GuShH's DevBlog » pb

(PB) String Between Characters

GuShH — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:30:07 +0000

This is a small purebasic function used to retrieve a string between two known characters, it also allows you to provide a starting position.

Procedure.s str_between_char( *Source.CHARACTER, First.C, Last.C, StartAt.i = 0 )
	Define.i dwLength
 
	*Source + (StartAt * SizeOf(CHARACTER))
	Repeat
		If *Source\c = First ; If this character matches the First character
			*Source + SizeOf(CHARACTER)
			dwLength = *Source
			Repeat ; Repeat until we find an occurrance with the Last character
				*Source + SizeOf(CHARACTER)
			Until *Source\c = Last
			dwLength = (*Source - dwLength)
			ProcedureReturn PeekS( *Source - dwLength, dwLength ) ; Peek the output string
			Break
		EndIf
		*Source + SizeOf(CHARACTER)
	Until *Source\c = #Null
 
EndProcedure

Example use:

Define.s str 		= "dd(hallo)xyz(a)"
Define.s result 	= str_between_char(@str, '(', ')', 2)
Debug result

If you’re working on a parser or similar project this will sure come in handy.
Enjoy!

Declar’em! – Automatic declaration of procedures.

GuShH — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:32:44 +0000

This is a tool that I’ve been using for quite a long while, just recently I fixed a small bug in the regexp and I thought it was time to share it.

For those of you using the official IDE, there’s no real solution to this “problem”. When you’re working on something small, it’s not a big deal to define a couple of declares here and there… However, on bigger code this becomes a real issue!. So why waste the time switching between IDEs or doing it by hand?…

Grab it and let me know how it runs! (nasty ugly source included).

The tool is very simple to install, I recommend you unzip directly into your PB directory and configure it as follows:

That’s it. You’re ready to declar’em!.

Cheers.

Macro Templates, by example.

GuShH — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:46:50 +0000

Heres an example of what I call “macro templates” in PureBasic. A template encapsulates certain functionality, allowing you to dynamically generate the code in a flexible manner.

This example implements a bare-bones n-vector library using a structure and a static array:

Macro Vector_Register( _n, _type )
 
	Structure VECTOR#_n#_type
		vector._type[_n]
	EndStructure
 
	Procedure._type Vector#_n#_type#_Add( *r.VECTOR#_n#_type, *a.VECTOR#_n#_type, *b.VECTOR#_n#_type )
		Define.i i
		For i=0 To _n - 1
			*r\vector[i] = *a\vector[i] + *b\vector[i]
		Next
	EndProcedure
 
	Procedure._type Vector#_n#_type#_Subtract( *r.VECTOR#_n#_type, *a.VECTOR#_n#_type, *b.VECTOR#_n#_type )
		Define.i i
		For i=0 To _n - 1
			*r\vector[i] = *a\vector[i] - *b\vector[i]
		Next
	EndProcedure
 
	Procedure._type Vector#_n#_type#_Divide( *r.VECTOR#_n#_type, *a.VECTOR#_n#_type, *b.VECTOR#_n#_type )
		Define.i i
		For i=0 To _n - 1
			If *b\vector[i] <> 0.0 And *a\vector[i] <> 0.0
				*r\vector[i] = *a\vector[i] / *b\vector[i]
			EndIf
		Next
	EndProcedure
 
	Procedure._type Vector#_n#_type#_Multiply( *r.VECTOR#_n#_type, *a.VECTOR#_n#_type, *b.VECTOR#_n#_type )
		Define.i i
		For i=0 To _n - 1
			*r\vector[i] = *a\vector[i] * *b\vector[i]
		Next
	EndProcedure
 
	Procedure._type Vector#_n#_type#_DotProduct( *a.VECTOR#_n#_type, *b.VECTOR#_n#_type )
		Define.i i
		Define._type result
		For i=0 To _n - 1
			result + ( *a\vector[i] * *b\vector[i] )
		Next
		ProcedureReturn result
	EndProcedure
 
	Procedure._type Vector#_n#_type#_Length( *v.VECTOR#_n#_type )
		ProcedureReturn Sqr( Vector#_n#_type#_DotProduct( *v, *v ) )
	EndProcedure
 
	Procedure._type Vector#_n#_type#_Distance( *a.VECTOR#_n#_type, *b.VECTOR#_n#_type )
		Define.VECTOR#_n#_type temp
		Vector#_n#_type#_Subtract( temp, *a, *b )
		ProcedureReturn Vector#_n#_type#_Length( temp )
	EndProcedure
 
	Procedure.s Vector#_n#_type#_Debug( *v.VECTOR#_n#_type, Decimals.i=#PB_Default )
		Define.i i
		Define.s tmp = "["
		For i=0 To _n-1
			tmp + StrF( *v\vector[i], Decimals.i )
			If i <> _n-1
				tmp + ", "
			EndIf
		Next
		tmp + "]"
		Debug tmp
		ProcedureReturn tmp
	EndProcedure
 
EndMacro

It might look strange/complicated at first, but once you read it you’ll realize it’s fairly simple.

Let’s see the usage of this particular template:

Vector_Register(3, f )	; Register a float "vec3".
Define.VECTOR3f a,b,c	; Define a few vectors with the new structure.
 
a\vector[0] = 10.0
a\vector[1] = 20.0
a\vector[2] = 30.0
 
b\vector[0] = 100.0
b\vector[1] = 200.0
b\vector[2] = 300.0
 
Vector3f_Add(c, a, b)	; c = a + b
Vector3f_Debug(c)	; show each element using the debug output.
 
Debug Vector3f_DotProduct( a, b )
Debug Vector3f_Length( a )
Debug Vector3f_Distance( a, b )

Cool, huh?. And you can define any amount of elements with any basic type.

Of course we sacrificed speed for flexibility. In those cases where we have to define n-vectors, this would be an ideal solution. For everything else, I suggest a specific library, such as my vec3 macro lib.

Using this principle you can abstract almost anything, within reason. One good example is my object factory template. Ideally one would have arrays, lists, etc. Implemented in this very same way, in such case the possibilities would be endless and you’d be able to define dynamic lists/arrays inside structures, etc.

I strongly advice you to implement at least one of those templates, even if it’s just for an exercise.

Having the extra tools can’t hurt!

Cheers.

Centered MessageRequester() / MessageBox()

GuShH — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:25:00 +0000

As usual, I was browsing the PureBasic forums to see what was new, nothing much (heh…) but something caught my attention, the fact that some user requested for the IDE’s message dialogs to be “centered” ( because he had multiple displays and the messages would appear in between them ) just to get shit-faced by an actual staff member!

You can’t just say “it’s Microsoft’s fault” — Are you in some sort of mac-only cleanse?, What’s your #%&%#$ problem?!

Those who “pass the ball” (as the user suggested) are part of the problem. You, being a programmer can certainly code a simple CBT hook, right?. Are you against hooks, perhaps – you are a purist, I hear… Sorry, but sometimes solutions are “dirty” and you have to live with them.

Just for the record, I too use a split-screen and I find it annoying that dialog boxes are not centered to their parent.

I certainly think that this sort of behavior is not good for a business, but then again they’ve been cat-walking away from reality for years now (Look at their website if not, look at the fact that they haven’t implemented basic functionality to their language and by basic I mean a proper container library and whatnot!). Most of their user-base consists of people who are afraid of real, world-class languages. That’s my opinion, take it or leave it.

But before you throw crap at me do remember that I support them, I just don’t like the way they’re doing things. Pretty much like Apple does (they do crap) however the fanboys don’t realize this and they see any criticism as bad for the company image, when in fact what damages the company is that nonsense wall they put up when anybody, and I do mean “anybody” says “anything” that appears to be “against” their product/s.

Even if you don’t like it at least have the decency to hear those who are genuinely interested in your product, those who are giving away (and for free) true and useful suggestions for you to improve them. I don’t give a damn about this particular user but I do care when a so called company does this sort of things to their own users, it’s just uncalled for and plainly unprofessional.

Have a nice day, code follows.

; This snippet was based on the following code by Microsoft:
; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/180936
EnableExplicit ; The only way to go.
 
Procedure.i CenterMsgCallBack( uMsg.i, wParam.i, lParam.i ) 
 
	Select uMsg
		Case #HCBT_ACTIVATE
 
			Define.RECT typFormRect, typRectMsg
			Define.i plMsgHook, hWnd
			Define.i lxPos, lyPos
 
			hWnd = GetParent_(wParam) 																																																		; the parent will be the callee
 
			If hWnd 																																																											; can't hurt to check.
 
				plMsgHook 	= GetWindowLong_( hWnd, #GWL_USERDATA ) 																																				; get the hook address
 
				If plMsgHook 																																																								; can't hurt to check.
 
					GetWindowRect_( hWnd, typFormRect )
					GetWindowRect_( wParam, typRectMsg )
 
					lxPos = (typFormRect\Left + (typFormRect\Right - typFormRect\Left) / 2) - ((typRectMsg\Right - typRectMsg\Left) / 2)
					lyPos = (typFormRect\Top  +	(typFormRect\Bottom - typFormRect\Top) / 2) - ((typRectMsg\Bottom - typRectMsg\Top) / 2)
 
					SetWindowPos_( wParam, 0, lxPos, lyPos, 0, 0,	#SWP_NOSIZE | #SWP_NOZORDER | #SWP_NOACTIVATE ) 														; position the window.
					UnhookWindowsHookEx_(plMsgHook) 																																													; release the hook.
					SetWindowLong_( hWnd, #GWL_USERDATA, #Null ) 																																							; unset the user data.
 
				EndIf
 
			EndIf
	EndSelect
 
EndProcedure 
 
Procedure.i CenteredMessageRequester( Title.s, Text.s, Flags.i=#Null, hWnd.i=#Null )
 
	Define.i lInstance, lThreadID, plMsgHook
 
	If Not hWnd
		hWnd = WindowID( GetActiveWindow() )
	EndIf
 
	If hWnd
 
		lInstance = GetWindowLong_( hWnd, #GWL_HINSTANCE )
		lThreadID = GetCurrentThreadId_()
 
		If lInstance And lThreadID 																																																			; just to make sure, can't hurt.
 
			plMsgHook = SetWindowsHookEx_(#WH_CBT, @CenterMsgCallBack(), lInstance, lThreadID) 																						; create the cbt hook.
			SetWindowLong_(	hWnd, #GWL_USERDATA, plMsgHook ) 																																							; save the hook address, we'll need it to release it.
 
			ProcedureReturn MessageBox_( hWnd, Text, Title, Flags )																																				; finally, create the message box.
 
		EndIf
	EndIf
 
EndProcedure

And a small example:

OpenWindow( 0, 500, 200, 400, 200, "testing" )																																											; test window
MessageRequester( ":(", "I'm a normal messagebox", #MB_APPLMODAL | #MB_ICONERROR )																									; conventional msgbox
CenteredMessageRequester( ":)", "I'm a centered messagebox!", #MB_APPLMODAL | #MB_ICONEXCLAMATION )																	; our centered msgbox.

The “Programmer” can now copy&paste and compile.

Cheers.

PS: You can also find the source in here: http://gushh.net/dev/?file=pb/centermessagebox.pb As usual, that’s my code repository for PB.

Purebasic language submitted to GeSHi

GuShH — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:33:17 +0000

Submitted my GeSHi language file for PureBasic to the GeSHi author, I’ve been using it for a while now and I thought it was about time to share it. I couldn’t however validate it since I’m short in time at the moment — I’m just posting everything I couldn’t post in the last weeks today.

Let’s hope it becomes part of their project now. I’ll certainly keep it up to date when I get the time for it. And let’s face it, their lib is pretty much the standard for PHP syntax highlighting!.

Come to think of it, I think this current CSS style is killing my syntax highlighting… Hmm. Another one for the to-do list.

Cheers.