VBExtenders (tm)
        Custom Control Sets for Microsoft Visual Basic
                             by

                  Sheridan Software Systems
                       65 Maxess Road
                  Melville, New York  11747
                       (516) 753-0985
================================================================

VBExtenders OVERVIEW
====================
VBExtenders is a family of Custom Control Sets which enable
VB developers to leverage the power of Microsoft Visual Basic.

The first VBExtender Set to be offered by Sheridan is
'3-D Widgets'.  3-D Widgets provide the VB designer/developer
with a set of 6 controls which can be used to design VB
applications that have a 3 dimensional greyscale look.  The 3-D
look extends the feel that Windows 3.0 started with its 3-D
buttons and scrollbars. The greyscale presentation is especially
effective in enhancing the impact of colors on VB screens by
generally reducing the amount of color present on the screen.

As with Visual Basic itself the best way to get know 3-D Widgets
is by 'playing' with them, but here are some highlights.  


3-D WIDGET OVERVIEW
===================
Of the 6 Widgets, 4 of them (Checkbox, Radiobutton, Pushbutton
and Frame) are 3 dimensional versions of standard controls with
additional custom properties such as 3-D Text, Bitmap/Icon
support and flexible text alignment options.  The remaining 2
Widgets are the Ribbonbutton and the Panel.  As part of the 3-D
greyscale look, 3-D Widgets are designed to be used on VB Forms
that have the 'Backcolor' property set to light grey.


THE RIBBONBUTTON WIDGET
=======================
The Ribbonbutton emulates the functionality of the 'Ribbon' in
Microsoft Excel.  Ribbonbuttons are logically grouped together
via a 'Group #' property.  Ribbonbuttons have the look of
Pushbuttons but they behave more like Radiobuttons, i.e. within
a Ribbonbutton Group, depressing one button automatically raises
the previously depressed button.  Going one step beyond standard
Radiobutton functionality, the 'GroupAllUp' property allows all
Ribbonbuttons in a group to be in the 'up' position, for those
situations where it is appropriate (as with the Excel drawing
tools).  Both 'up' and 'down' bitmaps can be specified for the
button or you can opt to specify the 'up' bitmap only, in which
case the Ribbonbutton will 'dither' or 'invert' (your choice,
via a custom property) the 'up' bitmap when displaying the button
in the down position.


THE PANEL WIDGET
================
The Panel Widget is the most versatile 3-D Widget - this one you
really have to play with to appreciate!  Panels can be used:

	* on their own to present text (plain or 3-D) on a 3-D
	  background

	* to group other controls on a 3-D background as an
	  alternative to the Frame control

	* to lend a 3-D appearance to standard controls such as
	  Listboxes, Comboboxes, ScrollBars etc. (Checkout the
          'AutoSize Child To Panel' property!)

	* to present status information in a dynamically colored
	  circle or bar (ala the Windows Setup Program) 

The Panel itself has some pretty basic visual properties -
Outer Bevel, Inner Bevel, Bevel Width and Border Width.  But by
combining these properties in different ways you can generate
some really interesting backgrounds for text and/or controls.
The Panel control is the 3-D Widget that best demonstrates the
visual design power and flexibility of Microsoft Visual Basic.


VBExtenders DESIGN-TIME AIDS
============================

SmartCreate
-----------
As with all VBExtenders Control Sets, 3-D Widgets feature 
Sheridan's SmartCreate feature.  When creating a 3-D Widget,
the settings for all the custom properties are 'remembered'
from the last similar Widget created.  In addition, you can
create a new Widget with the same custom properties as any
similar Widget currently visible on the screen by clicking 
the right mouse button on the existing Widget before selecting
the appropriate tool from the Toolbox.

Context Sensitive Help
----------------------
Double-clicking the right mouse button on any 3-D Widget at
design time, invokes the Windows Help facility to provide help
on the selected Widget.

SUMMARY
=======
3-D Widgets is the first VBExtender Custom Control Set for
Visual Basic.  It is a valuable extension to Visual Basic for
any individual or Corporate designer/developer who wants to
develop VB apps that are visually consistent and powerful.

The 3-D Widget package includes design-time and run-time versions
of the controls.  The run-time version has all the design 
features and overhead removed, and may be distributed without
royalty payments with your VB apps.

3-D Widgets are available directly from Sheridan for $49.95 - 
Visa, M/C and check are accepted.  Ask about our Corporate and
multi-user licenses.

Look for future VBExtenders to include 3-D Menus, Listboxes and
Comboboxes.