=========================================================== EASYNET Custom Control for Visual Basic Version 1.2 Copyright © Patrick Lassalle, 1994. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Patrick Lassalle 2, rue Gutenberg 92100 Boulogne France Tel.: 33 1 46 03 42 20 Compuserve ID: 100325,725 June 21, 1994 =========================================================== -------- Contents -------- Part Description ---- ----------- 1 What is EasyNet Custom Control? 2 Version 1.2 enhancements 3 Technical info 4 Notes on running the demo program 5 How to register? -------------------------------------------- Part 1 - What is EasyNet Custom Control? -------------------------------------------- If you want to develop a Windows application needing diagramming features, you may develop it quickly with Visual Basic and the EasyNet control. EasyNet control allows to draw net graphs interactively in your forms, which means drawing nodes and linking them. So an EasyNet control contains items that can be nodes or links. You can resize, move, stretch each item and alter their attributes (shape, color, transparency, orientation, etc...) You can associate data (text, picture, integer, reference to other data like a database record) to each item and you can navigate in the EasyNet diagram. You will find EasyNet useful in following applications: * workflow * data base diagram * organigrams * communication networks * state transition diagrams * ... and all application that needs to manage a network graph. -------------------------------------------- Part 2 - Version 1.2 enhancements -------------------------------------------- - 3 new properties: * xScroll, yScroll: these 2 properties allow to use mouse position in the case of a scrolled diagram (See demonet4 sample). * PointedArea: this property indicates the nature of the area pointed by the mouse (sizing square, stretching square, linking square, node, over no special area). It allows to change dynamically the mouse pointer before the user clicks anywhere, to indicate what actions are possible (see demonet1 sample). - plus minor things: * the help file is not maximized when started. The reason for this change is that EasyNet must ADHERE TO STANDARDS! * Now you can use Shift or Control keys for performing multiselection (like VB). In previous versions only the Shift key could be used for this. * BorderStyle property bug fixed. ----------------------------------------- Part 3 - Technical info ----------------------------------------- Interface --------- EasyNet programmatic interface contains: * 68 properties (26 standards) * 21 events (12 standards) * 0 method All those properties and events are described in EASYNET.HLP file. Compatibility ------------- EasyNet can work in every versions of Visual Basic. Therefore, it can also be used with Visual C++ and Borland C++ 4.0. Misc ---- * You can copy an EasyNet diagram to clipboard using METAFILE format (see demonet1 sample). * Keyboard management is under the responsability of the application using EasyNet. The KeyDown, KeyPress and KeyUp events have to be used for this purpose (see demonet1 sample). * Easynet is a container for other controls. * Printing, saving and loading an EasyNet diagram is under the responsability of the application using EasyNet (see demonet1 sample). * StartLink, StartMove, StartStretch and StartSize are obsolete! PointedArea property should rather be used (see demonet1 sample). ------------------------------------------ Part 4 - Notes on running demo programs ------------------------------------------ This ZIP file contains the following files: WELCOME.EXE A demo without source files. It displays 4 EasyNet controls with different property values and behaviour: * The mouse pointer is changing in the "blue" Control. * A keyboard interface is offered in the "yellow" control, allowing to scroll with up, down, left, right keys. * The "green" control does not allow multiselection. * The "blue" control contains one "sleeping" node (it is the yellow one). * One control contains the 3 buttons (Help, Exit, About). It has no border. You can only stretch the existing links between the buttons. PROJECT1.MAK (First Demo source files) FORM1.FRM ABOUT1.FRM MODULE1.BAS PROJECT2.MAK (Second Demo source files) FORM2.FRM ABOUT2.FRM PROJECT3.MAK (Third Demo source files) FORM3.FRM ABOUT3.FRM MDI3.FRM PROJECT4.MAK (Fourth Demo source files) FORM4.FRM ABOUT4.FRM EASYNET.VBX EasyNet Custom Control EASYNET.HLP EasyNet help file. README.TXT This text file. Remarks: -------- * EASYNET.VBX and EASYNET.HLP should be copied in your WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. * If you don't know EasyNet, you should run first WELCOME.EXE. * First demo allows to draw diagrams, save them in files and print them. It shows also how to add a keyboard interface and how to change cursor shape using "PointedArea" property. * Second demo focuses on EasyNet capabilities. * Third shows how to use EasyNet in the case of a network application. It is a MDI sample application. The following properties are illustrated: Picture, Transparent, DrawStyle. * Fourth demo shows how to combine node and link adds into a single step. It needs xScroll and yScroll properties. ------------------------------------------ Part 5 - How to register? ------------------------------------------ The demonstration version of the EasyNet control is fully functional but may only be used in the development environment. If you generate an EXE file with this version of the EasyNet control but without an EasyNet license file, then any attempt to use this EXE file will display a dialog box explaining that it has been generated without license file and the control will fail to load. If you like EasyNet control then you can receive a full version by registering as follows: 1) Either in the SWREG forum on Compuserve. The fee is $99 and the Registration ID number is 2547.Then you will receive EasyNet by Compuserve E-Mail and the registration fee will be billed to your Compuserve Account. 2) Either by completing and sending the Order Form, along with a check for: - either FF 520 (French currency - includes s&h) - either $ 105 (includes cost of conversion + s&h) to: Patrick Lassalle 2, rue Gutenberg 92100, Boulogne FRANCE Then, you will receive the EasyNet control on diskette. In return for your registration you receive these benefits: - the latest version of the EasyNet control. - full product support (via the MSBASIC forum on Compuserve) and free product upgrades for a period of 12 months. - a license file giving a royalty-free right to reproduce and distribute the control file EasyNet.vbx with any application that you develop and distribute. THIS LICENSE FILE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION. NOTE: All registered users of EasyNet are entitled to a free upgrade to version 1.2 and have just to use the new version together with their current license file. I hope you will appreciate EasyNet. Thanks for your feedbacks or questions!