easyCOMP add-on module

easyCOMP is an optional add-on module for the easyGUI system. It contains a variety of advanced components for creating more complex visual user interfaces.

With easyCOMP you will be able to easily make:

• Radio button component type.
• Button component type.
• Scroll box component type.
• Check box component type.
• Panel component type.
• Graph component type.
• Graphics layer / Graphics filter component types.

A common trait of the components is the almost endless possibilities for designing the component look. This ranges from using simple pre-defined 2D and 3D looks to employing bitmaps, allowing almost any look to be created by the developer. The simpler 2D looks are best suited for systems with limited capabilities regarding display resolution and color depth – the components can thus be used all the way down to low resolution monochrome systems. For systems allowing more design freedom, with higher resolution and color depth, 3D look pre-defined designs can be used, or user-defined bitmap skins for the utmost design freedom. The underlying functionality of the components is independent of the chosen design style.

The easyCOMP add-on module is only compatible with easyGUI version 6 or later.

The easyCOMP license: one license is required per easyGUI dongle license. The license is valid for as long as you hold a valid easyGUI dongle license. If you update or upgrade your easyGUI license, you will also have to upgrade your easyCOMP license.

A special note regarding the Scroll box item type for users of easyGUI version 5: The scroll box component type is known from the more recent releases of easyGUI version 5. Customers upgrading from such an easyGUI version will still have access to the scroll box component, even without easyCOMP, in order to guarantee backwards compatibility, but to gain access to all the other advanced components requires purchase of easyCOMP.

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easyGUI package upgrades

In order to upgrade from one easyGUI package type to another. A package Upgrade can be purchased in our web shop, or by contacting us. The upgrade is always for the most current easyGUI version, unless an older version is necessary because of existing target system considerations. If an older version is needed this must be stated on the purchase order or in the “Note” text field in our web store.

Available upgrades:
Monochrome ⇒ Color
Monochrome ⇒ Unicode
Color ⇒ Unicode

To update you must have an easyGUI version 5.4.0, or later. We only upgrade to the most current version.

The update process is very simple; your easyGUI dongle license will be updated by Email. It takes only a few minutes.

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easyGUI version updates

An easyGUI update includes both bug fixes as well as new features. In general we release a new major release of easyGUI once or twice a year. In the mean time we might release bug fixes, which apart from bug fixing only adds minor improvements and features to the products. You can keep up with our version history here.

Purchasing this product, will update your easyGUI license to our most current version.

The update process is very simple; your easyGUI dongle license will be updated by Email. It takes only a few minutes.

To update you must have an easyGUI version 5.4.0, or later.

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Driver development

With the purchase of any of our easyGUI packages, you will also receive the easyDRIVER library. Currently easyGUI supports more than 200 Controllers, and we are continuously adding to the list. To see what drivers are supported check our FAQ.

If you do not see your Controller  of choice on our list, one can be purchased separately.

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Fonts

easyGUI comes supplied with a number of text fonts, useful for various purposes.In most instances these are sufficient for the target system, supplemented with icons custom made for your project. In other instances, additional fonts in special sizes/formats, or covering special characters, will be necessary. Three approaches are then possible:

• Create the desired font(s) from scratch, using the build in font editor. All versions of easyGUI contain the full font editor.
• Import a suitable Windows font into easyGUI using the build in ttf importer. The font data is converted from the vector graphics system used in Windows to raster graphics used by easyGUI (and other similar systems) in the embedded system. This process involves a number of pitfalls, as not all Windows fonts are equally suited for small size bitmapped conversion typically needed in an embedded project. Windows faces the same problem, as any character written on a PC display must be converted from vector format to raster format (done “on the fly”). Better Windows fonts add special raster corrections to the font when size goes below approximately 12 point. The Windows character writing functionality is thus very complicated, and beyond the possibilities in most embedded systems.
• Purchase the font(s) as a special order from us. The font is made to specification, in high quality, and delivered at an agreed deadline.

Which path to select depends on many factors and constraints, like development schedule, human/financial resources, etc.

Fonts included with easyGUI:

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Support plans

All purchases of any of our easyGUI packages comes with a 3 months complimentary support plan, Should you be in need of basic technical support after this time, you will need an easyGUI support plan. We offer both a one year, as well as a two year plan.

All support plan covers one (1) license, and is personal. They are not floating support plans. We will be needing name, address and Email information on the end user before we can issue you your support plan.

With your Support plan comes a unique Support ID that you must include with all support inquires. You will find your ID on the support plan PDF issued to you.

The support plan PDF will be mailed to you after payment has cleared our accounts, the support plan will not valid until then.

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Special orders

easyGUI individually designed fonts
easyGUI comes supplied with a number of text fonts, useful for various purposes.In most instances these are sufficient for the target system, supplemented with icons custom made for your project. In other instances, additional fonts in special sizes/formats, or covering special characters, will be necessary. Three approaches are then possible:

• Create the desired font(s) from scratch, using the build in font editor. All versions of easyGUI contain the full font editor.
• Import a suitable Windows font into easyGUI using the build in ttf importer. The font data is converted from the vector graphics system used in Windows to raster graphics used by easyGUI (and other similar systems) in the embedded system. This process involves a number of pitfalls, as not all Windows fonts are equally suited for small size bitmapped conversion typically needed in an embedded project. Windows faces the same problem, as any character written on a PC display must be converted from vector format to raster format (done “on the fly”). Better Windows fonts add special raster corrections to the font when size goes below approximately 12 point. The Windows character writing functionality is thus very complicated, and beyond the possibilities in most embedded systems.
• Purchase the font(s) as a special order from us. The font is made to specification, in high quality, and delivered at an agreed deadline.

Which path to select depends on many factors and constraints, like development schedule, human/financial resources, etc.

New easyGUI functionality
Much functionality in easyGUI has been created based on specific customer requests. If you have an idea for some functionality currently not found in easyGUI let us know, and we can then discuss the idea in detail. The process usually follows these guidelines:

1. The idea is discussed, and we estimate if it is possible to implement the desired functionality in a way so that it will become a natural part of the easyGUI system. We usually do not make special versions of easyGUI, so the functionality must have some common relevance.
2. We, IBIS Solutions ApS, prepare a detailed offer, stating functionality, price, and delivery terms (beta Delivery and final delivery).
3. If the offer is accepted implementation starts.
4. One or more beta releases are delivered to the customer, for testing and acceptance purposes.
5. When both parts are satisfied a final delivery is made.

Consultancy services

Among other things, we offer development of embedded applications, partially or fully. Assisting with a more efficient use of the easyGUI application. Development of easyGUI PC simulator projects, from simple to fully fledged simulators, including hardware simulation. Full development and design of PC applications.

Among our services are:

Development of PC and embedded software, partially or fully.

We develop both technical applications for the industry, and applications for commercial products.

Database applications – we have extensive experience in SQL database applications.

Font development and design for embedded systems.

Multilingual applications.

Efficient use of the easyGUI graphical user interface tool for embedded systems.

easyGUI PC simulator projects, from simple to fully fledged simulators, including hardware simulation.

Special orders

Much functionality in easyGUI has been created based on specific customer requests. If you have a need for a new feature or functionality currently not found in easyGUI let us know, we look at your request, discuss it with you in detail. Evaluate if it is possible to implement the desired functionality. We can then offer you a detailed quote, stating functionality, price, and delivery terms (beta delivery and final delivery date).

If at all possible, the new function will become a part of the next easyGUI release. This is how many of the functions in easyGUI was developed. The functions we prefer to develop must therefore have some relevance to the easyGUI application, and also be useful to other developers using our software. The development price, will of course reflect this.

Please contact us, to discuss your needs in further detail.

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