VB6 Real Unicode Display in Rich Edit without installing RICHTX32.OCX

[Flashbond]

Hi Guys!

I combined two nice features for a part of my project and I decided to share it with you. Well, I had three challanges when I was doing this:

1. Use a RichTextBox for unicode display;
2. Use real unicode characters like superscript numbers (not fake offsets)
3. Not to use a setup which is nearly a must if you are using RichTextBox control to copy and register RICHTX32.OCX file. (because my project was only 380KB which looks stupid for a setup.)

Infact, I did a very small part of the job. This is a nice combination of two different modules written by some other hardworking people.

After a long research dilettante suggested me this project to display real unicode contents RTB Superscript.zip‎. It is written only "Superscript" but it does a quite well job with unicodes, too... However, only compatible with RichText Box object...

At first I was very happy with this but then I realized that it causes error on computers which has no RICHTX32.OCX file in System 32 folder.
I sworn my not to use setup for a 380KB project.

Then in another thread ,again dilettante, suggested me a code (Naked RichEdit.zip‎) which draws it's own RichTextBox which is only depending on "riched20.dll", nearly found in any PC.

Then I made some tweaks, modifications and combined them, droped some notes into code to help for some basic features.

And TA-TAA:

Real Unicode Display without RICHTX32.OCX.zip !!!

I hope someone will find it useful, too...


PS: If anybody knows how to change the font in the code, please do let me know

[Bonnie West]

Hi! Check out Unicode RichEdit (don't support Pictures)!

You can change the font used for all characters by sending the WM_SETFONT message. To set the font for any or all characters, use the EM_SETCHARFORMAT message.

[Flashbond]

I didn't get it, can you give a sample fragment? For example, for Arial?

By the way, despite it is a very powerful tool for text editting; it needs much much much more modification for simple usage.

[Bonnie West]

I think there's a thread here in the CodeBank that deals with the RTB. It contains a lot of tips and tricks. I can't remember the title of that thread though...

[dilettante]

Scratching my head here. In I have a dream...about RICHTX32.OCX I provided an example just today that does that:

    'Set the control to use the form's font
    hFont = GetCurrentObject(hDC, OBJ_FONT)
    SendMessage hWndRichEd, WM_SETFONT, hFont, 1

Or a variation might be:

    'Set the control to use a specific font.
    Dim ifnt As IFont
    Set ifnt = New StdFont
    With ifnt
        .Name = "Arial"
        .Size = 14
        SendMessage hWndRichEd, WM_SETFONT, .hFont, 1
    End With
    Set ifnt = Nothing

[Flashbond]

Yesss, I mentioned about it in my post. Thanks for the font tip!