To download sample chapter (in Impression format). To Book introductory page.
Book aims and sequence. Typeface conventions used.
Differences between Wimp and non-Wimp programs. How the Wimp operates. Principles of the Wimp Poll and Reason Codes. Flow diagram. Parameter blocks. The reason for shell packages.
A simple application is produced in three different ways, which are described in detail: from scratch using normal Wimp methods; same again, but using window templates; then again, but using Dr Wimp. The three methods are compared, showing the advantages of using Dr Wimp.
Details of contents of the package (which is included on disc with the book.)
How Dr Wimp operates via its wimp-functions and user-functions. Planning the tutorial application project. First steps, the skeleton application and customising it. How Dr Wimp does Wimp initialisation and the Wimp poll process. First versions of tutorial application produced.
Putting a sprite on iconbar. creating its menu and displaying it. Selecting items from a menu. Quitting. Updated tutorial version produced.
Loading a window from template - in this case an Info window. Attaching it (like a sub-menu) to a menu item and displaying it. Adding/changing text in icons. Indirection. Updated tutorial version produced.
The first main window for tutorial application is described, then loaded from template and displayed. Icon enabling/disabling. Caret movement in writable icons. Validation string. Key presses. User-input validation. Reading text from icons. Updated tutorial version produced.
How Dr Wimp handles mouse-clicks. Button types. Creating a data file from icon text. Updated tutorial version produced.
Changing menus during program run e.g. the number of items, their text. etc. Use of arrays and Messages files to manipulate menus. Updated tutorial version produced.
A second main window for tutorial application is described, loaded from template and displayed. More about sub-menus and dynamic menus. Updating data files. Filing strings/numbers. Updated tutorial version produced.
How wimp graphics is done. The different options. Screen and Work Area coordinate systems. The redraw process. How Dr Wimp manages these.
A third main window for tutorial application is described, then loaded from template and displayed. Auto-redraw flag. Using the redraw process. Coordinate conversion. Drawing a graph. Text plotting. Re-sizing windows. Updated tutorial version produced.
Adding windows/icons on the fly. Using !CodeTemps utility (supplied with Dr Wimp package) to transfer window template data to program code. Reading and using printer driver data. Updated tutorial version produced.
How the Wimp does it and how Dr Wimp simplifies this. Options and facilities available. Using redraw printing for wysiwyg copy of displayed graph. Multiple pages and multiple copies. Font declaration for Postscript printers. Error reporting whilst printing. Updated tutorial version produced.
Checking that DrWimp library version and !RunImage are matched. Updated tutorial version produced.
Final steps in tutorial application. Preparation for post-programming options. Application statistics. Description and use of !Linker, !BSquasher, !MakeApp2 and !Crunch. Comparison of effects of these on program space and disc storage space. Final revision to WimpSlot in !Run file of tutorial application. Updated (final) tutorial version produced.
Creating/re-creating menus from arrays and Messages files. Menu positioning options. Font menus. Other menu manipulations.
Dr Wimps facilities for using the standard Save window. Changing filetype. Drag & drop file loading.
Dr Wimps facilities for managing/displaying/printing sprites, drawfiles and JPEGs. The pointer sprite and changing it.
Dr Wimps options and facilities for plotting text and specifying fonts. Declaring and losing fonts. Text colour. Modifying text size/font/colour within a string. Reading text length/height. Using current desktop font.
The user printing method in Dr Wimp (for non-wysiwyg printing).
Dr Wimps facilities for producing Bars and Sliders. Icon construction. Reading slider values/ percentages.
Dr Wimps facilities for managing panes.
How Dr Wimp manages Reason Code 0 and masks it out automatically when not needed. Using NULL=TRUE to trigger user-defined responses to Reason Code 0. Single polls. Timed polls. Multi-tasking.
Managing, displaying and using the Wimp's Colour Picker window.
Dr Wimps facilities for the Keyboard/writable icons, Error handling, Messages files (including menu creation), Interactive help, Dynamic areas, Quitting/Shutdown.
Identification of some further Dr Wimp facilities.
Detailed description of structure and use of SYS calls. (Not needed for using Dr Wimp, but important to understanding Wimp programming in general.)
List of Reason Codes. (Not needed for using Dr Wimp, but important to understanding Wimp programming in general.)
Description of purpose and typical contents of a desktop application directory i.e. !Run, !Boot, !RunImage, !Sprites, Templates etc.
(Important association with Appendix 7.) Description of standard Acorn 3button mouse and how the Wimp distinguishes between them. Meaning of button type and list of them. How Dr Wimp simplifies things.
(Important association with Appendix 7.) Detailed description of validation string commands.
Description of use of !Fabricate utility application (supplied with Dr Wimp package).
Comprehensive description of use of !TemplEd window/icon template editor (supplied with Dr Wimp package). Step-by-step tutorial designing one of the windows used in the books tutorial application.
Reference list and description of all Dr Wimps user-functions.
Brief description of how the Wimp uses its internal Messaging system to communicate with desktop applications.. (Not needed for using Dr Wimp, but important to understanding Wimp programming in general.)
A 9-page full index.
Total of 334 pages, A5 size, ring-bound.Book price includes 1.6M format floppy discs containing latest version of Dr Wimp package plus all example applications developed in the book. Plus reference copy of Dr Wimp Version current when book was written. (The discs are archived/compressed and a hard disc is necessary to de-archive/de-compress. A PD de-archiver/de-compression utility is included.)
Price, including UK post and packing, is £16-00. (Only cash or sterling cheques can be accepted.)
All excess of income over costs will go to charity.
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