ANN: TMultiView, open-source flexible display component (alpha release)

From: marek jedlinski (marek_at_tranglos.INVALID.com)
Date: 06/13/04

  • Next message: Herbert Sitz: "Re: TMultiView, open-source flexible display component (alpha release)" 
    Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2004 01:09:30 +0200

    TMultiView (suggestions for a better name kindly accepted ;) is a
    component written in Delphi 6, descended from TCustomControl. I haven't
    seen a Delphi component that does what TMultiView does, although some
    expensive grids can probably display data in a similar fashion. It's a bit
    hard to describe, so here's an example screenshot:

    http://www.tranglos.com/delphi/demomv.png

    Basic idea: one item consists of one or more rows; each row consists of one
    or more cells, and the number of cells in each row can be different. (This
    is where it departs from a grid - there's no concept of columns). The
    purpose is to display data that typically would be shown in a listview. The
    problem with a listview is that not a lot of text fits horizontally, so
    horizontal scrolling is usually required or text is shortened to fit within
    column width. Using a TMultiView you can allocate as much space as you need
    for each piece of data (cell), but the number of items visible in the
    client area will be smaller than in a listview, since items tend to be
    tall.

    TMultiView does not manage a list of items. It only knows the count of
    items and the layout (same for all items). The component uses events to
    query for data to display in each cell - this is a "virtual" mode familiar
    to those who use MIke Lischke's VirtualTree.

    Cells can display text or images, have their own font and color, alignment
    (horizontal and vertical), cursor, hint. Cells can contain multi-line text
    and can display borders.

    The component is at a very early alpha stage. It compiles and works to the
    extent that you can get a good idea of what it's supposed to be (check the
    demo), but several important features aren't built in yet. I have decided
    to release the component very early, because I hope to receive comments or
    suggestions on how to proceed further; there are several design decisions
    that need to be made. I don't recommend installing it in IDE, because the
    code is not yet aware of design-time issues and it will be changing often
    (including published properties). This is the first visual component I've
    written from scratch and I'm learning all the steps as I go.

    Description, screenshot, full source code, executable demo:
    http://www.tranglos.com/delphi/multiview.html

    Please see the demo source code for how to create the component
    dynamically, how to design the layout and how to feed data for display
    using events.

    TMultiView is open-source (Mozilla Public License).

    .marek 

    -- 
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  • Next message: Herbert Sitz: "Re: TMultiView, open-source flexible display component (alpha release)"

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