Cosmetic surgery

[ideasguy]

I'm sure you are all aware that each product is undergoing an upgrade, due to the higher version of the Visual Foxpro software which I'm using now.
I decided to spend some time investigating some of the wonderful things that are now possible.
Heres links to the pages Ive been studying, and testing.
They are all developed by members of a forum I participate in
http://www.foxite.com
Its hosted by Eric den Doop, from Holland.

These guys really are whiz kids!

Theres three new things of particular interest to me.
Just have a look at the screen shots in the pages Ive given links to, and you'll see what I'm playing with.

1) Gradients on objects (Colour changing gradually over a screen or button)
This by Cesar Chalom (from Brazil) shows how to apply gradients to screens:
http://weblogs.foxite.com/cesarchalom/archive/2006/06/22/1906.aspx
and then to buttons
http://weblogs.foxite.com/cesarchalom/archive/2006/07/26/2076.aspx
My favourite? I've directed my attention to this design:
http://weblogs.foxite.com/cesarchalom/archive/2006/07/11/1969.aspx
It took a few hours of fun, but Ive now got this working for Bank Genie!

2) Skinning forms
This is where I coined the phrase "Cosmetic Surgery"
The process is to cut bits away from the screen (programatically of course) and replace with 8 images.
The result is you get really cool looking screens, with rounded corners, and cool title bars, close and minimise buttons.
Literally, the standard form is skinned and re-skinned with a customised design. Real fun for graphic artists!
This takes us off to fellow Foxpro programmers in Argentina:
http://www.vfpskin.com.ar/skins.htm
Breathtaking!

3) Enhancing the shape of the tabs on Page Frames
This by Bernard Bout (Australia)
http://weblogs.foxite.com/bernardbout/archive/2006/06/07/1704.aspx
This was a doddle to implement in test mode. Very straight forward, works like a dream, and looks really nice!
However, I need to do some testing before using it in the Genie's.

OK, OK, theres FOUR things!!
4) Glass (see through) screens
You'll see lots of these in the future range of PC's running Microsoft Vista operating system
Heres an introduction for you to read (read the first paragraph):
http://weblogs.foxite.com/bernardbout/archive/2006/06/15/1838.aspx

This also by Bernard Bout (Australia)
http://weblogs.foxite.com/bernardbout/archive/2006/10/28/2765.aspx
Good news here is that my new software has the Genie range prepared for the new Microsoft operating system (OS)  soon to be released(Vista) although a lot of testing has to be done when I get a computer with this new OS.

and more by Kevin Ragsdale
http://weblogs.foxite.com/kevinragsdale/archive/2006/09/21/2507.aspx

Very nice visual example here on Craig Boyd's web site:
http://www.sweetpotatosoftware.com/SPSBlog/PermaLink,guid,ded0ffae-4c8f-41b9-918f-b5adfe36f140.aspx

and heres how its done, again by Bernard Bout
http://weblogs.foxite.com/bernardbout/archive/2006/08/27/2353.aspx

[Kew]

The heading of this post had me trembling. On the one hand I was scared to death of opening up a site to be 'faced' with pictures of horribly mutilated bodies, on the other hand I was thinking....'Mmmmm, maybe there is a chance for me'....not that I need masses of candle wax you understand, but I have been contemplating a little, how shall I put it, well,just a little sort of lift to my saggy left eye socket. Well, you can imagine my utter shock, nay!...dissapointment to be faced with nothing of the sort in the possible improvement department!
So; I would ask you to be very careful in your future topic headings. You had at at least one person hoping for a change of life style here!
 

[ideasguy]

Awwww - I'm sorry to disappoint you! 

Just to let you know, I got the Bank Genie menu screen converted using those fancy gradients and buttons. Impressive!
Y'know, I dont think the Genie felt a thing! It was painless for it. Not so for "the surgeon". I spent many happy hours learning that stuff!