Using Activex Controls

[Davidk]

I've done a search on this topics and read a bunch of stuff here, and I think I'm getting the impression that it's not really possible to easily use an Activex control built for VB/Access in A5.

I used this control calledl THBImage that lets you display an image and then annotate it with text, lines, circles... all kinds of stuff.

I've been trying to use it in A5. I got it to display (after several hours) and now I'm trying to draw a line. The code is being run from an OnPush event of a button, for both the display image and start a line draw.

The Access code to display an image is:
Dim Pic As IPictureDisp
Dim str As String
str = "c:\images\5d\aaron\IMG_6811.JPG"
tbImage = str
Set Pic = LoadPicture(str)
Set THBImage1.Picture = Pic

The A5 equivalent is:
dim b as B
b = file.to_blob("c:\images\5d\aaron\IMG_6811.JPG")
ui_bitmap_load("image_name", b)
x = OLE.createpicture("image_name")
THBImage1.activex.picture = x
THBImage1.Show()

I finally found the OLE.creatpicture which creates an IPictureDisp

The next step, to draw a line on the picture, in Access is:
THBImage1.RegionStartLine

I tried this line in A5
I get a compile error - Missing or invalid keyword

I looked at the control using the OLE Automation Browser and RegionStartLine is a Method of THBImage

Can this be done, or is it just out of reach.

Thanks,

David

[Selwyn Rabins]

Re: Using Activex Controls

I've done a search on this topics and read a bunch of stuff here, and I think I'm getting the impression that it's not really possible to easily use an Activex control built for VB/Access in A5.

I used this control calledl THBImage that lets you display an image and then annotate it with text, lines, circles... all kinds of stuff.

I've been trying to use it in A5. I got it to display (after several hours) and now I'm trying to draw a line. The code is being run from an OnPush event of a button, for both the display image and start a line draw.

The Access code to display an image is:
Dim Pic As IPictureDisp
Dim str As String
str = "c:\images\5d\aaron\IMG_6811.JPG"
tbImage = str
Set Pic = LoadPicture(str)
Set THBImage1.Picture = Pic

The A5 equivalent is:
dim b as B
b = file.to_blob("c:\images\5d\aaron\IMG_6811.JPG")
ui_bitmap_load("image_name", b)
x = OLE.createpicture("image_name")
THBImage1.activex.picture = x
THBImage1.Show()

I finally found the OLE.creatpicture which creates an IPictureDisp

The next step, to draw a line on the picture, in Access is:
THBImage1.RegionStartLine

I tried this line in A5
I get a compile error - Missing or invalid keyword

I looked at the control using the OLE Automation Browser and RegionStartLine is a Method of THBImage

Can this be done, or is it just out of reach.

Thanks,

David

i am sure it is possible to use this activex control. a5's activex control support is very good and we use several different types of activex controls in the product.

however, what you want to do is easily done with the built in features of a5 and should not require an activex control.

please refer to the

ui_printer_draw()

function.

you can use xbasic to draw any arbitrary shapes and text on an image that you have loaded into memory.

[Davidk]

Re: Using Activex Controls

Thanks Selwyn,

I'll have a look at doing what I need in A5.

[Peter.Wayne]

Re: Using Activex Controls

David,
There's also a difference between Xbasic and Visual Basic in the calling of functions.

You write
The next step, to draw a line on the picture, in Access is:
THBImage1.RegionStartLine

In Xbasic, you would probably write
THBImage1.RegionStartLine()

Methods in Xbasic end in (). Properties in Xbasic do not have parentheses. If RegionStartLine is a method then it should end in parentheses.

[Davidk]

Re: Using Activex Controls

I have to remember that the syntax is...

THBImage1.activex.regionstartline()

but with the .activex. in there and the () it works.

Thank you