========================================================================== Data Widgets (TM) DEMO Bound Custom Controls for Visual Basic Version 1.00b January 27, 1993 (C) Copyright Sheridan Software Systems, Inc., 1993 35 Pinelawn Road Melville, N.Y. 11747 USA Voice (516) 753-0985 Fax (516) 753-3661 BBS (516) 753-5452 ========================================================================== ------------------------ How to Use This Document ------------------------ To view README.TXT on screen in Windows Notepad, maximize the Notepad window. To print README.TXT, open it in Windows Write, Microsoft Word, or another word processor. Then select the entire document and format the text in 10-point Courier before printing. ======== Contents ======== Part Description ---- ----------- 1 What Are Data Widgets? 2 Control Feature Lists 3 Notes on running the demo program ========================================= Part 1 - What Are Data Widgets? ========================================= Data Widgets is a set of bound custom controls that allow you to design front ends for database applications with all the ease and power you have come to expect with Visual Basic. Data Widgets virtually eliminates the need for time-consuming coding when developing database applications. All you need to do is drop a control on a form, set a few properties, and Data Widgets will do the rest! ========================================= Part 2 - Control Feature Lists ========================================= Data Widgets includes 6 bound custom controls. The controls in the set are: DataGrid ----------------------------------------------- The DataGrid is a fully editable, bound grid that allows you to edit an entire record set, no matter the size, on screen with no code whatsoever. The following is a list of the features: * Bound to the new data control in Visual Basic 3.0 * Binds to a data control on a different form * Breaks the 64K barrier * Loads only enough records into memory to fill display area * Supports in-place editing * Supports multi-colored cells and/or rows * You can specify fixed columns and optionally allow the user to change this with a splitter bar * Can be used as bound list box (single column grid) * Functionally and visually consistent with the Microsoft Access grid * Automatically provides add, update and delete functionality with no coding * Supports drop down lists (DataDropDowns) by column which can be optionally linked to other data controls * Provides an optional cell button for triggering specialized processing for a column * Variable properties for each column such as alignment, format mask, etc. * Optional column headings and row labels * Column headings will default to field names but can be overridden * Supports 2-D or 3-D appearance * Supports unbound columns for displaying calculated fields DataCombo ----------------------------------------------- The DataCombo is a bound combo box you can include in your database application. The following is a list of the features: * Bound to the new data control in Visual Basic 3.0 * Binds to a data control on a different form * Breaks the 64K barrier * Edit and drop down portions can be linked to separate data controls * Loads only enough records into memory to fill display area * Variable properties for each column such as alignment, format mask, etc. * Optional column headings * Column headings will default to field names but can be overridden * Supports 2-D or 3-D appearance * Supports unbound columns for displaying calculated fields DataDropDown -------------------------------------------- The DataDropDown is a custom control that you can use to attach to a cell in the DataGrid to drop down a list of values from another source of data. The following is a list of the features: * Used in conjunction with the DataGrid * Bound to the new data control in Visual Basic 3.0 * Binds to a data control on a different form * Breaks the 64K barrier * Loads only enough records into memory to fill display area * Variable properties for each column such as alignment, format mask, etc. * Optional column headings * Column headings will default to field names but can be overridden * Supports 2-D or 3-D appearance * Supports unbound columns for displaying calculated fields DataOption Button --------------------------------------- The DataOption button is a 3-D option button that you can link to a field in a database and have it turn "on" when a certain value is in that field, also toggling the others that may be in a group of DataOptions to "off". The following is a list of the features: * Bound to the new data control in Visual Basic 3.0 * Binds to a data control on a different form * 3-D appearance * Each option button in a group represents a different value for the same DataField * Set one option button's DataSource or DataField and the other option buttons in the group will synchronize themselves automatically DataCommand Button --------------------------------------- The DataCommand button is a custom control that binds to a data control and automatically performs a database action when pressed. The following is a list of the features: * Bound to the new data control in Visual Basic 3.0 * Binds to a data control on a different form * Just like our standard 3-D Command button but can also be linked to a Data Control and automatically provide positioning functions for moving to the beginning or the end or forward or backward in the Data Control's Record Set one or more records Enhanced Data Controls ----------------------------------- The Enhanced Data Controls are custom controls that behave as a front end to the Visual Basic data control adding new functionality. The following is a list of the features: * Bound to the new data control in Visual Basic 3.0 * Binds to a data control on a different form * In addition to the previous, next, first and last button of the standard data control this control provides 2 additional buttons that will allow the user to go forward or backward multiple records in the Record Set for each click (the # of records forward or backward can be set via properties) * The buttons have been enhanced to keep moving forward or backward in the Record Set while the buttons are held down. A delay between the single and multiple moves can be specified. * Can have either a vertical or a horizontal orientation * Default bitmaps on buttons can be overridden with programmer supplied bitmaps * Caption area can display a picture as well as text * Provides two more optional buttons, one button allows the user to set a bookmark to save the current position in the dynaset, the second button is used to return to the saved bookmark ========================================== Part 3 - Notes on running the demo program ========================================== This ZIP file contains the following files: SSDWDEMO.EXE The Data Widgets Demo execeutable file. SSDWDEMO.MDB Sample database file. SSDWDEMO.LDB Sample database file. SSDATA1.VBX Data Widgets Custom Control. SSDATA2.VBX Data Widgets Custom Control. SSDATA3.VBX Data Widgets Custom Control. THREED.VBX Three-D Custom Control. README.TXT This text file. QQUERY.EXE Quick Query - A table browser using Data Widgets To run the demo program, install all the above files in a single directory then run the program SSDWDEMO.EXE. To run the program, either select 'Run' from the 'File' menu in Program Manager, or double-click on the filename in File Manager.