Android Tutorial [B4X] B4A, B4i, B4J and B4r API documentation - B4X Object Browser

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API documentation - B4a, B4i, B4J and B4R (i.e. B4X) Object Browser (which also includes Code Snippet Management)

Hi everyone,

As you may or may not be aware, I have embarked on a project to bring better documentation to us all.

The first problem I have had is that the official and semi-official documentation tools aren't what I was hoping for. Not saying they aren't good, they just aren't what I need.

My first thankyou was called the B4a Object Browser. This version was for B4Android only. It is my own version of the XML file loader. I call it the B4a Object Browser.

The second thankyou is an updated version that supports B4A, B4I and B4J. This is called the B4X Object Browser.

If you know the Visual Studio Object Browser, you should have a good idea of what I am trying to emulate.

To run it you must have .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 installed, and you must install it from my setup.

I have only tested it on Windows, and not with Mono.
I am assuming that everyone that wants to use it, will be on Windows.

Here are some screenshots:

B4AObjectBrowser3.1.4.0.png


upload_2014-12-18_21-26-19.png


Download the appropriate zip, unzip it and run the setup. I suggest you scan it for viruses before you run it of course.

B4A Object Browser:
When it runs the first time, it will need to know where the B4a Library XML files are, so ensure you go into the Options and configure them.
If you are upgrading, you can Import your old settings, and in fact are prompted to do so if you have a blank configuration.

If you are asked to find the B4A Library XML files, browse to your B4a Library folder (usually C:\Program Files\Anywhere Software\Basic4android\Libraries, or if you are using 64 bit Windows, it is C:\Program Files (x86)\Anywhere Software\Basic4android\Libraries)

From this point, it will remember the path, so you will not have to enter it again.

B4X Object Browser:
The paths to your B4A, B4I and B4J installations (and the Libraries folders under them) will be determined automatically.

In the Options screen you can set multiple paths, with the ability to modify them.

It has multi-language support, and will detect your PC's language and apply the changes automatically. If you want to over-ride this, you may do so from the Options screen.

In B4A Object Browser, the following languages are supported:

Afrikaans
Arabic
Bulgarian
Chinese
Czech
Danish
Dutch
English
French
German
Hebrew
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Norwegian
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
Ukrainian
Vietnamese

B4X Object Browser adds support for:
Catalan
Greek


I suggest everyone that uses this tool subscribe to the thread so you are informed of changes.

Have fun!

Dave

Change history:
B4A Object Browser
2.0.0.0 - First public release.
2.0.1.0 - Minor GUI update, remove the need to click Reload button during initial setup.
2.1.0.0 - See post #8
2.2.0.0 - See post #23
2.3.0.0 - see post #31
2.3.0.0 - see post #35
2.4.0.0 - see post #60
2.5.0.0 - see post #63
2.6.0.0 - see post #70
2.6.1.0 - see post #75
2.7.0.0 - see post #79
3.0.0.0 - (Pre-release)
3.0.1.0 - Major GUI updates
3.0.1.1 - Minor fixes to correct some "Copy" functionality that had been removed
3.1.0.0 - All known bugs fixed, plus multiple language support added. Separate link provided below. See post 112 for full info.
3.1.1.0 - Additional languages, ability to override GUI language, Chinese language fixed. See post 122 for more info.
3.1.2.0 - Fixes to French, German and Italian language translations. 15 languages now provided. Search history added.
3.1.3.0 - Portuguese language added, making this language number 16
3.1.4.0 - Updated ru and ja translations, Moved Options to View menu, Added support for DesignerName attribute. See post 128 for full details.
3.1.5.0 - Corrected some logic problems around Version Number and DependsOn. Fixed URL Links. See post 147 for full details.
3.1.6.0 - Increased search options, fixed some search bugs, added Hebrew. Full details in post 156.
3.2.0.0 - AutoUpdate, new language, a couple of minor bugfixes. Full details in post 157.
3.2.1.0 - New languages, a few bugfixes. Full details in post 164.
3.2.2.0 - Updated Thai translation.
3.2.3.0 - Fixed further Thai translation strings, arabic and Thai language settings, memory corruption error when switching from R-L and L-R languages and more
3.2.4.0 - Added the ability to override language settings.* See "How to override language setting.txt" in the installation directory.
3.2.4.1 - Fixed bug when overriding language settings.
3.2.4.2 - Fixed bug when selecting the following languages: Arabic, Bulgarian, Hebrew, Thai
3.2.4.3 - Fixed bug when showing empty parentheses, Search and Clear Search buttons, bug where Clear Search button forced library reload even if no search text was entered
3.2.4.4 - Fixed bug where installer did not remove previous version
3.2.5.0 - Added ability to select viewing of Class_Globals and Property Get / Property Set
3.2.5.1 - Added ability to select viewing of DesignerCreateView
3.2.5.2 - Added Romanian language
3.2.5.3 - Fixed problem when selecting Romanian
3.2.5.4 - Fixed 2nd problem when selecting Romanian
3.2.5.5 - Added Vietnamese language
3.2.5.6 - Added preliminary support for B4a 3.0 (Beta)
3.2.5.7 - Added ability to show duplicate Library Short Names
3.2.5.8 - Forced GUI to always show Full type name when showing Class and Library annotations
3.2.5.9 - Fixed a bug when reloading libraries after performing a search. Also added Donate form.
3.2.5.10 - Set XML Reader to null after closing the file, plus set properties to remove flickering when displaying file data.
3.2.5.11 - Corrected an issue where a blank History would cause an application error
3.2.5.12 - Added Czech, Danish and Persian languages
3.2.5.13 - Persian language updated
3.2.5.14 - Added "Always on top" setting (under "Always on top" menu setting) and modified each Form to follow this setting
----------- Note: No further updates will be performed to B4a Object Browser

Full list of changes here (before 3.2.5.1): http://www.b4x.com/android/forum/th...n-b4a-object-browser.25682/page-9#post-172076

B4X Object Browser
1.0.0.0 - First public release
4.0.0.1 - Minor changes - mainly updating graphics to reflect Anywhere Software changes.
4.0.0.2 - Bug fixes, Desktop icon.
4.1.0.0 - Code Snippet Management added.
4.1.1.1 - Spanish language updates
4.1.1.2 - Modified the Method / Property / Field Copy function appropriately to copy either the selected text or all text
4.1.1.3 - Performed multiple bug-fixes to correct issues with right-click commands
4.1.1.4 - Performed another bug-fix to the right-click menu (for Events list)
4.1.1.5 - Performed another bug-fix to the right-click menu (for copying Fullname)
4.1.2.0 - Added support for B4R
4.1.3.0 - Changed auto-update download to .msi (instead of .exe)

I have put together a pdf to understand how to use it. It is included in the setup, but you can get it separately here (559 Kb).
Grab the setup and unzip and install it. This must be done this way because of the file size being too big for the forum. (>2 MB)...

B4a Object Browser
Version 3.2.0.0 (NOT AutoUpdate) is available here.
Version 3.2.1.0 (AutoUpdate enabled) is available here.
All newer versions (from Version 3.2.2.0 onwards) are available through AutoUpdate, and will not be provided here (other than the link below).
The latest version is always available from here.

B4X Object Browser
The latest B4x Version is available from here. AutoUpdate will take over from that point.
 

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Vader

Well-Known Member
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Longtime User
Rename the fr folder in the installation folder and you'll be rid of the french translation.

Version 3.1.1.0 allows you to override the Operating System language.

This version has the following additions:
Options screen
Import button allows you to specify the file to import from
Export button allows you to specify the folder to export to
Language dropdown allows you to override the current OS language. (This setting is not saved) EDIT: Newer versions now save this setting.

The following languages are now supported:
Afrikaans
German
Spanish
French
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Dutch
Norwegian
Polish
English
Russian
Swedish
Ukrainian
Chinese

These translations will improve over time as people assist me.

Please see Post #1 for the link.
 
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Vader

Well-Known Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
The Italian version, now it works, but needs some corrections.
Could you send me the file?

The language file is available here:
http://logonengine.com/B4A/Tools/Languages.xls

When you have modified your language(s), please send it to the following email address:
dave [DOT] robinson [AT] westnet [DOT] com [DOT] au

Just let me know what language you have modified.

If you cannot work with an Excel spreadsheet, let me know and I will send you a text file.
 
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Vader

Well-Known Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
Version 3.1.2.0 now available. This version has a few fixes to the French, German and Italian translations, plus adds search history and a small bug fix to the search.

I am hopeful that this will be the last version for a while as I need to start on my next project.

I will still respond to recommendations to language translations and feature requests, and of course bug fixes.
 

Vader

Well-Known Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
Version 3.1.2.0 now available. This version has a few fixes to the French, German and Italian translations, plus adds search history and a small bug fix to the search.

I am hopeful that this will be the last version for a while as I need to start on my next project.

I will still respond to recommendations to language translations and feature requests, and of course bug fixes.

Version 3.1.3.0 Added - This brings portuguese support.
 

Toley

Active Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
Hello Vader, I know you have put a lot of time in this project and whish to pass to something else, but there is still a bug in the search function. When I first load the program, all the libraries don't have a little (+) in front of them so no search function works correctly. If I browse inside the lib, the little (+) appear and then the search found something inside this library. See the include screenshots for details.
 

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Vader

Well-Known Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
Hello Vader, I know you have put a lot of time in this project and whish to pass to something else, but there is still a bug in the search function. When I first load the program, all the libraries don't have a little (+) in front of them so no search function works correctly. If I browse inside the lib, the little (+) appear and then the search found something inside this library. See the include screenshots for details.

Not a bug, this is by design. Go into options and turn off load xml on demand.
 

Vader

Well-Known Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
Version 3.1.4.0 has been released. This version has the following changes:
Russian language file updated
Japanese language file updated
(Credits updated)
Added support for DesignerName attribute
Removed Connection status
Updated Donations landing page
Moved View options from Options page to View Menu
Change default for "Load XML on demand" to False (see post# 126 for the reasoning)

See Post #1 for link.

Note: This version has been compiled on Windows 8, showing full compatibility.
 
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agraham

Expert
Licensed User
Longtime User
3.1.3.0 extracts fine but with 3.1.4.0 Windows 7 gives "Error 0x80004005: Unspecified error" when I try to copy setup.exe from the zip and 7-zip says "CRC failed in 'setup.exe'. File is broken". I downloaded several times and the problem is consistent.

EDIT:- Windows 8 errors as well.
 
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moster67

Expert
Licensed User
Longtime User
It installed fine at my end on Windows 7 although I had to uninstall the previous version.

PS: I didn't use 7zip - I just used the standard Extract All-option.
 
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Vader

Well-Known Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
3.1.3.0 extracts fine but with 3.1.4.0 Windows 7 gives "Error 0x80004005: Unspecified error" when I try to copy setup.exe from the zip and 7-zip says "CRC failed in 'setup.exe'. File is broken". I downloaded several times and the problem is consistent.

EDIT:- Windows 8 errors as well.

I just:
Recompiled
Zipped
Re-uploaded
Downloaded
Unzipped
Installed

It is 100% ok. I don't know what the problem was before, but the version accessible now is ok.
 

Vader

Well-Known Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
***** Error found *****
I just found a couple of words mis-translated between English and German.

It is now fixed (same download link and version as before - 3.1.4.0).

If you downloaded it before this post, you have only one option:
Uninstall, Download it again, and reinstall

Sorry for the inconvenience.


EDIT: Removed option 2. (Sorry)
 
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Vader

Well-Known Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
Is it a bug, but Properties are described as having Type of "Eigentum" in English, a word that I don't recognise?

Lol. You found it before I could fix it - you guys ARE quick.

Please see my previous post :)
 

Vader

Well-Known Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
This is weird. I've downloaded several times and finally now it's OK. I've never had a download and unzip problem before - it's very strange!

The only thing I can think of is that you were downloading it as I was uploading ???

All I did that time was uninstall, download and reinstall, with no problems. Gremlins I expect. So long as it works, that's the main thing.
 
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