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rpo

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Multiple nested panels resize problem

There is a strange problem with panels resizing when thre are many (10-40) nested panels (TPanel) with Align=alClient.

The problem - when form with the panels is resized, not all the panels adjust their size.

The number of panels needed to see the problem vary on different computers.

Is this Delphi or Windows problem? Does anybody know a solution?

Simple demonstration of the problem - compile and run a project with following form, set the value in edit box to 20 or 30, press Refresh and then resize the form (enlarge it).

The form code is :
-----------------------
unit Unit1;

interface

uses
  Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms, Dialogs,
  StdCtrls, Spin, ExtCtrls;

type
  TForm1 = class(TForm)
    Panel1: TPanel;
    btnRefresh: TButton;
    se: TSpinEdit;
    procedure btnRefreshClick(Sender: TObject);
  private
    { Private declarations }
  public
    { Public declarations }
  end;

var
  Form1: TForm1;

implementation

{$R *.DFM}

procedure TForm1.btnRefreshClick(Sender: TObject);
var
  i : integer;
  NewPane,
  Pane : TPanel;
begin
  with Panel1 do for i:= 0 to ControlCount - 1 do
    Controls[i].Free;
   
  Pane:= Panel1;
  for i:= 2 to se.Value do begin
    NewPane:= TPanel.Create(Pane);
    with NewPane do begin
      Caption:= 'Nesting level = ' + IntToStr(i);
      Align:= alClient;
      BorderWidth:= 2;
      BevelWidth:= 2;
      Parent:= Pane;
    end;
    Pane:= NewPane;
  end;
end;

end.
-----------------------

The .dfm is :
-----------------------
object Form1: TForm1
  Left = 385
  Top = 23
  Width = 595
  Height = 380
  Caption = 'Form1'
  Color = clBtnFace
  Font.Charset = DEFAULT_CHARSET
  Font.Color = clWindowText
  Font.Height = -11
  Font.Name = 'MS Sans Serif'
  Font.Style = []
  OldCreateOrder = False
  PixelsPerInch = 96
  TextHeight = 13
  object Panel1: TPanel
    Left = 0
    Top = 0
    Width = 587
    Height = 289
    Align = alTop
    BevelWidth = 3
    BorderWidth = 2
    Caption = 'Panel1'
    TabOrder = 0
  end
  object btnRefresh: TButton
    Left = 56
    Top = 312
    Width = 75
    Height = 25
    Caption = 'Refresh'
    TabOrder = 1
    OnClick = btnRefreshClick
  end
  object se: TSpinEdit
    Left = 160
    Top = 312
    Width = 121
    Height = 22
    MaxValue = 222
    MinValue = 2
    TabOrder = 2
    Value = 20
  end
end
-----------------------

Avatar of tongalite
tongalite

Hi
 
I just imported your demo into D3 Pro...
It works perfectly :)

All the panels are resized as they should be (nesting level 0 to 35)
No problem.

T.

Avatar of rpo

ASKER

Hmm, i tested it in D4 and D6 - there is a problem.

What Windows did you test on?
Avatar of rpo

ASKER

Can you send me the exe compiled in D3, please?
E-mail : rpo@crosswinds.net
Hi rpo,

The file is sent :)
T
Avatar of rpo

ASKER

Thanks a lot, tongalite.

I check it in W2K - it works wrong with your exe too. Probably, it's OS problem, not Delphi.

Thank you, anyway.

Just to make clear what i'm talking about - here is the screenshot : http://t2.technion.ac.il/~sromanp/nestedpanels.jpg
Hi again,

I looked at your screenshot and I see what you mean. No, It works fine for me (as it should do)???
Must be your OS.
I mailed you a screenshot.
T.
Avatar of rpo

ASKER

Increased point.
Avatar of rpo

ASKER

After some investigation I see that inner panels do not receive the WM_PAINT message and if I force them to receive the message (usng SendMessage from the WMPaint method of outer panels) they do run the Paint code, but nothing happens on the screen.

Does Win2K have any limitations on number of "active" device contexts (or whatever)?
Perhaps the problem is in the order you set the properties. Try to set the Parent the first thing after creation (and Align last thing, just in case):

 Pane:= Panel1;
 for i := 2 to se.Value do
 begin
   NewPane:= TPanel.Create(Pane);
   with NewPane do
   begin
     Parent:= Pane;
     Caption:= 'Nesting level = ' + IntToStr(i);
     BorderWidth:= 2;
     BevelWidth:= 2;
     Align:= alClient;
   end;
   Pane:= NewPane;
 end;

Not tested.
Avatar of rpo

ASKER

Well, this is code only demonstrates the problem. In actual application the panel are not created the same way (they are not created dynamically at all), but the problem still exists.

Anyway, I tried you suggestion - it doesn't help :(.
Avatar of kretzschmar
listening . . . trying later
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Lee_Nover
Lee_Nover

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Just a smile:

Why don't you like it?. It looks very nice your screenshot.
Just a smile:

Why don't you like it?. It looks very nice your screenshot.
Avatar of rpo

ASKER

Thanks a lot Lee_Nover!

Your answer works fine and does the job, although a bit slow (but it's ok).

It took some time to make it fit in the real application (ActiveXes, panels, embedded forms, etc.) but it works.

You get all the points. 500 here and another 300 in  https://www.experts-exchange.com/jsp/qManageQuestion.jsp?qid=20316349 . Just put some comment there so I can accept it as the answer.

Although we have a nice workaround, it's still interesting why the original Delphi code does not work.