EDN Admin
Well-known member
Hey,
This is a long question, I am completely apologetic. The text needed to be this long to make it easier to understand the idea. I love to design, which is one of the reasons I have so many notes, I am always writing down ideas and sometimes I cant sleep
because of an idea. Sometimes I get way ahead of myself and think of ideas I dont know how to finish by myself (Like this one). I dont think I will be able to sleep until this gets to a good shape, but I am also a massive perfectionist and I want everything
to be awesome.
I am quite an amateur, but a patient learner. I know what I want my application to do, I just dont know what methods I need to follow to accomplish the desired result. I will explain my program and I would love it if anyone could tell
me even a small section of the best way to do it.
I thought of this application for myself. The first reason is because I am constantly opening up Notepad and saving hundreds of notes that get lost in directories perhaps never to be found. The second reason is fun, I really enjoy using VB to create even
the most basic applications, the problem is I am quite a new VBist. Please dont think of me lazy just posting my ideas here, I would (and have) searched many times for different parts, but I dont know what to search for in the first place as I dont know
the best method to follow.
Ok, the idea:
Instead of having random text files all over the place I wanted to make an application that shows all of your notes in one place. You dont have to name them (if you dont want to) that is done by the first X number of characters. The save location also
Doesnt need to be decided as the notes are shown in the application (Saved auto in the background for backup and possible import.)
I will explain the application as if I was using it so you getting a better idea of what I want. The pictures are to show you the idea, The front end is done, the back end is only half complete. All of the forms link together, the main issue is the saving
method. The colours and style are a placeholder until I get a good idea of the colour scheme.
The main form is basic. The main item is a FlowLayoutPanel. The only tool in the panel is (Right now) Buttons. The first button shows the text "Add Note".
http://img691.imageshack.us/i/picture1ddu.png/ http://img691.imageshack.us/i/picture1ddu.png/
Clicking this will open a new window - the text editor. You type your note and save the message, the window will close and back to the main window: The first button will have the text of either the Title (If entered) or the first (20) or so characters of
the note.
http://img52.imageshack.us/i/picture2qd.png/ http://img52.imageshack.us/i/picture2qd.png/
Now that the first note is saved a new button appears with the text "Add note" or "+". So as you add notes, new buttons are displayed and flow down. The form will be locked horizontally and will only be changed if the user edits the columns or size options
(perhaps even locked altogether and is changed via settings in the options). The form will grow downwards and a vertical scroll bar will be introduced when the notes have gone beyond the size of the form.
http://img835.imageshack.us/i/picture3nu.png/ http://img835.imageshack.us/i/picture3nu.png/
Options for the main form:
Size of the buttons Button Padding -- (I cant get the button padding to change when the program is running - only when closed)
Columns (and perhaps rows) -- (The way I was going to do it was by "Form Width = column setting x (Button width + padding)"
Save location -- (This is only going to be entered in the options, every file will be saved to the same location)
Note order (Ascending, Descending, date, name etc) -- (I have no idea how to do this in the slightest)
Reset to default -- (Done this, simple) Delete all notes -- (Will add when the save file is complete, I am guessing it is also simple (delete all .txt in directory X))
Other things to add later
Import text files tabs to group types of notes Backup Notes -- (Copy all files in the directory into selected directory - I dont know how to do this but I can search for this one quite easily)
Tabs for different notes. -- (This would be so fantastic if possible but I fear it is too complex with the design. Please advise!)
Now for the main help part. This whole idea is useless if the main form doesnt work correctly. My question is simply what is the best way to do this. I want it be fluid so It can be ordered and tabbed and still work correctly.
I want the files to be saved into text files like normal notes but interfaced through this program (and of course created). The idea I have in my head is create 200 invisible buttons and make them visible as files are created. But the only tutorials I have
read on creating text files would not be sufficient for this idea.
This is an idea I had for the file saving.
The folder location is decided on install, lets call it C:Notes. When you create a file it gets saved in the folder with the title as the text file, and the contents inside (like a normal text file). The program reads this directory for the notes - It gives
each note its own button, and orders them as defined.
<span style="text-decoration:underline C:Notes--
---------- Text File 1 Title.txt
--------------------Text File 1 contents-------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
---------- Text File 2 Title.txt
----------------------Contents-----------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Having buttons already there seems like the idea wont work well together. I need a system that creates buttons for how many text files are made so it is dynamic and fluid, but I dont know what to search for.
If anyone can even point me in the direction I would be so happy. Also if anyone can give me any ideas on how to do anything on this page, please dont hesitate to post, even if its an extra idea - Im all ears for designing.
I am sorry for the huge chunk of text, I hope this post is not out of place, if it is I am sorry for that also - I am new to this forum and it is very daunting with all of the sub-forums.
Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for your help,
Tom
View the full article
This is a long question, I am completely apologetic. The text needed to be this long to make it easier to understand the idea. I love to design, which is one of the reasons I have so many notes, I am always writing down ideas and sometimes I cant sleep
because of an idea. Sometimes I get way ahead of myself and think of ideas I dont know how to finish by myself (Like this one). I dont think I will be able to sleep until this gets to a good shape, but I am also a massive perfectionist and I want everything
to be awesome.
I am quite an amateur, but a patient learner. I know what I want my application to do, I just dont know what methods I need to follow to accomplish the desired result. I will explain my program and I would love it if anyone could tell
me even a small section of the best way to do it.
I thought of this application for myself. The first reason is because I am constantly opening up Notepad and saving hundreds of notes that get lost in directories perhaps never to be found. The second reason is fun, I really enjoy using VB to create even
the most basic applications, the problem is I am quite a new VBist. Please dont think of me lazy just posting my ideas here, I would (and have) searched many times for different parts, but I dont know what to search for in the first place as I dont know
the best method to follow.
Ok, the idea:
Instead of having random text files all over the place I wanted to make an application that shows all of your notes in one place. You dont have to name them (if you dont want to) that is done by the first X number of characters. The save location also
Doesnt need to be decided as the notes are shown in the application (Saved auto in the background for backup and possible import.)
I will explain the application as if I was using it so you getting a better idea of what I want. The pictures are to show you the idea, The front end is done, the back end is only half complete. All of the forms link together, the main issue is the saving
method. The colours and style are a placeholder until I get a good idea of the colour scheme.
The main form is basic. The main item is a FlowLayoutPanel. The only tool in the panel is (Right now) Buttons. The first button shows the text "Add Note".
http://img691.imageshack.us/i/picture1ddu.png/ http://img691.imageshack.us/i/picture1ddu.png/
Clicking this will open a new window - the text editor. You type your note and save the message, the window will close and back to the main window: The first button will have the text of either the Title (If entered) or the first (20) or so characters of
the note.
http://img52.imageshack.us/i/picture2qd.png/ http://img52.imageshack.us/i/picture2qd.png/
Now that the first note is saved a new button appears with the text "Add note" or "+". So as you add notes, new buttons are displayed and flow down. The form will be locked horizontally and will only be changed if the user edits the columns or size options
(perhaps even locked altogether and is changed via settings in the options). The form will grow downwards and a vertical scroll bar will be introduced when the notes have gone beyond the size of the form.
http://img835.imageshack.us/i/picture3nu.png/ http://img835.imageshack.us/i/picture3nu.png/
Options for the main form:
Size of the buttons Button Padding -- (I cant get the button padding to change when the program is running - only when closed)
Columns (and perhaps rows) -- (The way I was going to do it was by "Form Width = column setting x (Button width + padding)"
Save location -- (This is only going to be entered in the options, every file will be saved to the same location)
Note order (Ascending, Descending, date, name etc) -- (I have no idea how to do this in the slightest)
Reset to default -- (Done this, simple) Delete all notes -- (Will add when the save file is complete, I am guessing it is also simple (delete all .txt in directory X))
Other things to add later
Import text files tabs to group types of notes Backup Notes -- (Copy all files in the directory into selected directory - I dont know how to do this but I can search for this one quite easily)
Tabs for different notes. -- (This would be so fantastic if possible but I fear it is too complex with the design. Please advise!)
Now for the main help part. This whole idea is useless if the main form doesnt work correctly. My question is simply what is the best way to do this. I want it be fluid so It can be ordered and tabbed and still work correctly.
I want the files to be saved into text files like normal notes but interfaced through this program (and of course created). The idea I have in my head is create 200 invisible buttons and make them visible as files are created. But the only tutorials I have
read on creating text files would not be sufficient for this idea.
This is an idea I had for the file saving.
The folder location is decided on install, lets call it C:Notes. When you create a file it gets saved in the folder with the title as the text file, and the contents inside (like a normal text file). The program reads this directory for the notes - It gives
each note its own button, and orders them as defined.
<span style="text-decoration:underline C:Notes--
---------- Text File 1 Title.txt
--------------------Text File 1 contents-------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
---------- Text File 2 Title.txt
----------------------Contents-----------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Having buttons already there seems like the idea wont work well together. I need a system that creates buttons for how many text files are made so it is dynamic and fluid, but I dont know what to search for.
If anyone can even point me in the direction I would be so happy. Also if anyone can give me any ideas on how to do anything on this page, please dont hesitate to post, even if its an extra idea - Im all ears for designing.
I am sorry for the huge chunk of text, I hope this post is not out of place, if it is I am sorry for that also - I am new to this forum and it is very daunting with all of the sub-forums.
Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for your help,
Tom
View the full article