New Feature Idea - Shapes.AddSomething(img, "Hide")

Question

Lots of SB coders run into the issue of screen flicker when they have no choice but to Add Shapes mid way through their program.

I wonder if it would be possible to and consistent with the "keep it simple" tenet to include an optional parameter to the Shapes.AddImage(img, "Hide") objects (including rectangles etc).

If possible I think on balance this would add a lot of versatility to the Shapes object and with the parameter being optional would not add any complexity to SB.

Thoughts?

Answer 1

I think this is a simple solution to a common problem and a good idea. 

Maybe another would be that the shape is initally positioned off screen, so effectively hidden unttil moved into place - but for beginners this may be odd to add a shape and not see it.

Discussion?

Answer 2

I think we need the left and top by all object. By controle.addButton(caption, left, top) ist this implementated. So we can placed all object outsite the window. No problem for beginners. No flicker efects. The same syntax. Bad is the new syntax.

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Best Regards Martin

Answer 3

Doesn't the optional part of the parameter dilute the distraction to a beginner?

This might also initially rob beginners of the feature and allow them to discover it in their own time.

A candidate tenet of SB? Encourage learning by progression.

I've recently been trying to discover if optional parameters had a merit all of their own.

Answer 4

@ about the:  issue of screen flicker

Here are all the ways listed to avoid flickering when adding shapes i was aware of:

-> see Random numbers (scroll down until you see the yellow smiley)

Maybe anyone has some more ways to do it ... ??

Answer 5

I like the idea, but not the implementation suggestions. For beginners, overloaded operations would be hard to follow (why are there two versions? and why does one have a second parameter?). And while I would personally love having the shapes created off screen, it would again be a stumbling block for beginners (where is the shape? I just added it and it is not showing).

I would suggest a new property - HideAtStart

It would be false by default, so newbies could see their creations without having to dig into the details of implementation or learn esoteric parameters.

When set to true, newly created shapes would automatically have their hide properties set, as if HideShape() was called on them just after creation.

No flicker. No confusion.

Answer 6

I added this idea to

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/24082.microsoft-small-basic-v1-0-known-issues.aspx#Feature_Ideas .

Thanks, Jibba Jabba.

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Nonki Takahashi