as planned as see what if any relationship there is between the grid sequence and the layout.

I'll let you know how it works.

Best regards,

John Burns

[stevinium]

Hi Steve:

Thanks for the idea of first arranging the grid before working layout.

I'll try that approach out.

Question I have is how to handle editors within and by group.

Wondering whether to arrange the editors in the grid by group, starting the grid list at the left with the editor I want at the top of that group first. Then follow in the grid with those editors that I want to position below and lastly those that are lateral within a group. :confused:

I'll review some application layouts that didn't go as planned as see what if any relationship there is between the grid sequence and the layout.

I'll let you know how it works.

Best regards,

John Burns

I don't think the grid sequence has anything to do with it. I might be wrong though.
I think that just messing with the grid after you laid out your software screws up your layout.
Let me know your findings, I will try another too.
Steve

[stevinium]

Well, I tried a test, and it seems I can't get it to do what I thought it would do. Everything stays fine even when I remove stuff from the grid or move them around on the grid. My layout stays fine.
Why can't it be this way all the time lol.
Murphy's Law you know.:confused:
Steve

Edit:
I tried again, this time laying out my software then modifying the grid, then closing the software.
When I ran it again, it reverted back to the original layout.
The I tried modifying the grid, then New again to check layout, the close, no to saving, then close the software.
When I ran it again, it was fine.

So my result is, if you layout your software then remove stuff from the grid, hit new again to check your layout is still there,
then when you close your software and run it again it seems to stay.
But if you don't check your layout before you close, then it reverts back to start.
Steve

[stevinium]

My results are inconclusive.
After some more testing, it seems to just happen randomly.
Oh well. Back to the drawing board.
Steve :confused:

[fortesque]

My results are inconclusive.
After some more testing, it seems to just happen randomly.
Oh well. Back to the drawing board.
Steve :confused:

Steve:

Yes, found monkeying with the grid produced results similar to what you found. Doesn't make any differnce. Don't think the "string" is connected at all between layout and the order of editors presented in the grid.

Did work on another application and had success with the layout, though.:)

It took a series of repeated efforts to get the saved layout to be the same as the designed layout.

Similar to your approach, after having the layout the way I wanted it, I clicked "close" then "no" to wanting to save changes. Clicked on "new" and in a number of instances the layout was changed. Sometimes quite dramatically (for example, editors were no longer contained in tabbed groups; all the editors were present but in a order different than the designed layout) and other times with subtle changes.

I kept re-laying out the design and retrying (stopped counting after 6 tries) .

Finally had an instance of a click "close" and again clicking "new" wtih the complete layout design holding.

Then I retested the correct layout a number of times using the same procedure as above and each time the layout held. Clicked on "create setup" and the build worked correctly. After installation of the new application the program opened with the correct layout.:)

Success.

So, I guess the mode is to keep testing the layout going through the click "close" then "no", and re-opening until the proper layout appears. Then testing that correct layout to make sure it holds.

Best regards,

John Burns

[stevinium]

Yea something is funky, especially when you first lay it out.
But once it gets set it seems to stay.
On my test app, I thought I would try to mess it up, but I can't.
I even hit close and saved it, then I started entering records and saved them, moved stuff around and saved them.
Everything is working so good I can't believe it.
I was messing with the document editor, I opened one of Dexx's icons in a photo box, copied it into the doc, and I pasted it a few more times, I could overlap the picture and they stayed wherever I put them.

So everything is working fine here. lol
Steve

[TigerSoftware]

I think my fix will help but need to figure out a way to incorporate it into the layout files that you can distribute to others.


We are getting there. hehe


Thomas

[TigerSoftware]

Ok, I have been working on this layout problem for the past couple of days. My changes seem to be holding. I will test more tomorrow (well today since it is 4am lol) and see if any of the layout changes are not added to the database. So far so good though.

I thought I would keep you posted. I want to release this update this week. More work and more docs to do but am pretty happy getting everything done and caught up.

Ok, better get some sleep. I need to wake up in 4 hours, take my sister to the hospital (she is out and doing well), hit the gym for a workout and then back to work with all my friends here. :D

I will be back online in the afternoon.


Thomas

[countrytechie]

Newbie here, using TSB Express Builder and having problem customization holding after changing? Tried numerous times, but when I close and reopen, layout is back to original?

Can anyone help me. Have a software program I'm construction (my first one) and if layout is not right, just not professional. Thanks

[TigerSoftware]

Newbie here, using TSB Express Builder and having problem customization holding after changing? Tried numerous times, but when I close and reopen, layout is back to original?

Can anyone help me. Have a software program I'm construction (my first one) and if layout is not right, just not professional. Thanks


Hi,

I need to know more about the steps you went through in order to help.

What did you do after you customized the layout? Meaning, how did you close the window?


Thomas