[VB6] - i need advices:(

[joaquim]

i'm update my Sprite 2D control and i see 1 problem. depending on how many controls i put on form, the form is load, but needs more time
i found the problem, but i don't understand how resolve it
the problem, i have tested, is that ShowImage()(is for show the images with(or not with) graphics effects) is activated 22 times(when the control is initializated\created). the graphics properties call that sub. and they are 22 properties. can i avoid these problem(when the control is created)?

[joaquim]

i know that, when control is created, it reads all properties(to see there values). my question is: what is the event that can tell me when the properties was read them?

[honeybee]

I, for one, am confused as to what exactly the problem is or how to solve it. It would help if you could post the code, or zip and attach your project sothat someone here can take a look at it and suggest improvements.

Without knowing what you are trying to achieve by the project, it's difficult to comment upon any particular aspects or suggest changes.

.

[joaquim]

I, for one, am confused as to what exactly the problem is or how to solve it. It would help if you could post the code, or zip and attach your project sothat someone here can take a look at it and suggest improvements.

Without knowing what you are trying to achieve by the project, it's difficult to comment upon any particular aspects or suggest changes.

.

i have 8 graphic effects properties, that both call the ShowImage sub. these sub do the graphics effects, depending on that 8 properties. when the control is created these 8 properties are read automatic. then the ShowImage sub is called 8 times or even more, slowing down the when the form is showed. how?
think on these: you have 100 controls(my sprite control) on form and both showes an image. and, when the control is created, the ShowImage sub is called. if 1 control calls it 8 times, think how many times 100 controls can call it?(8X100=800)
well these can slow down and very the form when is showed. even on IDE. yes i try open the form, on IDE, and the IDE\form needs time to show the controls with images. my objective is try read these sub only 1 time, when the control is created, but after read all properties. but how can i do it?

[honeybee]

That's a little better. Just to ensure we are on common ground, here's what your code looks like as of now. Please correct me if I am wrong:

Property One
    OnChange Call ShowImage
End Property

Property Two
    OnChange Call ShowImage
End Property

Property Three
    OnChange Call ShowImage
End Property

Property Four
    OnChange Call ShowImage
End Property

Property Five
    OnChange Call ShowImage
End Property

'and so on

Sub Form_Load()
    Read Property One 'which will in turn call ShowImage
    Read Property Two 'which will in turn call ShowImage again
    'and so on
End Sub

Two workarounds come to mind: Remove the call to the ShowImage function from the individual property subs. So your code would look like this:

Property One
    'OnChange Call ShowImage
End Property

Property Two
    'OnChange Call ShowImage
End Property

Property Three
    'OnChange Call ShowImage
End Property

Property Four
    'OnChange Call ShowImage
End Property

Property Five
    'OnChange Call ShowImage
End Property

'and so on

Sub Form_Load()
    Read Property One 'which will NOT call ShowImage
    Read Property Two 'which will NOT call ShowImage again
    'and so on
    ShowImage 'Being called only once, after all properties have been set/get
End Sub

The other solution is to use a flag to decide whether the ShowImage should be called from within the property subs:

Bool CallShowImage = False

Property One
    If CallShowImage = True Then
        OnChange Call ShowImage
    End If
End Property

Property Two
    If CallShowImage = True Then
        OnChange Call ShowImage
    End If
End Property

Property Three
    If CallShowImage = True Then
        OnChange Call ShowImage
    End If
End Property

Property Four
    If CallShowImage = True Then
        OnChange Call ShowImage
    End If
End Property

Property Five
    If CallShowImage = True Then
        OnChange Call ShowImage
    End If
End Property

'and so on

Sub Form_Load()
    Read Property One 'which will NOT call ShowImage
    Read Property Two 'which will NOT call ShowImage again
    'and so on
    ShowImage 'Call this once in the form_load
    CallShowImage = True 'Now each property sub will automatically invoke the ShowImage
End Sub

The second code has the advantage of eliminating your performance problems at startup, but still being able to invoke ShowImage from individual property subs after the startup.

By the way, you may notice the code above is not strictly as per the syntax, and I am hoping you will be able to understand the logic and implement it your own way.

.

[joaquim]

i understand what you mean, but how can i do it, if the usercontrol, when is inititalizate\created, read the properties automatic?
can you tell me the usercontrol events order?(maybe i can see what i need)

[honeybee]

User control event orders should be the same as the form events, so the above code should, in principle, still work inside a user control.

.

[joaquim]

User control event orders should be the same as the form events, so the above code should, in principle, still work inside a user control.

.

but can you, please give the event order?
the iniproperty event is activated after read all properties or before?

[honeybee]

To be honest, I don't give a rat's tail what the control firing order is, and I don't remember too.

You can either search Google (which is tough, since VB6 is way too old), or place message boxes in the various events you have handled. The firing of the message boxes will show you the sequence in which the events are firing.

.

[joaquim]

To be honest, I don't give a rat's tail what the control firing order is, and I don't remember too.

You can either search Google (which is tough, since VB6 is way too old), or place message boxes in the various events you have handled. The firing of the message boxes will show you the sequence in which the events are firing.

.

finally the sub is called 1 time
seems that resize event is called more than 1 time, when the control is created.
but i continue with 1 bug, that, honestly, i don't know what is causing it
but i know is what i see: very sprites on form showing an image. then the form needs very time to show the controls
i don't know what can cause these problem... i need test more my control
thanks for the help

[joaquim]

ok... i have 1 question: what can needs time to show the control?
i have try see the control events and both seems normaly... the timers are false and the showimage sub is only called, when the control is showed. the resize event only test the resize way(vertical, horizontal and diagonals) and theres the hook api function for the mouse wheel. nothing more. then i'm trying to thing what causes that delay and i don't understand
can anyone sugest me something?

[honeybee]

I suggest you upload your project as a zip file so someone here can take a look. Without knowing the whole code, it's really difficult to comment upon such issues.

.

[joaquim]

I suggest you upload your project as a zip file so someone here can take a look. Without knowing the whole code, it's really difficult to comment upon such issues.

.

ok.. i belive that i found the real problem of these.
1st - we found the way how call that sub once after the control be created.
2nd - now i need speed up my code
and for start, i need speed up my tiles code:

~If blnTiles = True Then
        picGraphicsEffects.Width = UserControl.Width
        picGraphicsEffects.Height = UserControl.Height
        picGraphicsEffects.Picture = UserControl.Image
        For x = 0 To UserControl.Width Step IIf(StripsActivate = True, StripsWidth - 1, imgSize.Width - 1)
            For y = 0 To UserControl.Height Step IIf(StripsActivate = True, StripsHeight - 1, imgSize.Height - 1)
                BitBlt picGraphicsEffects.hDC, x, y, PicAnimation(lngActualSubImage).Width, PicAnimation(lngActualSubImage).Height, picGraphicsEffects.hDC, 0, 0, vbSrcCopy
                API_DoEvents
            Next
        Next
        picGraphicsEffects.Picture = picGraphicsEffects.Image
        UserControl.Picture = picGraphicsEffects.Image
    End If

i don't know how can i do it. if use hdc variables, the code speed up more or i must use the DIB's code?

[LaVolpe]

See your other thread in the games/graphics section. I've given you a really fast tiling routine

[joaquim]

i have here an image:
http://www.mediafire.com/i/?3mazro88t43xfqd
the form is showed in these way by some seconds... can anyone advice me how avoid these bug or slow thing?