Another little X6 toolbar toy - Multigon (Multitype-Polygon Generator)

[Joe]

If you are terrible at drawing flowers, like me, this one's for you!



It's basically the star tool, just with instant node type changing, adjust the settings, then click the button to generate a shape in the middle of the page:



The code to install it is in the zip, but also here:

Sub addMultigonDocker()
    Dim dockerAssembly As String
    dockerAssembly = "D:\YOUR PATH GOES HERE\Multigon.dll"
    
    Call FrameWork.AddDocker("0F10EF19-3BD9-458F-9FA5-60320658A792", "Multigon.Docker", dockerAssembly)
    Call FrameWork.CommandBars("Dockers").Controls.AddToggleButton("0F10EF19-3BD9-458F-9FA5-60320658A792", 0, False)
End Sub

Make sure to get the path to the DLL right on the first time. If not, change a character or two in the GUID (0F10EF19-3BD9-458F-9FA5-60320658A792) and try again.

An infinite supply of flowers, bottle caps, stamps, badges and other things await. Enjoy!

PS. I know it's a tad cumbersome at first, but after a bit you see the settings in your head. If there's enough interest I might make a live preview version and/or a click to place and set size version.

PSPS. Also (and this might as well be a signature, heh) massive thanks to Shelby for helping with a potentially buggy bit on the other side. Thought I was going crazy there for a bit.

[Joe]

Having done some interface improvements to the main project and learned the data binding system that WPF provides (it's awesome, btw) I decided to update Multigon as well:



You now get an interface more in line with CorelDRAW standards, several ways to input the values + presets. Neat.

Also a new function - you can now shift the outer nodes by a percentage of a full step letting you make some rather neat shapes easily:



Two more improvements - the icons now look sharp and the rotational center of the shape is now set at the exact center of the shape.

Enjoy, feedback welcome.

[Joe]

Well, I'll just keep on improving the thing with things that seem useful... So what more can a Multitype Polygon Generator need? More Polygon types, of course!



Eight more types, to be exact, including the rather neat gears:



I have this silly idea of a pattern-based side editing option, but that may be going too far. This is probably the last version for a while. Enjoy, as usual.

[SteveDude]

Try using this when you are adding the toggle button...

    With FrameWork.CommandBars("Dockers").Controls.AddToggleButton("0F10EF19-3BD9-458F-9FA5-60320658A792", 0, False)
.Caption="Multigon Tool"
End With

End Sub

The only bad thing is that it doesn't stick the next time you load Draw...it is a bug. There are a couple of ways to make it work though with one, adding everything but the button with AppUI.xslt and DrawUI.xslt and then add just the Toggle Button with VBA, not defining the caption.

You might also try wrapping everything in BeginCommandGroup and EndCommandGroup so you can easily undo and redo it.

[Joe]

Ah, neat, thanks for the way to change the caption. Will have to find a way to make it stick, though. I have another docker I'd like to make a proper product of and that would need easy installation, proper button with icons, etc.

Also will check if I have forgotten a commandgroup, usually have them everywhere.

[SteveDude]

You can just use the .xslt's to add everything actually. You can do it the way Shelby described using a Macro to just toggle the docker on or off, or forget about the macro and remember a ToggleButton is just a checkbox.

I'm using the Macro Toggle on these...

http://www.softbotz.com/QRCode/
http://www.softbotz.com/DockerSet1/

Have the need for VBA elminated and will put it in the next versions.