Inventory Example

This article explains how to create a simple application with the EntityLIB and TableGridLIB libraries using MonoDevelop.  The picture shows the completed application:

Creating the Project

On a Linux system, make sure it's configured with mono 1.1.18 (or later) and MonoDevelop 0.11 (or later).  Invoke MonoDevelop, and click "New Project."  Then click "GTK# 2.0 Project" within the C# item list, and enter Inventory as the project.  Right click on the "References" item in the Solution view pane, and add the "System.Data" assembly from the .Net tab, then add the four Mark libraries that you downloaded from Sourceforge. The project's references should look like the picture below.  Click on the Run menu item to compile and run the application. This should give you a blank window.

Main.cs

The MainClass code should look like the application in the picture above. Basically, you are adding the delegates for the custom handler(s).  For Linux MonoDevelop ("MD") add this line:

public delegate void MessageHandler( string Message );

If the IDE is Visual Studio ("VS") then you need to add these four lines:

public delegate void MessageHandler( string Message );
public delegate void UpdateHandler( string Table, string Fields, string Where );
public delegate void InsertHandler( string Table, string Fields, string Values );
public delegate void DeleteHandler( string Table, string Where );

The handlers are used to define the parameters of the methods for the custom events.

MainWindows.cs

Its convenient to add code in steps to verify that each part of it compiles.  So, the code items below cover the various parts of the file ordered by importance.  No worries, I included the whole file in a separate table at the bottom of the screen.

The MainWindow.cs file contains the code needed for the menus and program flow. Mono contains a built-in dialog method called MessageDialog.  We'll use this to prompt the user before quiting the application.  You can quit the application either by closing the main window (which invokes the OnDeleteEvent) or by a button such as a menu item or toolbar button.

Double-click on the MainWindow.cs item in the Solution view, and add the following code at the end of the class: 

bool AskDialog( string Message ) {
     bool response = false;
     MessageDialog md = new MessageDialog (
          null,
          DialogFlags.DestroyWithParent,
          MessageType.Question,
          ButtonsType.YesNo, Message );
     int nRc = md.Run ();
     if (nRc == (int)ResponseType.Yes) {
          response = true;
          md.Destroy();
     } else {
          response = false;
          md.Destroy();
     }
          return response;
} //AskDialog

The OnDeleteEvent method should be modified as follows:

protected void OnDeleteEvent (object sender, DeleteEventArgs a)
{
     bool response = false;
     response = AskDialog( "Do you really want to quit? " );
     if ( response ) {
          Application.Quit();
     }
          a.RetVal = true;
}

I like to use a common routine for messages to the statusbar in case I want to add other features later (like a logger).

void ShowMsg( string Message ) {
     statusbar1.Pop( 0 );
     statusbar1.Push( 0, Message );
}

At the very top of the file, make sure to declare all of the assemblies being used in the file:

using System;
using Gtk;
using Gdk;
using System.Data;
using System.Data.Odbc;
using EntityLIB;
using TableGridLIB;

The beginning of the class should be coded as follows:

protected Gtk.VBox vbox1;
protected Gtk.MenuBar menubar1;
protected Gtk.Toolbar toolbar1;
protected Gtk.ToolButton toolbutton1;
protected Gtk.VBox vbox2;
protected Gtk.Statusbar statusbar1;

public MainWindow (): base ("")
{
     this.Resizable = false;
     setup();
     ShowMsg( "Welcome to Inventory" );
}

void setup() {
     this.DeleteEvent += new DeleteEventHandler (OnDeleteEvent);
     vbox1 = new VBox();
     menubar1 = new MenuBar();
     toolbar1 = new Gtk.Toolbar();
     vbox2 = new VBox();
     statusbar1 = new Gtk.Statusbar();
     //
    this.Add( vbox1 );
    vbox1.PackStart( menubar1, false, false, 0);
    vbox1.PackStart( toolbar1, false, false, 0 );
    vbox1.PackStart( vbox2, false, false, 0 );
    vbox2.HeightRequest = 400;
    vbox2.WidthRequest = 600;
    vbox1.PackEnd( statusbar1, false, false, 0 );
    this.ShowAll();
}

This code should compile and give you a basic application that prompts you to confirm when you try to close the application.  The setup() method is declaring the basic structure of the application.  The MainWindow has added to it the "vbox1" widget.  This is then packed with four items: (1) menubar1, (2) toolbar1, (3) vbox2, and (4) statusbar1.  Notice that the vbox2 object is sized to a 400x600 rectangle; this area will be used by the rest of the form objects in a few minutes.

More Setup Code

After you verify that the above code works properly, then modify the setup code as follows below.  This last bit of code could have easily been configured with the MonoDevelop window designer.  However, this way you can see what's really happening and its easier to change the structure of the application.  Besides its also easier to port this code to Windows.  Recompile and make sure that this code works.  Notice that each of the menu items is described (but commented out for now). 

void setup() {
  AccelGroup m_AccelGroup = new AccelGroup();
  this.Title = "Inventory";
  this.DeleteEvent += new DeleteEventHandler (OnDeleteEvent);
  this.AddAccelGroup(m_AccelGroup);
  vbox2 = new VBox();
  vbox1 = new VBox();
  toolbar1 = new Gtk.Toolbar();
  ToolButton toolbutton1 = new Gtk.ToolButton( "gtk-quit" );
  toolbutton1.Label = "Quit";
  //toolbutton1.Clicked += new EventHandler( OnToolbutton1Clicked );
  toolbar1.Add( toolbutton1 );
  ToolButton toolbutton2 = new Gtk.ToolButton( "gtk-dnd-multiple" );
  toolbutton2.Label = "Product";
  //toolbutton2.Clicked += new EventHandler( OnProductClicked );
  toolbar1.Add( toolbutton2 );
  ToolButton toolbutton3 = new Gtk.ToolButton( "gtk-indent" );
  toolbutton3.Label = "Location";
  //toolbutton3.Clicked += new EventHandler( OnLocationClicked );
  toolbar1.Add( toolbutton3 );
  ToolButton toolbutton4 = new Gtk.ToolButton( "gtk-undelete" );
  toolbutton4.Label = "Container";
  //toolbutton4.Clicked += new EventHandler( OnContainerClicked );
  toolbar1.Add( toolbutton4 );
  statusbar1 = new Gtk.Statusbar();
  //
  menubar1 = new MenuBar();
  Menu FileMenu = new Menu();
  MenuItem FileMenuItem = new MenuItem("_File");
  FileMenuItem.Submenu = FileMenu;
  MenuItem FileQuitMenuItem = new MenuItem("Quit");
  //FileQuitMenuItem.Activated += new EventHandler(OnToolbutton1Clicked);
  FileMenu.Append(FileQuitMenuItem);
  Menu SetupMenu = new Menu();
  MenuItem SetupMenuItem = new MenuItem("Setup");
  SetupMenuItem.Submenu = SetupMenu;
  MenuItem SetupProdMenuItem = new MenuItem("Product");
  //SetupProdMenuItem.Activated += new EventHandler(OnProductClicked);
  SetupMenu.Append( SetupProdMenuItem );
  MenuItem SetupLocMenuItem = new MenuItem("Location");
  //SetupLocMenuItem.Activated += new EventHandler(OnLocationClicked);
  SetupMenu.Append( SetupLocMenuItem );
  MenuItem SetupConMenuItem = new MenuItem("Container Entry");
  //SetupConMenuItem.Activated += new EventHandler(OnContainerClicked);
  SetupMenu.Append( SetupConMenuItem );
  menubar1.Append(FileMenuItem);
  menubar1.Append(SetupMenuItem);
  //
  this.Add( vbox1 );
  vbox1.PackStart( menubar1, false, false, 0);
  vbox1.PackStart( toolbar1, false, false, 0 );
  vbox1.PackStart( vbox2, false, false, 0 );
  vbox2.HeightRequest = 400;
  vbox2.WidthRequest = 600;
  vbox1.PackEnd( statusbar1, false, false, 0 );
  toolbar1.Show();
  menubar1.ShowAll();
  this.ShowAll();
} //setup
 

An additional section of code describes the commands for the toolbar buttons.  Each button clears the main VBox area,then initializes the class of the desired screen (e.g. Product Setup ), declares the routine to be used for messages, and provide a message.

protected virtual void OnToolbutton1Clicked(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    bool response = false;
    response = AskDialog( "Do you really want to quit? " );
    if ( response ) {
    Application.Quit();
    }
}

protected virtual void OnProductClicked(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    ClearVBox();
    ProductSetup ps = new ProductSetup( vbox2, connect );
    ps.ge.MessageReady += new MessageHandler( ShowMsg );
    ShowMsg( "Loaded product rows: " + ps.ge.Rowcount );
}

protected virtual void OnLocationClicked(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    ClearVBox();
    LocationSetup ls = new LocationSetup( vbox2, connect );
    ls.ge.MessageReady += new MessageHandler( ShowMsg );
    ShowMsg( "Loaded location rows: " + ls.ge.Rowcount );
}

protected virtual void OnContainerClicked(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    ClearVBox();
    ContainerEntry ce = new ContainerEntry( vbox2, connect );
    ce.ge.MessageReady += new MessageHandler( ShowMsg );
     ShowMsg( "Loaded container rows: " + ce.ge.Rowcount );
}


protected virtual void OnClicked(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    ClearVBox();
}

void ClearVBox() {
    Gtk.Widget[] w = vbox2.Children;
    for(int i=0;i<w.GetUpperBound(0)+1;i++) {
    vbox2.Remove( w[i] );
    }
}
 

Here's the application running, and after I clicked the closing button.

The MainWindow.cs File

Below is the entire file:

using System;
using Gtk;
using Gdk;
using System.Data;
using System.Data.Odbc;
using EntityLIB;
using TableGridLIB;

namespace Inventory
{

public class MainWindow: Gtk.Window
{
    protected Gtk.VBox vbox1;
    protected Gtk.MenuBar menubar1;
    protected Gtk.Toolbar toolbar1;
    protected Gtk.ToolButton toolbutton1;
    protected Gtk.VBox vbox2;
    protected Gtk.Statusbar statusbar1;

    static string DSN = "DSN=inv;uid=root;pwd=;";
    static OdbcConnection connect = new OdbcConnection( DSN );

    public MainWindow (): base ("")
    {   
        this.Resizable = false;
        setup();
        ShowMsg( "Welcome to Inventory" );
    }

protected void OnDeleteEvent (object sender, DeleteEventArgs a)
{
    bool response = false;
    response = AskDialog( "Do you really want to quit? " );
    if ( response ) {
    Application.Quit();
}
    a.RetVal = true;
}

protected virtual void OnToolbutton1Clicked(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    bool response = false;
    response = AskDialog( "Do you really want to quit? " );
    if ( response ) {
    Application.Quit();
    }
}

protected virtual void OnProductClicked(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    ClearVBox();
    ProductSetup ps = new ProductSetup( vbox2, connect );
    ps.ge.MessageReady += new MessageHandler( ShowMsg );
    ShowMsg( "Loaded product rows: " + ps.ge.Rowcount );
}

protected virtual void OnLocationClicked(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    ClearVBox();
    LocationSetup ls = new LocationSetup( vbox2, connect );
    ls.ge.MessageReady += new MessageHandler( ShowMsg );
    ShowMsg( "Loaded location rows: " + ls.ge.Rowcount );
}

protected virtual void OnContainerClicked(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    ClearVBox();
    ContainerEntry ce = new ContainerEntry( vbox2, connect );
    ce.ge.MessageReady += new MessageHandler( ShowMsg );
    ShowMsg( "Loaded container rows: " + ce.ge.Rowcount );
}


protected virtual void OnClicked(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    ClearVBox();
}

void ClearVBox() {
    Gtk.Widget[] w = vbox2.Children;
    for(int i=0;i<w.GetUpperBound(0)+1;i++) {
    vbox2.Remove( w[i] );
    }
}

void setup() {
    AccelGroup m_AccelGroup = new AccelGroup();
    this.Title = "Inventory";
    this.DeleteEvent += new DeleteEventHandler (OnDeleteEvent);
    this.AddAccelGroup(m_AccelGroup);
    vbox2 = new VBox();
    vbox1 = new VBox();
    toolbar1 = new Gtk.Toolbar();
    ToolButton toolbutton1 = new Gtk.ToolButton( "gtk-quit" );
    toolbutton1.Label = "Quit";
    toolbutton1.Clicked += new EventHandler( OnToolbutton1Clicked );
    toolbar1.Add( toolbutton1 );
    ToolButton toolbutton2 = new Gtk.ToolButton( "gtk-dnd-multiple" );
    toolbutton2.Label = "Product";
    toolbutton2.Clicked += new EventHandler( OnProductClicked );
    toolbar1.Add( toolbutton2 );
    ToolButton toolbutton3 = new Gtk.ToolButton( "gtk-indent" );
    toolbutton3.Label = "Location";
    toolbutton3.Clicked += new EventHandler( OnLocationClicked );
    toolbar1.Add( toolbutton3 );
    ToolButton toolbutton4 = new Gtk.ToolButton( "gtk-undelete" );
    toolbutton4.Label = "Container";
    toolbutton4.Clicked += new EventHandler( OnContainerClicked );
    toolbar1.Add( toolbutton4 );
    statusbar1 = new Gtk.Statusbar();
    //
    menubar1 = new MenuBar();
    Menu FileMenu = new Menu();
    MenuItem FileMenuItem = new MenuItem("_File");
    FileMenuItem.Submenu = FileMenu;
    MenuItem FileQuitMenuItem = new MenuItem("Quit");
    FileQuitMenuItem.Activated += new EventHandler(OnToolbutton1Clicked);
    FileMenu.Append(FileQuitMenuItem);
    Menu SetupMenu = new Menu();
    MenuItem SetupMenuItem = new MenuItem("Setup");
    SetupMenuItem.Submenu = SetupMenu;
    MenuItem SetupProdMenuItem = new MenuItem("Product");
    SetupProdMenuItem.Activated += new EventHandler(OnProductClicked);
    SetupMenu.Append( SetupProdMenuItem );
    MenuItem SetupLocMenuItem = new MenuItem("Location");
    SetupLocMenuItem.Activated += new EventHandler(OnLocationClicked);
    SetupMenu.Append( SetupLocMenuItem );
    MenuItem SetupConMenuItem = new MenuItem("Container Entry");
    SetupConMenuItem.Activated += new EventHandler(OnContainerClicked);
    SetupMenu.Append( SetupConMenuItem );
    menubar1.Append(FileMenuItem);
    menubar1.Append(SetupMenuItem);
    //
    this.Add( vbox1 );
    vbox1.PackStart( menubar1, false, false, 0);
    vbox1.PackStart( toolbar1, false, false, 0 );
    vbox1.PackStart( vbox2, false, false, 0 );
    vbox2.HeightRequest = 400;
    vbox2.WidthRequest = 600;
    vbox1.PackEnd( statusbar1, false, false, 0 );
    toolbar1.Show();
    menubar1.ShowAll();
    this.ShowAll();
} //setup


bool AskDialog( string Message ) {
    bool response = false;
    MessageDialog md = new MessageDialog (
        null,
        DialogFlags.DestroyWithParent,
        MessageType.Question,
        ButtonsType.YesNo, Message );
    int nRc = md.Run ();
    if (nRc == (int)ResponseType.Yes) {
        response = true;
        md.Destroy();
    } else {
        response = false;
        md.Destroy();
    }
    return response;
} //AskDialog

void ShowMsg( string Message ) {
    statusbar1.Pop( 0 );
    statusbar1.Push( 0, Message );
}

} //class

} //namespace