[vb6]Alpha Image Control v2 - Final Update (15 Jan 2012)

[VbNetMatrix]

Hi

reference to page 8, post #309
http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=630193&page=8

Not sure I explained myself properly.
What I was trying to say is:
1. use Normal image or picture box for the background as this doesn't require transparency,
2. use Lavolpe component for all other image that require transparency.

You'll achieve better speed that way as Lavolpe component is running a lot of subroutine in the background and (correct me Lavolpe if I'm wrong) Background image doesn't require all of what Lavolpe component is doing.

also I don't know your level of expertise in programmation, so ensure your subrountine is all fine tuned in order to use maximum speed. Use API as much as possible instead of low Vb6 class like PSET and such if you require them. I never saw a pokemon game, therefore I don't know what you're trying to achieve, but I once did a replica of Starcraft (not all the game, just the running 191 frames of the intro where you decide wich game type to choose)) with Lavolpe component, so I know the component can handle a lot of stress and action when used correctly.

I'm rather pretty busy right now but I'll do my best to answer your answer if you have any.

[alanxp]

ah, helping others is always good and very well rewarded, so i have my Background which is Already a PictureBox. Then The rest of the objects are LaVolpe's Alpha Image Control v1.0

So my Only Question is.... Moving to Alpha Image Control v2.0 will make things Smoothly or Slower?

What i use to move the images is a simple loop like this:

for i = 1 to max_frames
     lavolpesaic.loadpicture = frame(i)
     lavolpesaic.left =  lavolpesaic.left + (i *10)
     sleep 1
     doevents
next i

Here is a Sample of the Controls from AIC i've used:



Except that i move like 5 Lavolpes Image Controls a the same time, Resizing and Loading the Images.. All during the same Loop. That happends every time when the person gets into Battle.

I know this is pretty Basic, and everything seems to move slowly. What am i doing wrong? I apreciate your help here.

[VbNetMatrix]

Ok, now I understand it more.

first of all, I see in your code that you are using Doevents and Sleep.

this is a NO GO... for many reason. one of them is that you'll slow down your entire program.

you would be better to use a timer with a public variable to keep the frame number as reference instead of your for next loop.

Doevents is good when you have a LONG process and you want to be able to still click on button and do other thing. it is not recommended otherwise.

Sleep is to be avoided AT ALL cost, especialy in game.

during sleep, your program is locked up. and existing of sleep, it will have to take into account everything that happen while it was sleeping, including button clicking, mouse hover and all.
even if you sleep 1ms, you are still delaying a lot of thing you're not aware of. That's probably the main cause for your lag.

you're looking for something more like this:

Option Explicit

Public lngframeNo As Long

Private Sub Form_Load()
  lngframeNo = 1
  Timer1.Interval = 15  '(that's the maximum accurency of 98% of computer on the market)  Raise it if it's too fast for you
  Timer1.Enabled = True
End Sub

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    lavolpesaic.LoadPicture = Frame(lngframeNo)
    lavolpesaic.Left = lavolpesaic.Left + (lngframeNo * 10)
    lngframeNo = lngframeNo + 1
    
    If (lngframeNo > max_frames) Then
      lngframeNo = 1
      'Timer1.Enabled = False   'This line is optional.  use it if your sequence END here, don't use it if it's perpetual moving sequence
    End If
End Sub

hope that help.

oh... and if you need even more speed,

I would recommend an ARRAY of Lavolpe component and getting rid of loadpicture,
use visible or zorder instead.

[mjohnlq]

Hi. LaVolpe
Your UnicodeFileDialog Class is very good for me.
But it has a little bug.

//Below Code
' returns/sets the filename the dialog starts with or returns
Public Property Get filename() As String
...
lLen = InStr(ofn.nFileOffset, ofn.lpstrFile, vbNullChar) - 1&
...
End Property

should be changed as below:

lLen = InStr(ofn.nFileOffset, ofn.lpstrFile, vbNullChar & vbNullChar) - 1&

otherwise, when select mult files, the filename will only return the path, not all the files's name.

Please see below link:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...(v=vs.85).aspx

lpstrFile
Type: LPTSTR
The file name used to initialize the File Name edit control. The first character of this buffer must be NULL if initialization is not necessary. When the GetOpenFileName or GetSaveFileName function returns successfully, this buffer contains the drive designator, path, file name, and extension of the selected file.
If the OFN_ALLOWMULTISELECT flag is set and the user selects multiple files, the buffer contains the current directory followed by the file names of the selected files. For Explorer-style dialog boxes, the directory and file name strings are NULL separated, with an extra NULL character after the last file name. For old-style dialog boxes, the strings are space separated and the function uses short file names for file names with spaces. You can use the FindFirstFile function to convert between long and short file names. If the user selects only one file, the lpstrFile string does not have a separator between the path and file name.
If the buffer is too small, the function returns FALSE and the CommDlgExtendedError function returns FNERR_BUFFERTOOSMALL. In this case, the first two bytes of the lpstrFile buffer contain the required size, in bytes or characters.

Thanks!

[wham]

Hi Lavolpe

Thanks a lot for awesome codes.
I'm a just beginner.
I want to set the animated pics to work just 1 cycle(No loop).
I have tryed using the EndLoopOnFirstFrame function, but it doesn't work.
I don't know....
Would you please let me know how to solve it?

And I have one more question about that when I use the AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.Stop function.
How to display the first frame of pics. I mean, get back to the first frame of pics.

Thanks a lot.

Private Sub command1_Click()

AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.EndLoopOnFirstFrame = True
AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.StartAnimation

End Sub

[VbNetMatrix]

Hi Lavolpe

I want to set the animated pics to work just 1 cycle(No loop).
I have tryed using the EndLoopOnFirstFrame function, but it doesn't work.
And I have one more question about that when I use the AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.Stop function.
How to display the first frame of pics. I mean, get back to the first frame of pics.
End Sub

Hi Wham,

I think the EndLoopOnFirstFrame tell the component to STOP on the first frame AFTER it completed the cycle. Is that what you're trying to accomplish ? I'm not sure I understand your problem properly.
One more thing, are you using Animated Gif or Animated Png ?

[VbNetMatrix]

ok I found something...

it is not in the documentation per say but Lavolpe code is pretty well documented.
so here what we read in the EndLoopOnFirstFrame Code:

' default behavior is to have last frame displayed when animation terminates due to loop count met
' If desired to display 1st frame instead of last frame, set this property to true

and here what you have to do:

AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.LoopCount = 1 'mean you only want one 1 LOOP of all frame of the image.
AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.EndLoopOnFirstFrame = True 'mean that when loop end (it is now on LAST frame), it will display FIRST frame instead
AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.StartAnimation 'do the magic..

hope that help.

[wham]

ok I found something...

it is not in the documentation per say but Lavolpe code is pretty well documented.
so here what we read in the EndLoopOnFirstFrame Code:

' default behavior is to have last frame displayed when animation terminates due to loop count met
' If desired to display 1st frame instead of last frame, set this property to true

and here what you have to do:

AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.LoopCount = 1 'mean you only want one 1 LOOP of all frame of the image.
AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.EndLoopOnFirstFrame = True 'mean that when loop end (it is now on LAST frame), it will display FIRST frame instead
AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.StartAnimation 'do the magic..

hope that help.

Hi VbNetMatrix,

Thank you so much!!!!
It works great!!!!
Your answer is just what I was looking for.
Thanks again.

Thanks to your help, I can save my time.
I used the below codes. But I don't need it anymore.
Thank you!!!

Private Sub AlphaImgCtl1_AnimationFrameChanged(Frame As Long)

If AlphaImgCtl1.ImageCount = AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.CurrentFrame Then
AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.StopAnimation
AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.MoveTo (1)
End If

End Sub


Private Sub AlphaImgCtl1_Click()

AlphaImgCtl1.Animate2.StartAnimation

End Sub

[VbNetMatrix]

I'm glad I could help.

Lavolpe is currently kind of very busy with the BIG NEW release he is preparing.
we will all enjoy the upcoming release of this excellent component.
take care.

[Stidor]

Is there any reason why UserControl_OLEStartDrag doesn't raise the StartDrag event when set to Automatic?

Ideally I'd like to set some drag data when the drag starts.

'//// standard OLE event
Private Sub UserControl_OLEStartDrag(Data As DataObject, AllowedEffects As Long)
    
    Data.Clear
    If Me.OLEDragMode = vbOLEDragAutomatic Then
        If modCommon.SaveImage(m_Image, Data, lvicSaveAsCurrentFormat) Then
            AllowedEffects = vbDropEffectCopy
        Else
            AllowedEffects = vbDropEffectNone
        End If
    Else
        RaiseEvent OLEStartDrag(Data, AllowedEffects)
        ' if user doesn't set AllowedEffects, VB will cancel drag event
    End If
    
End Sub

[VbNetMatrix]

Is there any reason why UserControl_OLEStartDrag doesn't raise the StartDrag event when set to Automatic?

Ideally I'd like to set some drag data when the drag starts.

In order to answer your question, it would need to be more specific.
are you trying to drag lavolpe control over something else, or trying to drag another control onto Lavolpe control?

[Stidor]

Onto another Lavolpe control.

I replaced standard pictureboxes - which used to fire the StartDrag event with the Lavolpe control which does not fire off the StartDrag event in OLEDrag automatic mode.

Just curious why?

[VbNetMatrix]

let me do some test...

[VbNetMatrix]

I think the OLE Drag Start is for another purpose (with an external component).

you're trying to get to know when the drag even start.

use a boolean flag with a global variable and use the
DragOver event of the lavolpe component and you'll know when the Drag Start.

when the object is dropped, cancel your boolean flag.

tried here, work like a charm.

[Stidor]

I downloaded the latest version from this topic when I was browsing the source.

This is from the control;

'//// standard OLE event
Private Sub UserControl_OLEStartDrag(Data As DataObject, AllowedEffects As Long)
    
    Data.Clear
    If Me.OLEDragMode = vbOLEDragAutomatic Then
        If modCommon.SaveImage(m_Image, Data, lvicSaveAsCurrentFormat) Then
            AllowedEffects = vbDropEffectCopy
        Else
            AllowedEffects = vbDropEffectNone
        End If
    Else
        RaiseEvent OLEStartDrag(Data, AllowedEffects)
        ' if user doesn't set AllowedEffects, VB will cancel drag event
    End If
    
End Sub

As you can see, in Automatic mode StartDrag event is not fired

[VbNetMatrix]

yeah I just check the code and that event is never fired in automatic mode...

it puzzle me a little but I'm not sure it is an issue. I think only Lavolpe can answer that one.

however, take a look at that link.

http://www.datadynamics.com/Help/Sha...ragMode7A.html

it explain the proper expected behavior.

I'm hoping Lavolpe could step in and explain us.

but as I said, you can use the workaround I explained early.

[Stidor]

This is somewhat related, and thought I'd be best asking here.

What's the possibility of somehow getting alpha images into a the listview control?

[Jonney]

Wondering why Lavolpe not appearing on this thread for a long time. I wish him peace and health.

[VbNetMatrix]

same from my part... I really have a lot of admiration for that guy. He gave us a nice product.

[yogiyang]

I think he is busy developing new version of Alpha Image Control.

This new version will not be backward compatible!

[azzler]

hi, i have this LavolpeAlphaImage2 activeX control. what i want is to load a picture in it via common dialog during runtime. how can i possibly do this. kindly show me an example. thanks in advance

[Jonney]

Did Anybody know how is Lavolpe doing? Has he changed a new job or was something happened?

[shinyboy]

hi I use THis Control In mY form But When I want Print mY form By form.print this error whas show -----------> error 482 : printer error ? Why this Happen?

[yogiyang]

Try to use following code to load image.

AlphaImageLib1.Picture = LoadPictureGDIplus("C:\MyTest.jpg")

[coolcurrent4u]

can this control be used to replace the vb6 one

[Frido]

Hi at all,
i found this control a fiew days ago, and it is a great one.
I tested it a fiew times, and i understand the most features.
My question is, is it possible to shape a form with this control? I have nothin found about it, and no idea to do this.

Sorry about my bad english! :-)

[Bonnie West]

My question is, is it possible to shape a form with this control? I have nothin found about it, and no idea to do this.

No, it can't do that. However, you may want to check out How to Make a Round (Circular) Form and Here's How to Make a Form With a HOLE in it for possible solutions.