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OLE vs. ActiveX

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    OLE vs. ActiveX

    (The context for this message is the "Reusing User Objects" thread; I'm trying to work out a single control I can reuse on multiple forms that does the same things on every form without having to cut-and-paste the code to each form.)

    So, by all accounts, A5v5's ActiveX support is spotty.

    Is its Object-Linking-and-Embedding (OLE) support any better?

    Does anyone know why, of all the ActiveX controls registered on my machine, only a few show up when trying to embed them in an A5 form? I have a cool little component called TeeChart on my system and it shows up nicely and embeds perfectly into A5; but most of the other 90+ (yikes!) ActiveX controls on my system don't appear in the A5 dialog to select ActiveX. Does A5 look for a particular hook?

    (Conspicuous for being absent are the many MS controls that are apparently part of Windows: the active movie control, the flex grid, etc.)

    And, probably most critically, is there any way for an OLE or ActiveX control to issue commands to the A5 environment--say, run a script or query? (If the connection only goes one way, i.e., from A5 to the control, it's no use to me.)

    Thanks!

    #2
    RE: OLE vs. ActiveX

    OLE and ActiveX are essentially the same technology. ActiveX is an MS marketing term.

    As of v5, our OLE support is minimal. However, version 6 will feature a highly robust OLE model. When version 6 is released, you should be able to use any ActiveX/OLE/COM object in your Alpha Five database.
    Aaron Brown
    Alpha Software Development Team

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      #3
      RE: OLE vs. ActiveX

      Many ActiveX objects define events and Alpha Five Version 6 will allow you to define Xbasic code for these events. I'm not sure if this covers your need for the control to manipulate Alpha or not.

      -Lenny

      Lenny Forziati
      Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
      Alpha Software Corporation

      Comment


        #4
        RE: OLE vs. ActiveX

        OLE and ActiveX are essentially the same technology. ActiveX is an MS marketing term.

        Yeah, I know, but I thought perhaps the OLE component had been developed and tested prior to the ActiveX. A lot of times I find I can take a step back if I need a working tool. (Like DDE, which I'd use except that it doesn't integrate at all.)

        As of v5, our OLE support is minimal. However, version 6 will feature a highly robust OLE model. When version 6 is released, you should be able to use any ActiveX/OLE/COM object in your Alpha Five database.

        But there's no timeframe on v6. It sounds like I'm stuck.

        Comment


          #5
          RE: OLE vs. ActiveX

          Ooops, sorry, this is Blake. I'm using a buddy's machine.

          Comment


            #6
            RE: OLE vs. ActiveX

            Hi Blake....

            Here is my 2 cents.... please take with a teaspoon of salt!

            Alpha5 is an OLE client, it will do linking/embedding from any OLE server, but it cannot be linked to another client for data exchange. This may be the trouble that you are seeing with the ActiveX? I am probably not saying this right, but for some ActiveX controls you need more than just function calls for opening,linking & embedding. The ActiveX controls that are working for you are also OLE client/server compliant. The text below is from a ADO test utility & list the OLE functions that Alpha5 has.

            Imports from ole32.dll
            StgIsStorageFile(hint = 0091)
            StgCreateDocfile(hint = 008f)
            StgOpenStorage(hint = 0093)

            I am not trying to dim the spotlight on Alpha5 because they have included everything you need to link & embed data from an OLE server. It may be that you can find more info on the ActiveX requirements & over come this problem, or it may be that there is functionality that is needed in the Alpha5 OLE client so the ActiveX controls that you are wanting to use will work?


            good luck

            doug

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              #7
              RE: OLE vs. ActiveX

              ...one other thing Blake

              The text from the ADO output was done on Alpha5 V4 /4.5 but as far as I know there has been not additions to Alpha5V5 OLE functions.

              If you think it is worth looking into send me the ActiveX controls that you are interested in & I will run the ADO utility on them....


              doug

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                #8
                RE: OLE vs. ActiveX

                Doug,

                Thanks for the tips.

                I'll see if I can work for them and be sure to hit you up with any other questions I may have. :-) If I can get it to work, I'll upload an example to the archive, too.

                ===Blake===

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                  #9
                  RE: OLE vs. ActiveX

                  That would be great Blake.... I would really like to see an example of what you are doing...Good Luck!


                  doug

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