G-Calc v4.1 - from Gitano Software

by Tom Hebenstreit, Review Editor

Published 1999-05-01    Printer-friendly version

(The following is based on a true story. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent … wait, I didn’t name names – oh well, you get the idea!)

You’ve slaved over this application for months, honing it for speed and power, tweaking each algorithm until it is a thing of beauty. Now you are demonstrating it to the user, and they are just nodding along (or off) as you go through it. "Oh, yeah", you say, "and you can also click on this button to pop up this little calculator" – and the user suddenly sits up, says "Cool!" and starts to get excited about the app.

It’s silly, I know, but somehow little touches like popup calendars and calculators are what give an application that extra bit of zip that really gets them noticed. A while back I took a look at G-Cal, Gitano Software’s most excellent popup calendar tool. Their G-Calc product ($39) has long been regarded as the king of Clarion popup calculators, so with the release of the new 4.1 version it seemed about time to take a look at it as well.

Major Features

What do you get?

1. 6 different styles of calculators, with full control over their appearance
2. Calculators can be accessed via global hot key, toolbar button or directly with a specific associated control
3. All tool tips can be customized (supports internationalization)
4. Optional running tape lets you display and/or print your calculations
5. Multiple paste options include
   - No paste
   - Overwrite field
   - Insert a result at the beginning of a string field (e.g., "123 Joe")
   - Insert a result at the end of a string field (e.g., "Joe 123")
6. Hot keys for common calculator functions
7. Automatically loads the contents of the current of field into the calculator (if it is a numeric field)
8. Pastes back to the field with focus
9. Both sets of numbers on the keyboard are supported
10. A small help file with the hot keys is included for distribution
11. 16 and 32 bit, C4 and C5, ABC and Clarion templates are all supported

Installation

I obtained G-Calc as a single file install, downloaded from the Gitano website (about 1.4 megs). As part of the installation process, I was presented with the choice of installing for Clarion4, Clarion5 or even both at the same time. The install program also correctly determined the locations for each version of Clarion, making the installation process pretty much a case of just clicking on the ‘next’ button. As I prefer, at the end of the installation the G-Calc help file was displayed so that I could get acquainted with it right away.

All in all, very painless. The only improvement I could suggest would be for the installer to automatically register the templates for you.

Implementation

G-Calc calculators can be accessed in three ways: a global hot key, a global button, or via field specific buttons which you add to a window using a supplied template. If you use the calculator in global mode, it will automatically copy the contents of the current field into the calculator when you pop it up (if the field is numeric), then paste the result back to that field when you are done (works for numeric and string fields).

Gitano stresses ease of use for their products, so I decided to check that out first. To test that, I simply chose a C5a ABC example app, added the G-Calc global extension template and then compiled the application.

I purposefully left all of the G-Calc template prompts at the defaults. Some template prompts, like the calculator tool tips, were blank, and I was curious to see if they would end up with default tips.

I ran the application, went to a form, selected a numeric field and then pressed the default global hot key (F5). Sure enough, up popped the calculator with the contents of the field already entered. All of the buttons had appropriate tool tips, I could display or hide the ‘tape’, change the buttons from flat to raised, change the wallpaper, and just basically have a good old time (never had as much fun with a calculator before, that’s for sure!). Once I was done, my result was pasted back into the original field with a click of a button. For string fields, G-Calc also offers the option to paste its results at the beginning or the end of the string.

Even better, my customizations were automatically saved by G-Calc so that the next time I ran the program, my calculator popped up exactly way I left it.

InsertImage (R_TH1401.gif, Figure 1: Calculator with wallpaper changed to match the application.)

Total time to reach this point? About 15 seconds and a recompile. Effort expended? Virtually none. I’d have to say it certainly IS easy to use.

For the tweakers, C-Calc does offer developer control if you want to take advantage of it. You can, for instance, hide the options for changing the wallpaper or toggling between flat and raised buttons. You can also specify which of the six calculators to use, either globally or on a per control basis using the included control template. In that manner you can ‘lock in’ the look and feel of the calculator if you, for example, want it to always match your application (as shown in figure 1). Here are the global options that you can use:

options)

Note that you can use the ‘Customized Tooltips’ option and tabs to provide whatever tips you want, in whatever language you need. You can also specify which of the six calculators to use at any time in your program (or give the option to your users, if you want to). Settings can be automatically saved and restored from an INI file.

The Control template

The G-Calc control template places a button on your window (or toolbar), complete with a little calculator icon. It can be used globally or be associated with a specific control. As you might of noticed in Figure 1, I added the control template to the application toolbar to give the user another way to access my global calculator.

Using the control template, you can have a more complex calculator as your global default, but associate a smaller, simple one with certain fields by adding the template to those controls. In the same manner, you could have a simple calculator as your global with more complex versions for fields where you need the extra options.

For the hand coder

If you don’t use templates, you’ll still find G-Calc very easy to use. There is all of one function call to deal with, and its use is documented in the help. Basically, you simply pass the function all the information that would otherwise be specified in the template prompts (field, caption, wallpaper, etc.)

One Gotcha

Important Note: G-Calc requires that your programs be compiled in ‘standalone’ mode, i.e., with the CW runtime libraries as DLLs. Being the adventurous sort that I am, of course, I had to see what happened when I tried it in a ‘local’ mode compile.

The results? Well, pretty much what you’d expect. The program locked up as soon as I pressed the G-Calc global hot key, although my hard disk went crazy with activity. I had to use Ctrl-Alt-Del and End Task to shut down the errant program, but no harm was done.

Because of this restriction (and the results), it might be nice if G-Calc could warn you when you try and compile in the wrong mode. Even better would be if it worked in local mode compiles.

Performance

G-Calc worked like a charm and looks fabulous. All of my attempts to mess it up with gigantic numbers, dividing by zero, etc., were handled with aplomb.

The only possible problem I found was with calculator 5, a modern looking smaller calculator. It offers a dozen preset color schemes (all gorgeous, by the way), and some of them use a fairly large palette. If viewed on a display set to only 256 colors, this can cause the color palette in other applications to change (i.e., go weird) when the calculator is opened. A very small problem, to be sure, and one that can easily be avoided simply by not using those particular schemes on a 256 color display.

Documentation

Documentation is provided in the form a standard Windows help file. It does a decent job of demonstrating the types of calculators and explaining the various ways to use G-Calc.

It could stand to be expanded a bit with explanations of the various buttons you see on the calculators. I basically figured out what some of them did only after running the application and viewing the tooltips. Not a biggie, but it would be nice.

No demo apps are included, but in this case I didn’t think any were needed. Between the pictures of the calculator types in the help file and the ease with which it can be added to your own applications, there was virtually no learning curve involved.

Technical Support

Support is provided via email only, but Gitano is both fast and thorough in their replies to questions. Frankly, I’d be surprised if they get many questions regarding G-Calc – it is that easy to use.

Summary

Possible improvements: I’d like to see the ‘standalone’ only restriction lifted, and the help could be expanded a bit, but that’s pretty much it.

All in all, this one is really a no-brainer. If you write applications that could use a pop-up calculator (and don’t use ‘local’ mode), get G-Calc. It requires next to no effort on your part, works great, and your apps will get an instant upgrade in their ‘coolness’ factor.

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

G-Calc is available direct from Gitano Software at (805) 398-8553 (sales only) or by secure online order for US $39. If you are a registered user of any other Gitano Software CW utilities, you can purchase G-Calc for a discounted price of US $34. It is also available at a discount in several special bundles with other Gitano products such as G-Cal (their popup calendar) and G-Notes.

For more information, to view pictures of the various calculator styles or to order, visit their web site at http://bizweb.lightspeed.net/~gitano

If you have any questions about G-Calc, you can also contact them via email at: gitano@lightspeed.net

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Clarion Magazine ISSN 1718-9942