Adding in "control-by-control" right-click popup menu driven HELP to each & every control a user can use on the screenshot's form shown below:



Thus - when you right-mouseclick on ANY of the user controls on the main screen form shown above?

They each have a "HELP" popup menu, which then summons a detailed explanation of what it does, via messageboxes (formatted ones) + how & when to use each control & why...

(Which adds better & FAR MORE DETAILED help as to what each control's function is, for users... Much better than just mere 'tooltips' popups, by far).

-----

Almost TOTALLY done now, very VERY close...



* ... & then, that FTP code I mention above goes into effect, + the FTP server setup for the "Achilles Shield" type system that I have an idea for!

(I.E.-> Which yields the ability for users to NOT have to build their own MASSIVE all-encompassing HOSTS file for speed + security online (instead - they can elect to simply ftp transfer down one that is built by myself for them, 12mb in size, takes 4 minutes approximately on a DSL connection (low speed type) &, if I "LZCompress" it, via Win32 API code (decent compression system, built into Windows itself, about 1/2 as good as WinRar @ "MAX COMPRESSION" & 3/4 as good as WinZip @ "MAX COMPRESSION") & then, uncompress it for install? Should only take 2 minutes to download)

... & then, the program (once new custom HOSTS is downloaded) installs it for them too, 'automagically', protecting them - though, they WILL have this tool to do so as well, manually as I do, IF they wish, also!

(That will be the LAST step to implement (I have the code embedded already for FTP download though, from another app (full FTP system) I wrote, years ago... &, once I removed that app's SPECIFIC code, while embedding its engine into THIS program))

** AND - just as I had to for my PING code? Well, so far??

It tests + works (100% perfect too)

APK

P.S.=> Next stuff is the "little things that mean a lot", such as a Help menu, About submenu, even a "system information" submenu there etc. et al

... + the "pretty-fy'ing" stage as I call it!

(That is when/where I use some 3rd party VCL that are very, VERY light, for "some special effects" - animated trayicon is one I like (this I can do manually, but some of these 3rd party ones do a lot more than std. trayicon + popup menu combinations can do (VCL = addons for Delphi, like ActiveX controls/.OCX are for Visual Basic/Visual C++, EXCEPT, these build in statically RIGHT INTO the .exe you create, & literally, become PART of it, rather than being an extra lib/dll/ocx etc. you have to distribute & worry about... less moving parts (I think this is better than having to distribute extra files (big into 'single .exe/1 moving part/monolithic executable design here is why))))... apk

Today I finally get to relax . . a little. That means I have time to test and spec out some field effect transistors to use in building a couple of 2 stage audio preamps. I know, it's a strange way to relax but hey, to each their own.
After all the meetings I've been to I now have a new job. I start the indoctrination process Monday. I already have business a trip scheduled for Houston at the end of the month. I'll have to put a PC together then install all the systems I use and tools so I can work with them from here (home).
Fortunately, my new employers have allowed for my preplanned vacation in mid August to Rocky Mountain National Park. YeeHaww!!

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Today I finally get to relax . . a little. That means I have time to test and spec out some field effect transistors to use in building a couple of 2 stage audio preamps. I know, it's a strange way to relax but hey, to each their own.

TRUE, to each his own... lol, your "sense of relaxation" is pretty similar to my own... "keep sharpening the sword", even when you're 'relaxing' - this NEVER hurts, & only helps (especially if you LIKE what it is you do for a livelyhood).

Originally Posted by sepulchre

After all the meetings I've been to I now have a new job. I start the indoctrination process Monday. I already have business a trip scheduled for Houston at the end of the month.
Fortunately, my new employers have allowed for my preplanned vacation in mid August to the Rocky Mountain National Park. YeeHaww!!

That's great man... you're back "earning the 'Holy-Dollar' man, which cannot be bad @ all!

(I dislike those 4-5 round interviews though... they "keep you hanging" etc. et al)



* Congrats man!

("Kick some butt" (& earn those coins/dead-presidents!))

APK

P.S.=> What type of work are you being assigned to this round? Let me guess: Either JAVA or ASP.NET/VB.NET?? apk

No, there won't be anything connected with the web. There will be some Powerbuilder and C++ involved. Their systems are highly proprietary. It's a company that deals with medical services, that's about all I can say.

However, while in Houston I'll be hooking up with an old friend and we'll be re-establishing our ancient R&D efforts of an audio nature. The preamps I build today will be a start, but we have much, Much bigger plans. I used to do this back in the '80s but now, with all the cool new technology floating around, we can take the chains off the old Laboratory and reassume our hidden identities as Mad Scientists!!

Moohoohwahahaaaa!

Originally Posted by sepulchre

No, there won't be anything connected with the web.

Heh - you're LUCKY then, I figure... I "avoided" web-based coding for as LONG as I could, but it was inevitable I collide w/ it, which pretty much goes w/out saying, as the web is SO 'integral' to so many things today... &, I see SO much of it, as opposed to "std. development projects" (for lack of a better expression), that I figured you'd get "roped into one", is all.

On web apps & such? I was first exposed to it around 2004, & I got 'lucky' I figured, because MY way of doing pages, nowadays? Heck - Visual Studio, & ASP.NET! Simple as pie, simpler to do than DCOM since webservices are MUCH easier to create, install, & implement... imo, @ least.

Originally Posted by sepulchre

There will be some Powerbuilder and C++ involved.

Let me guess - main body of code is powerbuilder, & any libs needed will be C/C++ created, for speed/efficiency, & also to lend your program abilities NOT natively present, in powerbuilder... correct?

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Their systems are highly proprietary. It's a company that deals with medical services, that's about all I can say.

LOL, right... "or, you'd have to kill me", I understand. One NICE thing about doing work for medical firms, is that you MAY aid in saving a person's health (or, life) one day, via the tools you create for medical personnel!

(Try to think of it, THAT way, I suppose - pretty cool benny, in & of itself, imo @ least!)

I did some work for Cincinnati Eye Institute, circa 1998-1999, that helps physicians & X-Ray techs edit, magnify for examination, AND notate (they have special characters & such for this) x-ray imagery, & to mail it to colleagues for follow-up + additional inquiries on what may or may not be wrong w/ said patients.

Very cool stuff, that may save someone's eyesight one day, or aid in doing so...

Originally Posted by sepulchre

However, while in Houston I'll be hooking up with an old friend and we'll be re-establishing our ancient R&D efforts of an audio nature. The preamps I build today will be a start, but we have much, Much bigger plans. I used to do this back in the '80s but now, with all the cool new technology floating around, we can take the chains off the old Laboratory and reassume our hidden identities as Mad Scientists!!

Moohoohwahahaaaa!

Nice... those are the kind of things that you WANT to put in the hours for, because you LOVE them, & are "into them"... &, imo @ least? They're the ones that make you "strike it rich", building your OWN 'lottery ticket', basically...



* Good luck man, & I hope you make the world's FIRST "sonic disruptor" or something, lol... because I too, am VERY impressed w/ what can be done w/ the puny thin little speakers (imo, much of the tech was 'stolen' from car-audio tech, but I know very VERY little about this admittedly), vs. the "heavier is better" speakers of the 1980's that I used to use & judge them largely by their weights...

APK

Paying some bills, doing laundry, waxing car, & POSSIBLY doing lawn... too hot though, & supposed to hit 90 F today is why I say only "possibly" on the lawn (@ least until late afternoon, circa 7-8 p.m.).

Then, it's "cleaning up" a bit around here inside the house!

That's simply because of a guest coming up this week from S. Carolina, an old friend!

(A high-school & college pal, & we also used to live in the same neighborhood as kids, maybe 2 blocks apart: Long-Time pals etc. et al)

He happens to be one of the head engineers @ "Club Car" (they make a HUGE chunk of the worlds/golf-courses' golf carts etc.), so, I have to make the place @ least SOMEWHAT, "presentable", for when he comes by here this week!

(Which @ times, I let "slide", on how overall "clean" it is here @ times, admittedly (I suppose it depends on WHOSE std.'s we use though)... because I am single & tend NOT to "entertain" too much @ home, usually, there "are those times" when the dishes pile up in the sink, etc. et al, lol - typical 'single guy' stuff!).

APK