DAS_Tools - from Tinman Development

by Drew Bourrut

Published 1999-06-01    Printer-friendly version

Reviews usually follow a certain pattern. Typically, reviewers will write about how they installed and tried the product. This review is a little different. I’ve been using Das_Tools for years and before that I was using Programmers Toolkit (a former stand-alone product that is now part of Das_Tools). So it’s only fair to say right off that I’m a fan. I like the product a lot. That said, let’s get started.

Introducing Das_Tools

This is a mature product that has been developed over a series of years. Here is how Tinman describes the product; "DAS_Tools For Windows is a compilation of functions and procedures to assist the developer in handling the difficult tasks of creating applications using the Clarion For Windows environment. The Library is made up of both 16 and 32 bit compiled LIB files as well as Utility, Extension and Procedure Templates."

So what does it include?

Functions – (number of functions in parens):

• Date (23) – Date validation, day of week/year (string and number), work day, next business day, various conversions, Julian, season, date range selection and more.

  Directory (11) – Creating, deleting and renaming directories and directory trees, plus a few others for getting the contents of a directory in 16 and 32 bit.

  Drive (6) – Getting the current drive letter, type, volume ID, disk serial number and free space on a drive.

  File (6) – Checking if files or directories exist, and their access modes. Creating a temp file name, and copying/deleting/renaming files.

  Path (5) – Getting the drive letter from a path, making full path names, extracting the file name from a path, getting just the extension, etc.

  String (3) – Capitalize first letter, split first/last names, salutation.

  System (12) – Getting an environment variable, finding the Windows and System directories, getting the DOS and Windows versions, temp file directories, computer name, program associated with a file extension, running programs, searching for file, etc.

  Time (15) – Getting hours, minutes, seconds, elapsed time, validation, conversions, delaying a program until a certain date and time, and more.

  Multimedia (4) – Simple functions to play movie, sound or multimedia files.

  Network (4) – Getting a login User ID, mapping and unmapping drives.

  Miscellaneous – Converting strings to Hex, Tip of the day, displaying messages, saving text to an error log, etc.

Template

• Utility (1) – Application Documentation: lists templates, variables (global and/or local), procedures, calls, controls and a lot more.

  Extension (13) – Limit total users, run in demo mode, variable file paths, setting tool tips, simplified INI handling, procedure comments, etc.

  Control (5) – Mouse splash control, attaching notes to records, date/time stamp memo fields, lookups, spell check wrapper (requires Visual Speller from Visual Components).

  Code (9) - Report Writer interface, setting the spell checker options, copying records from one file to another, and some wrappers for the multimedia functions listed above.

I’m not exactly sure when I first came upon this product, but it was after I had started using the Programmers Toolkit. In fact, these are still some of my preferred features.

My favorite feature is the note feature (a control template). You’ll find that I use it in most of my apps. This allows you to drop an icon onto a form. This icon, when pressed, opens a list of notes related to that particular record. So, for example, I use it on all my customer contact screens. When using the app clicking on the button opens a list of notes related to that customer. I can insert, change, or delete notes. Best of all, when in use, the note icon provides specific information. The icon changes from a closed book to an open book depending on whether or not notes exist.

Here are two sample screen shots.

Figure 1: A portion of a form without notes

Figure 2: A portion of the same form that has one or more notes

Notice that on the second screen the book is open, indicating that this customer has notes. Very nice!

Using Das Tools in your app

Installation

The product may be downloaded from http://www.thetingroup.com. It comes as a password-protected zipfile. Applying the password when unzipping gives an installation set. At this point running DASTOOLS.EXE will do a standard install. This works very cleanly. The install places the documentation (a help file) in the Clarion5\Bin directory and will place example apps into Clarion5\tingroup\dastl500. The sample apps are an excellent way to learn about all of the features.

Using the product

Add the Das_tools global extension to the globals for your application and you’re ready to go. Obviously, whether you use extension, code or control templates will depend on what you’re trying to achieve. Lets try a few things.

DAS_Multi_Limiter

This tool allows you to limit the number of individuals using your app at the same time. For example, I sell an app in single-user, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 25-user versions. Here’s how I did it.

First add DAS_Multi_Limiter to your APP by simply following the directions below.

• Load your APP into the CW Environment.
• View the Application Tree
• Click on the 'Global' Button
• Click on the 'Extensions' Button
• Click on the 'Insert' button
• Highlight the DAS_Multi_Limiter Template under the 'Class DAS_Tools' area.
• Click on the 'Select' Button

To activate the DAS_Multi_Limiter Feature

• Enter the number of Maximum Users you require in the 'Maximum Users' entry field (If you leave the 'Maximum Users' set to 0, No limitation code will be generated).
• Optionally specify a unique file name for DAS_Multi_Limiter to use for this application.
• Check if you need the Topspeed file driver added to your Project file.

This will on running create a file myapp.lmt which holds information on how many people are currently using the app and when too many people try to use the app multi-limiter prevents it with an error message stating there are too many users and then gracefully ends.

Here’s another example, this time using a date function.

DAS_DayOfWk

This function provides the day of the week Imagine today is March 23^rd 1998. This is a Wednesday. In my code I can place either of the following lines:

Daystring = DAS_DayOfWk(0,TODAY()) Return short form
Daystring = DAS_DayOfWk(1,TODAY()) Return long form

The first provides "Wed" and the second, "Wednesday." Nice and simple!

DAS_Parse

This function will parse a name.

First_Name = DAS_Parse('Mr. Gary L. Reichenberger',0) Returns 'Gary L.'
Last_Name = DAS_Parse('Mr. Gary L. Reichenberger',1) Returns 'Reichenberger'

I used this one recently. A client insisted that the customer database store names as first name / last name. After having entered some 4000 customers they finally understood why a "last name first’ protocol would be a better way to do a look up. I added a "last, first" field to the database and then wrote a little process that used this function to populate this field from the name field. The customer loves it.

Support

Support comes in two flavors. There’s the "question you need answered" type of support, and then there’s the "product maintenance" type. I’ve found that Tinman Development excels at both. I’ve emailed tinman@thetingroup.com and typically have received a response within twenty-four hours or less. Occasionally I’ve called. I have several of their products and, as with the other products, support on this one has been quite punctual. I looked back at my email log and, for example, a question sent on 1/8/99 at 1:46pm was responded to on 1/8/99 at 2:10pm. Not bad!

As I indicated, the other part of support is keeping products up to date. The current version (as of this writing) is from February and there is expected to be an update in June.

Documentation

I want to be clear and say that I don’t have all that much experience with their support because I rarely have a question that isn’t answered by the documentation. The help file is clearly written and usually can be accessed by clicking on the help button while highlighting one of the DAS Tools extension templates. In fact, the examples above for DAS_DayOfWeek and DAS_Parse were stolen directly from the help documentation.

It’s not perfect. I’d prefer a file that’s in printable form so I could have a paper copy even though I rarely find the docs necessary. While only a help file, though, it is pretty complete and very easy to follow.

Summary

You get the idea. It’s a toolbox full of tools. I get the feeling that these tools began life because someone had a need. I know that’s why I purchased the product. Some tools I use more than others (virtually every one of my projects uses the miscellaneous notes tool). Check it out, and maybe you’ll find some you will use just as much.

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

[Review Editor’s Note: At the time of this writing, we understand that there should be an updated version of the product released shortly which will also incorporate the Quick Easy templates and tools from Castle Computing. Looks like DAS_Tools might become the King Kong of tool sets!]

DAS_Tools is available direct from Tinman Development via either phone (316-326-6866) or via secure web form at: https://secure.falcon-net.net/BMT/order0274.html

It can also be ordered through the TopSpeed Accessories Program at 1-800-354-5444.

The product retails for US$129. Upgrade and bundle discounts are also available.

Special Note: Tinman Development has stated that the price of DAS_Tools will be going up to US$149 some time this summer. Contact them for details.

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Clarion Magazine ISSN 1718-9942