General Question VFP9 & Tablet PC 1

[Scott24x7]

All,
I saw something about VFP 9 and "Creat Tablet PC applications" as being a big "New Feature" in VFP9. Can anyone point me in the direction of the features of VFP 9 that are specific to the Tablet PC? I have one, and have an idea for an application that would be good for a TabletPC and would like to play with this stuff.



Best Regards,
Scott

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, and no simpler."

 

[Mike Gagnon]

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vfoxpro/d.../dnfoxgen8/html/CreatingTabletPCAppsinVFP.asp

Mike Gagnon

If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ184-2483 first.
ReFox XI (www.mcrgsoftware.com)

 

[Mike Lewis]

Hi Scott,

The only new features in VFP 9 that relate to tablets are a couple of new functions / properties: ISPEN() and _SCREEN.DisplayOrientation.

These will be useful if you are developing a tablet app, but, of themselves, they won't really make the process any simpler.

My own experience of developing a tablet app in VFP wasn't a very satisfactory one. This was a couple of years ago. I was using VFP 8 and XP Tablet Edition.

The actual programming was completely straightforward. I got the whole thing to work in just a few days.

The problem was that the handwriting recognition was totally inadequate. Rather, it worked fine where the user was just ticking a box, or entering all-numeric data or simple codes. But my app called for them to enter comments into an edit box. That didn't work. The recognition was so poor that the users spent all their time correcting it.

The app was a two-user pilot, ahead of a bigger rollout. Based on the experience of those two users, the client decided to abandon the project.

Bear in mind this was a couple of years ago. Things might have improved.

To summarise, my advice would be:

- If you need to do serious recognition, do some trial runs with real users before you go too far with the project.

- The new features in VFP 9.0 might be useful, but they won't of themselves make a significant difference to you project.

Mike

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[Scott24x7]

Mike,
I kinow what you mean about the Tablets... I have been using one for almost 4 years now... and my assessment is that people try to use thim in a way that is not overly useable... making the mistake of thinking that handwriting recognition is the "End-all-be-all", and are disappointed by its result. My own experinece in creating tablet useability, I don't want to relay at all on "Written" data, or large amounts of text... rather I want a "Check-the-box", select from drop-down functionality... and I want the "Pen" style stuff for capturing electronic signature in a contract... (AH HA!) My app otherwise does not rely on heavy pen based "stuff". The tablets are a brilliant tool, but the mistake I find many make is that it is a tool to replace all tools... Just become someone einvented a screw driver does not mean you throw out your hammer...
Anwyay, thanks for that. I can certainly see the _Screen.DisplayOrientation being EXCEEDINGLY useful... and ISPEN() sounds pretty, well, obvious.
Thanks for that.



Best Regards,
Scott

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, and no simpler."

 

[Mike Lewis]

Scott,

rather I want a "Check-the-box", select from drop-down functionality... and I want the "Pen" style stuff for capturing electronic signature in a contract...

I totally agree. It's that sort of thing that tablets excel at, not full-text recognition.

You obviously have very reasonable expectations. I hope your boss / client has too <g>.

Mike


__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[Scott24x7]

Mike,
I'm the boss... no client... I'm looking to start a revolution... (Humble beginings... LOL).

Thanks for the help.


Best Regards,
Scott

&quot;Everything should be made as simple as possible, and no simpler.&quot;