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Help / Automatic Application Features (AAF) / AAF on windows
  • Overview
  • How to?
  • DDW for all the application windows
  • DDW on a specific window
  • Programming
  • DDW feature on the user computers
  • Configuration of the end-user computers
  • Menu options to configure the DDW
  • Limit
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Stored procedures
Overview
Your application opens several windows at the same time and you don't know which one to use?
The inactive windows can be automatically dimmed. This feature allows you to always know which window to use.
This feature is called DDW, which stands for Dim Disabled Windows.
For example:
You modify the information regarding a customer and you click the
You modify the information regarding a customer
and you click the "Validate" button.
A window prompts you to confirm or cancel the changes. The main window (in the background) has become unavailable. It is automatically dimmed. You immediately identify the window that must be used.
A window prompts you to confirm or cancel the changes.
The main window (in the background) has become unavailable.
It is automatically dimmed.
You immediately identify the window that must be used.
How to?

DDW for all the application windows

By default, the DDW feature is enabled for all the application windows. When creating a new project, this option is checked by default.
To enable the DDW feature on all the application windows:
  1. Open the project description window: on the "Project" tab, in the "Project" group, click "Description".
  2. In the "Advanced" tab, select "Enable DW (Dim Disabled Windows) to dim the windows when they are inactive".
  3. Validate.
Remarks:
  • If "Enable DW (Dim Disabled Windows) to dim the windows when they are inactive" is disabled for the project, the DDW feature will be disabled at runtime, even for windows for which this option is enabled.
  • If the "Enable DW (Dim Disabled Windows) to dim the windows when they are inactive" option is enabled for the project, the DDW feature will be enabled at runtime for all windows (except those for which this option is unchecked).

DDW on a specific window

By default, the DDW feature is enabled for all the application windows. When creating a new window, the DDW feature is enabled for this window.
To enable the DDW feature on a specific window:
  1. Open the window for which the DDW feature must be enabled.
  2. Go to the "UI" tab of the window description ("Description" in the context menu).
  3. Select "Dim the window when it becomes inaccessible (D.D.W.)" and validate.
Remark: This feature can be enabled or disabled:
  • by the end user via "Gray the window if it is inactive (DDW)" from the context menu of the window.
  • through programming, with WinEnableDDW.

Programming

By default, the DDW feature is enabled for all the application windows.
Several WLanguage functions can be used to configure the DDW feature in an application:
AAFDisableAssociated with the aafRateDDW constant, disables the ability for the end user to modify the level of DDW. The corresponding menu options are not displayed anymore and the shortcuts Ctrl + Alt + "+" sign or Ctrl + Alt + "-" sign do no longer operate.
WinDisableEffectDisables the visual effects of the graphic engine of WINDEV. This function allows an application to be run on a computer with limited graphic capabilities or to be run in TSE mode if the bandwidth is limited. The DDW feature can be disabled by the effectDDW constant.
WinEnableDDWEnables or disables the DDW feature.
WinForceDDWForces the DDW feature on a window even if this window is not inaccessible.
WinInactiveEffectEnables or disables the DDW feature.
WinRateDDWUsed to find out and modify the level of gray for the windows to which the DDW feature is applied.
DDW feature on the user computers

Configuration of the end-user computers

Depending on the configuration of the end-user computers, the DDW feature may have no effect.
Indeed, the DDW feature is affected by the characteristics of the video card, the speed of the processor, ...
If a problem occurs, ask the end users to update the driver of their video card.
Remark: To operate, the end-user computers must:
  • have a display mode greater than 256 colors.
  • be in 32-bit or 64-bit mode.
  • be running Windows 2000 or later.
  • use the maximum level of "Hardware acceleration" for the video card (advanced display properties of the computer).
WINDEV

Menu options to configure the DDW

Several options allow the users to configure the DDW feature. These options are displayed in the context menu of the window (right click on the window background).
These options are as follows:
  • Dim window if inactive (DDW): This option is used to gray (or not) the inactive windows. This option is valid for the current window only.
  • Increase DDW rate: This option is used to display a progress bar indicating the current rate of gray for the inactive windows. You can increase this rate by pressing Ctrl + Alt + '+' on the numeric keypad. This rate of gray will be valid for the entire application.
  • Reduce DDW rate: This option is used to display a progress bar indicating the current rate of gray for the inactive windows. You can decrease this rate by pressing Ctrl + Alt + "-" on the numeric keypad. This rate of gray will be valid for the entire application.
To stop displaying the progress bar, simply press Esc or Enter.
Remark: To prevent users from modifying the rate of DDW, use AAFDisable with the aafRateDDW constant.

Limit

The HTML, Xaml, Cube, Carousel (.Net version) and ActiveX controls are not dimmed by the DDW feature.
Minimum version required
  • Version 14
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Last update: 08/30/2023

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