TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Buttons and Edits
Volume Number:1
Issue Number:5
Column Tag:BASIC SCHOOL

Buttons and Edit fields

By Dave Kelly

Well, now that we know how to use windows, we should discuss what to put in them. Besides the usual printing of output, our Macintosh provides us with what are known as BUTTONs and EDIT FIELDs.

In MS Basic 2.0 the syntax is:

BUTTON  button-id,state [ ,title,
 rectangle [,type ]]
BUTTON CLOSE n
EDIT FIELD field-id [,default, rectangle [,[type][,justify ]]]
EDIT FIELD CLOSE field-id

The id parameter identifies the button or edit field number. BUTTON states are: 0=Button inactive,dimmed on the screen,1=Button active, not selected, 2 =Button active, selected. Title is a string expression that is displayed inside or beside the identified BUTTON. The BUTTON type paramenter identifies the type of BUTTON, 1=A simple push button, 2=A check box, 3=A radio button. The EDIT FIELD default is the string expression to be edited. Cut and paste editing can be used to edit the default string. Type indicates one of four editing formats. Types are: 1=Draw a box around the rectangle to be edited-Return keys not allowed, 2=Draw a box around the rectangle and allow return keys, 3=No box around edit field-Return keys not allowed, 4=No box around the rectangle and allow return keys. When using types 1 and 3 the edit field has wrap around (no return keys are allowed). The justify parameter specifies the justification of the text in the EDIT FIELD, 1=Left Justify, 2=Center Justify, 3=Right Justify. Now we’re ready to program.

Well, almost. If you remember from our discussion of WINDOWs, the rectangle parameter specifies the location of the window on the Macintosh screen. The rectangle parameter in BUTTON and EDIT FIELD statements specifies the location of the BUTTON or EDIT FIELD in the current output window. It has the form (x1,y1)-(x2,y2), same as for WINDOW, (x1,y1) is the upper left corner of the current window and (x2,y2) is the lower right corner of the window. Sounds easy at first, but here’s the catch: for every program you write you have to figure out where on the screen you want to put each BUTTON or EDIT FIELD. This can be quite a pain, especially if you have alot to put in your window. Since there is no one rectangle for every application, you must be the judge of what you think “looks” good. This is true for all program development on the Mac. All of positions for the dialog boxes and window that we see in the finder and in other applications had to be decided the same way.

The program, Rectangle Sizer should be an aid to anyone experimenting with the positions and sizes of BUTTONs and EDIT FIELDs. When the program starts you may select BUTTONS or EDIT FIELDS from the Type Selection menu. The function menu allows you to add additional BUTTONs or EDIT FIELDS or erase. You may change the size of the output window and move it around, then select Window dimensions from the function menu and the program will print the current width and height of the output window. As you place BUTTONs or EDIT FIELDs in the window, the program will display the current rectangle cooredinates. You may want to experiment and write down the coordinates for use in your program. If you want to use different fonts and sizes you can add a menu for that if you wish. This would be useful in programming the EDIT FIELDs. The BUTTONs always use 12 point Chicago. Therefore the rectangle size must be 12 point or more or part of the text will be clipped off. To use other fonts with BUTTONs you should print text beside the BUTTON. (You may have to move the desired fonts to your BASIC disk as only the bare minimum of fonts comes on the disk). It would take some experimenting to get things just right, however. You should experiment with the different BUTTON types and sizes to see what happens. A useful utility brought to you by MACTUTOR.


‘    Rectangle Sizer    
‘    By Dave Kelly
‘    ©MACTUTOR 1985

‘Set up menus
MENU 6,0,1,”Function”
MENU 6,1,0,”Add or Change Button #”
MENU 6,2,1,”Erase Button”
MENU 6,3,0,”-”
MENU 6,4,0,”Add or Change Edit Field #”
MENU 6,5,1,”Erase Edit Field”
MENU 6,6,0,”-”
MENU 6,7,1,”Window dimensions”
MENU 6,8,1,”Quit”
MENU 7,0,1,”Type Selection”
MENU 7,1,1,”Buttons”
MENU 7,2,1,”Edit Fields”
MENU 7,3,2,”No Selection”
rect%=0:bnumber%=0:enumber%=0
ON MENU GOSUB menuevent : MENU ON
WINDOW CLOSE 1
WINDOW 2,,(2,280)-(510,340),3: CLS
WINDOW  1,”Rectangle Sizer Window”,  (2,40)-(510,275)
ON MOUSE GOSUB mouseevent
‘Watch for mouse click
MOUSE ON
pause:GOTO pause

mouseevent:
MOUSE OFF: MENU OFF: x=MOUSE(0) xstart=MOUSE(3): ystart=MOUSE(4)

loop:
x=MOUSE(0)
IF x>=0 THEN exitloop’ Loop until button is        released
xend=MOUSE(5):yend=MOUSE(6)
IF rect%=1 AND bnumber%>0 THEN     BUTTON bnumber%,State,Title$, 
 (xstart,ystart)-(xend,yend),Type
IF rect%=2 AND (yend-ystart<=0) THEN yend=ystart+1
IF rect%=2 AND (xend-xstart<15) THEN xend=xstart+16
IF rect%=2 AND enumber%>0 THEN
 EDIT FIELD enumber%,default$,     (xstart,ystart)-(xend,yend), 
 EditType,Justify
CLS:WINDOW OUTPUT 2:LOCATE 1,1
IF rect%=1 THEN
 PRINT”Rectangle”;bnumber%; ELSE
 PRINT “Rectangle”;enumber%;
PRINT “is:  (“;xstart;”,”;ystart;”)-(“;xend;             “,”;yend;”)”:WINDOW 
1
GOTO loop

exitloop:
WINDOW OUTPUT 2
LOCATE 1,1:IF rect%=1 THEN  PRINT”Rectangle”;bnumber%; ELSE
 PRINT “Rectangle”;enumber%;
PRINT “is:  (“;xstart;”,”;ystart;”)-(“;xend;
 “,”;yend;”)”: WINDOW OUTPUT 1
MOUSE ON: MENU ON: RETURN
menuevent:
menunumber=MENU(0)
IF menunumber=7 THEN menu7
IF menunumber<>6 THEN RETURN
menuitem=MENU(1): MENU
ON menuitem GOSUB Changebutton,    Erasebutton, blank, Changeedit, 
 Eraseedit, blank, Windowsize, Quit
RETURN

blank:RETURN  ‘This will never happen, but just in case...

menu7: menuitem=MENU(1)
IF menuitem=1 THEN MENU 7,3,1:MENU 7,1,2: MENU 7,2,1: MENU     
 6,1,1: MENU 6,4,0: rect%=1:IF     bnumber%=0 THEN GOSUB       
 changebutton
IF menuitem=2 THEN MENU 7,3,1:MENU 7,1,1: MENU 7,2,2: MENU     
 6,1,0: MENU 6,4,1: rect%=2:IF     enumber%=0 THEN GOSUB changeedit
IF menuitem=3 THEN MENU 7,3,2:MENU 7,1,1: MENU 7,2,1: MENU     
 6,1,0: MENU 6,4,0: rect%=0
RETURN

Changebutton:
WINDOW 2: CLS:INPUT “Enter Button  number:”,bnumber%
IF bnumber% <=0 GOTO Changebutton
GOSUB Startbutton: WINDOW 1: RETURN

Erasebutton:WINDOW 2:CLS
INPUT”Erase which number”;E%
CLS:WINDOW 1: BUTTON CLOSE E%
RETURN

Changeedit:
WINDOW 2: CLS
INPUT”Enter Edit Field number:”,   enumber%
IF enumber%<=0 GOTO Changeedit
GOSUB Startedit: WINDOW 1: RETURN
Eraseedit:
WINDOW 2: CLS
INPUT”Erase which Edit Field  number”;E%: CLS: WINDOW 1
EDIT FIELD CLOSE e%: RETURN

Quit: WINDOW CLOSE 2:MENU RESET:END

Startbutton:
CLS:PRINT “Enter Button #”;bnumber%;
INPUT” Title:”,Title$
In2:INPUT “Enter Type (1=Push button,  2=Check box, 3= Radio button):”,
 Type
IF Type < 1 OR Type >3 GOTO In2
In3:INPUT “Enter State (0=Inactive,  1=Active/not selected,    
 2=Active/selected):”,State
IF State <0 OR State >2 GOTO In3
CLS:RETURN

Startedit:
CLS:PRINT “Enter Edit Field #”;enumber%;
INPUT” Default (CR=None) :”,default$
e2:INPUT “Enter Type (1=Draw box/no CR,            2=Draw box/CR, 3=No 
Box/no CR,  4=No Box/CR):”,EditType
IF EditType < 1 OR EditType >4 GOTO e2
e3:INPUT “Enter Justify mode (1=Left Justify, 2=Center text, 3=Right 
 Justify):”,Justify
IF Justify <1 OR Justify >3 GOTO e3
CLS:RETURN

windowsize:
WINDOW OUTPUT 1:winwidth= WINDOW(2)
winheight=WINDOW(3)
WINDOW OUTPUT 2: LOCATE 2,1:PRINT  “Window width=”;winwidth;” height=”; 
 winheight;
WINDOW OUTPUT 1:RETURN

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All


Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Take $150 off every Apple 11-inch M3 iPad Air
Amazon is offering a $150 discount on 11-inch M3 WiFi iPad Airs right now. Shipping is free: – 11″ 128GB M3 WiFi iPad Air: $449, $150 off – 11″ 256GB M3 WiFi iPad Air: $549, $150 off – 11″ 512GB M3... Read more
Apple iPad minis back on sale for $100 off MS...
Amazon is offering $100 discounts (up to 20% off) on Apple’s newest 2024 WiFi iPad minis, each with free shipping. These are the lowest prices available for new minis among the Apple retailers we... Read more
Apple’s 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros are on sa...
Amazon has 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale for up to $410 off Apple’s MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party... Read more
Red Pocket Mobile is offering a $150 rebate o...
Red Pocket Mobile has new Apple iPhone 17’s on sale for $150 off MSRP when you switch and open up a new line of service. Red Pocket Mobile is a nationwide MVNO using all the major wireless carrier... Read more
Switch to Verizon, and get any iPhone 16 for...
With yesterday’s introduction of the new iPhone 17 models, Verizon responded by running “on us” promos across much of the iPhone 16 lineup: iPhone 16 and 16 Plus show as $0/mo for 36 months with bill... Read more
Here is a summary of the new features in Appl...
Apple’s September 2025 event introduced major updates across its most popular product lines, focusing on health, performance, and design breakthroughs. The AirPods Pro 3 now feature best-in-class... Read more
Apple’s Smartphone Lineup Could Use A Touch o...
COMMENTARY – Whatever happened to the old adage, “less is more”? Apple’s smartphone lineup. — which is due for its annual refresh either this month or next (possibly at an Apple Event on September 9... Read more
Take $50 off every 11th-generation A16 WiFi i...
Amazon has Apple’s 11th-generation A16 WiFi iPads in stock on sale for $50 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free: – 11″ 11th-generation 128GB WiFi iPads: $299 $50 off MSRP – 11″ 11th-generation 256GB... Read more
Sunday Sale: 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros for up t...
Don’t pay full price! Amazon has Apple’s 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale for up to $220 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather... Read more
Mac mini with M4 Pro CPU back on sale for $12...
B&H Photo has Apple’s Mac mini with the M4 Pro CPU back on sale for $1259, $140 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – Mac mini M4 Pro CPU (24GB/512GB): $1259, $... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.