How can I do this in VB6? (sample video included)

[Nikole]

Hi my dear guys. I want to increase the user experience in my VB6 apps. Today i've created a mockup in Expression Blend to have an idea that i want to do.

I've uploaded a sample video, please check it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx0PhSxflQw

How can i do this? GDI+? DirectX? API? DLL or ActiveX?

please help me, best regards.

[baja_yu]

Slide effect or the whole graphics? For the slide you can use a Timer.

[Nikole]

Slide effect or the whole graphics? For the slide you can use a Timer.

Thanks, I've tried with a timer and DoEvents and refresh the form. But is very, very slow, isn't smooth. I'm using a PNG picture (AlphaBlendControl from LaVolpe)

[baja_yu]

Oh. I already made a sample with it, but what the hell, here it is, maybe someone else who reads the thread will find it usefull.

I'm affraid that will be the extent of my support. I haven't worked at all with graphics.

[Nikole]

Oh. I already made a sample with it, but what the hell, here it is, maybe someone else who reads the thread will find it usefull.

I'm affraid that will be the extent of my support. I haven't worked at all with graphics.

thanks for your effort

[LaVolpe]

Thanks, I've tried with a timer and DoEvents and refresh the form. But is very, very slow, isn't smooth. I'm using a PNG picture (AlphaBlendControl from LaVolpe)

Can you give more details.

Is the slide part of your form? Or a separate window.

Recommendation if it applies.
1. Use a separate window/form created on the fly for animation.
Example. Load a form dynamically, draw your slide on to it, set the layered window attributes (SetLayeredWindowAttributes & UpdateLayeredWindow APIs), overlay it over your current form, make that 2nd form visible, then hide the image on that main form.

2. Now use your timer to slide the layered window. Should be able to get really good results I would think.

Edited: However, the image will slide over your buttons, not behind them.

[Nikole]

Can you give more details.

Is the slide part of your form? Or a separate window.

Recommendation if it applies.
1. Use a separate window/form created on the fly for animation.
Example. Load a form dynamically, draw your slide on to it, set the layered window attributes (SetLayeredWindowAttributes & UpdateLayeredWindow APIs), overlay it over your current form, make that 2nd form visible, then hide the image on that main form.

2. Now use your timer to slide the layered window. Should be able to get really good results I would think.

Edited: However, the image will slide over your buttons, not behind them.

Hi LaVolpe, the mode does not matter, if i can i do this with two forms, will be better!. Did you mean: a Form1 as background and a second PNG form (Form2) that contain all controls (images and buttons) and update the position x,y with UpdateLayeredWindow to do "slide in/out" effect?

[LaVolpe]

Not quite. I'm thinking that the 2nd form is a "PNG form" and only created when needed. Here's the idea.

1. New project, 2 forms. Form1: add command button & shape control, and a timer
2. Form 2: Make borderless. Edited: name it frmSlide
3. Add attached PNG image to app.path
4. Copy & paste this code
5. Play with timer interval and nrLinesPerScroll constant in Timer event.
Code not commented, but I and others could enlighten you on any questions you have.

Option Explicit

Private Declare Function UpdateLayeredWindow Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal hdcDst As Long, ByRef pptDst As Any, ByRef psize As Any, ByVal hdcSrc As Long, ByRef pptSrc As Any, ByVal crKey As Long, ByRef pblend As Long, ByVal dwFlags As Long) As Long
Private Type Size
    cx As Long
    cy As Long
End Type
Private Declare Function SetWindowLong Lib "user32.dll" Alias "SetWindowLongA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nIndex As Long, ByVal dwNewLong As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetWindowLong Lib "user32.dll" Alias "GetWindowLongA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nIndex As Long) As Long
Private Const GWL_EXSTYLE As Long = -20
Private Const WS_EX_LAYERED As Long = &H80000
Private Const WS_EX_TRANSPARENT As Long = &H20&
Private Const WS_EX_TOPMOST As Long = &H8&
Private Const SW_SHOWNA As Long = 8
Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long

Private Type GdiplusStartupInput
    GdiplusVersion           As Long
    DebugEventCallback       As Long
    SuppressBackgroundThread As Long
    SuppressExternalCodecs   As Long
End Type
Private Declare Function GdiplusStartup Lib "gdiplus" (Token As Long, inputbuf As GdiplusStartupInput, Optional ByVal outputbuf As Long = 0) As Long
Private Declare Sub GdiplusShutdown Lib "gdiplus" (ByVal Token As Long)
Private Declare Function ClientToScreen Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByRef lpPoint As Any) As Long
Private Declare Function GdipCreateFromHDC Lib "gdiplus" (ByVal hDC As Long, hGraphics As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GdipDeleteGraphics Lib "gdiPlus.dll" (ByVal mGraphics As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GdipLoadImageFromFile Lib "gdiplus" (ByVal FileName As Long, hImage As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GdipDisposeImage Lib "gdiplus" (ByVal Image As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GdipDrawImageRectI Lib "gdiPlus.dll" (ByVal mGraphics As Long, ByVal mImage As Long, ByVal mX As Long, ByVal mY As Long, ByVal mWidth As Long, ByVal mHeight As Long) As Long
Private Declare Sub CopyMemory Lib "kernel32.dll" Alias "RtlMoveMemory" (ByRef Destination As Any, ByRef Source As Any, ByVal Length As Long)
Private Declare Sub FillMemory Lib "kernel32.dll" Alias "RtlFillMemory" (ByRef Destination As Any, ByVal Length As Long, ByVal Fill As Byte)
Private Declare Function CreateCompatibleDC Lib "gdi32.dll" (ByVal hDC As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function CreateDIBSection Lib "gdi32.dll" (ByVal hDC As Long, ByRef pBitmapInfo As Any, ByVal un As Long, ByRef lplpVoid As Long, ByVal handle As Long, ByVal dw As Long) As Long
Private Type BITMAPINFOHEADER
    biSize As Long
    biWidth As Long
    biHeight As Long
    biPlanes As Integer
    biBitCount As Integer
    biCompression As Long
    biSizeImage As Long
    biXPelsPerMeter As Long
    biYPelsPerMeter As Long
    biClrUsed As Long
    biClrImportant As Long
End Type
Private Declare Function SelectObject Lib "gdi32.dll" (ByVal hDC As Long, ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function DeleteObject Lib "gdi32.dll" (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function DeleteDC Lib "gdi32.dll" (ByVal hDC As Long) As Long
Private Const LWA_ALPHA As Long = &H2
Private Const ULW_ALPHA As Long = &H2
Private Const AC_SRC_ALPHA As Long = &H1

Private m_DC As Long
Private m_DCbmp As Long
Private m_DIBptr As Long
Private m_SizeImage As Size
Private m_SizeSlide As Size

Private Sub Command1_Click()

    Dim gdiSI As GdiplusStartupInput, gToken As Long
    Dim X As Long, Y As Long, tSize As Size
    Dim hDib As Long, bmpi As BITMAPINFOHEADER
    Dim gImage As Long, gGraphics As Long
    
    gdiSI.GdiplusVersion = 1
    GdiplusStartup gToken, gdiSI
    
    m_DC = CreateCompatibleDC(Me.hDC)
    If m_DC = 0& Then
        GdiplusShutdown gToken
        Stop ' error
        Exit Sub
    End If
    
    Load frmSlide
    SetWindowLong frmSlide.hwnd, GWL_EXSTYLE, GetWindowLong(frmSlide.hwnd, GWL_EXSTYLE) Or WS_EX_LAYERED Or WS_EX_TOPMOST Or WS_EX_TRANSPARENT
    
        m_SizeImage.cx = Shape1.Width \ Screen.TwipsPerPixelX
        m_SizeImage.cy = Shape1.Height \ Screen.TwipsPerPixelY
        
        m_SizeSlide.cx = m_SizeImage.cx
        m_SizeSlide.cy = m_SizeImage.cy + Shape1.Top \ Screen.TwipsPerPixelY
        
        tSize.cx = Shape1.Left \ Screen.TwipsPerPixelX
        ClientToScreen Me.hwnd, tSize
        frmSlide.Move tSize.cx * Screen.TwipsPerPixelX, tSize.cy * Screen.TwipsPerPixelY, Shape1.Width, Shape1.Top + Shape1.Height
        
        With bmpi
            .biBitCount = 32
            .biHeight = m_SizeSlide.cy
            .biWidth = m_SizeSlide.cx
            .biPlanes = 1
            .biSize = 40
        End With
        hDib = CreateDIBSection(Me.hDC, bmpi, 0&, m_DIBptr, 0&, 0&)
        If hDib = 0& Then
            DeleteDC m_DC
            m_DC = 0&
            GdiplusShutdown gToken
            Stop ' error
            Exit Sub
        End If
        
        m_DCbmp = SelectObject(m_DC, hDib)
        GdipLoadImageFromFile StrPtr(App.Path & "\Spider.png"), gImage
        GdipCreateFromHDC m_DC, gGraphics
        GdipDrawImageRectI gGraphics, gImage, 0, m_SizeSlide.cy - m_SizeImage.cy, m_SizeImage.cx, m_SizeImage.cy
        GdipDeleteGraphics gGraphics
        GdipDisposeImage gImage
        
    GdiplusShutdown gToken
        
    X = 255& * &H10000 Or (AC_SRC_ALPHA * &H1000000)
    tSize.cx = 0: tSize.cy = 0
    UpdateLayeredWindow frmSlide.hwnd, 0&, ByVal 0&, m_SizeSlide, m_DC, tSize, 0&, X, ULW_ALPHA
    ShowWindow frmSlide.hwnd, SW_SHOWNA ' shows window without setting focus to it
    Timer1.Interval = 10
    Timer1.Enabled = True

End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
    Me.Width = 7665: Me.Height = 5295
    Shape1.Move 2865, 2235, 2520, 2430
    Command1.Caption = "Slide Up"
    If Len(Dir(App.Path & "\Spider.Png")) = 0 Then
        MsgBox "Sample project needs the spider.png file in the app.path"
        Unload Me
    End If
End Sub

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    Timer1.Enabled = False
    
    Dim lStep As Long, lBF As Long, nrBytes As Long, lOffset As Long
    Dim hBmp As Long, tSize As Size
    
    Const nrLinesPerScroll As Long = 5
    
    lStep = Val(Timer1.Tag) + nrLinesPerScroll
    If lStep >= m_SizeSlide.cy - nrLinesPerScroll Then
        Unload frmSlide
        DeleteObject SelectObject(m_DC, m_DCbmp)
        DeleteDC m_DC
        m_DC = 0
        Timer1.Tag = ""
        Exit Sub
    End If
    
    nrBytes = m_SizeImage.cx * 4& * (m_SizeSlide.cy - nrLinesPerScroll)
    lOffset = m_SizeImage.cx * 4& * nrLinesPerScroll

' dangerous code: manipulating DIB via pointers. Testing only
    hBmp = SelectObject(m_DC, m_DCbmp)
    CopyMemory ByVal m_DIBptr + lOffset, ByVal m_DIBptr, nrBytes
    FillMemory ByVal m_DIBptr, lOffset, 0
    SelectObject m_DC, hBmp

    lBF = 255& * &H10000 Or (AC_SRC_ALPHA * &H1000000)
    UpdateLayeredWindow frmSlide.hwnd, 0&, ByVal 0&, m_SizeSlide, m_DC, tSize, 0&, lBF, ULW_ALPHA
    
    Timer1.Tag = lStep
    Timer1.Enabled = True
End Sub

[Nikole]

Not quite. I'm thinking that the 2nd form is a "PNG form" and only created when needed. Here's the idea.

1. New project, 2 forms. Form1: add command button & shape control, and a timer
2. Form 2: Make borderless. Edited: name it frmSlide
3. Add attached PNG image to app.path
4. Copy & paste this code
5. Play with timer interval and nrLinesPerScroll constant in Timer event.
Code not commented, but I and others could enlighten you on any questions you have.

Option Explicit

oooh!, thanks very much LaVolpe, will be great if i can host controls in frmSlide form and change opacity while slide in/out, like in the video sample

[LaVolpe]

A couple things.

1. Try to understand the code. I whipped it together in about 15 mins. So there is no real error checking. It can be optimized a bit and things should not be allowed to happen; for example: don't run it again while animating. Don't close the form while animating; must ensure your DC & DIB are destroyed.

2. Opacity? Simple. In the timer event, play with the value 255 in the following calculation. Reducing 255 by say 5 or so each iteration will make it more transluscent. Do the calcs correctly, you don't want the value to go below zero else you may get an error or worse.

lBF = 255& * &H10000 Or (AC_SRC_ALPHA * &H1000000)
' sample mod
lBF = (255& - (lStep \ nrLinesPerScroll) * 5) * &H10000 Or (AC_SRC_ALPHA * &H1000000)

3. Controls? You wouldn't have them in the animation would you? If so, you'd have to paint them to the DIB and then they'd be in the animation, but they won't do anything. Layered windows are not compatible with child windows.

Edited:I'm not even sure manipulating the DIB as I am doing in the timer event is absolutely needed. That was my first gut response. In the various parameters of UpdateLayeredWindows is the option to say where the image starts from. Moving that value down each iteration may also have the same results. If so, do it that way vs manipulating the DIB. Again, I did it very quickly. But here is a more safe way of manipulating the DIB.

' more declarations first
Private Declare Function VarPtrArray Lib "msvbvm60.dll" Alias "VarPtr" (ByRef Ptr() As Any) As Long
Private Type SAFEARRAYBOUND
    cElements As Long
    lLbound As Long
End Type
Private Type SafeArray          ' used as DMA overlay on a DIB
    cDims As Integer
    fFeatures As Integer
    cbElements As Long
    cLocks As Long
    pvData As Long
    rgSABound As SAFEARRAYBOUND
End Type

' in timer event replace: CopyMemory ByVal m_DIBptr + lOffset, ByVal m_DIBptr, nrBytes
' with:
    Dim tSA As SafeArray, dibData() As Byte
    With tSA
        .cbElements = 1
        .cDims = 1
        .pvData = m_DIBptr
        .rgSABound.cElements = m_SizeImage.cx * 4& * m_SizeImage.cy
    End With
    CopyMemory ByVal VarPtrArray(dibData), VarPtr(tSA), 4&
    CopyMemory dibData(lOffset), dibData(0), nrBytes
    CopyMemory ByVal VarPtrArray(dibData), 0&, 4&

[LaVolpe]

Ok, had to see for myself whether my 2nd thought was valid or not. It appears so.

To experiment. The DIB has to be adjusted, but works just fine.

1. In the click event change
From: .biHeight = m_SizeSlide.cy
To: .biHeight = m_SizeSlide.cy * 2

2. Now your timer event looks like this:

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    Timer1.Enabled = False
    
    Dim lStep As Long, lBF As Long, tSize As Size
    
    Const nrLinesPerScroll As Long = 5
    
    lStep = Val(Timer1.Tag) + nrLinesPerScroll
    
    If lStep >= m_SizeSlide.cy - nrLinesPerScroll Then
        Unload frmSlide
        DeleteObject SelectObject(m_DC, m_DCbmp)
        DeleteDC m_DC
        m_DC = 0
        Timer1.Tag = ""
        
    Else

        tSize.cy = lStep
        lBF = (255& - (lStep \ nrLinesPerScroll) * 5) * &H10000 Or (AC_SRC_ALPHA * &H1000000)
        UpdateLayeredWindow frmSlide.hwnd, 0&, ByVal 0&, m_SizeSlide, m_DC, tSize, 0&, lBF, ULW_ALPHA
        
        Timer1.Tag = lStep
        Timer1.Enabled = True
        
    End If
End Sub

As I mentioned, it could use some optimization & this is one.

[Nikole]

Ok, had to see for myself whether my 2nd thought was valid or not. It appears so.

To experiment. The DIB has to be adjusted, but works just fine.

1. In the click event change
From: .biHeight = m_SizeSlide.cy
To: .biHeight = m_SizeSlide.cy * 2

2. Now your timer event looks like this:

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
    Timer1.Enabled = False
    
    Dim lStep As Long, lBF As Long, tSize As Size
    
    Const nrLinesPerScroll As Long = 5
    
    lStep = Val(Timer1.Tag) + nrLinesPerScroll
    
    If lStep >= m_SizeSlide.cy - nrLinesPerScroll Then
        Unload frmSlide
        DeleteObject SelectObject(m_DC, m_DCbmp)
        DeleteDC m_DC
        m_DC = 0
        Timer1.Tag = ""
        
    Else

        tSize.cy = lStep
        lBF = (255& - (lStep \ nrLinesPerScroll) * 5) * &H10000 Or (AC_SRC_ALPHA * &H1000000)
        UpdateLayeredWindow frmSlide.hwnd, 0&, ByVal 0&, m_SizeSlide, m_DC, tSize, 0&, lBF, ULW_ALPHA
        
        Timer1.Tag = lStep
        Timer1.Enabled = True
        
    End If
End Sub

As I mentioned, it could use some optimization & this is one.

Thank's LaVolpe, it works!! (but i can't host controls in frmSlide. I need to host controls labels, buttons, listbox, just like in the video). Thanks very much again for your effort , you are a nice person

[LaVolpe]

I don't get it. You are animating the "form" off the screen (more or less). What is the purpose of the controls if the form will be gone?

If you just want a snap shot of the controls, you can BitBlt them from the window to the "animating" form's DIB and they will display in the animation. But they'll just be snapshots of the controls.

I don't think I am following you completely; at least not from what your video displayed.

[akhileshbc]

Nice work LaVolpe

I think Nicole wants to display the animation within her form. For example, when the button is pressed, a picturebox that has an image inside it, slides to the top of the form and fade off. But your method will slide the whole form. I think, that's what she wants to do (Pardon me if I am wrong)

[LaVolpe]

If that's the case, it's still very doable; and nearly the same principle.

1. Create DIB of appropriate size
2. Screen capture the picturebox or draw the picturebox contents to the DIB (as needed)
3. Create the 2nd form and overlay it. In my example I used a shape control to immitate the picturebox
4. Show the 2nd form, then hide the picturebox (which is now behind the 2nd form)
5. Animate the 2nd form.

[Nikole]

I don't get it. You are animating the "form" off the screen (more or less). What is the purpose of the controls if the form will be gone?

If you just want a snap shot of the controls, you can BitBlt them from the window to the "animating" form's DIB and they will display in the animation. But they'll just be snapshots of the controls.

I don't think I am following you completely; at least not from what your video displayed.

Ok, Form1 is a background. And the second form (frmSlide) is a form with controls, options, etc. I want to display in the frmSlide the program settings. So, i want to use this animation in all forms (to have a beter UX)

[LaVolpe]

Ok, gotcha I believe.

So instead of just closing the form you want it to slide up, sideways or somewhere else? Is it to slide off the screen or stay within the form boundaries as my example attempted?

I assume the form is rectangular. You mentioned PNG images. Can you provide more details or upload a snapshot? Is the settings form displayed modally? Anything else that could be helpful for us?

I can't promise I'll get you an answer tonight. Will be signing off very shortly. But I'll check back tomorrow and check the progress of this thread.

[Nikole]

Ok, gotcha I believe.

So instead of just closing the form you want it to slide up, sideways or somewhere else? Is it to slide off the screen or stay within the form boundaries as my example attempted?

I assume the form is rectangular. You mentioned PNG images. Can you provide more details or upload a snapshot? Is the settings form displayed modally? Anything else that could be helpful for us?

I can't promise I'll get you an answer. Will be signing off very shortly. But I'll check back tomorrow and check the progress of this thread.

Ok, i will try to do a sample video in Expression Blend to have an idea and i will upload it here. Thanks!!

[Nikole]

Hi, LaVolpe and guys: I've updated the video, sorry,i'm not so good.

This is the scenario:

1) Form1: Only to host an image background.
2) frmSlide: when form load, frmSlide slide from Bottom ---> to center of screen with album covers.

3) When i click in a cover, frmSlide go from center of screen to top of screen and dispear in the opacity. (List like your example of yesterday)..ok

4) now, frmSlide come from top to center of screen with all songs (ListBox) of the album.

It's possible to make a snapshot of the form with controls and move it, in any direction? top to bottom, bottom to top, right to left...



UPDATED Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSLilt9IhjI

[Keithuk]

Hi my dear guys. I want to increase the user experience in my VB6 apps. Today i've created a mockup in Expression Blend to have an idea that i want to do.

I've uploaded a sample video, please check it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx0PhSxflQw

How can i do this? GDI+? DirectX? API? DLL or ActiveX?

Well Nikole any movie you download from YouTube is a flash movie *.swf which you can add to a Resource file and extract it and play it from there. You can have as many slideshows as you want too.

I'm not sure I know what you mean by Expression Blend?

[Nikole]

Well Nikole any movie you download from YouTube is a flash movie *.swf which you can add to a Resource file and extract it and play it from there. You can have as many slideshows as you want too.

I'm not sure I know what you mean by Expression Blend?

Sorry my friend, but i don't understand or you are wrong.

I made this video with Microsoft Expression Blend http://www.microsoft.com/expression/..._Overview.aspx only to show an idea. Expression Blend help to build UI for WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation). But i'm working with VB6. I won't use WPF because i don't know .NET, only VB6

[vb5prgrmr]

Nikole, while this could use a whole lot of improvement, as it is a bit jerky on my system in debug mode, and it needs the transparent effect added to it. I hope it gives you some ideas...

Start a new standard exe project and add this code to form1...

Option Explicit

Private Sub Form_Load()
Me.WindowState = vbMaximized
Me.Visible = True
Form2.Show vbModeless, Me
Form2.Visible = True
Form2.SetFocus
End Sub

Now add a form (form2) and add a timer to form2 (timer1) and add the code...

Option Explicit

Dim Direction As Byte, ToCenter As Boolean

Private Sub Form_Click()
Direction = CByte(3 * Rnd)
Me.Caption = Direction
Timer1.Interval = 50
Timer1.Enabled = True

End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
Randomize
Me.AutoRedraw = True
Timer1.Enabled = False
Me.Left = (Screen.Width / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)
Me.Top = (Screen.Height / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)
End Sub

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
Dim P As Integer
Select Case Direction
Case 0 'headed north
  Me.Top = Me.Top - 150
  If ToCenter = True Then
    If Me.Top <= ((Screen.Height / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)) Then
      Me.Top = (Screen.Height / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)
      Me.Cls
      Timer1.Enabled = False
      ToCenter = False
    End If
  Else
    If Me.Top <= 0 - Me.Height Then
      Me.Print "From the top"
      Direction = 2 'headed south
      ToCenter = True
    End If
  End If
Case 1 'headed east
  Me.Left = Me.Left + 150
  If ToCenter = True Then
    If Me.Left >= ((Screen.Width / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)) Then
      Me.Left = (Screen.Width / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)
      Me.Cls
      Timer1.Enabled = False
      ToCenter = False
    End If
  Else
    If Me.Left >= Screen.Width Then
      Me.Print "From the right"
      Direction = 3 'headed west
      ToCenter = True
    End If
  End If
Case 2 'headed south
  Me.Top = Me.Top + 150
  If ToCenter = True Then
    If Me.Top >= ((Screen.Height / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)) Then
      Me.Top = (Screen.Height / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)
      Me.Cls
      Timer1.Enabled = False
      ToCenter = False
    End If
  Else
    If Me.Top >= Screen.Height Then
      Me.Print "From the bottom"
      Direction = 0
      ToCenter = True
    End If
  End If
Case 3
  Me.Left = Me.Left - 150
  If ToCenter = True Then
    If Me.Left <= ((Screen.Width / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)) Then
      Me.Left = (Screen.Width / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)
      Me.Cls
      Timer1.Enabled = False
      ToCenter = False
    End If
  Else
    If Me.Left <= (0 - Me.Width) Then
      Me.Print "From the left"
      Direction = 1
      ToCenter = True
    End If
  End If
End Select
End Sub

run and click on form2

Improvements: Do all the calculations once in form load. Play with the timer settings and the movement rate to make it smoother/faster/etc.



Good Luck

[akhileshbc]

Hi, LaVolpe and guys: I've updated the video, sorry,i'm not so good.

This is the scenario:

1) Form1: Only to host an image background.
2) frmSlide: when form load, frmSlide slide from Bottom ---> to center of screen with album covers.

3) When i click in a cover, frmSlide go from center of screen to top of screen and dispear in the opacity. (List like your example of yesterday)..ok

4) now, frmSlide come from top to center of screen with all songs (ListBox) of the album.

It's possible to make a snapshot of the form with controls and move it, in any direction? top to bottom, bottom to top, right to left...



UPDATED Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSLilt9IhjI

If you know Expression Blend and VB.Net, then I think they are a perfect combination for creating nice looking programs(with animations and lot more) !

Well Nikole any movie you download from YouTube is a flash movie *.swf which you can add to a Resource file and extract it and play it from there. You can have as many slideshows as you want too.

I'm not sure I know what you mean by Expression Blend?

I think Nikole wants to do the animation (form transition), just like in the video. She is creating those videos as an example. And she wants to do it in VB6.

[Nikole]

Nikole, while this could use a whole lot of improvement, as it is a bit jerky on my system in debug mode, and it needs the transparent effect added to it. I hope it gives you some ideas...

Start a new standard exe project and add this code to form1...

Option Explicit

Private Sub Form_Load()
Me.WindowState = vbMaximized
Me.Visible = True
Form2.Show vbModeless, Me
Form2.Visible = True
Form2.SetFocus
End Sub

Now add a form (form2) and add a timer to form2 (timer1) and add the code...

Option Explicit

Dim Direction As Byte, ToCenter As Boolean

Private Sub Form_Click()
Direction = CByte(3 * Rnd)
Me.Caption = Direction
Timer1.Interval = 50
Timer1.Enabled = True

End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
Randomize
Me.AutoRedraw = True
Timer1.Enabled = False
Me.Left = (Screen.Width / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)
Me.Top = (Screen.Height / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)
End Sub

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
Dim P As Integer
Select Case Direction
Case 0 'headed north
  Me.Top = Me.Top - 150
  If ToCenter = True Then
    If Me.Top <= ((Screen.Height / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)) Then
      Me.Top = (Screen.Height / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)
      Me.Cls
      Timer1.Enabled = False
      ToCenter = False
    End If
  Else
    If Me.Top <= 0 - Me.Height Then
      Me.Print "From the top"
      Direction = 2 'headed south
      ToCenter = True
    End If
  End If
Case 1 'headed east
  Me.Left = Me.Left + 150
  If ToCenter = True Then
    If Me.Left >= ((Screen.Width / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)) Then
      Me.Left = (Screen.Width / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)
      Me.Cls
      Timer1.Enabled = False
      ToCenter = False
    End If
  Else
    If Me.Left >= Screen.Width Then
      Me.Print "From the right"
      Direction = 3 'headed west
      ToCenter = True
    End If
  End If
Case 2 'headed south
  Me.Top = Me.Top + 150
  If ToCenter = True Then
    If Me.Top >= ((Screen.Height / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)) Then
      Me.Top = (Screen.Height / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)
      Me.Cls
      Timer1.Enabled = False
      ToCenter = False
    End If
  Else
    If Me.Top >= Screen.Height Then
      Me.Print "From the bottom"
      Direction = 0
      ToCenter = True
    End If
  End If
Case 3
  Me.Left = Me.Left - 150
  If ToCenter = True Then
    If Me.Left <= ((Screen.Width / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)) Then
      Me.Left = (Screen.Width / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)
      Me.Cls
      Timer1.Enabled = False
      ToCenter = False
    End If
  Else
    If Me.Left <= (0 - Me.Width) Then
      Me.Print "From the left"
      Direction = 1
      ToCenter = True
    End If
  End If
End Select
End Sub

run and click on form2

Improvements: Do all the calculations once in form load. Play with the timer settings and the movement rate to make it smoother/faster/etc.



Good Luck

Thanks for you effort! U are so sweet

[Nikole]

If you know Expression Blend and VB.Net, then I think they are a perfect combination for creating nice looking programs(with animations and lot more) !



I think Nikole wants to do the animation (form transition), just like in the video. She is creating those videos as an example. And she wants to do it in VB6.

Maybe but I don't know VB.NET, Array controls does not exist anymore in .NET. Maybe i need to buy a book of .NET, but i need to do now a complex app and i haven't time ...

[Nikole]

I don't get it. You are animating the "form" off the screen (more or less). What is the purpose of the controls if the form will be gone?

If you just want a snap shot of the controls, you can BitBlt them from the window to the "animating" form's DIB and they will display in the animation. But they'll just be snapshots of the controls.

I don't think I am following you completely; at least not from what your video displayed.

Hi, LaVolpe. It's possible to take a Form (frmSlide) snap shot, animate it (like the attached video) and after show the controls?

[planethax]

Oh. I already made a sample with it, but what the hell, here it is, maybe someone else who reads the thread will find it usefull.

I'm affraid that will be the extent of my support. I haven't worked at all with graphics.

Sorry for revivin old thread, I liked the look of your example.
Could this be done with a Parent Form and multiple child forms?

Hoping to use this on a touch screen

[planethax]

Sorry for revivin old thread, I liked the look of your example.
Could this be done with a Parent Form and multiple child forms?

Hoping to use this on a touch screen

Some thing like this?