Global Lists and Build Time

[TJ_Tigger]

Is it possible to have a text file read into a Global list during build time?

This is for a quizzing application and instead of importing the files myself, to make it more dynamic, I was wondering if I could have the files (test and answers) loaded into global lists upon build time. This way the whole test is stored in the global lists and not a disguised text file.

Thanks
Tigg

[Brett]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

You could do this by writing a VB program that interacts with AMS40 through it's COM interface or even by writing a VB script to interact with the document from within the product (see Tools | Macros).

You can read more about the COM interfaces from the file "AMS40COM.chm" in your AMS40 folder. Basically you would make a script that reads the text file and then uses the AutoPlayGlobalList interface to create and fill some global lists and then the Document.Build function to build the app.

[Brett]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

Here is some code to get you going:

<pre>
Sub Main
strPath = GetFilePath(,"txt","","Locate Text File",0)
If strPath = "" Then
MsgBox "You must select a file."
Exit Sub
End If

Dim g_list As AutoPlayGlobalList
Set g_list = AddGlobalList(strPath)

' Read the file
Open strPath For Input As #1
While Not EOF(1)
Line Input #1,L$
g_list.AddItem(L$)
Wend
Close #1

End Sub

</pre>

Just go to Tools > Macros and paste the above code in. Then run it. It will prompt you for a text file and then read it in line by line into a new global list with the same name as the text file. After you run it check out the Global Lists in your project.

[Corey]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

You can indeed also use actions to read your text file into a tab delimited list and then insert theitems into a global list with a loop. Very simple, works great, that's how the quiz project on the new Powertips CD works. That way you can create convenient text "modules" to refresh the content, etc.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[TJ_Tigger]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

Are you doing this during Build time Corey? If you are, where are you placing the actions. I have AMS randomize the questions and answers from a txt file (conviently renamed) and put them in a global list so they can be read from there to the user. I will see what i can do to get them in during build time. I am wanting to do as you said with a quiz application where the modules could be rereshed.

Can't wait to see your quiz application. My muddle brain code could use a lot of work.

tigg

[Corey]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

Oh I see, I misunderstood.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[Brett]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

Tigger, the best and only way to do this is to use the VB macro method that I mentioned above. I just remembered this morning that you can actually automatically run a VB macro file every time you build. Just go to Project > Settings and select the Build tab. Go to the Pre/Post Build Steps section, check the Run before build option, select Macro file and specify your macro file that reads the text files to your global lists. This is exactly the kind of thing that the macro support is there for. See how far you can get on your own and let me know if you have any troubles. I will help you get this going.

[TJ_Tigger]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

I will do so Brett thanks. I saw the prebuild optinos and figured it would be scripting that would be required in order do it pre-build. I will see what I can work out today.

Tigg

[TJ_Tigger]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

One more thing, what language is this code in?
<font color=orange>
Sub Main
strPath = GetFilePath(,"txt","","Locate Text File",0)
If strPath = "" Then
MsgBox "You must select a file."
Exit Sub
End If

Dim g_list As AutoPlayGlobalList
Set g_list = AddGlobalList(strPath)

' Read the file
Open strPath For Input As #1
While Not EOF(1)
Line Input #1,L$
g_list.AddItem(L$)
Wend
Close #1

End Sub
</font color=orange>

[Lorne]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

Looks like VB or VBA to me. (Visual Basic / Visual Basic for Applications)

AutoPlay actually uses an almost-VB language, that is roughly equivalent to VBA. (Has the same syntax, is missing a few obscure commands and features.)

[Brett]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

Right. It is VERY close and almost completely compatible with VBA. We use the Sax Basic engine. Here is a comparison with VBA and VB Script: http://www.sax.net/activex/basic/features.aspx

The language is completely COM compatible. So, you could even store your questions and answers in an ADO-compatible database (like Access) and use ADO to query the database for your questions, etc.

[Bruce]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

I have always wondered what language AMS used! I can sleep better now... :-)

[Worm]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

Bruce, I'm sure AMS is written in C++, but the macro language within AMS is VB'ish. If AMS was written in VB, it would require run-times and would be useless as an autorun.

[Lorne]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

Worm's right. AutoPlay itself is coded in C++. The design environment's COM automation uses SAX Basic, which is essentially VB. The run time, i.e. the stuff you build with AutoPlay, uses a proprietary set of actions and conditions that are entirely our own design.

In the future, expect some changes in many of these areas -- we're always looking for ways to make programming easier (or eliminate it completely) for those who are not comfortable with it...and also to make the programming environment friendlier and more powerful to those of us who dig that sort of thing.

[TJ_Tigger]

Re: Global Lists and Build Time

Just don't get rid of the progarmming interface for those who "dig" it. I like the concept of making it easier for those who are not used to programming, me included, but one thing that drew me to AMS is the power of the actions that one can put into the autorun.exe.