- Simulated Keyboard Using One button Control -

    This simulated keyboard would normally use one button control per key.  With a
large number of keys, each time the keyboard is repainted/displayed, the lag between each
button being repainted creates a ripple effect on the screen.  To make the keyboard appear
instantly without the ripple, the number of button controls must be reduced.

    Another requirement was that the focus not be taken away from the text control in
order that the text could be input by different input devices (regular keyboard,
scanning device, mouse).  The radio button is one of the few controls that can be used
without taking the focus.

    This program shows a method of using a single button to provide the functionality of
many by moving it to each new key position as the mouse is moved over the keyboard
picture, thus always being ready to accept a mouse event.  As the button is moved the area
of the screen it will next cover is copied to its Picture property so when the button is
pressed, the button can take care of offsetting the picture to make the key appear depressed.

    Any bugs, suggestions, or other comments are welcome and examples of your unique
solutions to programming challenges are appreciated.

Ron Edwards
PRISM, Hiroshima, Japan
CIS:  71125,534