GetAPI 2.0

by Trailblazers Computing

An add-on tool for professional VB developers

Contents:

Introduction to GetAPI 2.0

Features

The user interface

Navigating GetAPI

Registration of GetAPI 2.0

Shareware license agreement


Introduction to GetAPI 2.0

GetAPI is an organized and powerful way of retrieving Windows API declarations into Visual Basic code modules.  It also provides quick access to the Windows SDK help file.

Many related API functions, types and constants can be retrieved simultaneously because the information is contained in an Access 1.1 database.  Selecting a specific API function triggers the display of the relevant API type and constant declarations automatically.  This reduces the time necessary to retrieve the required API declarations.

GetAPI features


Features
Features:

An intuitive interface that requires little explanation.

GetAPI automatically tracks your current code window and updates with each new module..

GetAPI knows to paste a global or module level declaration.

GetAPI uses SQL queries to generate lists of functions quickly.

Pressing <F1> automatically points to the appropriate help topic in the Windows SDK help file.

Optional right-click access to GetAPI is available directly from the code window.

GetAPI can be hidden until needed, much like the color palette.

As an option, GetAPI can be launched directly from File Manager (or equivalent) from your .MAK files, in addition to VB.

GetAPI includes access to royalty-free DLL for DOS-interrupt calls, low-level I/O, window creation and pointer functions.

In short, accessing the Windows API doesnt get any easier than this.

Using the User Interface


The User Interface

The interface behaves a little differently from the default window style.  Click the control box, and the interface hides, rather than a completely terminating of GetAPI.  Therefore, GetAPI acts much like a Microsoft Office toolbox.  You can show GetAPI by clicking GetAPI from the Visual Basic Window menu.  If you have the Right-click enabled option set, you can right-click any code window and GetAPI will appear.

Navigating GetAPI


Navigating GetAPI

The interface is function-centered.  You may retrieve API functions by

A)  Typing text in the search box

    The database file pointer will relocate at the function nearest the search text.  Pressing <Enter> will cause all functions beginning with the specified search text to be displayed at once.

B)  Choosing a category from the combo box

    Choosing ALL will retrieve all functions in that category; choosing AND, OR or EXCLUDING will expand or restrict the scope of the search using two categories.

To paste a function

Press <F2>, click Send F2, or double-click the function in the functions list.  The declaration will be pasted into the most recently displayed code window.

To paste the corresponding type or constant declarations, press <F3> or <F4> respectively.  To select only a few of the constants, click Select F6.  A new dialog will appear with a list box filled with the appropriate constant declarations.  You may use multiple selection to paste a group of constants.


Registering GetAPI

GetAPI is shareware, not freeware nor pubic domain software.  It is protected by copyright laws and it is illegal to use this software in any manner which infringes on any aspect of the license agreement.

Registered users will receive unlimited technical support and all regular updates.  In addition, your financial support by registering will perpetuate the flow of development tools for VB programmers.

Registering via Compuserve:

Go to the Shareware Registration Forum (GO SWREG) and enter the following number when prompted: 5955

The cost is $19.95 in U.S. currency.  The registered version will be sent to you via Compuserve mail.

Registering via mail:

(Within 50 States or District of Columbia)

Issue a check or money order for $18 in U.S. currency to Chris Velazquez and mail to:

Chris Velazquez

Trailblazers Software

c/o 9419 Valley Moss

San Antonio, Texas  78250

The registered version will be mailed to you via U.S. Mail.

(Outside of 50 States and District of Columbia)

Issue a check or money order for $22 in U.S. currency to Chris Velazquez and mail to:

Chris Velazquez

Trailblazers Software

c/o 9419 Valley Moss

San Antonio, Texas  78250

The registered version will be mailed to you via Air Mail.

Shareware License

About Trailblazers Software


Shareware License Agreement

SOFTWARE refers to the GetAPI application, which includes the following files:  GETAPI.EXE, GETAPI.MDB, GETAPI.HLP.

We, us, our and ours refers to Trailblazers Computing, the pseudonym for Chris Velazquez of San Antonio, Texas, and author of the SOFTWARE.

User refers to the human being, person, corporation, institution or government agency which installs the unregistered version of the SOFTWARE to a computer.

Register and registration refer to the act of paying the agreed amount of currency for the SOFTWARE.

Registered User refers to a user who, before 30 days from the date of installation of the SOFTWARE, voluntarily registers the SOFTWARE with us.

Users and registered users agree not to modify the files which comprise the SOFTWARE in any way.

Users agree to either (1) become registered users within thirty days of installing the SOFTWARE to a computer, or (2) to purge all files which comprise the SOFTWARE from all media, including, but not limited to, hard disk drives, floppy disks, magnetic tape and optical data storage.

Users who fail to comply will be in violation of this agreement and may be subject to civil or criminal penalties.

We do not guarantee the fitness of this SOFTWARE for any specific purpose.

User agrees that we shall not be held liable for property damage, loss of wages, loss of data, physical injury or mental anguish resulting from the use of this SOFTWARE.

We agree to provide a registered version of the SOFTWARE to each registered user.

We agree to provide unlimited customer support to registered users.  We reserve the right to deny customer support to users who are not registered users.

Registered users agree not to distribute or transmit the registered version of the SOFTWARE by any means.  The registered version of this SOFTWARE is non-transferrable.

Registration of GetAPI 2.0

About Trailblazers Computing


About Trailblazers Computing

It was about two in the morning on a hot summer night in North Carolina.  The pulsating whir of laboratory machinery and the glow of the bright fluorescent lights caused a flicker on the VGA monitor.  My heavy eyelids stared at the screen while my pecking fingers poked the keys with more energy than I had in the rest of my body.  The needle on my caffeine meter read E.  All the electrodes in place, the connections to the digital I/O card in place, the screen littered with a pile of windows, and hot soldering irons filling the air with an acrid odor of flux: I clicked on the menu item Experiment and then Begin.  With servitude and alacrity, the computer signalled the I/O board to begin the data collection.  The green points of light begin to dance across the Picture box of my main form and the hard drive began to chirp.  I looked at the screen in amazement.  It worked.  It really worked!  I felt as giddy as a boy who has caught his very first snake.

As the hits of the 70s droned on in the background, I reflected on the words of warning from my colleagues: Youll never get that to work in Windows!  Its too slow!  and  Visual Basic?  Why dont you use a real language like C or Pascal?  and  You know that Visual Basic isnt compiled, it uses an interpreter!

Meanwhile, from the first Sub Main() statement to the final Printer.EndDoc, the experiment was successfully underway, VBRUN100.DLL was happily occupying its rightful place (in memory), and there was nothing anybody else could say.  It worked.

The point is that I am a firm believer in the power of BASIC.  I am dedicated to others who wish to pursue fast track programming for their own personal, scientific and business needs.  I believe that Visual Basic has revolutionized programming by making it user-friendly and simple.  My heartfelt thanks go out to Bill Gates, president of Microsoft, whose love and respect for the BASIC language has kept it alive and made it better than ever.

Although my main business is not computer programming, I have been deeply involved with computers for 20 years, when I impressed my 8th grade algebra teacher by doing my homework using BASIC.  I believe that computer programming is like art or music composition, except that it results in a living entity - the program - part machine, part art form.  Rarely does one talk about the beauty of program since most people appreciate computer applications at a utilitarian level.  This is like someone saying that Mozart wrote nice songs, or that the Statue of Liberty is a nice decoration.  What should we strive for when we program?  Something that handles like a Maserati, inspires like a California sunset, and lift the spirits of the user like a fine wine, by enlightening, educating and entertaining.  With such a program, even the most mundane operation can be seized with gusto while a meaningful relationship between man and machine flowers endlessly like Texas bluebonnets in the spring.

Trailblazers Computing is the pseudonym for Chris Velazquez, a male sentient human being natural born in Connecticut State and currently a Citizen of Texas Republic.  Trailblazers Computing is not a corporation nor a person (as defined by the War and Emergency Powers Act of 1933) and is under the jurisdiction of only those laws applicable to natural born Citizens of the several States.  Trailblazers Computing complies with all copyright laws of the State of Texas, the other 49 States, and the United States of America.

Trailblazers Software

Compuserve 74073,1566

(210) 647-3105