Re: Help with Developing a GUI for Fortran program

Hi,

On Apr 30, 10:12 am, nikhil.kaviman...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Dear Colleagues,

First of all, pardon me if some of the questions I ask seem
trivial. I am jumping into Fortran programming after a period of 6-7
years and I am not in touch with many of the current practices. I have
the following goals I want to achieve

- Develop a fortran program to solve 15-30 simultaneous Ordinary
Differential Equations (ODEs) such that the user of the program is
able to input (i) various constants for solving the DEs (ii) another
time dependent input function [X(t)] with the result that the
mathematical model of ODEs transforms X(t) into Y_predicted(t).

- I also need to optimize the model parameters such that the predicted
Y_predicted(t) matches with a user defined Y_experimental(t)

- I also want to develop a 'good' GUI so that a user who is not
familiar with programming languages should be able to use the software
(inputting data through an 'excel-like' interface, filling in values
for constants through the interface, analyzing the results, etc). I am
hoping for a good 'look and feel' for the software.

The best option for easily developing this type of user interface is
GINO (fewest lines of very straightforward code). However, it is also
the most expensive option. Quickwin is probably the easiest "free"
option (at least if you already have IVF or one of it's predecessors
in the CVF line), but even it isn't as easy as GINO. GINO provides a
spread***-like array grid (text or value) with only around 3
subroutine calls (two for various attributes, headings, and cell sizes
and one to create). Version 7 was just released with new rich text
formatting capabilities, including hyperlinks, so you can do some
pretty sophisticated documentation with it as well as dynamic video-
game-like graphics.


I would like to get your inputs on the following specific questions:

1. I selected Fortran since (i) I am somewhat familiar with it (ii) I
am given to understand that while some other options (JEE5 for
instance) are good for developing a GUI, they may not be efficient for
scientific operations. Am I right in my selection of Fortran? How does
Fortran compare with C++ for my kind of applications?

2. What is the cheapest (better yet, free) software that will provide
me a integrated environment for (i) writing the program and (ii)
developing the GUI, as the next alternative, if I have to use two
different options for writing the code and developing GUI, what are my
options?

3. Can one write Fortran codes in Visual Basic? If yes, is this the
best option considering VB will help me develop the GUI as well?

As you can see I do not have a lot of experience in the area, and
really need inputs from you guys on this.

Thanks in advance for your help!


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