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1998-05-28
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=======================================================================
** ANNOUNCEMENT **
** Logbook v1.1 - 32 & 16-bit ActiveX control available for download **
=======================================================================
I have made available for download a new release (1.1) of my LOGBOOK
ActiveX (OCX) control.
This control implements a scrolling message console with very flexible
file logging and time stamping capabilities. It comes as an ActiveX
control (OCX) in both 16-bit and 32-bit versions. An earlier version
(1.0) is still available as a VBX for use in Visual Basic 3.
Getting the files
-----------------
The most recent files can always be found on the Logbook Home Page,
whose Web URL is:
http://www.multimedia.it/andy/logbook
The author, Andy Zanna, can be contacted by E-mail at the following
address:
andy@multimedia.it
What's new in release 1.1
-------------------------
* New Methods (Start, Stop, Pause, Resume) can be used instead of the
old-style Action property.
* There is a new preferred method: Log, for logging messages to the
control, as opposed to the old LogMessage property and AddItem method.
* The control now has convenient property pages for all relevant options.
* It is possible to show the property page dialog at run time using the
Properties method.
* It can show the severity level of a message as 1st field in the log
file (off by default for compatibiltiy with old log file format).
* There are 4 flag properties for showing or turning off the different
fields of a message: ShowLevel, ShowTime, ShowID, ShowMessage
* It is now possible to specify a Separator string which is inserted
between the log fields. By default, a single space is used, but this
can be set to a TAB, a comma, or any other string for subsequent easy
manipulation of the log file.
* There is now a LogToConsole property, for simmertry with LogToFile.
Note: changing LogToFile is only effective before Log is opened.
* The FilePath property can now explicitely contain one DOS-style
environment variable, like %TEMP%, that is interpreted at run-time.
The full log file path used while logging can be retrieved from the
FileFullPath property.
* An AutoStart property has been defined that, when True, makes the
control start a log file on the first received message. You no longer
have to explicitely start the log.
* The 3-char limit in the ClientID has been eliminated. Ids can now be
as long as you like. The default client ID is now "???".
* When the control is used in a different host from Visual Basic, the
Format$() syntax for TimeFormat is not longer available. In this case
the control falls back to a C-language style syntax for the time
stamps.
* The control can now be shown with either a "flat" or a 3D look,
according to the setting of the Appearance property.
* Finally, we have included an automatic setup for Windows 95,
NT 4 or better, as well as provisions to uninstall the software.
More Information
----------------
The most relevant features of this control are:
- Clients write messages to the object, which time stamps and formats
them. The messages are then shown in a configurable scrolling window
and optionally logged to a file.
- Messages can have a "severity" attribute (e.g. 'debug', 'info',
'alert'). The object can filter messages whose severity is below a
certain level.
- The control can track time in several ways, such as: 'current time',
'time since log started' and 'time since last message'. A user-defined
time stamp format can also be specified.
- A path (directory) for the log file location and an explicit file name
can be specified. Optionally, the object will automatically name the
files by encoding the time of creation.
- Logging can be started, stopped, paused and resumed. Event procedures
are available for log-a-message and status change (i.e. start, stop,
pause, error) events.
- The control can open the log file automatically and close it after a
time-out has occurred or a certain number of messages has been logged.
- The control keeps statistics of the number of messages that were
logged, ignored and lost (i.e. sent when logging was off or paused).
These counters can be dumped to the log itself, or queried as separate
read-only properties.
- Finally, the control supports DDE conversations. It can receive
messages to be logged via DDE and/or echo the logged messages to DDE
clients.
More complete documentation is contained in the help file (Logbook.hlp)
you will find in the download archive.
This piece of software was never actually intended for commercial
use. However, just in case, there is a shareware license mechanism
built in that should convince you to register with the author before
you attempt to make money out of it.
In practice, you can use it freely within Visual Basic, but if
you try to distribute EXEs compiled with an unlicensed copy, it
will complain loudly.
I sincerely hope that you have as much fun using this software
as I had writing it.
Registrations, information queries and suggestions should be
addressed by E-mail directly to:
Andy Zanna
E-mail: andy@multimedia.it