[tangosdad]

I'm in dire need of help learning how to design a good form in Delphi and using AlphaControl and AlphaSkins to make it look great. I'm a beginner having a lot of trouble finding tutorials or resources to learn the basics of designing forms/screens properly in Delphi.

I need to learn from the ground up, proper structure, pages look good no matter how the screen is resized, add Alphaskin to make it all pop etc. What I need to learn, you guys probably take for granted and don't even think about any more. For me, I'd be thrilled to design one good looking form!

I need a coach, of course I'm willing to pay.

[JohnG]

> I'm in dire need of help learning how to design a good form in Delphi

Years ago, Microsoft published a book on the visual aspects of application design. Whether it's still available I don't know. Also, check their KnowledgeBase, you'll likely find some documents there. Google should help too.

> pages look good no matter how the screen is resized

There are/were 3rd party components for this. A post in the Embt/Delphi/ThirdParty forum should get you some answers.

Some general thoughts…

– different kinds of apps tend to have different styles of visual presentation

(eg: money management, scientific, audio, music, industrial, medical, etc)

– look at all kinds of apps on the 'net (whether they're ones you're interested in, or not). Make notes on the different styles you see. Which ones “click” for you, visually (speaks to your personal taste)? Which ones seem downright “ugly”? (Which ones are “confusing” will depend somewhat on your understanding of what the app does.)

– will the app be in-house, or publicly available?

– related to the previous… who are your users/customers? Are they conservative, bleeding edge, or…?

– will there be a series of apps that must maintain a visual theme?

– to some extent the functionality of the app defines the presentation

– logical in layout (like an address form) and visually intuitive.

– since you posted in an A.C. forum, I assume you're talking about Windows VCL apps. Consider that there are basic “standards” for a Windows app, like menu bars and popup menus, the border icons, etc. Users know and are quite familiar with these ways of navigating in an app. That doesn't mean you're locked into using them. But if you depart from the accepted way, make sure your users can relate (intuitively and logically) to what you've done.

– watch out for “cool” — does it really fit with what you're presenting (or who you're presenting to)? I include Alpha Controls in this category. I sometimes feel like the proverbial kid in a candy shop, when testing design ideas with A.C. I've learned that restraint is a good thing. 🙂

Hope this helps,

John

[tangosdad]

Thanks JohnG for the insight and taking the time to compose such a thoughtful response. While some of this is over my head at this point, it gives me a good layout of what I have to learn! Thank you!

[Author]

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