What you found most difficult in using EZGUI 4.0 Pro (Poll)

[Chris Boss]

This discussion is for the benefit of those who found it difficult to learn how to use EZGUI 4.0 pro.

Let me first say, that EZGUI does have a learning curve like anything else and one can not expect a software package with so many features to be learned in a few days.

Because a few never get up to speed with EZGUI does not in any way diminish its value in any way.

- Some never get up to speed, simply because they have a totally different approach to programming and EZGUI is too different than what they are use to.

- Some may not have the time (or motivation) to work through their initial problems in using it so they give up too soon

What ever the reason, I want to help all users to get the most out of EZGUI.

The first place to start with is to find out what the specific problems are with some new users.
Once I find the key areas customers have problems I can then address those problems here in the new forums.

If you have purchased EZGUI and haven't gotten up to speed with it yet (or simply stopped using it) this is your chance to make your investment pay off.

This much I can honestly say, if you give EZGUI a fair chance, take the time to learn how it really works, get help from me over any initial hurdles using it, you can develop amazingly powerful Windows applications.

Don't be fooled by all the hype others may say about EZGUI compared to other Visual Designers for Powerbasic.

EZGUI has features which most PB'ers rarely, if ever, learn how to do with the Windows API alone.

The real test of a programming tool is not whether you use the API directly (so called SDK style programming) or whether it does not have a runtime, but it is the quality and reliability of the software you can create with it.

I can tell by the kind of software my customers, especially the advanced ones, are creating with EZGUI that it is a powerful tool in the right hands.

This poll and discussion is to find out why some have more of a problem in getting up to speed with EZGUI that do some others.

The purpose of this poll and discussion is not for you to get a chance to trash EZGUI.

The purpose is to find out why find using EZGUI difficult and to remedy the problem.

I am willing to give such users the attention they need to help them get the most out of EZGUI.

So lets start.

[Donnie Ewald]

In all honesty, I purchased EZGUI with wrong expectations.  As a hobby programmer I've been very lucky that I can usually adapt existing code for my purposes.  Since several excellent prices were offered I purchased the Personal Version and later the Pro version.  Unfortunately, I've never truly used EZGUI since the time investment to learn it is usually greater than hand-coding the small utilities that I'm going to use.

I'm sure that with some front-side investment that it would allow me to become more efficient in the long-term; but, the need has not been there yet to provide that stimulus.  I don't regret the purchase; but, I will admit that I wish that I had done more research to understand what I was purchasing.  So, no fault of Mr. Boss but a fault of my own.

[Chris Boss]

Thank you for your honest comments about EZGUI Donnie,

I fully understand.

I am curious, what kind of applications do you usually write ?

Also could you elborate on what confused you when using EZGUI ?

Maybe it would be helpful if you noted what programming languages you are used to (ie. VB) ?

While EZGUI may not fullfill your current needs, it would be worthwhile to continue to experiment with it.

Not as to using EZGUI, there are a number of things which may confuse some at first.

One is the Events.

Event converts common API notification messages into consistant events and forwards the events to the proper subroutine for each control.
Events are pretty straightforward, IMO and don't take long to grasp.

Second the Smart Parser.

Unlike other Designers which allow you to edit code within the designer EZGUI lets' you use an external code editor of choice.
Because the code editor is external, there has to be some way to protect certain blocks of code from being edited because the designer needs to maintain that code itself.

The Smart parser does this simply, but it may be a little confusing at first.

Here are some posts from my forums (the old forums) which discuss the Smart Parser.
Maybe something in them will "click" and make sense to you. I hope they are helpful.
Other users have asked questions about the Smart parser and maybe these posts will offer some answers for you.

http://chrisboss.hypermart.net/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001364.html
http://chrisboss.hypermart.net/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001512.html
http://chrisboss.hypermart.net/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001531.html
http://chrisboss.hypermart.net/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001774.html
http://chrisboss.hypermart.net/ubb/Forum11/HTML/000028.html
http://chrisboss.hypermart.net/ubb/Forum11/HTML/000030.html
http://chrisboss.hypermart.net/ubb/Forum29/HTML/000005.html
http://chrisboss.hypermart.net/ubb/Forum29/HTML/000024.html
http://chrisboss.hypermart.net/ubb/Forum29/HTML/000036.html


If you have specific questions, feel free to ask them in the EZGUI main forum.

[Donnie Ewald]

I normally write small utilities in PB/CC that'll convert one type of file into another.  Maybe a CSV file into an HTML file.  I also write small GUI applications for games and such that I might play:


...has some screenshots of the type of program that I most commonly write with PB/WIN.  I also maintain the POFFS code, though I've not released an engine update to the public in a long time.  My programming cycle is usually pretty simple, I create a plan, I create the backbone of whatever is happening in PB/CC, if I decide to share the program, I'll create a GUI environment in PB/Forms and then import my PB/CC code.

Pardon me for being simple; but, what confused me the most at the beginning is that it's so different.  I learned to program with QB45/PDS71 and then moved from that into PB for DOS. I then moved to PB/CC and PB/WIN.  I'm not a hardcore programmer.  I've Petzold's book; but, I've never read it.  There is every resource in the world available on the internet to provide understanding and direction; but, I've avoided it.  Once I've some need for something then I invest the time to learn about it.  Like a kid memorizing the multiplication tables, I follow the process of programming but I don't truly understand why 9x9=81.

So, my programs work; but, they don't sing like what others can do.