strategies for gui migration

Strategies for GUI MigrationStrategies for GUI Migration


Have a plan!Have a plan! Appx allows pull down menus, toolbars, Appx allows pull down menus, toolbars,

buttons, pictures, sound, animations buttons, pictures, sound, animations (limited), colours, fonts, how will you use (limited), colours, fonts, how will you use all these new features?all these new features?

Designers have many more decisions to Designers have many more decisions to make: What colour should I use? What make: What colour should I use? What font? What style? What rollover colour, if font? What style? What rollover colour, if any?any?


Menus can now have > 200 options Menus can now have > 200 options instead of the 20-30 we were limited to.instead of the 20-30 we were limited to.

Inputs can have toolbar & pulldown Inputs can have toolbar & pulldown menus, how will you use them? It’s not menus, how will you use them? It’s not necessary to put everything as an x) necessary to put everything as an x) Option on the screen.Option on the screen.


Larger screens. It's easy to run at a larger Larger screens. It's easy to run at a larger screen size, i.e., 28 x 110. Gives a lot screen size, i.e., 28 x 110. Gives a lot more screen space, but how will more screen space, but how will unmodified screens look? unmodified screens look?

PDF Printing can improve the look of a PDF Printing can improve the look of a report, what reports should be changed, if report, what reports should be changed, if any? Consider changing external reports any? Consider changing external reports first, i.e., Customer Invoices/Statements, first, i.e., Customer Invoices/Statements, etc.etc.


What Icons will you use?What Icons will you use? Is it necessary to maintain compatibility Is it necessary to maintain compatibility

with character mode? Restricts your with character mode? Restricts your choices.choices.

Finally, how much time do you want to Finally, how much time do you want to spend on it? Remember, there is no finish spend on it? Remember, there is no finish line...line...

Case Study – Our ApproachCase Study – Our Approach

MenusMenus Redesigned menu from several down to one, Redesigned menu from several down to one,

via pull downs.via pull downs.

Old menus still exist. Changed startup Old menus still exist. Changed startup process to run GUI menu, which checks to process to run GUI menu, which checks to see if GUI or not, and if not, runs old menus.see if GUI or not, and if not, runs old menus.


InputsInputs Auto GUI did most of the heavy lifting.Auto GUI did most of the heavy lifting.

Had to review some screens where spacing Had to review some screens where spacing was incorrect for auto GUI.was incorrect for auto GUI.

Found all date fields, changed them to Found all date fields, changed them to date/time control.date/time control.


Attached listings to inputs, and as a toolbar Attached listings to inputs, and as a toolbar item. Eliminated need to put as options item. Eliminated need to put as options somewhere else.somewhere else.

On certain 'more important' inputs, used On certain 'more important' inputs, used fonts/colour to emphasize certain info.fonts/colour to emphasize certain info.

This app used opt 99 to show audit info, made This app used opt 99 to show audit info, made that into a toolbar item.that into a toolbar item.


Also had to manually add buttons where auto Also had to manually add buttons where auto GUI doesn't i.e. work field painted on screen GUI doesn't i.e. work field painted on screen with 'x) Option' syntax. Ensure your manually with 'x) Option' syntax. Ensure your manually added widget is not at same row/col as auto added widget is not at same row/col as auto GUI widget.GUI widget.

Note that GUI overlays text, so you can add Note that GUI overlays text, so you can add GUI elements over the character/text. GUI elements over the character/text. Character users will not see the GUI, and the Character users will not see the GUI, and the GUI will cover the character dataGUI will cover the character data


OutputsOutputs Auto GUI for outputs will improve look of Auto GUI for outputs will improve look of

headings, subheadings, subtotals.headings, subheadings, subtotals.

Consider putting in a hook process to put Consider putting in a hook process to put company logo on each page.company logo on each page.

Consider improving external reports, i.e., Consider improving external reports, i.e., confirmation. Used logo, use Arial bold font to confirmation. Used logo, use Arial bold font to separate headings from data. separate headings from data.


Preferences Preferences Allows the user to set background image and Allows the user to set background image and

button colours (for now)button colours (for now)

Implemented via subroutine called in Pre-Implemented via subroutine called in Pre-Display. Reads --- WIDGET, sets wallpaper & Display. Reads --- WIDGET, sets wallpaper & buttons according to user preferences.buttons according to user preferences.


Demonstrate!Demonstrate!

strategies for gui migration

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