• 30 — Using Third-Party VBX/OCX Controls
• by Brad Shannon
• Introduction to Third-Party VBXes
• Benefits of Third-Party Custom Controls over the Controls Bundled with Visual Basic
• Crescent SoftWare QuickPack Plus
• CSInvis
• CSPict
• CSDialog
• CSForm
• CSCalendar
• CSMeter
• CSopt
• CSPictur
• CSSpin
• CSText
• CSChklist
• CSCombo
• CSCommand
• CSGroup
• CSVlist/QPList
• CurTime
• QPRO DLL
• Sheridan SoftWare Designer Widgets
• SSFormFX
• SSIndexTab
• SSToolbar
• Message Blaster Custom Control
• Sheridan SoftWare Data Widgets
• SSDataCommand
• SSHData/SSVData
• SSDataGrid
• SSDataCombo
• SSDropDown
• SSDataOption
• Visual Components Formula One
• Apex TrueGrid
• Sheridan SoftWare Calendar Widgets
• SSMonth
• SSYear
• SSDateCombo
• SSDay
• Summary

30 — Using Third-Party VBX/OCX Controls

by Brad Shannon

In addition to the VBX/OCX controls supplied with Visual Basic, there is a wealth of controls available from third-party vendors. This chapter will cover some of the VBX/OCX controls that are available from third-party vendors.

Introduction to Third-Party VBXes

Third-party custom controls have been available since the introduction of Visual Basic Version 1.0. There are currently hundreds of controls available that perform almost any function that you could imagine. In this chapter, we will look at some of the commercial products available from Crescent SoftWare, Sheridan SoftWare, Apex SoftWare, Visual Components, and a public domain custom control. The current release of Visual Basic (4.0) supports three types of custom controls—16-Bit VBX, 16-Bit OCX, and 32-Bit OCX. The professional edition of Visual Basic, contains custom controls that have been licensed to Microsoft by a variety of third-party control vendors. The vendors and the controls provided in the professional edition are as follows:

Data Bound Grid—supplied by Apex

Crystal Report Control—supplied by Crystal Reports

Animated Button Control—supplied by Desaware SoftWare

Communications Control—supplied by Crescent SoftWare

Key State Control—supplied by MicroHelp

Gauge Control—supplied by MicroHelp

3D Controls—supplied by Sheridan SoftWare

Tab Control—supplied by Sheridan SoftWare

Graph control—supplied by Bits per Second

Spin Button—supplied by Outrider systems

Benefits of Third-Party Custom Controls over the Controls Bundled with Visual Basic

For the most part, the controls that are supplied with Visual Basic can be used in order to emulate the functionality contained in most of the third-party custom controls. You would, however, need to design this functionality for each application that would use this feature. An example of this would be a ToolBar. While it is possible to design a ToolBar using a Picture control, command buttons, and bitmaps, you would have to perform this step for each project that needed a ToolBar. If you had a ToolBar custom control, you would simply add the control to your project, make a few property changes and that would be it. This is a simple example. The following example will help to illustrate an area where a custom control can be used to a greater advantage. You would like all the text in a TextBox to be selected when the user accesses the field. In order to perform this task in Visual Basic, you would need to add a GETSELTEXT statement to each of the text boxes GotFocus event. Alternatively, you may use a third-party custom control that contains a property that would allow this to be done automatically for you.

No matter which version of Visual Basic you are using, the best method available to further enhance your applications is through the use of third-party controls. Third-party custom controls are available for simple controls such as a replaceable text boxes, with additional properties right up to full-fledged spreadsheet type of controls.

During the discussion of custom controls, no mention will be made of standard Visual Basic properties or events that are supported by the controls. Most of the custom controls listed here support all of the standard Visual Basic properties and events.

Crescent SoftWare QuickPack Plus

Crescent SoftWare's QuickPack for Windows package consists of the following custom controls:

CSInvis

The CSInvis control is an invisible button control. This control is used when you want to define areas in a picture (HotSpots) that users could select through the click of the mouse when they require additional information.

CSPict

The CSPict control provides additional properties and methods when used with the Picture control supplied with Visual Basic.

By using the CSPict control, the following additional functionality is added to the Picture control:

• 3D borders
  
  
• Support for drag and drop from the File manager to the Picture control
  
  
• Provides the capability that allows the picture to be scrollable
  
  

CSDialog

The CSDialog control is a combination of six common dialogs that can be used in your application.

The common dialogs included are:

• File Open/File Save
  
  
• Find Text/Replace Text
  
  
• Color selection
  
  
• Fonts selection
  
  
• Printer selection
  
  

Because the dialogs are separated into different controls, you are able to concentrate only on the properties and methods that are relevant for the type of dialog that you are creating.

With Visual Basic, all of the functionality appears in one control.

CSForm

The CSForm control adds additional functionality to the forms in your application, as follows:

• Creates scrollable forms
  
  
• Provides events in order to receive notification of system events that have occurred. These include changes to colors, printers, and the WIN.INI file.
  
  
• When the memory available to Windows becomes low or fragmented, an event is triggered.
  
  
• Provides additional functionality in order to allow your application to be tiled or cascaded from the Windows task list dialog.
  
  

CSCalendar

The CSCalendar control provides the user with a graphic representation of a calendar from which dates can be selected.

CSMeter

The CSMeter control provides a progress bar indicator to indicate the progression of a long operation. The gauge can be used to represent a horizontal or vertical filing process.

CSopt

Using the CSopt control, it is possible to create a framed group of option buttons. In order to accomplish this same task in Visual Basic, you would need to use a frame control and one or more option buttons.

CSPictur

The CSPictur control is similar to the picture control supplied with Visual Basic. The CSPictur control adds the following functionality to your application:

• The ability to load pictures in the following formats:
  
  Windows Bitmaps (BMP)
  CompuServe Graphics Interchange files (GIF)
  PC-Paintbrush files (PCX)
  Targa files (TGA)
  
  
• The CSPictur control can be bound to a database field.
  
  
• You are able to zoom the image in as well as out.
  
  
• If the size of the picture exceeds the size of the control, scroll bars are automatically provided in order to indicate that there is additional information to be viewed.
  
  

CSSpin

The CSSpin control is used in conjunction with another control in order to provide the user with a visible method of increasing or decreasing the value of an associated control. The CSSpin control adds the following functionality to your application:

• The ability to bind the spin button to a field in a database.
  
  
• The ability to display an adjacent text box that is automatically updated as the value of the spin button is changed.
  
  
• 2D or 3D display of the spin button.
  
  
• The ability to set the value of the increments, when the spin button is depressed.
  
  

CSText

The CSText control is a combination of seven controls.

1. A TextBox that accepts and formats text input.
   
   
2. A TextBox that accepts and formats numeric double values.
   
   
3. A TextBox that accepts and formats numeric long values.
   
   
4. A TextBox that accepts and formats numerical currency values.
   
   
5. A TextBox that accepts and formats numerical date values.
   
   
6. A TextBox that accepts and formats numerical time values.
   
   
7. A Label control.
   
   

The controls listed provide the following enhancements over the controls supplied with Visual Basic.

1. All controls can be DataBound.
   
   
2. All of the controls can appear in 3D.
   
   
3. All the controls can have either a raised, sunken, or flat border.
   
   
4. All of the TextBox controls have a FocusSelect property that enables all of the text contained in the TextBox to be selected when the control receives focus.
   
   
5. All of the TextBox controls can operate in overstrike mode as well as insert mode.
   
   
6. All of the TextBox controls support a display-only property.
   
   
7. All of the TextBox controls support edit masks that format the contents of the control.
   
   
8. All of the controls support either left, right, or center justification of the contents contained in the control.
   
   
9. The numeric and date types of TextBoxes support an upper and lower limit. If the data entered does not fall within the defined range, an out of range event is triggered that allows your application to trap the error.
   
   
10. The non-numeric TextBox control can be set up to convert all of the text entered into uppercase.
    
    

CSChklist

Using the CSChklist control, it is possible to create a framed group of check boxes. In order to accomplish this same task in Visual Basic, you would need to use a frame control and one or more check boxes.

CSCombo

The CSCombo control is similar to the standard ComboBox supplied with Visual Basic. The following additional features have been provided in order to enhance the control:

• You are able to bind the ComboBox to a database.
  
  
• You can search the contents of the combo for specific criteria and automatically select the result of the search.
  
  

CSCommand

The CSCommand control is similar to the standard command button supplied with Visual Basic. The following additional features have been provided in order to enhance the control:

• You are able to display a picture as part of the command button.
  
  
• You are able to bind the button to a database and specify the action that will be performed on the current record when the button is pressed.
  
  

CSGroup

The CSGroup control provides the same functionality as the Frame control supplied with Visual Basic. The following additional features have been provided in order to enhance the control:

• You are able to display a 3D caption.
  
  
• You are able to set the alignment of the caption.
  
  

CSVlist/QPList

The CSVlist and QPList controls are similar to the standard ListBox control supplied with Visual Basic. The following additional features have been provided in order to enhance the control:

• You are able to bind the listboxes to a database.
  
  
• You can search the contents of the list for specific criteria and automatically select the result of the search.
  
  
• There is no restriction to the amount of data that can be stored in a CSVlist box.
  
  

CurTime

The CurTime Control provides your application with a continuously updating clock. The time is displayed to the user through a 3D panel-type control. Additionally the CurTime control contains an alarm function.

QPRO DLL

Also provided with QuickPack is the QPRO DLL. This library is provided in the form of a Windows-callable DLL. Contained in the DLL are over 350 powerful routines that can be called from your application. The DLL provides routines that could be programmed in Visual Basic; however, some of the functions provided return information that is not accessible to Visual Basic. All of the routines have been written in either Assembler or C so there will not be any performance impact in using the routines. The routines are grouped into the following areas:

• Array manipulation routines
  
  
• Low-level DOS functions
  
  
• Statistical function
  
  
• File input and output routines
  
  
• Memory manipulation routines
  
  
• Numeric manipulation routines
  
  
• String manipulation routines
  
  
• Wrappers for some of the well-used Windows API calls
  
  

Figure 30.1 illustrates some of the controls contained in the QuickPack Package.

Figure 30.1. QuickPack Package controls.

Crescent SoftWare QuickPack Plus can be ordered from:

Crescent SoftWare
11 Bailer Avenue
Ridgefield, CT USA 06877
Telephone (203) 438-5300
Fax (203) 431-4626

Sheridan SoftWare Designer Widgets

The Designer Widgets package provides custom controls to visually enhance your application. The Designer Widgets package is made up of the following custom controls.

SSFormFX

The SSFormFX control is used to enhance the appearance of the forms in your application. The control can be used to add the following functionality to your application:

• Create 3D form title bars and captions.
  
  
• Change the colors, fonts, and height of the forms caption. You are also able to have multiline form captions.
  
  
• Change the colors of the background as well as the shadow of the forms caption.
  
  
• Include a bitmap or metafile picture as part of the forms caption.
  
  
• Adjust the appearance of the Forms Control box control button, as well as the minimize and maximize buttons.
  
  
• Enable your application to ensure that the forms are always kept on top (for example, the Clock application supplied with MS Windows).
  
  

Figure 30.2 illustrates the use of the custom control in order to provide 3D minimize, maximize, and a smaller 3D control panel selector.

Figure 30.2. 3D Minimize and Maximize custom controls.

SSIndexTab

The SSIndexTab control provides a tabbed dialog much like that found in other Windows applications. The tab control allows you to organize a large amount of information on one form without needlessly cluttering up the screen. Using the tab control, you are able to group like items together, and allow the user to quickly switch between the item types. The control can be used to add the following functionalities to your application:

• The number of rows of tabs, as well as the number of tabs per row is definable.
  
  
• The appearance of the tab control at design time is the same as that at run time. There is no need to place tabs on a frame and then rearrange the frames as tabs are selected. To add controls to a tab, you would selected the tab at run time. To place the controls on the selected tab, add your controls that select the next tab.
  
  
• You are able to include pictures as part of the tabs caption.
  
  
• The tabs can be set so that they appear at the top, bottom, left, or right of the control.
  
  
• The caption, or picture, on the active tab can be modified to draw attention to it.
  
  
• You are able to disable individual tabs without having to disable the complete control.
  
  

Figure 30.3 illustrates the use of the Tab control to display titles, publishers, and author information from the BIBLIO database.

Figure 30.3. Tab control.

SSToolbar

This SSToolbar control provides a full-featured dockable ToolBar much like that seen in other Windows applications. Figure 30.4 illustrates the appearance of this ToolBar. The dockable ToolBar provides the following features to enhance your applications:

Figure 30.4. SSToolbar ToolBar control.

• There is set of supplied bitmaps that can be used to provide pictures for the ToolBar. There is also a ToolBar editor provided that allows the use of your own bitmaps in the creation of the ToolBar.
  
  
• You are able to assign shortcut keys to each of the buttons on the ToolBar, similar to what you can do with the menus in the Visual Basic environment.
  
  
• Balloon help can be assigned to each button. The delay prior to the balloon help appearing can be set during design time.
  
  
• In addition to the balloon help, you are able to trap the balloon help delay in order to display additional information in a status bar panel.
  
  
• You are able to create fixed ToolBars at the top, bottom, left, or right of the form. You are also able to create floating ToolBars. The ToolBar can be undocked, allowing the user to position the ToolBar based on his or her preferences.
  
  

Sheridan SoftWare Designer Widgets can be ordered from:

Sheridan SoftWare
35 Pinelawn Road Suite 206E,
Melville, NY USA 11747
Telephone (516) 753-0985
Fax (516) 753-3661

Message Blaster Custom Control

The Message Blaster Custom Control is a freeware control that was developed by Ed Staffin of Microsoft consulting services. You can obtain the control as well as samples that illustrate its many uses from the following locations:

• CompuServe—Log on to forum MSL and search for the SmallCap.exe file.
  
  
• Logon to the Microsoft Download service and search for the SmallCap.exe file.
  
  
• The Internet—Log on to the ftp:ftp.microsoft.com server as Anonymous and change to the softlib\mslfiles directory. You will then be able to download the file.
  
  
• You may also be able to locate the sample on a local bulletin board that deals with Visual Basic programming.
  
  

Windows is a message-driven environment. If you were developing an application in C or C++, you would decide which of the Windows messages your application would act upon, and ignore the ones you felt were of no importance. In the Visual Basic environment this decision has been made for you. It is not possible using Visual Basic to redefine the messages that a particular control or application will respond to. For example, in Visual Basic it is not possible to enable a MDIForm to react to a double-click from the mouse on its area.

With the advent of the Message Blaster control your application has the opportunity to respond to the messages received from Windows prior to Visual Basic intercepting them.

Note

It should be noted that it is unwise to override any of the default Visual Basic message handling, as unpredictable results will occur.

The sample applications that are supplied with the Message Blaster Custom Control illustrate how the control could be used to display a reduced-sized control box, much like that of the Visual Basic ToolBox. Figure 30.5 illustrates the output from the SmallCap sample provided with the Message Blaster control.

Figure 30.5. Message Blaster control.

Sheridan SoftWare Data Widgets

The Data Widgets package provides custom controls that allow you to have much more flexibility when editing and displaying data in your application. The Sheridan Data Widgets package is made up of the following custom controls.

SSDataCommand

The SSDataCommand DataBound command button provides the following features:

• The ability to bind the DataBound command button to a data control either on the current form or to a data control on a another form that is currently loaded.
  
  
• Support for 2D or 3D display.
  
  
• Can be used to provide record navigation in the same manner as the buttons provided on the standard data control supplied with Visual Basic.
  
  

SSHData/SSVData

The SSHData/SSVData Enhanced Data Controls are used with the data control that is supplied with Visual Basic. There are two controls contained in the enhanced data control, one control displays horizontally, and the other displays vertically. The enhanced data controls provide the following features:

• The ability to bind the enhanced data controls to a data control either on the current form or to a data control on another form that is currently loaded.
  
  
• In addition to the standard navigational buttons supplied on the standard data control, there are two other buttons: one for moving forward a predetermined number of rows and another for moving back the same number of predetermined rows. The number of rows is defined by your application.
  
  
• The default pictures on the navigational buttons can be changed.
  
  
• Provides a button to save a bookmark, and another to return to the previously set bookmark.
  
  

SSDataGrid

The SSDataGrid DataBound grid control provides the following features:

• The ability to bind to a data control either on the current form or to a data control on another form that is currently loaded.
  
  
• Displays the contents of the underlying recordset to which the control is bound.
  
  
• Supports in-place editing of the displayed records.
  
  
• There is no limit to the size of table that can be displayed, as the grid only loads the displayed record into memory.
  
  
• Provides add, update, and delete facilities without the need of programming these features.
  
  
• Supports the placement of drop-down list controls directly on the grid. The contents of the drop-down lists can be derived from the same data control as the DataBound grid or another control on the form.
  
  
• Each column and its heading can be individually formatted in accordance with the information that is being displayed.
  
  
• Support for 2D or 3D display.
  
  
• The grid can be partially in unbound mode to provide calculated columns based on the data displayed in the grid. Alternatively, the grid can be operated completely in unbound mode using data supplied by your application.
  
  

SSDataCombo

The SSDataCombo Data Bound ComboBox control provides the following features:

• The ability to bind the ComboBox to a data control either on the current form or to a data control on another form that is currently loaded.
  
  
• The Edit portion and the drop-down portion of the ComboBox can be bound to different fields in the same table or to different fields in different tables.
  
  
• The drop-down section of the ComboBox can display multiple columns.
  
  
• Each column and its heading can be individually formatted in accordance with the information that is being displayed.
  
  
• Support for 2D or 3D display.
  
  
• The SSDataCombo can be partially in unbound mode, in order to provide calculated columns based on the data displayed in the combo. Alternatively, the SSDataCombo can be operated completely in unbound mode using data supplied by your application.
  
  
• There is no limit to the size of table that can be displayed, as the SSDataCombo only loads the displayed record into memory.
  
  

SSDropDown

The SSDropDown control can only be used with the DataControl grid control. The drop-down list control provides the following features:

• The ability to bind the drop-down list to a data control either on the current form or to a data control on another form that is currently loaded.
  
  
• Each column and its heading can be individually formatted in accordance with the information that is being displayed.
  
  
• Support for 2D or 3D display.
  
  
• The drop-down list can be partially in unbound mode, in order to provide calculated columns based on the data displayed in the drop-down list. Alternatively, the drop-down list can be operated completely in unbound mode using data supplied by your application.
  
  
• There is no limit to the size of table that can be displayed, as the drop-down list only loads the displayed record into memory.
  
  

SSDataOption

The SSDataOption Bound option button provides the following features:

• The ability to bind the option button to a data control either on the current form or to a data control on another form that is currently loaded.
  
  
• Support for 2D or 3D display.
  
  
• Each button in a group of option buttons can be used to represent different values of the same field as opposed to only a true/false value.
  
  

Figure 30.6 illustrates the use of the Data widgets to display the contents of the Titles table from the BIBLIO database.

Figure 30.6. Data widgets.

Sheridan SoftWare Data widgets can be ordered from:

Sheridan SoftWare
35 Pinelawn Road Suite 206E
Melville, NY USA 11747
Telephone (516) 753-0985
Fax (516) 753-3661

In addition to these tools, a layout editor is also provided to define and format the contents of the columns displayed in the ComboBox, grid control, and the drop-down list.

Visual Components Formula One

The Formula One custom control is a tool that gives your application all of the functionality of a spreadsheet package. The Formula One control provides the following features:

• The capability to read and write Excel 5.0 format spreadsheet files as well as workbook files.
  
  
• The capability to connect to ODBC-type databases such as SQL server and Oracle.
  
  
• Validation rules to ensure that the correct data has been entered.
  
  
• The capability to automatically fill an area of the spreadsheet with common items such as dates, days of the week, and so on.
  
  
• The capability to specify column widths as well as row heights.
  
  
• Built-in support for many common spreadsheet functions.
  
  
• A formula editor that allows the contents of formulas to be checked for correctness.
  
  
• The capability to redisplay the data contained in the spreadsheet in a graphical method.
  
  
• Drop-down lists can be stored directly in cells.
  
  

Figure 30.7 illustrates the use of the Formula One control to design a spreadsheet.

Figure 30.7. Formula One controls.

Visual Components Formula One can be ordered from:

Visual Components
15721 College Blvd
Lenexa, KS USA 66219
Telephone (913) 599-6500
Fax (913) 599-6597

Apex TrueGrid

The TrueGrid control is a data grid control that can be either be operated bound to a database or unbound.

The TrueGrid control provides a wide range of functionality through a large range of prop-erties and methods. The following list illustrates the major features that are supported by the TrueGrid control:

• The capability to bind the grid to a data control either on the current form or to a data control on another form that is currently loaded.
  
  
• The capability to split the grid (much like that of an Excel spreadsheet) and update the contents on either side of the split.
  
  
• Records displayed in the grid can be edited, deleted, or added in-place.
  
  
• No limit on the size of table that can be displayed, because the grid only loads the displayed records into memory.
  
  
• All changes to the recordset that is contained in the data control will be reflected in the grid.
  
  
• Row and cell highlighting can be tailored for each element of the grid.
  
  
• Each column and its heading can be individually formatted for display in accordance with the information that is being displayed.
  
  
• Validation for data entry can be defined on a column-by-column basis.
  
  
• You are able to use all Visual Basic functions in order to provide editing of the data contained in the columns.
  
  
• A selectable drop-down list can be added to the column.
  
  
• The capability to easily add drag-and-drop capabilities between two TrueGrid controls.
  
  
• A column editor is provided to define the contents of the columns contained in the grid.
  
  
• The capability to specify automatic translation of value stored in the grid. An example of this would be to display the expression True/False as opposed to the numeric representation.
  
  

Figure 30.8 illustrates the use of the TrueGrid control to design a spreadsheet.

Figure 30.8. TrueGrid control.

Apex TrueGrid can be ordered from:

Apex SoftWare Corporation
4516 Henry Street
Pittsburgh, PA USA 15213
Telephone (412) 681-4343
Fax (412) 681-4384

Sheridan SoftWare Calendar Widgets

The Calendar Widgets package provides custom controls that allow you to have much more flexibility when editing and displaying date and time, based on information in your application. The Sheridan Calendar Widgets package is made up of the following custom controls.

SSMonth

The SSMonth control provides the following features:

• Displays dates in a month format much like that of a calendar.
  
  
• Special days (such as holidays, vacation days, and weekends) can be displayed in a different format from that of other dates. You can assign pictures to individual days or to all days of a specific type.
  
  
• The ability to view up to three months at a time. The months can be viewed either in a horizontal or vertical format.
  
  
• A scroll bar allows you to move the display month by month or year by year.
  
  
• The control can be displayed either as a 2D control or a 3D control.
  
  
• You can the bind the MonthView control to a Visual Basic data control. When the calendar is bound, the selected date will be altered in order to match the date that is stored in the database.
  
  
• The ability to disable access to individual days or days of the week in order to keep them from being displayed or edited.
  
  
• The capability to select which day will represent the beginning of the week.
  
  
• The date that has been selected as well as today's date is indicated by two command buttons in the scroll bar area. This allows you to quickly switch calendar views between these two dates.
  
  
• The capability to specify a picture that will appear above the calendar display portion of the control.
  
  

Figure 30.9 illustrates the use of the Calendar control used to display one month. All Saturdays will be displayed in blue, and all Sundays will be displayed in red. The button on the left represents today's date. The button on the right represents the date that has been selected.

Figure 30.9. Calendar control.

SSYear

The SSYear control contains the following features:

• All of the features contained in the SSMonth control.
  
  
• The ability to display a complete year.
  
  
• The ability to specify the starting month of the year displayed.
  
  

Figure 30.10 illustrates the use of the Year View control to display a complete year. All Saturdays will be displayed in blue and all Sundays will be displayed in red. Public holidays are indicated in green. The button on the left represents the date today. The button on the right represents the date that has been selected.

Figure 30.10. Year View control.

SSDateCombo

The SSDateCombo control contains the following features:

• The capability to increment and decrement the date displayed using a spin button control.
  
  
• When the drop-down portion of the control is selected, a full-featured version of the SSMonth control is displayed, providing an easy method of selecting a date.
  
  
• You can bound the control to a Visual Basic data control. When the Date ComboBox is bound, the date that is displayed or altered will be reflected in the underlying recordset.
  
  
• The control can be displayed either as a 2D control or a 3D control.
  
  
• Dates can be displayed in any format. The default is based on the Windows International setting.
  
  
• The height of both the text portions of the ComboBox and the drop-down MonthView can be adjusted.
  
  
• An error event is available in order to trap invalid date entries.
  
  

Figure 30.11 illustrates the use of the Date ComboBox control for the entry of a date.

Figure 30.11. Date ComboBox control.

SSDay

The SSDay DayView control contains the following features:

• Displays a daily time schedule.
  
  
• Allows you to schedule appointments during the day.
  
  
• Multiple items can be assigned for each period.
  
  
• The capability to specify the start and end times as well as the interval per period.
  
  
• The control can be displayed either as a 2D or a 3D control.
  
  
• A complete Day view is provided in order to quickly identify free periods.
  
  
• The capability to add pictures to tasks in order to provide a specific reminder.
  
  

Figure 30.12 illustrates the use of the DayView control in order to manage a daily schedule.

Figure 30.12. DayView control.

Sheridan SoftWare Calendar Widgets can be ordered from:

Sheridan SoftWare
35 Pinelawn Road Suite 206E
Melville, NY USA 11747
Telephone (516) 753-0985
Fax (516) 753-3661

Summary

In this chapter we have examined the advantages of using third-party controls as well as major features of some of the custom controls that are currently available. In the move to Visual Basic 4.0 and the switch to OCX controls, the number of controls that are available will increase and their functionality will continue to grow. Additional information on available custom controls can be found from the following sources:

The Companion Products booklet supplied with Visual Basic.

The Visual Basic Programmers Journal, Dr. Dobbs Journal, and Byte magazines, as well as many other periodicals.