Using Ring Notepad

In this chapter we will learn about using Ring Notepad to write and execute Ring programs quickly

Ring Notepad is just a simple application developed using the Ring language.

Ring Notepad - Main Window

When we run the Ring Notepad we get the next dockable windows

  • Project Files Window : where we can select and open any ring file (*.ring) quickly.

  • Source Code Window : Where we write the source code.

  • Form Designer Window : The Form Designer to create GUI application forms.

  • Web Browser Window : Where we read the documentation or quickly open any website.

  • Output Window : Output when we run programs that print to the standard output

  • Function Window : List of functions in the current source file

  • Classes Window : List of classes in the current source file

Using Ring Notepad

Creating and running your first Console Application

At first we will type the source code

see "Hello, World!"

As in the next image

Using Ring Notepad

Then we will click on the “Save” button from the toolbar (or press CTRL+S)

Using Ring Notepad

Determine the source code file name and location.

For example type : hello

This will create a new source code file called : hello.ring

Using Ring Notepad

To run the program click on “Debug (Run then wait!)” button from the toolbar

Using Ring Notepad

The next screen shot present the application during the runtime

Press Enter to continue and return to the Ring Notepad.

Using Ring Notepad

Creating and running your first GUI/WebAssembly/Mobile Application

To learn how to create GUI applications using Ring check the “Desktop, WebAssembly and Mobile development using RingQt” chapter.

Source Code:

load "guilib.ring"

new qApp {
        new qWidget() {
                resize(400,400)
                setWindowTitle("Hello, World!")
                show()
        }
        exec()
}

In Ring notepad we have a special button to run GUI applications without displaying the console window.

Using Ring Notepad

The next screen shot present the application during the runtime

Using Ring Notepad

Creating and running your first Web Application

To learn how to support Ring in your web server and how to create web applications check the “Web Development (CGI Library)” chapter.

Note

You need to support the Ring language in your web server to be able to run the next example.

Tip

For Windows users, Ring comes with Apache Web server! Using Ring Notepad we can run any web application from any folder directly without doing any configuration.

Source Code:

#!ring -cgi

load "weblib.ring"

import System.Web

new Page {

        text("Hello, World!")

}

We can run the application in any web browser or in the browser that are embedded in Ring Notepad.

Using Ring Notepad

We can run the web application using the Web icon.

Ring Notepad - Run Web Application - shot 1

Creating and running your first Desktop/Mobile Game

To learn about creating 2D Games using Ring check the “Demo Project - Game Engine for 2D Games” chapter.

Source Code:

load "gameengine.ring"

func main

        oGame = New Game
        {
                title = "My First Game"
                sprite
                {
                        type = GE_TYPE_PLAYER
                        x=400 y=400 width=100 height=100
                        file = "images/player.png"
                        transparent = true
                        Animate=false
                        Move=true
                        Scaled=true
                }
        }

We can run the application as any GUI application.

Using Ring Notepad

The Main File in the Project

The idea of the Main File ToolBar is to determine the main file in the project When the project contains many source code files

Using this feature we can run the project (Main File) at any time while opening other files in the project without the need to switch to the Main File to run the project.

To quickly use this feature

(Open the project main file)

Press Ctrl+Shift+M to set the current source code file as the main file

Open and modify other source code files in the project

To run the project (Main File) at any time press Ctrl+Shift+F5 (GUI) or Ctrl+Shift+D (Console)

Screen Shots:

Ring Notepad Ring Notepad

The File Menu

From this menu we can create, open and save the source code files.

Another feature in this menu is “Print to PDF”

Ring Notepad - File Menu

The Edit Menu

From the Edit menu we can Cut, Copy and Paste text.

Also we can change the font and the colors.

We can Go to a specific line or use the Find and Replace window to find and replace text.

Also We can set the Tab Width (Number of Spaces)

Starting from Ring 1.8 we have the (Find in Files) option.

Starting from Ring 1.11 we have the (Insert Text, Lower Case, Upper Case & Capitalize) options.

Ring Notepad - Edit Menu

The View Menu

From this menu we can show/hide the dockable windows

Also we can change the Style of the Ring Notepad

Common Styles are (Fusion White and Modern Black)

Ring Notepad - View Menu

Also we can quickly show/hide group of dockable windows based on the context

Ring Notepad - View Menu - Set Mode

The Program Menu

From this menu we can run the programs

Also we can set the Main file in the project

Ring Notepad - Program Menu

The Browser Menu

From this menu we can quickly open common links in the browser

Ring Notepad - Browser Menu

The Tools Menu

From this menu we can run the Form Designer in separate window

Also we can run the REPL (Read-Eval-Print-Loop) application

Ring Notepad - Tools Menu

The Distribute Menu

From this menu we can build an executable file for the application

Also we can prepare the application for distribution

Ring Notepad - Distribute Menu

The Help Menu

From this menu we can get the help files (CHM & PDF)

Ring Notepad - Help Menu