================================== MsgBox3D 2.72 - 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 display a 3D title using Ctl3D.DLL 7. Can be used to create "Splash Screens". 8. MsgGen3D.Exe generates MsgBox3D Visual Basic code. Thus simplifying the creation of messages. 9. Can include a Help button or No buttons. ========================================= MsgGen3D.Exe - The Generate Code and Demo ========================================= MsgB3D.Exe is a self extracting zipped file. The files included in MsgB3D.Exe are: MsgGen3D.Exe Demo Program MsgBox3D.Hlp Help File ReadMe.Txt This Read Me File MsgGen3D uses VBRun300.DLL, ThreeD.VBX, CMDialog.VBX, and Ctl3D.Dll. 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. MsgBox3D will use Ctl3Dv2.DLL or Ctl3D.DLL, if found. They cause MsgBox3D forms to be displayed with a 3D title and MsgGen3D's CMDialog forms to be displayed with a 3D effect. =============== Version History =============== Version 2.72, 95/03/12 ---------------------- German Captions. Thanks to Holger Thornagel [100407,356] for supplying German equivalent captions used in MsgCap3D.Frm. Version 2.71, 95/03/12 ---------------------- Ctl3D.DLL Old Version - MsgBox3D uses Ctl3D's function Ctl3dSubclassDlgExV2 to register the message. Older versions do not provide that function. MsgBox3D now gets the Ctl3D.DLL version [using Ctl3DGetVer] and does not call the subclassing function unless the Ctl3D version is 2.0 or greater. Thanks to Dallas Bridge, 100237,3155 for bringing the limitation to our attention. Version 2.70, 95/03/06 ---------------------- MB3D_NoTitles. MsgBox3D can display the message without a title. Support is provided to drag the "no title" message. MB3D_UseCtl3D. MsgBox3D will use Ctl3D.DLL or the newer version, Ctl3DV2.DLL, to display the title with a 3D effect. Message Edit. Message input is provided via a separate form. An Edit button is added to MsgGen3D which pop's up a large form into which message test can be entered. Version 2.61, 95/01/31 ---------------------- Single Access Key. The standard VB message box allows the user to press a single access key to respond to a message. The user does need to press Alt-Access Key. For example: Pressing "Y" causes the "Yes" action to be selected. The user does not have to press Alt-Y. The character following the ampersand found in the command's caption becomes the single character access key. If more than one command contains that character the key is ignored. This feature is added to MsgBox3D in version 2.61 from a suggestion by Nic Barnes, 100111,3452. Version 2.60, 95/01/30 ---------------------- MB3D_VGA_Messages. By design, the width of the message created by MsgBox3D considers the screen's resolution. A "wider" message is created on higher resolution screens. You can "force" message to be displayed in VGA resolution width. If MB3D_VGA_Messages=True then MsgBox3D will create these narrower messages. Version 2.50, 94/12/03 ---------------------- MB3D_Unload. The MsgBox3D form can now be unloaded, if loaded, using MB3D_Unload. MB3D_Zone. The MsgBox3D message can be centered in a zone. Subroutine MB3D_Zone is added. See Message Location in the MsgBox3D.Hlp file. Registration. MsgBox3D registration is available from CompuServe Shareware Registration services. Use GO SWREG, item number 3805. 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 equivalent captions used in MsgCap3D.Frm. 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. 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. 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 2.71 of MsgBox3D is free to registered users. The registered user need only agree to pay the CompuServe file transmission charge - about $4. 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 $14.95 plus $3.95 shipping. 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: 415-737-0870. 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. 913 Hacienda Way Millbrae, CA 94030 415-737-0870 Fax: 415-737-0871 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. 913 Hacienda Way Millbrae, CA 94030 ============== Other Products ============== Other products available from The Bridge on CompuServe include: Holiday Calendar - 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: HolCal.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 UppLow - A demo that uses API's to force the text box to convert all data to upper or lower case as it is entered. Freeware. File name: UppLow.Zip Readme.Txt Last Revised: Sunday, March 12, 1995