forum.vdsworld.com

vdsalchemist · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 2:54 pm Post subject:

Maybe it is just me but I have already stated this above Rolling Eyes

I have already built a VDS DLL for this. The DLL is Free... I even released the source code to it on the Advanced VDS forum. So you could make it do what ever you wanted. Exclamation

Tommy is right. There is no need to add a Select Case structure to the language when it already has a If ElsIf structure this is just redundant...

CodeScript · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:01 pm Post subject:

Hi Mindpower
I will take a look Very Happy

Skit3000 · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:48 pm Post subject:

jules · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 8:19 am Post subject:

I don't agree. The "if" version uses one line of code less, and I think it is more understandable in an "english" sense than the "select" version. I remember being very baffled by switch statements when I first looked at C. I think this type of command would be harder to understand for newbies to programming.

Serge · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 1:25 pm Post subject:

hi mindpower,

you did mention it but given that this is a wish list, i thought that it would be nice to have such a wish built into vds rather than access it through an external dll...i assume that external dll's take up more memory than if the equivalent feature was built into vds...i am also concerned about having a program loading lots of dll's in order to run as required...may be it is safe to do so but i still prefer using features built vds...hence the wish Smile

i meant nothing more than that and i guess that perhaps i didn't express myself properly

serge

Skit3000 · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 3:03 pm Post subject:

vdsalchemist · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 1:26 am Post subject:

Hi All,
Well IMHO I think Jules is right. I remember when I first had to learn the Switch Case in C and Select Case in Basic. There is a bit of a learning curve and I kept having to refer to an If Else If block that did the same thing as the Select Case to get the logic right in my head. Even today if I can't get the logic to work with a Select Case I convert it to a If Else If block and then back to a Select Case because in other languages the Select Case is faster especially for nested Select Case's.

Now to answer Serge as far as I know the amount of memory a DLL takes as apposed to using an internal function is dependent on the DLL. My MpSelect.dll's file size is only 7.5kb. When a DLL is initially loaded into memory only a portion of it actually gets loaded the rest acts as a memory mapped file. For most compilers DLL's only use 2kb to map the header of the DLL into memory then as you call functions that function is mapped and loaded on the stack. How much those functions consume will depend on their sizes. Now as far as you being concerned about errors. Yes that is a potential but if all software was perfect then there would not be as much need for us programmers Wink

Anyway I do see your point about keeping track of multiple DLL's with your program so here is some suggestions for the group.

1) Find a good simple install program to package your wares and when I say simple I mean simple for you and your users. If you can't find any you like then go on to number 2.
2) Use VDS 5's new improved Resource abilities to wrap as many dependent files as you can into the main Exe. This way when it comes time to upgrade your wares you can just ship out a single Exe and have the user drop it in the directory.
3) Keep a simple text file that has a list of all the files that are supposed to be included with your application and where they should be placed on the users PC. Also you could note the version of the file so that users that have to do audits can easily find all the files associated with your application and you can better manage it as well.

Anyway I guess that is enough from me for now... Happy Select Case's...

Vic D'Elfant · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 6:22 pm Post subject:

Serge · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 9:45 am Post subject:

thanks for your lengthy answer mindpower...given the small size of your dll certainly means that i will use it should the need arise (didn't know about the 2k bit...handy to know)

great suggestions with 1 and 3...especially 2...i am still new with vds5 and haven't explored that side of vds 5 and will look forward to using it

thanks again mindpower

serge

CodeScript · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 9:50 am Post subject:

Yeah mindpower good suggestons. I never had a need to look into those areas since I never had a chance to author anything serious/meant for a end user Laughing