Starting from April 2008, DM2003 project enters new production cycle.
Features planned for future releases include improved modularity and core object
model extensions (IDMxxx3 interfaces).
Thanks to numerous DM2003 users, I've received a lot of
feedback last year. Project to-do lists now
accumulated several tens of new items, so I plan to start new production cycle.
Since now I have no sufficient time for programming and testing as in the past,
I intend to make more frequent "agile" releases and made beta versions available
for separate downloading and testing by end users.
In order to be able to accomplish short development cycle in a weekend, I've
made special automated build system (a huge set of *.vbs and *.bat scripts, more than
700 lines total size) that recompiles all executable units and online help
(including HTML pages produced by DM2003 Help Builder) in one click. For those
who would like to be informed about current activities on this project, I've
made special RSS channel.
Among others, following improvements are planned:
Graphics: new label styles will allow to create custom plot types; text
labels will support rich text; additional bufferization will reduce draw
flicker and make possible new modes like mouse panning.
Custom setups. Now DM2003 application relatively tightly bound to the
scripting action provider (scripter.dll). By contrast, the initial idea was to
make it independent on user-level functionality as much as possible. For
example, Script Editor provider is an
optional component, and users can choose not to install it. Now I intend to
make DM2003 core truly independent on standard providers.
Object model extensions: new versions of dm2003.exe will provide IDMxxx3
interfaces that will add new methods and properties for new user interface
features as well as DM2003 introduced IDMxxx2 interfaces as DM2000 programming
extensions.
Improvements of DMFitter ActiveX and other reusable ActiveX controls.
I hope to provide updates monthly in the foreseeable future. Keep in touch!