Editor Suggestions

[Rob T]

I need to write a 'simple' editor that will allow me to drag/drop different
objects. Basically, I need it to function like a form editor similar how
you would design a form in Visual Studio or Access, or work how Adobe
Illustrator works where you can have handle(s) on the selected object so it
can be moved or stretched. It's not going to be fancy like these
program...just a simple editor

I'm mostly interested in how the GUI would should be developed. Any
suggestions would be great!

Thanks.

-Rob T.

 

[Sean Hederman]

You can just host the Windows Forms Designer:
http://www.divil.co.uk/net/articles/designers/hosting.asp

 

[Rob T]

Thanks for the feedback. I haven't picked through the article or the code
in detail yet, but I would assume it would be possible to have 'non-form'
objects such as lines and circles too?

 

[Sean Hederman]

You could, but you'd have to implement them as Controls if you wanted the
user to manipulate them. Keep in mind that this would mean that they would
follow the standard way of moving and resizing controls, in that you have a
rectangular selection box, with corner grab handles.

 

[Rob T]

Seems like a strange way to create a drawing program. Everything I'm
drawing will be custom control. If I'm drawing a simple (diagonal) line, if
it was a control, wouldn't it have 8 little handles on it? I would think it
should just show two handles on each end of the line.

I'm now starting to debate if I should just draw each item on to the
'canvas' and then redraw the item that is being manipulated continuously
during the edit process....maybe I can do some kind of clipping where I
don't have to keep redrawing the entire canvas.

I'm still curious to know how the big boys do something like this.......

 

[Sean Hederman]

Sorry, I wasn't aware that it was purely a drawing program. No, in that case
the Form designer would not be applicable. I have done something along these
lines before for a workflow designer. In that case, as you say, the canvas
was a custom control. The shapes were objects contained by the canvas, with
grab handles and selection guides being drawn as adornments. You would have
to have a system that differentiates between 1-d and 2-d shapes, since the
adornments would be different (don't even get me started on breakable
lines).

Have a look at http://www.bobpowell.net/faqmain.htm for some useful
techniques.

 

[Rob T]

Thanks. That site even has an example of what I'm looking for!