Output to main window with a frame and child window

I want the user to toggle between a main window and a dialog box created as a child window. A snippet of my code ...

PROGRAM main include windows.ins common ctrl integer main,ctrl

x = clearwin_info@('system_height') y = clearwin_info@('system_depth')

main = winio@('%ca[Main Window]%sz&',x,y) main = winio@('%bg[black]&') main = winio@('%wp[ID_LOGO]&') main = winio@('%ws','My Name and Info') main = winio@('%fr&',x,y) main = winio@('%lw',ctrl) END

SUBROUTINE input include windows.ins common ctrl integer child,ctrl

child = winio@('%aw',ctrl) . . . END

I want to add a background image and some output to the main window. And, I want the child window to be able to move about in the main window while the background is still visible. However, the main window is hidden by the frame holding the child window. I tried writing to the frame instead, but it doesn't work. Also, I'm going to clear the main window for drawing once another program executes. How do I have a background with text displayed in the main window and still have the child move only within the main window?

I was rather disappointed to see no-one had replied to this thread, as I have always been a bit nervous of MDI applications, frames and child windows, and I was looking out to see an expert reply to you!

I took your code and turned it into something that actually works (you took out so much to make it maneageable that it wouldn't run):

      options (intl)
      winapp

      PROGRAM Parent 
      include <windows.ins> 
      common ctrl 
      integer main, ctrl, x, y
      external INPUT 

      Y = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSCREEN)
      X = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSCREEN)

      main = winio@('%ca[Main Window]&')
C      main = winio@('%sz&',8*x/10,8*y/10) 
      main = winio@('%bg[white]&') 
C      main = winio@('%ws','My Name and Info') 
      main = winio@('%mn[Child]&', INPUT)
      main = winio@('%fr&',6*x/10,6*y/10) 
      main = winio@('%wp[A1]&')
      main = winio@('%lw',ctrl) 
      END 

      Integer function input()
      include <windows.ins> 
      common ctrl 
      integer child,ctrl 

      child = winio@('%aw&',ctrl)
      child = winio@('%cn%6bt[Quit]') 

      input = 1
      END

(You'll also see from this that I operate in 'fortran 77' mode!) I created an icon A1 to do the wallpaper. Yes, the wallpaper doesn't show in the area of the frame, only whatever has been specified as the background colour. I thought that was a pity, as the wallpaper seems to me more natural in an MDI frame than anywhere else.

You can generate several child windows with the single menu - I was too idle to give them separate controls.

You can push one of the child windows left, right and down quite a long way relative to the frame - but not up, because you have to grab the caption bar of the frame, and that limits how far up it can be pushed. I checked with the CWPLUS.ENH file (which sometimes has snippets of info that aren't in FTN95.CHM), and this is intended behaviour - there are even suggestions as to how you exploit it.

Since a child window with no caption bar can't be moved, one could, of course, create a child window with %ww[no_caption,maximise] AND its own %wp, which fills the frame. This might need some extra effort if the frame has a %pv, and is therefore resizable.

It strikes me that toolbars could be created as no_caption child windows and that it would be very easy to have them snap to the top or left of the frame with an appropriate button. However, floating toolbars are a rather more complex proposition (I'm guessing here).

Regards

Eddie