Topic group Related topics

Once you have a converted .WFM, it will probably not display exactly as the DOS program. This is simply due to differences between Windows and DOS. To correct this, you will need to open your new .WFM in the form designer and manipulate it.

To do this:

  1. Start Visual dBASE 5.7 if it is not already open.

  2. Use the Navigator to navigate to the folder containing your Windows application.

  3. Click on the "Forms" icon on the left of the Navigator.

  4. The new .WFM file will appear on the list in the Navigator window.

  5. Highlight it (give it “focus”) by single clicking, then right click, selecting "Design Form" from the drop-down list.

Note

To understand all the different palettes in the design surface, you should read Chapter 7 of the User's Guide on using the Form Designer. While the form designer in Visual dBASE 5.7 is different from the one in dBASE Plus, they are similar enough for you to use.

With the form in the designer you can now resize it and adjust the controls to correct the form’s display. "Lasso" the controls, and move them, by holding down the Ctrl key, clicking the mouse, and dragging until all the controls you wish to affect are selected. Click on a single control and drag all of the “lassoed” controls to a desired location. Resize the form by clicking on the border (the edge), and dragging it in and up, etc.

You can now use the Inspector to change colors, fonts, font sizes, and other properties of the controls.

Adding a CloseButton

Visual dBASE 5.7 comes with a selection of custom controls. These are simply common controls the developers designed to save us the trouble. Click on the Control Palette and click the tab marked "Custom" the appears at the bottom of the page.

You can view the name of any one of the resulting series of pushbuttons by moving the cursor over it. Find the one named "Closebutton", and drag it to the bottom of your form. This button already has code defined that will close the form when clicked.