================================== MsgBox3D 2.45 - The 3D Message Box ================================== The MsgBox statement and function provided with Microsoft's Visual Basic lacks a three dimensional "look". MsgBox3D replicates the functions provided by VB's MsgBox and adds a three dimensional effect. Other features have been added to the initial version. Features: 1. Exactly duplicates the VB MsgBox functions. 2. Uses the 3D effect found in newer applications. 3. Allows for additional, more meaningful user response by allowing the command captions to be more descriptive. 4. Can be used to provide bilingual messages, with corresponding captions. 5. Can display alternate icons. 6. Can be used to create "Splash Screens". 7. MsgGen3D.Exe generates MsgBox3D Visual Basic code. Thus simplifying the creation of messages. And new in 2.40: 8. Can include a Help button or No buttons. ========================================= MsgGen3D.Exe - The Generate Code and Demo ========================================= The files included in MsgB3D.Zip are: MsgGen3D.Exe Demo Program MsgGen3D.Ini Initialization File MsgBox3D.Hlp Help File ReadMe.Txt This Read Me File MsgGen3D uses VBRun300.DLL, ThreeD.VBX and CMDialog.VBX. They are not supplied. You should copy the Help file to your Windows directory. Use MsgGen3D to compare the difference between the VB MsgBox and the 3D MsgBox. You can also demo the use of different icons, fonts, command captions and include a help button or no buttons. Please review the Help file [MsgBox3D.Hlp] to learn how to incorporate MsgBox3D into your applications. MsgGen3D will use Ctl3Dv2.DLL, if found. Ctl3Dv2 causes CMDialog [and VB MsgBox and VB InputBox] forms to be displayed with a 3D effect. =============== Version History =============== Version 2.45, 94/11/12 ---------------------- Registration - MsgBox3D registration is available from CompuServe Shareware Registration services. Use GO SWREG, item number 3805. Version 2.44, 94/11/07 ---------------------- Mouse Snap-To. The mouse pointer will jump to the default button of any dialog box if Snap-To is enabled in the mouse driver. MsgBox3D uses ThreeD.VBX command buttons. ThreeD.VBX buttons do not support the Snap-To feature. One standard VB command button was added to the MsgBox3D form in version 2.44. That button is moved to the center of the default message button then set to invisible. This workaround solves the minor inconsistency between VB's MsgBox and MsgBox3D. Thanks go to Helmuth Schutzeich for reporting this inconsistency. French Captions - Thanks to Roger Doyon [74361,3542] for supplying French equivilant captions used in MsgCap3D.Frm. Version 2.43, 94/10/27 ---------------------- Bug. MsgGen3D always tried to use Ctl3Dv2. Then goes into a loop and can't recover. Thanks to Helmuth Schutzeich for reporting this "serious bug." Version 2.40, 94/10/06 ---------------------- Significantly Improved Performance. The MsgBox3D form is no longer unloaded. It is hidden instead. This provides a vast improvement in performance. Almost all code was moved from the message form [MsgBox3D.Frm] to the module [MsgBox3D.Bas]. You can still unload the form by changing one global variable. A suggestion from Art Gravina and Nick Esselman. Help Button or No Buttons. You can include a Help button or have no buttons displayed with the message. Help button is a suggestion from Ed Obeda. No buttons is a suggestion from Nick Esselman. More Icons. Eight more standard Icons are added. A suggestion from a number of users. Cleaner Message. The message has been redesigned providing a cleaner 3D effect. Use the new or old design by changing one global switch. A suggestion from Douglas D. Feller New Name. MsgDmo3D's name is changed to MsgGen3D. The new name reflects the message generation features of the program. Version 2.30, 94/09/08 ---------------------- Generate VB Code. MsgDmo3D.Exe, the demo program, will generate MsgBox3D source code which can be "pasted" into your application. See help topic "Generating MsgBox3D Source Code" in the help file for details. Version 2.20, 94/08/17 ---------------------- Add Alternate Icons. You can select from one of sixteen alternate icons, or specify the file name of any icon to be displayed by MsgBox3D. A suggestion from Ed Obeda. Save and Restore MsgBox3D Global Variables. You can use subroutines MB3D_Globals_Save and MB3D_Globals_Restore to save and restore the 21 MsgBox3D user definable variables. Sale price is eliminated, price goes back to $9.95. Version 2.10, 94/07/27 ---------------------- Add "Splash Screen" support. Use Global MB3D_Splash to pass an interval to MsgBox3D. For example: MB3D_Splash = 1000 causes the message to be removed in one second. Version 2.03, 94/06/02 ---------------------- Add "Private" to internal MsgBox3D subroutines and functions. Version 2.02, 94/05/30 ---------------------- A comment in the help file was inaccurate. A label box, not a text box, is used to display non-3D messages. Version 2.01, 94/05/29 ---------------------- Added MB3D_Commands_No3D global variable. When set to True commands are shown without a 3D font. Suggestion from Louis Desjardins. Version 2.00, 94/05/27 ---------------------- Two significant features were added to MsgBox3D in version 2.00. You can now specify the font and alignment used while displaying the message. And you can define the command captions and fonts. For example: The "OK" caption could be replaced with "Next Page". These enhancements are described in the demo's What's New screens. Uses: You could use MsgBox3D as a bilingual enhancement to VB's message box. For example: As the user log's on he replies whether he wishes to use the French or English version of your application. You then modify the command captions based upon his language preference. Version 1.10, 94/04/10 ---------------------- 1. Remove VSVBX from the demo program. 2. Support the up and down arrow keys while displaying the message. Pressing the up or down arrow keys did not provide the same results as the VB MsgBox. 3. Drop the price from $19.95 to $4.95. Version 1.01, 94/03/04 ---------------------- 1. Add support for System Modal mode. With the help of Wayne Aiello, MsgBox3D now supports the display of the message box in System Modal mode. The SetSystemModalWindow API is used. 2. MsgBox3D is modified to eliminate the Switch menu entry from the control box. And display the Close menu entry only if a Cancel button is displayed. The GetSystemMenu, DeleteMenu and ModifyMenu API's are used. Version 1.00, 94/03/01 ---------------------- Original version completed. A demo is uploaded to CompuServe on 94/03/01. ============== Upgrade Policy ============== Version 2.44 of MsgBox3D is free to registered users. The registered user need only agree to pay the CompuServe file transmission charge - about $3. Send a message to The Bridge, 71662,205, agreeing to accept transmission charges and the new version will be shipped to you electronically. ================= Ordering MsgBox3D ================= You can purchase the MsgBox3D source code. Cost is $10.00 plus $2.95 shipping in the US, $3.95 elsewhere. California purchasers please include applicable sales tax. To order using CompuServe's Shareware Registration service use GO SWREG, product code 3805. To order by phone call: 415-697-2730. To order via CompuServe, send a message to: 71662,205. Provide the method of payment, and shipping instructions. Warranty: Although The Bridge believes that MsgBox3D will operate as documented, The Bridge makes no implied or expressed warranty. Use the product at your own risk. If you have questions, problems, or suggestions concerning MsgBox3D, please contact: The Bridge, Inc. 199 California Drive, Suite 210 Millbrae, CA 94030 415-697-2730 Fax: 415-692-3921 CompuServe: 71662,205 ========================= Order by mail information ========================= NAME: ___________________________________________ COMPANY: ________________________________________ STREET: _________________________________________ CITY: _____________________________ STATE: _____ ZIP: _______________ CompuServe: ____________,________ The product is mailed using a 3 1/2 inch diskette. If ordering by mail, send a check made payable to The Bridge, Inc., to: The Bridge, Inc. 199 California Drive, Suite 210 Millbrae, CA 94030 ============== Other Products ============== Other products available from The Bridge on CompuServe include: SpaClndr - A full function calendar with holidays using DDE. Use it as a stand alone calendar. Or use it to communicate with your application via DDE. Holiday information is stored in an Access database. Source code available for $19.95. File name: SpaCln.Zip FormatVB - Format a VB form or module for input to your favorite word processor. Adds line numbers to the listing then creates a table of contents. Freeware. File name: Format.Zip Shade - A demo program that shows how to shade a form - similar to the Window's Setup screen. Freeware. File name: Shade.Zip. SetTab - A demo program that shows how to set tabs in a text box. Freeware. File name: SetTab.Zip TstLay - Two functions that will save and restore a TrueGrid layout in a binary file. Freeware. File name: TstLay.Zip. DemoCt3D - Demonstrates the API's needed to call Ctl3D.DLL. Freeware. File name: DmoC3D.Zip Readme.Txt Last Revised: Saturday, November 12, 1994