Form design with TTabControl and TPageControl

[Peter Goddard]

Hello,
I'm designing a form with a TPageControl and TTabControl. The form
is getting too long and unmanageable. Is it possible to add a scroll bar
added at design time to allow the bottom controls to be revealed. At the
moment, I have to resize the main form to reveal the rest of the
TTabControl. The exe, pas and dfm are available here.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter_goddard/Delphi/delphi.html


Regards

Peter.

[Maarten Wiltink]

Post by Peter Goddard
I'm designing a form with a TPageControl and TTabControl.
The form is getting too long and unmanageable. Is it possible to add
a scroll bar added at design time to allow the bottom controls to be
revealed. At the moment, I have to resize the main form to reveal the
rest of the TTabControl.

Use a TScrollBox.

But if you already have a pagecontrol and are running out of vertical
space, you should probably split the contents across more tabs.

Have you tried making the form wider? That increases the total area,
too.

Post by Peter Goddard
The exe, pas and dfm are available here.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter_goddard/Delphi/delphi.html

But no screenshot. A missed chance.

Groetjes,
Maarten Wiltink

[J French]

On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:47:57 GMT, "Peter Goddard"

Post by Peter Goddard
Hello,
I'm designing a form with a TPageControl and TTabControl. The form
is getting too long and unmanageable. Is it possible to add a scroll bar
added at design time to allow the bottom controls to be revealed. At the
moment, I have to resize the main form to reveal the rest of the
TTabControl. The exe, pas and dfm are available here.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter_goddard/Delphi/delphi.html

Unless you disable it, your Form will get a vertical scrollbar
automatically if there are controls below the bottom of the form.

Try pulling up the bottom of your Form (or increasing the height of
the PageControl).

The effect is profoundly nasty.

Mixing Tabs with Scrolling screens is rather a contradictory way of
doing things - neither fish nor fowl - but definitely foul

I'm with Maarten on his suggestions
- also about: 'shame about the screenshot'

[Peter Goddard]

Post by J French
On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:47:57 GMT, "Peter Goddard"

Post by Peter Goddard
Hello,
I'm designing a form with a TPageControl and TTabControl. The form
is getting too long and unmanageable. Is it possible to add a scroll bar
added at design time to allow the bottom controls to be revealed. At the
moment, I have to resize the main form to reveal the rest of the
TTabControl. The exe, pas and dfm are available here.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter_goddard/Delphi/delphi.html

Unless you disable it, your Form will get a vertical scrollbar
automatically if there are controls below the bottom of the form.
Try pulling up the bottom of your Form (or increasing the height of
the PageControl).
The effect is profoundly nasty.
Mixing Tabs with Scrolling screens is rather a contradictory way of
doing things - neither fish nor fowl - but definitely foul
I'm with Maarten on his suggestions
- also about: 'shame about the screenshot'

I've now added a screen shot...

Loading Image...

I will ponder the solutions you have given me.

Cheers

Peter

[J French]

On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 13:23:21 GMT, "Peter Goddard"
<***@ntlworld.com> wrote:


Interesting

You have a problem looking horizontally

- also you see selected options in context (like one of a list)

Probably because you are deep in your own code
- and can't think like an idiot user

Much as I hate Combo's, they have a purpose
- even a moron knows that a drop button indicates multiple options

Yes/No is handy - two option buttons for for a Yes/No choice is (ahem)

Never show something that is not relevant

I suggest that you close your project, then start building something
that does nothing from scratch.

The 'consistency' of approach is sensible
- but I reckon all the input requests could occupy a single line

You think in context, so do I, but the average (or in your case fairly
smart user) will understand 'implied context'

Every option should be one line
- MouseEnter should generate a small explanation at the bottom of the
screen - tips are naff
- a [? ] should generate volumes of information

Me I would put a fake Combo drop button against each question
- then open up a custom and very explicit entry (fake) form

You, woods and trees have a problem
- sensible to nip it in the bud by yelping

[Peter Goddard]

Post by Peter Goddard
Hello,
I'm designing a form with a TPageControl and TTabControl. The
form is getting too long and unmanageable. Is it possible to add a scroll
bar added at design time to allow the bottom controls to be revealed. At
the moment, I have to resize the main form to reveal the rest of the
TTabControl. The exe, pas and dfm are available here.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter_goddard/Delphi/delphi.html
Regards
Peter.

Hi,
I had the TPageControls Align property set to alLeft. This caused the
forms automatic horizontal scroll bar to operate in an unexpected (by me
that is) behaviour.

Cheers

Peter.