ExtPageControl v2.0 for Delphi and Borland C++Builder
------------------------------------------------------

ExtPageControl is an enhancement of component TPageControl,
that comes with Delphi 2 and Borland C++Builder.


What are the enhancements of ExtPageControl?
===========================================

 - You can change the color of active and inactive
   tabs

 - Each tab can have a bitmap

 - You can select different font for active and inactive
   tabs

 - Give the TabSheets another background color

 - Tabs can be placed on top, bottom, the left or
   right side of the component

 - A button mode is available if tabs are placed on
   top. In button mode ExtPageControl becomes borderless.
   That can be usefully if you want to write wizard-like
   programs (set property TabVisible to false on all
   tabsheets).

 - Define a different Hint for each tab

 - Disabled TabSheets get a grayed tab-text (as everyone
   expects on a disabled control)

 - ExtPageControl establishes a new OwnerDraw style and
   makes a new event OnDrawTab available. So you can draw
   the contents of the tabs yourself.


Note:
To place tabs on left, right or bottom of the component you
may need an updated version of Microsofts Common Controls
library ComCtl32.DLL. A new version of ComCtl32.DLL ships
with Windows NT 4, Windows 97 and Internet Explorer 3. You
can download Internet Explorer from Microsofts Web-Site
http://www.microsoft.com/ie/download/


Files
=====

  EXTPAGE.DCR  ->  component image for Delphi and C++Builder
  EXTPAGE.DCU  ->  component for Delphi
  EXTPAGE.HPP  ->  include file for C++Builder
  EXTPAGE.INT  ->  interface file for user
  EXTPAGE.OBJ  ->  component for C++Builder
  FILE_ID.DIZ  ->  short information for user
  ORDER.TXT	   ->  order information for user
  README.TXT   ->  this file
  SAMPLE.DPR   ->  sample project for Delphi
  SAMPLE.EXE   ->  running sample program
  SAMPLE1.DFM  ->  sample form for Delphi and C++Builder
  SAMPLE1.PAS  ->  sample file for Delphi and C++Builder


Installation
============


  Installation in Delphi
  ======================

  1. Copy files EXTPAGE.DCR and EXTPAGE.DCU into a directory, 
     where your components reside, for instance 
	 C:\Programs\Delphi2\Lib

  2. From the Delphi menu select
     Component | Install ...

  3. Press the Add button, and select the path and filename of
     EXTPAGE.DCU. In the browse dialog pull down the 'Files of 
	 Type' combo box at the bottom and select file type (*.DCU).

  4. Back on the Install Components screen press OK.

  If installation succeeds you should see the ExtPageControl
  component appear on the Win95 palette. If you have any difficulty
  installing ExtPageControl refer to the Delphi Help system.


  Installation in Borland C++Builder
  ==================================

  1. Copy files EXTPAGE.DCR and EXTPAGE.OBJ into a directory, 
     where your components reside, for instance 
	 C:\Programs\Borland\CBuilder\Lib\Obj

  2. Copy file EXTPAGE.HPP into your include directory, for instance
     C:\Programs\Borland\CBuilder\Include\VCL
  
  3. From the Borland C++Builder menu select
     Component | Install ...

  4. Press the Add button and select the path and filename of
     your EXTPAGE.OBJ file. In the browse dialog pull down the 
	 'Files of Type' combo box at the bottom and select file 
	 type (*.OBJ).

  5. Back on the Install Components screen press OK.

  If installation succeeds you should see the ExtPageControl
  component appear on the Win95 palette. If you have any difficulty
  installing ExtPageControl refer to the Borland C++Builder Help system.


Registration
============

ExtPageControl is Shareware since v2. A free Trial version
gives you the opportunity to try this native component. It has
the full functionality of the registered version, but can run
only when Delphi or Borland C++Builder is also running on the PC.

To deliver an application using this component, you must purchase
the applicable version. The registration fee is US $24.95. You get
full source code and lifetime technical support via Compuserve
and Internet. We will send the source code to your e-mail address.

Please see file Order.txt for details.


FAQ
====

 Q: Is it possible to have each tab a different color?

 A: Yes, simply insert some code in event OnDrawTab. In Delphi write:


    with TExtPageControl(Control) do begin
      Case Index Of
        0: Canvas.Brush.Color:= RGB(192, 220, 192);  // color of Tab 1
        1: Canvas.Brush.Color:= clYellow;            // color of Tab 2
        2: Canvas.Brush.Color:= RGB(166, 202, 240);  // color of Tab 3
      End;
      Canvas.FillRect(RectBg);
      DefaultDrawTab(Index, RectFg, State);
    end;


    Check if unit StdCtrls is included in the uses clause of your file.
    In C++Builder you can write:


    TExtPageControl *ExtPgCtrol = (TExtPageControl*)Control;
    switch(Index)
    {
      case 0: // color of Tab 1
        ExtPgCtrol->Canvas->Brush->Color = RGB(192, 220, 192);
        break;
      case 1: // color of Tab 2
        ExtPgCtrol->Canvas->Brush->Color = clYellow;
        break;
      case 2: // color of Tab 3
        ExtPgCtrol->Canvas->Brush->Color = RGB(166, 202, 240);
        break;
    };
    ExtPgCtrol->Canvas->FillRect(RectBg);
    ExtPgCtrol->DefaultDrawTab(Index, RectFg, State);



 Q: How do you go about changing the lettering color of one
    tab? Lets say you have five tabs, all the tabs have gray background
    and black lettering which is the norm.  One of the tabs need to stand
    out and be a different color (just for the letters), the background
    would remain the same.

 A: In Delphi insert this code in event OnDrawTab:


    with TExtPageControl(Control) do begin
      Case Index Of
        0: Canvas.Font.Color:= clNavy;  // blue text on Tab 1
        1: Canvas.Font.Color:= clRed;   // red text on Tab 2
        2: Canvas.Font.Color:= clGreen; // green text on Tab 3
      End;
      DefaultDrawTab(Index, RectFg, State);
    end;


    Check if unit StdCtrls is included in the uses clause of your file.
    In C++Builder insert this code in event OnDrawTab:


    TExtPageControl *ExtPgCtrol = (TExtPageControl*)Control;
    switch(Index)
    {
      case 0: // blue text on Tab 1
        ExtPgCtrol->Canvas->Font->Color = clNavy;
        break;
      case 1: // red text on Tab 2
        ExtPgCtrol->Canvas->Font->Color = clRed;
        break;
      case 2: // green text on Tab 3
        ExtPgCtrol->Canvas->Font->Color = clGreen;
        break;
    };
    ExtPgCtrol->DefaultDrawTab(Index, RectFg, State);



 Q: I currently have a PageControl that is about 8
    pages big with a lot of controls on each page. Is it possible to
    substitute ExtPageControl with PageControl without
    starting from scratch. I tried the cut and paste routine
    along with all the source but its a real pain and not
    working to well.

 A: Select your form in design-mode. Press keys ALT+F12 -> you should
    be in form-edit mode now. Search for your TPageControl and replace
    it by TExtPageControl. Press ALT+F12 again and save your work. This
    works the same way in Delphi and Borland C++Builder.



 Q: I have tried out the ExtPageControl, and it works very well except
    for one particular area where I think you have a bug. If I place a
    'Button' on the form with the following procedure:
      Page2.TabVisible := False;
    You will see that the tabsheet is removed, while the tab itself is
    wrong. Instead of removing 'Tab2', 'Tab3' is actually removed.

 A: Confirmed, this was a bug and has been fixed in version 1.4d.



 Q: How do I get bitmaps into the tabs? How do I use property TabGlyphs?

 A: All images for the different tabs are stored in one large bitmap
    (property TabGlyphs.Glyph). All images must be the same size and next
    to each other in a horizontal row. You must specify the number of
    images that are in the bitmap with the TabGlyphs.NumGlyphs property.
    If you have for instance 5 tabs in your ExtPageControl and each tab
    image has a height of 18 pixel and a width of 16 pixel, then the
    bitmap must be 18 pixel high and 5*16 = 80 pixel wide. Set property
    TabGlyphs.NumGlyphs to 5.

    You can create the bitmap with any bitmap editor. With Delphi and
    Borland C++Builder comes an ImageEditor (imagedit.exe).
    Property TabGlyphs.TransparentColor determines partial transparent
    parts in the image.

    Property TabGlyphs.Spacing determines the number of pixels between 
    the image (specified in the Glyph property) and the text (specified 
    in the Caption property of each TabSheet). The default value is 5 
    pixels.
   


By the way, you can always switch between the pages of a PageControl
by pressing the keys CTRL + TAB. Pressing CTRL + SHIFT + TAB switches
back. These shortcuts work system wide with all PageControls.



Jan - Michael Strube
e-mail: 100333.2744@compuserve.com
WWW: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/praxisservice/