The high speed presentation space - Xbp:lockPS() Foundation

For common graphic output with Gra..() functions, a so called Micro presentation space is used (Micro PS). The operating system itself has a buffer of Micro PSs and supplies them on request to an application program. A Micro PS is optimized for high speed graphic output and is reused by the operating system. When a window uses a Micro PS and graphic output is done, the Micro PS is returned to the operating system where it is collected in a buffer for further requests. Therefore, time-consuming allocation and release of memory does not occur with a Micro PS.

A Micro PS can be used by all Xbase Parts subclassed from the XbpWindow class. It is requested and returned by the :lockPS() method. An Xbase Part has exclusive access to this Micro PS until it releases it with :unlockPS() and returns it to the operating system. On the Xbase++ language level, a Micro PS is represented by an object. It has the same methods as the XbpPresSpace class, except of the :create(), :configure() and :destroy() methods. Due to technical details of the operating system, a Micro PS can only be created by :lockPS()and must be released with :unlockPS().

The general usage of a Micro PS follows this pattern:

oPS := oXbp:lockPS()              // request Micro PS 
Gra???( oPS, ... )                // graphic output 
oXbp:unlockPS()                   // release Micro PS 

A drawing is displayed in a Micro PS in the same way as in the presentation space of an XbpCrt window. However, due to its performance optimization, a Micro PS does not recognize graphic segments. The function GraSegOpen() plus corresponding functions for managing graphic segments cannot be used with a Micro PS. Furthermore, a Micro PS performs no screen buffering. This requires an Xbase Part to react to the xbeP_Paint event. When using a Micro PS, code must be implemended for graphic output to be displayed after each repaint event. This code can be programmed either in a function that is called by the :paint callback code block, or it must be programmed in the :paint() callback method of a derived class. An example of using a Micro PS can be found in the PRG file ...\SAMPLES\BASICS\PRESPACE\MICROPS.PRG.