Useable Screen Area based on User Settings

May 10, 200322 yr

The databases I have designed have always been for Macs only and all with 800 x 600 resolution. Now that I want to expand my target users I will have to take into account different platforms and different screen resolutions. I have no problem working out the maximum size each layout can be, however there are some factors I can't control, namely:

1. On a PC, the user may be using Windows classic style or Windows XP style (or others?) which effects the useable height by 8px.

2. In classic style the user may have specified a color scheme that makes the top bar wider. For example color scheme Rose takes 10px off useable height.

3. The user may have the windows task bar always on or set to auto hide which is a 28px variable.

4. On PC and Mac when a toolbar is displayed across top or bottom screen another 27px variable on height is effected.

Any suggestions how to design a layout to ensure there is no active scroll bar. I don't want to design layouts that seem to '"float" within the FM window. The only solution I can think of is to design a layout that takes the lowest possible height into consideration and then has blank space at the bottom in case of users with more screen available.

The width aspect varies by 10px between Mac and PC - Here I would create different layouts for the different platforms. Correct?

Is there anything else I should take into account with regards to determining my useable space?

I am only going to allow for the following resoltions: 800x600; 1024x768; 1152x864; 1280x1024. Thoughts?

Pete

May 11, 200322 yr

Design for the smallest usable area, then use ToggleWindow(Maximum) on opening. Yup, it creates blank space for those with larger available areas.

You could set up two layouts for each possibility, like one for 800x600 and one for 1024x768, and then have the "Opening" layout depend on the monitor resolution. It's a lot of work, though.

At this point, very few people are still using 800x600 -- most have gone to 1024x768 (or larger). I no longer bother with the smaller size any more.