AppBasic

Toolbox methods

At run-time, the client application manipulates its objects by using ‘methods’. Toolbox methods are implemented as SWIs which, when called, are dispatched to the appropriate module which implements the class of object to which the method is being applied. As an alternative, AppBasic provides a library of procedures (veneers) which call the SWI for you. This library is automatically loaded by the edit-form of an application - any unused procedures are automatically removed when the application is compressed.

For example, to place a tick against a menu entry, we could write

SYS &44EC6,,object,0,component,1 : REM Menu_SetTick or PROCMenu_SetTick(object,component,1) where object and component are the id's of the menu and entry respectively.

Toolbox methods library

The available Toolbox methods are listed in StrongHelp manuals which are accessed by selecting an icon in the Toolbox library pane. Selecting an icon displays the list of methods, events and handlers associated with that class of object. methods/gif

Toolbox methods for Menu objects Selecting a link to a Toolbox method displays a page giving information about the method. tmethod/gif

To write the method in a text editor window, place the caret in the window and select a “pencil” icon write/gif

Writing a Toolbox method Selecting the “blue” pencil-icon will write the veneer whereas the “green” writes the SWI.