Sun Monitor

alfcen · #1 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 01:49 PM

Hi everybody,
My latest Basic4PPC astronomy project is software that monitors the daily positions and motions of our home star, the Sun.

If you are astronomy biased please have a look at:

http://www.alfcen.com/pocket/taiyo.html

(The installer is too large for the forum server)

I am always amazed by the speed at which Basic4PPC applications can be put together!

The application is shareware, but free for forum members.

Cheers
Robert

Rioven · #2 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 06:11 PM

Hi alfcen,
Looks very nice!

I've got interested...
I am using sun path for designing building facade, canopy, and other sun shading devices.

Regards,

Cableguy · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 10:45 PM

Hi Robert...
Althoug not an astronomy enthusiast, I like to watch the stars and know a bit or two about everything....
Your app LOOKS great, but the screenshot in the website is a bit small...
Can you post a larger image in the forum?
btw, how did you get those great looking gouges? are they dll based or code based controls?

alfcen · #4 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 03:49 AM

Hi Cableguy
Here you are...

The gauges are bitmaps created with Paint Shop 5

Cheers
Robert

Cableguy · #5 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfcen

Hi Cableguy
Here you are...

The gauges are bitmaps created with Paint Shop 5

Cheers
Robert

So they don't really work do they?..toobad, they look awsome!!!

alfcen · #6 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 07:52 AM

Without code the bitmaps are of course dummies, but with some code, mostly drawing on a form, they work quite vividly and do not require much memory. Besides, bitmaps load faster than other graphic formats while repainting the screen, in whole or part, is as easy as drawing the image again.

I noticed that transparent forelayers cause flickering at data refresh, so I stayed with the static form. Transparency can be achieved by using a superimposed image button without any image and its transparent property set to true. Doing so, the bitmap adds a Click event.

Sure it would be nicer to have gauges in the form of a control, but customization might be difficult then.

Cheers

Cableguy · #7 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 05:13 PM

I have been looking into gauge alike controls dll's...
not much to customize....
minimum value
max value
redline start value (if any)
refresh
and the default props
width, height, etc..

It's the drawing that still puzzles me as I'm not a c# developer in any sort...

dzt · #8 (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 07:32 PM

Hi Robert,

Amazing design as always!

Best Regards

agraham · #9 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 04:55 PM

That's a very nice looking app. Is that screenshot from a VGA device? If so how do you get B4PPC to work at that resolution?

EDIT :- Ah sorry. I've looked closer and it seems to be a pixel doubled screenshot of a standard device. Still looks very good though - shows what can be done with a bit of design flair (which I totally lack) on a small device!

dzt · #10 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agraham

...shows what can be done with a bit of design flair (which I totally lack)...

Unfortunately, I totally lack it too