HMG implements a semi-oop model.

In my humble opinion, this model fits perfectly with xBase, because the goal of the original dBase creators was to obtain the maximum power with the minimum programming effort. This was the key for its tremendous success.

In most cases, the xBase Windows products, consist of a xBase compiler tied to a standard OOP GUI engine, resulting in 'schizoid' languages, extremely easy to use in all aspects excepting the GUI.

I've tried to create a GUI system consistent with xBase philosophy,without strictly regarding any standard programming paradigm.

Some ideas of MiniGUI's semi-oop model were inspired by William Yu's outstanding Rapid-Q basic compiler. I want to publicly thanks to him for his brilliant ideas and open minded vision of computer programming science.

Your First HMG Program

I'll not be original, so this program will display a 'Hello World' message :)

#include "hmg.ch"

Function Main

    DEFINE WINDOW Win_1 ;
        AT 0,0 ;
        WIDTH 400 ;
        HEIGHT 200 ;
        TITLE 'Hello World!' ;
        MAIN

    END WINDOW

    ACTIVATE WINDOW Win_1

Return

DEFINE WINDOW command: Will create the main window for the program.

Win_1: Is the name of the window.

AT 0,0: Indicates the window position (row=0,col=0)

WIDTH 400: Means that the window will have 400 pixels width.

HEIGHT 200: Means that the window will have 200 pixels height.

TITLE 'Hello World!': Indicates the text in the window title bar.

MAIN: Indicates that we are defining the main application window (a main window is required for all Harbour MiniGUI applications)

ACTIVATE WINDOW Form_1: Will show the window and start the event
loop.

The Traditional Approach

You can change the windows (controls) behavior/appareance using a xBase
style command (MODIFY)

In the example above, if you want change the window title, you can use
the following command:

MODIFY WINDOW Win_1 TITLE 'New Title'

If you want to retrieve the window title:

FETCH WINDOW Win_1 TITLE TO cVar

The Semi-OOP Approach

To do the same as above, you can use this semi-oop syntax:

Win_1.Title := 'New Title'

cVar := Win_1.Title

--
Roberto Lopez <mail.box.hmg@gmail.com>