The primary focus of this release is forms. Forms are by no means complete, but quite a lot has been implemented, including more than half of object types. In earlier versions of Panorama the form editor was very dialog heavy, but so far this new version has no dialogs at all. Instead, objects are manipulated with a series of non-modal inspector palettes.
Another change is that this version doesn’t have a bunch of different tools – mouse always acts as a pointer tool for selection. New objects are created by dragging them from the Object Library (or double clicking on a library item).
This version will import forms from existing Panorama databases. Some Panorama 6 object types aren’t supported yet, these objects should be imported as rectangles (this wasn’t extensively tested, however).
One big change you may notice is the way procedures are handled. In previous versions you could select a procedure associated with an object with a pop-up menu. In this new version, you can type any procedure you want into any object. This is sort of like each object having an execute statement associated with it. If you want to use a regular procedure, use the call statement (when importing objects from Panorama 6 the call statement is generated for you automatically.
There are a number of minor enhancements to many objects, including Text Editor, Text Display, even Groups (which now have two different elastic modes for resizing the group’s subobjects).
Many user interface items (buttons, pop-up menus) are in some ways more limited than in previous versions. In this new version the style of interface items is limited to standard OS X appearances. If you want to make a user interface that looks like a standard OS X control, your life will be easier. However, all of the non-standard styles have been removed.
There are currently three completely new objects – polygons, stars and the exciting new Web Browser Object. The Web Browser object will be enhanced later, I believe that Panorama programmers will be able to run JavaScripts within a browser object and probably will be able to access the DOM.
##Missing Features##
There are plenty of missing features, and some known bugs. To save time all around, here is a partial list:
- When resizing an object, Shift key does not constrain to vertical/horizontal dragging.
- Holding down the S key doesn’t expand object handles.
- Holding down the Space Bar doesn’t allow you to start marquee drag on top of an object.
- Double clicking an object doesn’t select objects inside
- Escape key doesn’t toggle graphics mode
- Editing a Text Label object doesn’t work correctly if alignment is center or right.
- Procedure Inspection Panel needs cosmetic work, and better error handling
- No procedure or formula help
- Missing object types, including Flash Art, Pictures, Sticky Push Buttons, Super Matrix, Scrolling List, Tiles, Auto Grow, Word Processor, Charts and more
- No View-As-List Forms
- No reports or printing
- Zooming works, but needs a different UI
- Can’t change ruler dimensions
- Split views (palettes, object library) can’t be brought back after collapsing to zero width/height
- Split view should not change width when window changes width
- No grid or guides
- No auto-spacing dialog
- No form background color
##Documentation Changes##
As you can see, the look of the on-line documentation has been improved.
Graphic Design Mode features have been mostly, but not completely, documented. However, there are no screen shots or movies. These will be added later.
Brand new features implemented in this release (features that were not included in Panorama 6):
Features implemented in this release that work differently than they did in Panorama 6.
- Aligning Objects -- so that two or more object edges are made even with each other.
- Data Button Object -- is used to create checkboxes and radio buttons.
- decodebase64( -- The decodebase64( function decodes data using Base64.
- degree -- The degree statement tells Panorama that all angles input to and calculated in trigonometric functions are in degrees rather than radians.
- Duplicating Objects -- to make copies of one or more objects.
- encodebase64( -- The encodebase64( function encodes data using Base64.
- Grouping Objects -- allows you to manipulate multiple objects as if they were a single object.
- Line Object -- draws a line within a form.
- Popup Menu Button Object -- is used to create popup menus anywhere on a form.
- Push Button Object -- triggers a procedure when it is pushed.
- radian -- The radian statement tells Panorama that all angles in trigonometric functions should be calculated using radians rather than degrees.
- Smart Resize -- adjusts the sizes and locations of the other selected objects to match the change of one object.
- Text Display Object -- is used to display text using a formula.
- Text Editor Object -- is used to edit text in a field or variable.
Features implemented in this release that work exactly the same as they did in Panorama 6.
- clipboard( -- The clipboard( function returns whatever text is currently on the computer's clipboard.
- graphicsmode -- The graphicsmode statement switches a form into graphics mode.
- info("defaultdatepattern") -- The info("defaultdatepattern") function returns the default date pattern used for displaying dates.
- Oval Object -- draws an oval or circle within a form.
- Rectangle Object -- draws a rectangle or square within a form.
- Rounded Rectangle Object -- draws a rectangle with round corners within a form.
- scrapcalc -- The scrapcalc statement calculates a formula and stores the result in the clipboard. (Note: The same effect can be achieved by putting the word clipboard on the left side of an assignment.)
- selectallobjects -- The selectallobjects statement selects all the graphic objects in the current form.
- selectnoobjects -- The selectnoobjects statement unselects all the graphic objects in the current form.
- showvariables -- The showvariables statement forces Panorama to update the display of one or more variables on every form in the active database.
ALL features that were added or changed in this release:
- Aligning Objects -- so that two or more object edges are made even with each other.
- clipboard( -- The clipboard( function returns whatever text is currently on the computer's clipboard.
- degrees2radians( -- The degrees2radians( function converts an angle from degrees to radians.
- Forms -- display data with a customizable graphic layout.
- info("angleunits") -- The info("angleunits") function returns the current angular measurement units.
- info("texteditortrigger") -- The info("texteditortrigger") function returns the reason why a Text Editor object triggered a procedure.
- Object Library -- is used to create new objects in a form.
- Oval Object -- draws an oval or circle within a form.
- Push Button Object -- triggers a procedure when it is pushed.
- radians2degrees( -- The radians2degrees( function converts an angle from radians to degrees.
- Rectangle Object -- draws a rectangle or square within a form.
- Rounded Rectangle Object -- draws a rectangle with round corners within a form.
- scrapcalc -- The scrapcalc statement calculates a formula and stores the result in the clipboard. (Note: The same effect can be achieved by putting the word clipboard on the left side of an assignment.)
- selectallobjects -- The selectallobjects statement selects all the graphic objects in the current form.
- selectnoobjects -- The selectnoobjects statement unselects all the graphic objects in the current form.
- Smart Resize -- adjusts the sizes and locations of the other selected objects to match the change of one object.
- Star Object -- draws a star within a form.
See Also
- Version 0.1.001 (released July 7th, 2012) -- Summary of Version 0.1.001 (released 7/7/2012)
- Version 0.1.002 (released August 12th, 2012) -- Summary of Version 0.1.002 (released 8/12/2012)
- Version 0.1.003 (released December 2nd, 2012) -- Summary of Version 0.1.003 (released 12/2/2012)
- Version 0.1.004 (released December 10th, 2012) -- Summary of Version 0.1.004 (released 12/10/2012)
- Version 0.1.005 (released December 21st, 2012) -- Summary of Version 0.1.005 (released 12/21/2012)
- Version 0.1.006 (released December 26th, 2012) -- Summary of Version 0.1.006 (released 12/26/2012)
- Version 0.1.008 (released May 22nd, 2013) -- Summary of Version 0.1.008 (released 5/22/2013)
- Version 0.1.009 (released July 9th, 2013) -- Summary of Version 0.1.009 (released 7/9/2013)
- Version 0.1.010 (released October 14th, 2013) -- Summary of Version 0.1.010 (released 10/14/2013)
- Version 0.1.011 (released December 6th, 2013) -- Summary of Version 0.1.011 (released 12/6/2013)
- Version 0.1.012 (released August 29th, 2015) -- Summary of Version 0.1.012 (released 8/29/2015)
- Version 0.1.013 (released September 6th, 2015) -- Summary of Version 0.1.013 (released 9/6/2015)
- Version 0.1.014 (released September 14th, 2015) -- Summary of Version 0.1.014 (released 9/14/2015)
- Version 0.1.015 (released September 29th, 2015) -- Summary of Version 0.1.015 (released 9/29/2015)
- Version 0.1.016 (released October 12th, 2015) -- Summary of Version 0.1.016 (released 10/12/2015)
- Version 0.1.017 (released November 11th, 2015) -- Summary of Version 0.1.017 (released 11/11/2015)
- Version 0.1.018 (released December 7th, 2015) -- Summary of Version 0.1.018 (released 12/7/2015)
- Version 0.1.019 (released January 28th, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.019 (released 1/28/2016)
- Version 0.1.020 (released February 15th, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.020 (released 2/15/2016)
- Version 0.1.021 (released February 29th, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.021 (released 2/29/2016)
- Version 0.1.022 (released March 1st, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.022 (released 3/1/2016)
- Version 0.1.023 (released May 27th, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.023 (released 5/27/2016)
- Version 0.1.024 (released June 12th, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.024 (released 6/12/2016)
- Version 0.1.025 (released July 21st, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.025 (released 7/21/2016)
- Version 0.1.026 (released August 29th, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.026 (released 8/29/2016)
- Version 0.1.027 (released September 18th, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.027 (released 9/18/2016)
- Version 0.1.028 (released November 9th, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.028 (released 11/9/2016)
- Version 0.1.029 (released December 31st, 2016) -- Summary of Version 0.1.029 (released 12/31/2016)
- Version 0.1.030 (released February 12th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.1.030 (released 2/12/2017)
- Version 0.1.031 (released March 3rd, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.1.031 (released 3/3/2017)
- Version 0.1.032 (released April 3rd, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.1.032 (released 4/3/2017)
- Version 0.9 (released May 15th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.9 (released 5/15/2017)
- Version 0.9.001 (released July 18th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.9.001 (released 7/18/2017)
- Version 0.9.002 (released July 27th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.9.002 (released 7/27/2017)
- Version 0.9.003 (released September 10th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.9.003 (released 9/10/2017)
- Version 0.9.004 (released September 14th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.9.004 (released 9/14/2017)
- Version 0.9.005 (released September 19th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.9.005 (released 9/19/2017)
- Version 0.9.006 (released September 27th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.9.006 (released 9/27/2017)
- Version 0.9.007 (released October 3rd, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.9.007 (released 10/3/2017)
- Version 0.9.008 (released October 12th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 0.9.008 (released 10/12/2017)
- Version 10.0.0 (released October 18th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 10.0.0 (released 10/18/2017)
- Version 10.0.01 (released December 10th, 2017) -- Summary of Version 10.0.01 (released 12/10/2017)
- Version 10.1 (released August 6th, 2018) -- Summary of Version 10.1 (released 8/6/2018)
- Version 10.1.1 (released August 30th, 2018) -- Summary of Version 10.1.1 (released 8/30/2018)
- Version 10.1.2 (released November 15th, 2018) -- Summary of Version 10.1.2 (released 11/15/2018)
- Version 10.2 (released June 26th, 2024) -- Summary of Version 10.2 (released 6/26/2024)
- Version 10.2.0 b12 (released January 27, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b12 (released 01/27/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b13 (released February 15, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b13 (released 02/15/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b14 (released March 14, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b14 (released 03/14/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b15 (released March 30, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b15 (released 03/30/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b16 (released April 27, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b16 (released 04/27/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b17 (released June 23, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b17 (released 06/23/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b18 (released July 21, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b18 (released 07/21/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b20 (released August 26, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b20 (released 08/26/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b21 (released September 20, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b21 (released 09/20/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b22 (released October 6, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b22 (released 10/06/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b23 (released October 20, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b23 (released 10/20/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b24 (released October 21, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b24 (released 10/21/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b25 (released December 10, 2021) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b25 (released 12/10/2021)
- Version 10.2.0 b26 (released June 15, 2022) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b26 (released 06/15/2022)
- Version 10.2.0 b27 (released August 11, 2022) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b27 (released 08/11/2022)
- Version 10.2.0 b28 (released August 23, 2022) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b28 (released 08/23/2022)
- Version 10.2.0 b29 (released September 13, 2022) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b29 (released 09/13/2022)
- Version 10.2.0 b30 (released October 30, 2022) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b30 (released 10/30/2022)
- Version 10.2.0 b31 (released January 16, 2023) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b31 (released 01/16/2023)
- Version 10.2.0 b32 (released January 21, 2023) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b32 (released 01/21/2023)
- Version 10.2.0 b33 (released April 30, 2023) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b33 (released 04/30/2023)
- Version 10.2.0 b34 (released October 27, 2023) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b34 (released 10/27/2023)
- Version 10.2.0 b35 (released December 4, 2023) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b35 (released 12/4/2023)
- Version 10.2.0 b36 (released December 25, 2023) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b36 (released 12/25/2023)
- Version 10.2.0 b37 (released January 11, 2024) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b37 (released 1/11/2024)
- Version 10.2.0 b38 (released April 7, 2024) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b38 (released 4/7/2024)
- Version 10.2.0 b39 (released June 26, 2024) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0 b39 (released 06/26/2024)
- Version 10.2.0 b40 (released October 1, 2024) -- Summary of Version 10.2.0_b40 (released 10/01/2024)