B4J Question B4J Create designer files at runtime...

[Magma]

Hi there...

Well I know that what I am asking may be is a "direct" question (hate to do that - not right) to Erel but may be someone already searched it or tried it.

Well we all know Balconverter (that convert bal/bjl/bil to json and json to bal/bjl/bil)...

Well i have a different question on that-logic... what if create some controls/customviews at runtime (yes reading right)... how possible is to create json and then convert it to bal/bjl... Is there a quick.. to create the "kids" / controls / data need the bal/bjl fast...

    For Each i As B4XView In myb4xform.GetAllViewsRecursive
...................magic_creating_json that need bal/bjl/bil.......
    next

 

[EnriqueGonzalez]

It is possible to create those files at runtime what it's not possible is load them at runtime.

 

[DonManfred]

yes reading right)

That´1 100% the wrong try.

 

[PaulMeuris]

In the Using source code templates tutorial i use the Balconverter code to transform a layout file into a JSON file.
Then in the get_vars_from_json_layout(fname As String) method i extract information from the JSON file to draw a layout.
The structure of the JSON file is rather complicated...
Maybe you can find some inspiration from this code...

 

[Magma]

In the Using source code templates tutorial i use the Balconverter code to transform a layout file into a JSON file.
Then in the get_vars_from_json_layout(fname As String) method i extract information from the JSON file to draw a layout.
The structure of the JSON file is rather complicated...
Maybe you can find some inspiration from this code...

Yes it is too complicated..

 

[Magma]

It is possible to create those files at runtime what it's not possible is load them at runtime.

Well, turning then json to bal or bjl... will make it possible with loadlayout...

 

[Magma]

That´1 100% the wrong try.

May be... may be not

I know when someone come to a Question thread must said all the "logic" behind of what sharing and waiting answer...

I am already building a Designer (old try: was my RAD Designer... now i am trying something different with other members) and I want to eliminate the writing of code of the end user-developer (of designer... so will be a mix Generating code/Designer)

@PaulMeuris already shared a Designer... and may be understanding the reason asking that...

1) compatibility with Internal Designer
2) different approach of designing (see the same time the control like old vb6)
3) May be some Intergration like DataBase/Table/Field... to create easy business forms/apps

...And the biggest reason... need that... is that i want to create b4x code, that will also create events of customview controls designed... (and i want all events to be in different sub... like someone used internal designer)

Well... will be a tool for lazy people (like me)...

 

[Magma]

an early preview screenshot..

 

[Magma]

Well...

I am watching William Lancee Helper App... and the code using... seems... that is in right path...

[B4J][B4XPages] A Helper App for Examining and Documenting Designer Layouts

I use B4Xpages exclusively. There are times when my designer views are spread over multiple pages. I am often expedient (lazy) in how I name these views (button1, label1, etc.). The result is that I have to examine layout files in each platform for the views I am looking for. When I find them...

www.b4x.com

So will search it little more...

 

[Magma]

Well...

I am watching William Lancee Helper App... and the code using... seems... that is in right path...

[B4J][B4XPages] A Helper App for Examining and Documenting Designer Layouts

I use B4Xpages exclusively. There are times when my designer views are spread over multiple pages. I am often expedient (lazy) in how I name these views (button1, label1, etc.). The result is that I have to examine layout files in each platform for the views I am looking for. When I find them...

www.b4x.com

So will search it little more...

ofcourse will be better if had WilBalWriter class @William Lancee

 

[Magma]

ok if do some reverse engineering with json... may be is simple... gonna share my thoughts an give food, but also expect ideas how to manage some "things"

well the big difference is the "key" named ":kids" that has all controls designed and is under Data (amap - a map in json have other maps inside )
also in same time have in ControlHeaders the name of controls (other map)... into LayoutHeader map

    Dim Design As Map
    Design.Initialize
    
    Design.Put("LayoutHeader", layoutheader) 'ok...
    Design.Put("Variants", variants) 'ok understandable...
    Design.Put("Data", amap) 'amap holding other maps KIDS
    Design.Put("FontAwesome", False)
    Design.Put("MaterialIcons", False)

the IDEA:
So if just save any empty layout, then convert it to json... we have to add at ControlHeaders some extra keys: 1: , 2: (our controls) with their JavaType,DesignerType,Name

And create a ":kids:" key that will include a map with all the settings of every control....

It is possible to "assign" (find) the names just adding one one the controls from designer... but will be better to know java-names-type someway automatically to have better compatibility...

what do you think ?

 

[Magma]

I am sure that exist a way to get those names/types (examples):

...

also this:

...
hmmm

 

[DonManfred]

also this

this is a customview. It has to be loaded via Layout. You can not add such view just-by-code.

 

[Magma]

this is a customview. It has to be loaded via Layout. You can not add such view just-by-code.

I am adding it... but want to save my design-layout from designer with my code... as explaining... It is not easy but i am trying it...

 

[Magma]

I will give an example of code how will do it... but hope that already exist something...

 

[Magma]

I am adding it... but want to save my design-layout from designer with my code... as explaining... It is not easy but i am trying it...

to be more specific:

- Adding it with code and using loadlayout (to be more specific)... but as you know no different event... has to use sender and etc...

- So i will create b4x layout from my designer (our) that will set different eventnames..... and also create the needed code for .bas file to be used...

 

[PaulMeuris]

When i was writing the pmtemplates application i used the JSON Tree application to visualize the JSON structure.
An example:

If you designed a layout like this: tf1 = Text Field, btn1 = Button and clv1 = Custom List View.
Then the converted .bjl layout file will have this JSON structure (provided you use only 1 variant):

Drilling down in this structure give these details:

And for the data:

And then you can look at the :kids map:

For the first kid:

And so on for the other kids...
The JSON tree application also provides the B4X code to build the tree structure.
Some questions about this structure:
- are all the attributes required?
- (as you mentioned already) where can you find the correct javaType?
- what will be the structure if you use Designer Script?
- ...

 

[Mashiane]

Hi there...

Well I know that what I am asking may be is a "direct" question (hate to do that - not right) to Erel but may be someone already searched it or tried it.

Well we all know Balconverter (that convert bal/bjl/bil to json and json to bal/bjl/bil)...

Well i have a different question on that-logic... what if create some controls/customviews at runtime (yes reading right)... how possible is to create json and then convert it to bal/bjl... Is there a quick.. to create the "kids" / controls / data need the bal/bjl fast...

    For Each i As B4XView In myb4xform.GetAllViewsRecursive
...................magic_creating_json that need bal/bjl/bil.......
    next

Kinda funny, i have been asking myself the same thing. I still think if something like this could be possible it will be the bomb!

 

[Mashiane]

an early preview screenshot..

View attachment 146425

What are you using for a property bag? I m working on something for testing my web development frameworks to try and gap the time I create the b4xlibs. I thought of using my old property bag and I think I like this one. is it dockable too?

 

[Magma]

Kinda funny, i have been asking myself the same thing. I still think if something like this could be possible it will be the bomb!

Well.. I ve always had thoughts for making easy my job