abulka
asked on
restore inherited form's original bounds
When I create a bunch of forms based on a base form held in the repository, they all start out being the same size as the base form - until I resize the instance form. Then the instance form has it's own bounds viz. top, left, etc. properties.
How do I tell the form to revert to using the inherited base form size?
Similarly with components on the base form - if I move them on the instance form they forever are independent of the base form component position. How do I tell these components to revert to the base form component's position (this applies to all the other properties, beside top,left,width etc. )
How do I tell the form to revert to using the inherited base form size?
Similarly with components on the base form - if I move them on the instance form they forever are independent of the base form component position. How do I tell these components to revert to the base form component's position (this applies to all the other properties, beside top,left,width etc. )
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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OK - here we have to get crafty!
When viewing the form itself, press Alt-F12. This converts the form to text. Near the top you will see lines that say
left = x
top = y
width = z
etc.
To make the inherited form revert to the properties of the ancestor form delete the properties you want to be the same eg: deleting the top, left, width and height lines will make the inherited form take the size and position of the ancestor form.
once you have deleted these press alt-F12 again to convert the text back into a form.
Cheers,
Raymond.
When viewing the form itself, press Alt-F12. This converts the form to text. Near the top you will see lines that say
left = x
top = y
width = z
etc.
To make the inherited form revert to the properties of the ancestor form delete the properties you want to be the same eg: deleting the top, left, width and height lines will make the inherited form take the size and position of the ancestor form.
once you have deleted these press alt-F12 again to convert the text back into a form.
Cheers,
Raymond.
ASKER
Ok that sounds good. I'll accept the answer.
If you give me some code to get the inherited form to revert to the ancestor form's size and position prior to displaying at runtime, this will give me a RUNTIME solution (as well as the design time solution that you gave me).
I've increased the points a little.
If you give me some code to get the inherited form to revert to the ancestor form's size and position prior to displaying at runtime, this will give me a RUNTIME solution (as well as the design time solution that you gave me).
I've increased the points a little.
Hmm...
This may not be the best way to do this, but you could just implement it in a TForm derived class and derive all your ancestor forms from that (either that or do it in each form - but thats yucky):
TMyForm = class(TForm)
private
TheTop, TheLeft, TheHeight, TheWidth : Integer;
protected //? could be public...
procedure Loaded; override;
end;
procedure TMyForm.Loaded;
begin
if csInherited in ComponentState then
begin
TheTop := Top;
TheLeft := Left;
TheHeight := Height;
TheWidth := Width;
end
else
SetBounds(TheLeft, TheTop, TheWidth, TheHeight);
end;
Cheers,
Raymond.
This may not be the best way to do this, but you could just implement it in a TForm derived class and derive all your ancestor forms from that (either that or do it in each form - but thats yucky):
TMyForm = class(TForm)
private
TheTop, TheLeft, TheHeight, TheWidth : Integer;
protected //? could be public...
procedure Loaded; override;
end;
procedure TMyForm.Loaded;
begin
if csInherited in ComponentState then
begin
TheTop := Top;
TheLeft := Left;
TheHeight := Height;
TheWidth := Width;
end
else
SetBounds(TheLeft, TheTop, TheWidth, TheHeight);
end;
Cheers,
Raymond.
ASKER
Looks good - just one last question.
Wouldn't I have to call
inherited
in the TMyForm.Loaded; of the ancestor/base form?
or is the loaded message just for notification and I don't have to pass it up?
e.g.
procedure TMyForm.Loaded;
inherited; // parameters here???
begin
if csInherited in ComponentState then
begin
etc...
...
Wouldn't I have to call
inherited
in the TMyForm.Loaded; of the ancestor/base form?
or is the loaded message just for notification and I don't have to pass it up?
e.g.
procedure TMyForm.Loaded;
inherited; // parameters here???
begin
if csInherited in ComponentState then
begin
etc...
...
Yes. I forgot to include that.
Cheers,
Raymond.
Cheers,
Raymond.
ASKER
Ok. Does the inherited call need parameters? e.g. sender or something?
No - it shoudln't. It should compile just fine as it is. If not change it to:
Inherited Loaded;
Cheers,
Raymond.
Inherited Loaded;
Cheers,
Raymond.
ASKER
The menu item is always dimmed out for forms. How do I get the form to revert? This is the main thing I want to get working.
-A