Designer question

[Gary Stout]

Is it possible to change the properties of multiple controls all at one time. I tried selecting multiple controls, but didn't see a way to change all of the properties.

If this in not an option currently, please add it to the wish list.

Thanks,
Gary

[Paul Squires]

No that's not possible. It was on the wish list for FF3 but I did not get it implemented.

[Paul Squires]

I've been thinking more about this feature. It may not be as difficult as I first imagined.

Here are my thoughts:

- Allow setting of common properties whenever a group of controls are selected. The list of properties that will show int he PropertyList are the properties from the current active selected control.

- Currently, when a group of controls is selected, the active control is the one that gets the new property values applied (rather than the entire group).

- How should the common properties be applied? For example, say that I have a group of 10 selected controls but only 7 of them have a "Text" property. When the user types in the new value for the "Text" property of the active control, how should I apply the changes to the other controls? To all 7 controls or none at all because it the property is not common to all controls.

- I imagine that I would need an additional option added so that users could toggle this feature on and off.

What do you guys think?

[Haakon Birkeland]

To all 7 controls or none at all because it the property is not common to all controls.

If you consider the way Word, and probably other similar applications, handle similar logic when text with different formatting is selected, you would end up with the seven controls having the property set.

Ever noticed how for instance the size field is blank when such a multi-selection is active? If a number is selected/entered it is applied to the applicable text â€" leaving other items, without the text-size property, alone.

Having nothing done because there is one control that don't have the property available, will probably create frustration as one get nothing done without additional steps.

[Brian Chirgwin]

I'd say it operates on the 7 that have the property, ignore the others.

As for the toggle, instead, maybe a button "Apply to selected controls", next to control name on the top of the properties tab. This would apply the last property set of the active control to the others.

For future, this could be expanded, a checkbox column added to each property or allow multi-select by clicking on the property name, to set multiple properties to other selected controls. In this case I don't even have to change a property setting to perform it. I can select 5 controls, select width, height and text properties. Click the "Apply to selected controls" button and I just set 3 properties for the 4 controls to equal the active selected control.

Just a thought.

[Gary Stout]

I've been thinking more about this feature. It may not be as difficult as I first imagined.

Here are my thoughts:

- How should the common properties be applied? For example, say that I have a group of 10 selected controls but only 7 of them have a "Text" property. When the user types in the new value for the "Text" property of the active control, how should I apply the changes to the other controls? To all 7 controls or none at all because it the property is not common to all controls.
What do you guys think?

Well, I have to admit, I like the way the competition does it, in regards to this. Basically, you select multiple controls and then, with the controls selected, you double click one of the selected controls. A dialog will open that indicates you are in 'multiple control mode'. The property dialog only allows those settings (properties) that apply to that set of selected controls and it won't allow mixed controls. For instance, you can't do a text box and a combobox....only multiples of the same type of control...(all textboxes, etc). The other designer won't allow the size to be changed because it is not an option in the properties box, but with FF, it would be handy to be able to adjust the height and width of multiple controls, but not the position. Otherwise, you would make a big mess of your form.
I never used VB much, but if I recall correctly, it would let you change any property for multiple controls that applied to each control, in other words, if you selected a textbox, listbox, combobox...as long as they all shared a common property, it could be changed. I don't think this is necessary and may get real complicated to implement, but "maybe" limiting the multiple changes to similar types only may not be as bad.

This would be a HUGE and valuable addition to the designer!

Thanks,
Gary

[Paul Squires]

Well, we can't have the competition with a better design than FireFly   Better get this feature in there quick!   

Actually, with FF3, adding new features is soooooooo much easier than in FF2 because FF3 is a FF3 application. In FF2 and earlier, I had to code everything by hand so it certainly slowed down development.

So, we have various proposals here. It makes no difference to me at all which direction we take. Per Gary's post, we can't have double-click activate a popup dialog because by default in FF3 double-clicking a control takes you to the code editor and to the default message handler for that control (eg. CommandButton --> BN_CLICKED). I could implement it through a right-click option, menu option on the Format menu, and even a keyboard short cut.

We may need a poll on this one. 

[Gary Stout]

Paul,

I like the right click approach. 

Gary

[Gary Stout]

Well, we can't have the competition with a better design than FireFly   Better get this feature in there quick!   

I could implement it through a right-click option, menu option on the Format menu, and even a keyboard short cut.

Maybe all 3, if that isn't asking too much. I personally would probably use the right click approach, but I can see where a keyboard shortcut might become addictive as well.

Speaking of the format menu, could I also make a small request for and extra option to the "Center in Form" menu selection. I am finding that when I use that feature, which is frequently for centering tab controls or some other large control on a form, I have to first click horizontal and then go back and click vertical. Could I request a "both" menu option here to do it all in one click. You know how lazy us programmers can be at times. 

Thanks,
Gary

[Paul Squires]

Speaking of the format menu, could I also make a small request for and extra option to the "Center in Form" menu selection. I am finding that when I use that feature, which is frequently for centering tab controls or some other large control on a form, I have to first click horizontal and then go back and click vertical. Could I request a "both" menu option here to do it all in one click. You know how lazy us programmers can be at times.

Sounds like a good idea. Not sure why it is not already there. I just checked FF2 and the option for "Both" is missing from that program as well.

[Gary Stout]

Sounds like a good idea. Not sure why it is not already there. I just checked FF2 and the option for "Both" is missing from that program as well.

I am guessing the same guy might have had something to do with both 

[Paul Squires]

The Centre in Form option for "Both" is now implemented.

The fix will be in 3.04.

[Gary Stout]

Cool!

Thanks!
Gary

[Paul Squires]

Great news!!!!

Finally got this feature implemented. It wasn't as hard to implement as I thought it would be.

Take a look at the attached screenshot to see a group of selected controls (2 labels and 2 textboxes). Seems to be working okay... so far.

This new feature will be in 3.07.

[Rolf Brandt]

That is gonna be very helpful!