Introduction

You will most probably know this problem: Users are "clicking away" important error messages simply because they are used to do so. MessageEx is an enhanced message function which provides ways of getting your user's attention.

You will also know the messages shown in famous applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and so on. Many of them got these "don't show me anymore" check boxes on them. With MessageEx, you have this option, too.

While developing MessageEx, we were trying to make the product as compatible to the standard message() function as possible. Using only the first 5 parameters (of a total of 21 parameters) MessageEx IS compatible to standard message() (well, yes, buttons are defined a little different, but they have to since they're fully user definable). Also, font parameters are passed in the same order as it is done with Clarion font functions: Fontname, size, color, style and charset.

But who cares hand coding anyway? Don't we all use Clarion to avoid hand coding? You can use MessageEx without coding a single line of text (I must admit that it's not easy to pass up to 21 parameters to a single function). MessageEx comes with a code template (useable in ABC and Legacy) that will help you fill out the prompts without missing a single bit of flexibility. All parameters can either be constant ones and also be variables. Just fill in what you'd like to have in your message window and let the template care about the rest.

Features

In addition to the standard Message() function you can:

• display custom images (even animated gifs), linked-in as well as on-disk files
• specify a custom font (and charset) / text justification
• create your own buttons (not just standard yes, no, ok, cancel,...)
• display check boxes with user-defined text
• show wallpaper images
• choose background colors
• have flat buttons
• play sounds (links .wav files into your project in 32bit)
• display "timed messages" (with or without buttons)
• have random window placement
• replace standard Clarion message boxes by overriding SYSTEM{PROP:MESSAGEHOOK} (which, BTW, takes care of many issues related to threading in Clarion 5.5)
• preview your message window at design time!

Package Contents

Let me start by saying what you not get: The box shown above is a virtual one - the software is only available for download via internet. Upon purchase, you'll be provided with all data required to download and install the product. This will give you:

• a state-of-the-art installer which automatically detects installed Clarion versions and (optionally) registers the templates
• runtime libraries (lib and/or dll files) for all supported Clarion versions
• easy-to-use template files for both ABC and Clarion (legacy) template chains
• class and template documentation in compiled HTML format (.chm file)
• comprehensive example applications for both template chains

Plus

• lifetime free email support
• lifetime free minor upgrades (the ones after the dot)

Customers voices:

"I gotta say: wonderfull products! Both [...] and MessageEx are great! Installation went smooth, class definition looks good. I'm impressed, looks like you people know what you are doing." Steven Spierenburg, Pantheon Automatisering BV

"As you can probably guess from my delight with the checkbox option, MessageEx has already earned itself a place in my own standard set of tools." Tom Hebenstreit, Clarion Magazine. Click here to read the entire product review (Sorry, subscribers of Clarion Magazine only)

"Your products MessageEx and [...] are excellent." Alain Doudiet, Professional Software Development

Linkability

The table below lists the supported Clarion versions, template chains, target operating systems and link modes.

MessageEx Version 1.6.5		DLL version, standalone		LIB version, standalone		LIB version, local runtime
		16bit	32bit	16bit	32bit	16bit	32bit
Clarion 5 Ver. 5.002	Legacy
	ABC
Clarion 5.5	Legacy
	ABC
Clarion 6 6.0 Build 9015 6.1 Build 9034 6.2 Build 9049 6.3 Build 9050	Legacy	N/A		N/A		N/A
	ABC	N/A		N/A		N/A
Source included		No, but available for purchase by request.

Pricing and availability

MessageEx is available exclusively at ClarionShop for just 59,- US$ (single user license - please contact our sales office for discounted multi-user licenses!)