QuickEez Templates - Castle Computer Technologies

by William Johnson

Published 1998-01-01    Printer-friendly version

I started writing this review during Christmas, my very favorite holiday. It's a time we traditionally enjoy family, friends, food and ...presents. Yes, presents. The more the merrier. Around my house, presents usually come in the form of new computer toys. This year, Santa left a little something extra in my stocking: QuickEez Templates by Castle Computer Technologies, a collection of 30 templates that can help you perform a little "elfin magic" of your own on CW applications.

Major Features

Clarion is a powerful language, and templates are one of its strongest features. Writing templates, though, is not for everyone. TopSpeed's base product includes generic templates that enable developers to accomplish a lot with little work. Since most programs require something well beyond "plain vanilla", hand coding or third party offerings are the only way to build in the functionality your users require. QuickEez helps bridge this gap with a useful collection of utilities that can add increased function and sparkle to your applications.

Installation

Out of the box, QuickEez is a just-over-400k self-extracting exe which runs a standard installation program. You've got to pay attention during installation or the process becomes an unexpected challenge. When prompted to enter the directory into which the templates will be installed, i.e., "C:\CW20", the install program looked for a directory called "C:\C:\CW20" and returned a "directory not found" error. If you select the manual install option and specify a directory, the process is relatively simple. The installation program offers to create a backup directory to hold files that might be overwritten during installation. Apparently, I did not have anything to overwrite, so the directory was not created. A single "Uninstall QuickEez" icon was added to my CW20 program group. Registering the templates under CW was straightforward and simple. I installed the entire chain with a single click. No native CW templates were overwritten or modified during the installation process.

QuickEez created a self-named directory under CW20, where it placed: A short manual in Word 6 format; a demo application, dictionary, app and exe; an AMORT.DLL; an order form, and several .wav files. I ran the demo for a quick first-look, but the program required a TAPI32.DLL, which my NT 3.51 Server box didn't have. No reference was made in the product documentation as to system requirements, but I quickly managed to figure out the problem on my own. I reinstalled the program on my NT 4.0 and Win95 boxes, since TAPI support is native to these operating systems. If you are using older versions of Windows, check out Tintools, which includes the needed DLL and a host of other useful templates.

[Review Editor's Note: Tintools happens to be the free template of the month - you can read more about them (and download them) in the 'Bit-Vine' column in this issue.]

The demo program ran several procedures, providing a good first look at what QuickEez has to offer. And it has something for nearly everyone; procedure, code, control, and extension templates which range from file and network utilities to program "look and feel" enhancements. The demo program, though compact, presents the templates to advantage, and has on-screen references for the templates used in each procedure.

Implementation & Performance

To get some hands-on experience with QuickEez, I created a sample application to give the templates a good workout. Generally speaking, selecting and using the templates was as simple and straightforward as native products from TopSpeed. Any local variables (which some of the templates required) were automatically created when the template was selected for inclusion in a particular procedure. Here's a quick look at what you can expect from QuickEez:

Procedure Templates

Browse Deleted Records

A good utility for viewing and undeleting records. This procedure works _only_ with Clarion DAT files, but provides a simple, effective solution for occasional user "uh-ohs". When prompted for a procedure type from the Application Tree, select the template, enter the file you want to browse, the list box formatter to populate fields, and recompile. Its that simple. Of course, you cannot use keyed access to retrieve and display deleted records, so the process isn't fast on large files. Overall, it can be a big help for end users or administrators who would otherwise require programmer intervention to fix a mishap.

Control Templates:

AmortButtonDLL and AmortitButton

Standard amortization payment calculations at the touch of a button. One template calls a DLL, the other doesn't. The result is the same no matter which one you use. Since these templates were not documented in the QuickEez manual, it took a few extra steps to figure out how to use them.

Copy Record

This template adds a "copy record" button to a browse procedure, and will copy the highlighted record to a file. Once the record is copied, you can make edits to the new record and save it. A separate template is included for PowerBrowse users.

Create Directory

MKDIR comes to Windows! You can create single or multiple subdirectories with this template.

Font Window

Change fonts on the fly? Good idea! I tried this on a browse procedure in my test application (though you can use it on forms, too). The template placed a single "Change Font" button on my procedure. When I ran the test application and clicked the button, I got a popup window that enabled me to select a new font for display. The font changed immediately in the demo program, which was compiled with CW 2003. The results were less favorable when my demo application (compiled with CW2002) required that I close the window and reopen it to display the font change. You'll need release 2003 to get the most from this template.

No matter what version of TopSpeed you use, the actual screen results are not as pleasant as one might expect. At standard resolution (640 x 480) with 2MB of VRAM, screen flicker is very noticeable, even if a new font isn't selected. Font changes are not globally displayed - only my browse and its associated form procedure reflected the change. In addition, any changes you make are discarded when you exit the application. An option to change fonts across the board, as well as the ability to save font changes, would be nice additions here.

Next Record/Previous Record

These separate templates provide a new means of navigating through a file after you've inserted a new record, and mimic the behavior found in QuickBooks. The form procedure will sport new buttons that allow you to select the next or previous record in the file.

Next Procedure/Previous Procedure

A new twist to program control, allowing users to click separate buttons for next and previous procedures to be run. These templates can be used together or separately to create some interesting options, especially for multi-part data entry operations. I've often put a lot of programming "rules" into data entry procedures to accomplish the same thing, but these templates make the job a lot quicker.

Validate Credit Card

I wrote a function to validate credit card numbers for an Internet casino application awhile back, but would have been just as happy to work with a template. The template provides separate prompts for any action to be taken if the card is good or bad, with the option to play .wav files for either case. I added this template to a form on my sample application and gave it a test run. The two good card numbers I tested passed with flying colors. The several bad numbers I fed it were caught. When I entered "1111222233334444", the program told me this was a valid credit card number. I'm no credit card whiz, but this "feature" would make me reluctant to use the template in a real world application.

Code Templates:

Get Network Name

This checks the Windows Registry for the network user name and displays it.

Play Sound

I never spent the time to figure out how to add sounds to my CW apps. With the QuickEez template, my sample application makes all kinds of sounds, and I still haven't taken any time to figure out how to do this. You can add as many sounds as you want at virtually any embed point in a procedure. This was just too easy.

Extension Templates:

There are two global extension templates included. The first, named "GlobalExtension" as luck would have it, is required for a handful of the templates, such as "Play A Sound", to work correctly. GlobalAmortDLL is necessary for calculating amortization payments when using the AMORT.DLL, which is bundled with QuickEez.

Auto Insert on Empty Browse

If your browse contains no records, an empty browse box appears, followed a moment later by an update form with the action set to Insert. If you don't have a template, hand coding is the only way to replicate this function. This was native behavior in Clarion for DOS and is a nice addition to CW.

Move To Next Field

This template checks your data dictionary for field length on whatever field you specify. When entry on the field is complete, the next field on the form is automatically selected. For example, a State field contains two characters. When two characters have been entered, you're automatically moved to the next field for input.

Caps/NumLock Indicator

Displays the current status of CapsLock and NumLock in the Windows status bar. I thought that's what the lights on my keyboard were for. But now my eyes don't have the leave the screen to check what's on and what isn't.

Enter = Tab

"Can you make my Enter key work?" I get this request most often from users who are training on CW programs I've converted from DOS. Old habits (including my own) are tough to break. Similar templates are available in the public domain, but this is a welcome inclusion in the QuickEez collection.

ExeInfo

I used this to check how large my sample program got as I added more procedures and templates. If you're the type who keeps an eye on things like this, its much quicker than File Manager or Explorer.

Exit Message

Allows you to define a message to display in a pop-up window when the user is about to exit a procedure or program, with the option to go ahead and exit or return to the application or procedure. I used to write a separate procedure for this and do a little hand coding. Not anymore.

Font Report

I love this! The template calls a font selection window when you run a report procedure. You can select whatever font you want to use in the body of a report. Font changes do not affect report headers or footers. This is a useful template, but beware! If you design reports that split records across multiple lines, only the _first_ line of the printed report uses the new font. This produced undesired results in reports I printed from the demo program. Since I come from the "everything prints on one line" reporting school, I no longer have to marry users to a particular font: they can pick their own whenever they wish. The other report template, MaxZoom Report, lets you automatically maximize and zoom in on the report preview screen without having to click that silly magnifying glass icon.

RecordLimiter

This is a real help in constructing demo programs. Use the template on your browse procedure, name the file to limit and maximum records allowed, and any (guilt) message you wish to display when the record maximum has been reached. Voila! Instant demo.

Select A Tab

On multi-tab browses, you can pre-select which tab to display first. By adding a local variable to your browse, you can let your end users select which tab comes first.

SystemIcon

Use this to specify what icon you want to use for your application.

Windows Registry

Displays info on screen resolution and colors, network name, and version of Windows. Another template, WinVer, displays whether you are using 16 or 32 bit mode. If you need this level of information, this is a must. As with some of the other templates in this kit, you'll need CW2003 or higher to effectively use them.

Documentation

This was not a particularly strong point with QuickEez, which added strength to my impression that these templates were created by programmers for other programmers. Although the package includes 30 templates, only 21 are referenced in the brief, MS Word-only manual. No references are made as to the required CW release level (2.003 is optimum), any necessary DLLs, or preferred operating system (NT 4.0 or Win95 work best). The demo app file contains enough information to assist most developers in using these utilities to good advantage, but a more complete manual with some illustrated examples would go a long way in developing perceived value and appreciation for the product.

Technical Support

To ease any rough spots you might experience, Castle Computer provides technical support through CompuServe, Internet email, and voice phone or fax. When I was unable to get some of the templates to work correctly, I emailed Castle with a report of my problem and received a quick and accurate reply: I needed CW2.003 or higher for all of the templates to work properly. That's very good performance, especially on a holiday weekend.

Summary

QuickEez, as tested, is an impressive collection of CW utility templates that offer a lot of function for not a lot of money. The templates are, for the most part, simple to use, robust in operation, and can provide levels of function and feel which are otherwise available only through a lot of hand coding. As with most utility collections, QuickEez has certain features that can be used right away; and other templates that might never be used. Nevertheless, its good to know the tools are already on hand if they're ever needed.

For all its utility, QuickEez has a "rough around the edges" feel, almost like a work in progress. Unless you are using CW2003 or higher, a few of the templates simply won't work. In addition, if you are not currently running Win95 or NT4.0, you'll need some help in getting the demo program to run. Even the installation program required user intervention, and that's rare.

What it lacks in polish and presentation, QuickEez seems to make up for in function. None of its overall shortcomings is enough to stop the average or experienced developer from getting many good things in a small package. Castle Computer is currently expanding the QuickEez template collection and converting it to CW4. Registered users will receive the CW4 upgrade free of charge.

Category	Product Score
Ability to do the task	Good
Ease of use	Good
Ease of Installation	Fair
Documentation	Fair
Technical Support	Good
Modifies Shipping Templates	No
Black-Box DLLs/LIBs	No

The QuickEez Templates cost $40 US, and can be purchased via phone, email, fax, Compuserve SWREG or postal mail. Ordering details and a free Demo of the templates can be obtained at Castle's website: www.castlecomputer.com.

Review Comments from Castle Computer

Thank you to William Johnson, and Clarion Online for taking the time to review QuickEez. A lot of hard work and many sleepless nights were put into making a quality product. These templates are designed to make your programming life easier, and hopefully we accomplished that task. Below is our comment to the review. Installation - The installation file is being updated, and hopefully will make the automatic installation easier for you. Manual - The manual is currently being re-written to reflect not only the current templates, but also the new templates that have been added. We are also trying to add a help file, but don't know when the help file will be ready at this time. Templates - Some of the templates have been updated. For example, we have made changes to the 2 font templates, where now the programmer has the option of storing the font in an ini file so the end user does not have to select the font every time they run a report, or open a browse. The credit card validation template will be looked at again, and several new templates have been added. Clarion 4 - At this time we do not have a release date for the Clarion 4 templates, but as soon as that package arrives on my desk, we will be hard at work updating the templates and getting them out. Everyone that purchases the templates will receive a FREE update to the Clarion 4 templates. We continue to develop and will continue to develop new templates, and include them with QuickEez. You can always find more information at our web page http://www.castlecomputer.com.

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Clarion Magazine ISSN 1718-9942