About Animation GIF ActiveX
 Animation GIF ActiveX 2.0

Animation GIF ActiveX  is a 32bit OLE Control Module to display GIF file(still and animation, GIF87a and GIF89a) in OLE Container.  It supports all GIF89a standard, including transparent, animation, looping, delay time, logical screen, restoring to background, etc. It also supports Netscape GIF extension.

Animation GIF ActiveX 2.0 has many new features including AutoSize, Stretch, custom playing sequence (reverse, pingpong or user-defined), etc. You can bind the GIF property in version 2.0 to database in your application. Version 2.0 has no flickering when displaying large GIF files in transparent or opaque mode.  Version 2.0 can recover the correct frames in the damaged GIF file. Version 2.0 is made in ATL, so you don't need any additional DLL when using the ActiveX.

Animation GIF ActiveX supports most popular development platforms including VB, VC++, VFP, VBA, Access, Delphi, etc.

Animation GIF ActiveX is shareware. If you are using an unregistered version, please see Registration to get information about how to register.

Important notes for 1.x users: Because 2.0 is made in ATL, it's very different from version 1.x. The properties, methods, calling interfaces and CLSIDs are changed. So the applications using 1.x should be redesigned for Animation GIF ActiveX 2.0.

If you have any questions, please send E-mail to jinhui@jcomsoft.com

Please visit my home page http://www.jcomsoft.com to get the newest version, news and more great and FREE ActiveX.

Now you can register your copy online via world wide web.


Register the Animation GIF ActiveX

You can register Animation GIF ActiveX 2.x for US $45.00.  After you register, you will receive a registration key that you can input by clicking the Register button in the About dialog.  And you can distribute the ActiveX with your applications to your customers.

For current registered 1.x users, you can upgrade your version to 2.0 for only US$18.00.

To register, please choose a registration name which must be related to your name or organization name (do not use words like Anonymous), fill and print the registration form and send check, bank draft or cash to:

JIN HUI

Address:	501/5/285 Xin Hu Rd.

Shanghai 200436

People's Republic of China

Note: The name on the check, bank draft and letter must be JIN HUI. Otherwise, the check or bank draft will be rejected by bank, the letter will be returned to the sender.

If you have credit cards, now you can register Animation GIF ActiveX 2.x on my web page at http://www.jcomsoft.com. You will get the registration key within 72 hours via E-mail.

When I receive your mail, you will receive the registration name and registration key through E-mail.

If you register, your registration name and key is fit for any version of Animation GIF ActiveX. If the ActiveX is updated, you can use the new version for FREE.

The letters from America to China will take about ten days, and letters from Europe and Asia will take about one week. Letters from some areas such as Taiwan, Russia will take longer than two weeks.

If you want the registration key urgently, please send the letter via express mail services such as EMS. DHL or UPS. I will receive your order within three days.

If you cannot receive any information three weeks after you send the order, please contact us through E-mail jinhui@jcomsoft.com


Registration Form

Animation GIF ActiveX Registration Form

Unit Price:	US $45.00

Name	_____________________________

Organization	_____________________________

Address	_____________________________

_____________________________

City	_____________________________

Zip code	_____________________________

Country	_____________________________

Phone	(_______)_____________________

Email	_____________________________

Preferred registration name (max 15 chars, can use space)

_____________________________

Any questions and comments here:

_____________________________

_____________________________

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AutoSize Property

    Sets or returns if the ActiveX is autosized according to the size of the GIF file.

Data Type:

    Boolean

Remarks:

    If you set the AutoSize property to TRUE. The Animation GIF ActiveX will be autosized according to the size of the GIF file.


GIF Property

    Edits the GIF stored in ActiveX.

Data Type:

    String

Remarks:

    If you set the GIF property to empty string, the current GIF stored in application is cleared.

    At design time, you can use the property page of GIF to read in the GIF file.


Frame Property

    Sets or returns current frame shown.

Data Type:

    Integer

Remarks:

    Animation GIF is made of frames.  You can use Frame property to get current frame number is shown or set the Frame property to set the current frame.  The Frame property is greater than or equal to zero and less than the Frames.

See Also:

    Frames, GetFrame


Frames Property

    Returns the number of frames in current GIF.

Data Type:

    Integer

Remarks:

    Animation GIF is made of frames.  You can use Frames property to get the number of frames in current GIF.  When the Frames is zero, there is no GIF. If the GIF stores still picture, the frames returns 1.

See Also:

    Frame


Playing Property

    Returns whether the GIF is playing.

Data Type:

    Boolean

Remarks:

    If the Playing is TRUE, the GIF is playing.

See Also:

    Play, Stop


Play Method

    Starts playing the GIF.

Syntax:

   object.Play

Return Type:

    Boolean

See Also:

    Stop, Frame


Stop Method

    Stops playing the GIF.

Syntax:

   object.Stop

Return Type:

    Boolean

See Also:

    Play, Frame


ReadGIF Method

    Read in an GIF.

Syntax:

   object.ReadGIF (filename As String)

filename	An string that  identifies the file name of the GIF.

Return Type:

    Boolean

Remarks:

    You can read the local file when using the local path in the filename or read the GIF file on the http server when using a internet path like "http://servername/path/filename" in the filename parameter.

    Visual Foxpro users should use ReadGIF2 instead of ReadGIF.

    If you use asynchronized reading mode, the ReadGIF will always return TRUE.

See Also:

    GIF, HTTPProxy, HTTPUserName, HTTPPassword, ReadGIF2, ReadFinished, Synchronized


ReadGIF2 Method

    Read in an GIF.

Syntax:

   object.ReadGIF2 (filename As String)

filename	An string that  identifies the file name of the GIF.

Remarks:

    You can read the local file when using the local path in the filename or read the GIF file on the http server when using a internet path like "http://servername/path/filename" in the filename parameter.

    The users of Visual Foxpro should use ReadGIF2 instead of ReadGIF to read in the GIF file, because the ReadGIF method will cause the Visual Foxpro to crash. The users who don't use the Visual Foxpro can use either.

See Also:

    GIF, HTTPProxy, HTTPUserName, HTTPPassword, ReadGIF, ReadFinished, Synchronized


GetFrame Method

    Gets a frame of current GIF.

Syntax:

   object.GetFrame (frame As Integer)

frame	An integer that  identifies which frame to be gotten.

Return Type:

    Picture

See Also:

    Frame


Step Event

    Occurs when the playing GIF steps to next frame.

Syntax:

    Sub object_Step

See Also:

    Frame


ReadFinished Event

    Occurs when the asynchronized reading GIF is finished.

Syntax:

    Sub object_ReadFinished

See Also:

    Synchronized

Remarks:

    You can read GIF file into Animation GIF ActiveX using synchronized mode or asynchronized mode. When in asynchronized mode, the ReadGIF or ReadGIF2 return immedately. The reading processing is on the background. When the processing is finished, the ReadFinished Event will occur.


PlayFinished Event

    Occurs when playing is finished (The loop count reaches the Loop property).

Syntax:

    Sub object_PlayFinished

See Also:

    Loop


Transparent Property

    Sets whether the GIF is showing transparent.

Data Type:

    Boolean

Remarks:

    If the Transparent is TRUE, the GIF's background is the container's background or picture.

    If the Transparent is FALSE, the GIF's background is the BackColor of the ActiveX.


GIFWidth Property

    Returns the logical screen width of the GIF.

Data Type:

    Integer


GIFHeight Property

    Returns the logical screen height of the GIF.

Data Type:

    Integer


Speed Property

    Sets the playing speed of Animation GIF.

Data Type:

    Integer

Remarks:

    Sets Speed to 1 to play the Animation GIF using the normal speed. Sets Speed to 2 to play the Animation GIF slower twice than the normal.


FrameWidth Method

    Returns the width of a frame of current GIF.

Syntax:

   object.FrameWidth (frame As Integer)

frame	An integer that identifies the frame number.

Return Type:

    Integer

See Also:

    Frames, FrameHeight


FrameHeight Method

    Returns the height of a frame of current GIF.

Syntax:

   object.FrameHeight (frame As Integer)

frame	An integer that identifies the frame number.

Return Type:

    Integer

See Also:

    Frames, FrameWidth


FrameTop Method

    Returns the distance between the top edge of a frame and the top edge of GIF logical screen.

Syntax:

   object.FrameTop (frame As Integer)

frame	An integer that identifies the frame number.

Return Type:

    Integer

See Also:

    Frames, FrameLeft


FrameLeft Method

    Returns the distance between the left edge of a frame and the left edge of GIF logical screen.

Syntax:

   object.FrameLeft (frame As Integer)

frame	An integer that identifies the frame number.

Return Type:

    Integer

See Also:

    Frames, FrameTop


Sequence Property

    Sets the playing sequence mode

Data Type:

    Integer

Remarks:

    You can control the playing sequence using Sequence property. You can set the Sequence property to 0 (normal sequence, using the sequence in GIF file), 1 (reverse sequence), 2 (pingpong sequence) and 3 (user-defined sequence, using the SequenceString)


SequenceString Property

    Sets the user-defined playing sequence

Data Type:

    String

Remarks:

    You can set your own playing sequence using SequenceString property when the Sequence property is 3. SequenceString property is a set of frame numbers separated by comma (",") like "3,2,1,0".  The frame number is based on zero.


Stretch Property

    Sets the stretch mode

Data Type:

    Integer

Remarks:

    You can set the Stretch property to fit the GIF file to the size of the control. You can set the Stretch property to 0 (no stretch), 1 (full stretch), 2 (proportional stretch).


HTTPProxy Property

    Sets the proxy server when visiting internet

Data Type:

    String

Remarks:

    If the application should visit internet via a proxy server, you can set the HTTPProxy property to "http://MyProxyServer:ProxyPort".

See Also:

    ReadGIF


HTTPUserName Property

    Sets the user name when you visiting a password protected server.

Data Type:

    String

Remarks:

    If the http server you want to get the GIF file is password protected, you can set the user name of the server in HTTPUserName property and set the password in the HTTPPassword property.

See Also:

    ReadGIF, HTTPPassword


HTTPPassword Property

    Sets the password when you visiting a password protected server.

Data Type:

    String

Remarks:

    If the http server you want to get the GIF file is password protected, you can set the user name of the server in HTTPUserName property and set the password in the HTTPPassword property.

See Also:

    ReadGIF, HTTPUserName


Loop Property

    Sets the looping number after starting playnig.

Data Type:

    Integer

Remarks:

    If the Loop property is less than 1, the Animaiton GIF won't stop after starting playing. Otherwise, the Animation GIF will stop after loop for the number you set.

See Also:

    Play, Stop, AutoRewind


AutoRewind Property

    Sets if the GIF picture returns to the first frame at the end of the looping.

Data Type:

    Boolean

Remarks:

    If the AutoRewind is TRUE, the GIF picture will return to the first frame at the end of the looping. Otherwise, the picture will stop at the last frame.

See Also:

    Play, Stop, Loop


Synchronized Property

    Sets if ReadGIF is synhcronized or asynchronized.

Data Type:

    Boolean

Remarks:

    You can read GIF file into Animation GIF ActiveX using synchronized mode or asynchronized mode. When in asynchronized mode, the ReadGIF or ReadGIF2 return immedately. The reading processing is on the background. When the processing is finished, the ReadFinished Event will occur.

    If you set the Synchronized to FALSE, the reading processing is asynchronized.

See Also:

    ReadGIF, ReadGIF2, ReadFinished