How best to implement a scrolling log

[deadbug]

I want to implement a scrolling log window to let the user know how my autoit script is getting along.

I expect that this log could be several hundred lines long.

It looks like I can achieve what I want using an Edit box, setting it to read only (so the user cannot scribble in it) and then write to it when more data needs to be displayed.

But it looks like the "write to it" part is really: "read what the edit box contents", tag on additional contents, rewrite edit box.

I can possibly optimise slightly by always remembering what was last written to the box.

But either way, it means that each time I update the log, I need to rewrite the entire log.

Is this the correct approach? It feels "inefficient". Is there a better way?

[martin]

I want to implement a scrolling log window to let the user know how my autoit script is getting along.

I expect that this log could be several hundred lines long.

It looks like I can achieve what I want using an Edit box, setting it to read only (so the user cannot scribble in it) and then write to it when more data needs to be displayed.

But it looks like the "write to it" part is really: "read what the edit box contents", tag on additional contents, rewrite edit box.

I can possibly optimise slightly by always remembering what was last written to the box.

But either way, it means that each time I update the log, I need to rewrite the entire log.

Is this the correct approach? It feels "inefficient". Is there a better way?

You can add lines to an edit without having to rewrite the whole edit, see the help for GuiCtrlSetData or look up _GUICtrlEdit_AppendText.

[avery]

#include <GDIPlus.au3>
#include <GUIEdit.au3>
#include <EditConstants.au3>

$status = GUICtrlCreateEdit("", 8, 104, 609, 169, BitOR($ES_AUTOVSCROLL, $ES_READONLY, $ES_WANTRETURN, $WS_VSCROLL))
GUICtrlSetData(-1, "Status Box" & @CRLF)
GUICtrlSetFont(-1, 8, 400, 0, "Terminal")
GUICtrlSetBkColor(-1, 0xCCCCCC)

... make a gui :)

_s("Add something to the status box function")

Func _s($line)
    local $set_status = GUICtrlRead($status)
    $line = $set_status & $line
    GUICtrlSetData($status, $line & @CRLF)
    _GUICtrlEdit_Scroll($status, $SB_SCROLLCARET)
EndFunc   ;==>_s

I am not sure if you need all those includes. I am just learning au3 myself.

I write sometimes 1000+ lines to it

Edited February 8, 2009 by avery

[MattyGibbard]

I take it this is whag you wanted to do. All you need to do is read what the log already says and set the editbox data to what the new line is, plus your old data. You do not need to write is all in again Here is an example of a small MSN syle chat I made for you.

Run it and type a few things into the first box and press send. Then type something else ect.

#include <GUIConstants.au3>
    
$name = inputbox ( "Name" , "What is your name?" ) 

Guicreate ( "Example" , 200, 200)
$button = guictrlcreatebutton ( "Send" , 1,1,30)
$box = guictrlcreateinput ( "" , 1,30, 170, 30)
$main = GUICtrlCreateedit ( "", 1, 70, 190, 120)

GUISetState ()
While 1
   $msg = GUIGetMsg()
Select

Case $msg = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
    exitloop
    
Case $msg = $button
    $boxread = guictrlread ( $box )
    $mainread = guictrlread ( $main )
    GUIctrlsetdata ( $main , $name & ": " & $boxread & @CRLF & $mainread )  
    
EndSelect
Wend

Hope this helps.

[martin]

I take it this is whag you wanted to do. All you need to do is read what the log already says and set the editbox data to what the new line is, plus your old data. You do not need to write is all in again Here is an example of a small MSN syle chat I made for you.

Run it and type a few things into the first box and press send. Then type something else ect.

#include <GUIConstants.au3>
     
 $name = inputbox ( "Name" , "What is your name?" ) 
 
 Guicreate ( "Example" , 200, 200)
 $button = guictrlcreatebutton ( "Send" , 1,1,30)
 $box = guictrlcreateinput ( "" , 1,30, 170, 30)
 $main = GUICtrlCreateedit ( "", 1, 70, 190, 120)
 
 GUISetState ()
 While 1
    $msg = GUIGetMsg()
 Select
 
 Case $msg = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
     exitloop
     
 Case $msg = $button
     $boxread = guictrlread ( $box )
     $mainread = guictrlread ( $main )
     GUIctrlsetdata ( $main , $name & ": " & $boxread & @CRLF & $mainread ) 
     
 EndSelect
 Wend

Hope this helps.

That does exacyly what deadbug is saying he wants to avoid.

This adds to the edit without rewriting it all.

#include <GUIConstants.au3>
    
Guicreate ( "Example" , 200, 200)
$button = guictrlcreatebutton ( "Send" , 1,1,30)
$box = guictrlcreateinput ( "" , 1,30, 170, 30)
$main = GUICtrlCreateedit ( "", 1, 70, 190, 120)

GUISetState ()
While 1
   $msg = GUIGetMsg()
Select

Case $msg = $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
    exitloop
    
Case $msg = $button
    $boxread = guictrlread ( $box )
   ;$mainread = guictrlread ( $main )
    GUIctrlsetdata ( $main ,  $boxread & @CRLF,1 )  
    
EndSelect
Wend

[deadbug]

That does exacyly what deadbug is saying he wants to avoid.

Indeed!

This adds to the edit without rewriting it all.

Perfect! Isee now that I had completely misunderstood the "default" argument to GUICtrlSetData.

Many thanks for enlightening me.

-- deadbug

[WIHedgehog]

On 2/8/2009 at 5:02 AM, martin said:

 

This adds to the edit without rewriting it all.

 

Thanks Martin! That's [slightly more than] exactly what I've been looking for and didn't know how to accomplish! Excellent!