Getting Started


Creating a new visual part

The window you create in this tutorial displays detailed customer information.

Note:The Address part shown in this picture is created in "Defining a reusable visual part". Leave space for it, so it will fit as shown in Figure 97.

Figure 97. Customer Information Window

Figure citest not displayed.

To create a new visual part, on the VisualAge Organizer window:

  1. Ensure that the Tutorial application is selected in Applications pane.
  2. From the Parts menu, select New.

    The VisualAge New Part window is displayed.

  3. In the Part class field, type the name TutorialView for your new part class.
    Note:Names of VisualAge parts are usually several words written together without spaces. Visual part class names are case sensitive and the first letter of each word is usually capitalized to make them easier to read. The names of visual parts usually end with the word View to help you distinguish them from nonvisual VisualAge parts. The class shown in the Inherits from drop-down list box is one example.
  4. Select OK.

    The Composition Editor is displayed. Because the AbtAppBldrView class was selected in the Inherits from drop-down list box, the TutorialView part already contains a Window part. The area outside of the Window part is called the free-form surface.

  5. Maximize the Composition Editor to get a larger work area.
  6. Select the window on the free-form surface.

    Small solid boxes appear on the Window's corners. These are called selection handles.

  7. Click and drag one of the selection handles to resize the Window.

    For this sample, make the Window as large as possible in the viewable area of the Composition Editor. Leave at least one inch of the free-form surface visible to the right of the Window part for future use.

  8. Give the Window a new title to replace the generic name Window. To do this, move the mouse pointer to the Window title and press ALT+mouse button 1.

    The cursor is now at the end of the default name, which is blocked for deletion in text edit mode.

  9. Type the title, Customer Information. Click anywhere except on the title to end text edit mode.

    The Window now has the new title.

Note:Refer to the VisualAge for Smalltalk User's Guide for basic techniques used in creating visual parts.


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