Options for a form free interface.

[EagleTempest]

I'm a newbie and wish to confirm my options on interface designs. Wouldn't it be nice to have your VB program look like a typical Window's program not having forms "pop up" above your main form. I'm guessing I have two options for have one "main" form. I think I can cheat by using a MDI interface, although it's not really needed for a database interface. Or I can use frames and toggle the display property for the appropriate menu selection (this would get messy).

Am I out to lunch and should just stick will opening and closing forms?

 

[koala15]

EagleTempest,

Just for the moment forget VB, what are you trying to achieve?

Cheers.

"Life is full of learning, and then there is wisdom"

 

[SteveGlover]

Depends what you mean by a "Typical Windows program". Most end users seem to be familiar with Word or Excel, which have an MDI interface. That's the approach I normally take unless its a trivial program.
If you're concerned about using lots of different "small" forms, try using a single form with a tab-strip, like Word uses for its Tools-Options form. The VB SSTab control works reasonably well for this. Its difficult to give better advice since I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve.

 

[EagleTempest]

I am creating a front end for a database that will be connected to the server through ODBC. Actually now that I think of it, everything but the "browser" component in Internet Explorer is a popup form.

I just want to make a professional looking program. Having a main form with only a menu, toolbar, and status bar looks unfinished. I could go with a form that has buttons as I've seen some learning example have done. Does anyone has any screen shots for an example? Thanks.

 

[vb5prgrmr]

Welcome to TT EagleTempest! To get the most from these fora please read FAQ222-2244.

Yes an MDI interface is probably what you are looking for.

And I can understand the dilemma you are facing with an application that has several different areas of action but you don't know if the user wants to do this, that or the other so you have this blank looking form there waiting on the user to select a section to go into.

You can do a couple of things to alleviate this boring looking form.

You can go into one of the modules/areas by default and when the user exits your program you can bring up the last module/area they were in. This is also helpful if you only allow one instance of your program but if you allow multiple instances or a limit of multiple instances you will have to add logic for keeping track of which instance is in which area.

You can add a graphic (I see a graphic that says which computer do you want to sink today ). While not the best way to make it look professional you can search the web for creating an instance of a screen saver (search

http://www.planetsourcecode.com

and other code sites) or some other animation.

I also see the button idea, but that is also a little plain don't you think? You could always add other status information (use your imagination). But still, a little plain looking.

Good Luck in whatever direction you go and don't forget to read FAQ222-2244.