Active Desktop

Active Desktop is a new +Macros component that brings to the VFP the following improvements: three panels with MS Outlook style, Calendar with integrated task manager and reminder, and support of shortcuts for variety of objects right on your VFP screen.

Any object of the Active Desktop can be quickly hidden or shown. Number of shortcuts is unlimited. There is a smart support of drag and drop technology. For example, you highlight some part of code in the VFP Editor and drag it to the Active Desktop - as a result you will have a shortcut for executing that code in Visual FoxPro environment. You may drag and drop any files. If it is a file with VFP sources, the component will automatically create a shortcut for opening these files in the internal editor. If it is any other file then a shortcut for launching that file in Explorer will be created. (Active Desktop How to's)

Shortcuts

Shortcuts are intended to provide you with quick and easy access to many things. You can launch any program without switching from Visual FoxPro environment or with their help you can execute any code. With the help of Active Desktop shortcuts you will open any file for editing, launch any application, form or project that you use very often. You will spend seconds and there is no need to use command window! (Screenshot | How to's)

Active Desktop panels

There are three types of panels. All of them can be configured as hidden constantly or automatically when you not use them. Each one can be docked to the left or right border of VFP window. (Panels "How to...")

The first one - MRU panel - is intended to provide fast access to files that were recently opened by you. The list of such files is split into groups and organized like in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003. One single click on a file is enough to open it in the internal editor. Panel has its settings where you can change the number of file groups shown. So you can set up your own values to work only with required files. (Screenshot | How to's)

The second one - Project panel - is for a project files. This panel shows all resources (Files, forms, etc.) which are used in specified project. Just like inner VFP dialog that appears when you open project file, but does not - when you open one of projectÒs resource files. Project panel is a convenient thing to access many files of the same project. (Screenshot | How to's)

And the last, but not the least - Shortcuts panel - which is the replacement for the integrated VFP Task list. We just designed more convenient type of shortcuts management and organization. Try our solution to ensure it is so. (Screenshot | How to's)

Calendar with Task Manager

Calendar is Active Desktop object and inherits all common calendar functions: overview of any month, jumping through years, go to Today, etc. Besides, thanks to built-in task manager, our calendar provides you with the opportunity to plan your work for any date. If a day has at least one task then it will be highlighted with yellow color. Just set cursor over this date and you will see the dialog with tasks for that day. Click on it to open task manager dialog. (Screenshot | How to's)

P.S. We would like to call for your feedback. If you liked our idea with panels and you have any thoughts about what data can also be organized in such a way - contact us. Good ideas will be exchanged for discounts!

How to...

Change properties of Active Desktop

You can change the size of shortcut icons and set any picture as wallpaper. Right click on the desktop and select Desktop properties...


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How to show/hide Active Desktop objects

To hide or show any object of Active Desktop click with right button on the desktop. You will see drop down menu with actions:


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Shortcuts How to's

How to add a shortcut to the Active Desktop

The first way to create a new shortcut is to drag the object or code and drop it to the Active Desktop.
The other way is to click with right button of a mouse on the desktop and select Add shortcut... from the menu. The Wizard will help you to set all parameters of new shortcut in a convenient form.
1. If you had highlighted any text in the command window before running this Wizard - you will be prompted to use this text as executed code for new shortcut.
2. Or if you worked with forms or classes in VFP editor and then launched the shortcut wizard - it will suggest to associate new shortcut with opening that form or class for editing.
3. If there was nothing opened or highlighted - the wizard will suggest to choose a file from your hard drive, and a command for Visual FoxPro if it is applicable (most files that can be opened in VFP IDE support open or launch commands). Moreover, launch command will be automatically formed and you will be able to easily edit it. Then you can set a name for the shortcut, as long as icon and a hint text that will appear each time cursor is above the shortcut. Click Save to put your new shortcut to the Active Desktop.

Creating a shortcut for an active form:


Creating a shortcut for highlighted text:



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How to edit shortcut properties

You can always edit any shortcut by clicking with right button on a required one and selecting Properties... from the menu


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How to delete shortcuts from the Active Desktop

To remove one or more shortcuts select them with a cursor of a mouse and right click, then select Remove shortcut... and prompt your choice in the next dialog.


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Panels How to's

Configuring basic properties of panels

To open panel's settings window right click on the panel title and select Settings. For each panel you can set up the following parameters:

  • Amount of files shown within each category (taken from registry by default)
  • Top or bottom, left or right anchors for the panel (not set by default)
  • Method of calculating panel height and width (exact or relative)
  • Panel height and width values
Each panel of Active Desktop is constanty shown by default. But it also can be automatically hidden after some time of inactivity. To enable this property - click with right mouse button on the panel's title and select Dock panel to left or Dock panel to right. If you select Undock panel - it will be constantly shown (by default).


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How to configure MRU panel

You can set up the amount of files that are shown in each group. Click with right mouse button on panel title and select Properties. You will see the following dialog:



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How to configure Project panel

The basic thing in configuring Project panel is to specify project, which will be shown on it. Click with right button of a mouse on the title of Project panel and select Open project. You will see the Explorer dialog where you need to specify the project to be shown on the panel. Selected project will be automatically associated with the Project panel at each startup of VFP environment. The same operation (choosing another project) can be done by repeating actions, mentioned above or by choosing Properties item from the drop-down combo on the panel. Here is the properties dialog for the Project panel:


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How to configure Shortcuts panel

This panel has no special properties, only standard ones (see information above about how to configure basic properties of a panel).


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How to add new task list shortcut for Shortcuts panel

To set up or clear task list shortcut - click with right button of your mouse in the Editor on the line where you would like to set new shortcut. In appeared drop down menu select Add Task list Shortcut. This new shortcut will be automatically shown in the Shortcuts panel.


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Calendar How to's

How to configure Calendar properties

The only thing you can set up is calendar anchor. Right click on the Calendar and select Calendar properties... to change its value.


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How to add and edit tasks in Calendar

Choose the date and double click on it. you will see the task list for that day.



Click New task to add task, Change to make some changes in the selected one. You will see the following dialog:




Here you can define: task title (Subject), text contents (Message) and reminder time. If it is not required uncheck Remind option. If it is on when the time comes you will see reminder dialog where you need to choose an action for the task:



For example, you can postpone the reminder using the following dialog:


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How to delete tasks from Calendar

While you are in task manager of any date select a task from the list and click Delete in the toolbar.


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Design by Nicolas Fafchamps