(This is taken from Reversi, the sample program provided on the website.)
Update 31/10/98:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Version 3.0 released. File New now clears background bitmap. Modifying
a form which already contains region information does not now duplicate
declarations (unless they have been modified by the user). A Recently
Used Files list of the last 3 files opened or saved has been added to the
File menu. There is new edge tracing algorithm (the old one is still
available as an option). There is now an Auto try-again (optional) which
searches for the best trace without requireing the user to press the Try
Again button. There is now also Grid and Snap support.
Update 24/9/98:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Version 2.3 released, with Undo/Redo support and VB5 form creation. Edge
Tracer command has been moved to the "Tools" menu.
Update 3/9/98:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Version 2.2 released, with improved Edge Tracing algorithm, which includes "Try
Again" button.
Update 9/1/98:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Version 2 released, with Edge Tracing command. See help file for details.
Disclaimer:
~~~~~~~~~~~
This software is provided on an "as is" basis. Nothing should go wrong,
but if it does, it is not my fault. You use this software at your own risk.
License:
~~~~~~~~
This program is licensed for non-commercial use only. If you intend to sell
your program, I think it is only fair you pay for mine (only 20$). See
"Registration" in the help file for details on how to register online or by
mail.
Installation:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ignore this section if you downloaded one of the installer programs.
After you have downloaded VBSFC.zip, extract all the contents into the
folder where you want it installed, for exampe "c:\program files\accessories
\Visual Basic Shaped Form Creator\". There should be 4 files; this one
(Readme.txt), the main executable (VB Shaped Form Creator.exe), the help
file (VBSFC.hlp) and the help contents (VBSFC.cnt).
This program requires the VB6 runtimes (vbrun60.exe) and the
two common control ocx's ComCtl32.ocx and ComDlg32.ocx.
If you are missing any of these files they can be downloaded from the my
website at http://www.comports.com/AlexV/VBSFC.html
Uninstallation:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you have installed VBSFC using the installer, use the Add/Remove programs
icon in the control panel, and select VB Shaped Form Creator. Otherwise, or
if this item does not appear, then run VBSFC and choose "Remove All Settings"
from the "Help" menu. This will remove all the programs registry entries.
You can then delete all the files you installed.
WalkThrough 10 step easyguide thingy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was requested, so I am putting it in. 90% of you won't need this, so
don't bother reading it if you don't.
10 steps to a Shaped Hello World example
========================================
1: Load VB Shaped form creator.
2: Draw your shape. For example, stick an oval so that it just touches the top and left of the drawing area. You can put it elsewhere if you want, but it is only wasting space.
3: Save it as a form. Put it somewhere you will remember.
(optional step --
3b: Export it as a bitmap. Put it in the same place as the form
--)
4: Load VB. You should start with a blank project.
5: Remove the Form1 file (as we will not use it)
6: Add a file to the project. In VB4 this is done by right clicking on the project box and choosing "Add File". Select the form you saved in step 3.
7: Show the form (if not shown already)
(optional step --
7b: Set the form's "picture" property to the picture you exported in step 3b. This gives you
a guideline as to what bits of the form are displayed when it is run.
--)
8: Put a label control and a button contol on the form. Change the label caption to nothing, and the button caption to "Press Me" (or similar). If you have done the optional steps, then you can make sure that both controls are within the coloured area (red by default), then remove the form's picture (as we don't need it any more).
9: Double click the "Press Me" button to set code. Type into the sub the line: label1.caption = "Hello World"
10: Run the project. You will be told that you have not specified a startup form, and asked to do so. Specify the "ShapedForm" form, and run the project.
Edge Tracer Issues:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The new algorithm (default) corrects some issues with the old one. The old
algorithm was reported to produce a trace which would not cover the last
line and row of pixels on the right and at the bottom, so for example an
triangle with a 1 pixel wide outline would show the outline of only one side
once traced. The new algorithm corrects this fault, but again, it is not
perfect. With the new algorithm sometimes one or two background pixels find
their way into being included in the traced area. This is not usually a
problem, but I have included the old algorithm as an option just in case.
