NewTab: tab control for VB6

[softv]

Dear Eduardo,

I have started checking out the 'Forms mode'. And, I have to say that any amount of thanks is not enough for you. Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!

Just one quick request:
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For SetActiveTab function, for the 2nd parameter (for NTFindTabMethodConstants), if you deem fit and if you feel it makes sense, then you may kindly please add ntFindCaptionAnywhere, ntFindCaptionFirst and ntFindCaptionLast also (of course with their respective functionalities). That would be quite helpful, I thought. The first matching tab for 'found anywhere', 'found at start' and 'found at the last' perhaps can be set as the active tab.
--

And, by the way, as far as I can observe, Debug.Print mMouseIsOverIcon_Tab is not commented out in the control's code. You may please comment it out in the next release. Otherwise, in the immediate window, it keeps printing -1.

Thanks a TON, once again.

Kind Regards.

[Eduardo-]

Dear Eduardo,

I have started checking out the 'Forms mode'. And, I have to say that any amount of thanks is not enough for you. Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!

Just one quick request:
--
For SetActiveTab function, for the 2nd parameter (for NTFindTabMethodConstants), if you deem fit and if you feel it makes sense, then you may kindly please add ntFindCaptionAnywhere, ntFindCaptionFirst and ntFindCaptionLast also (of course with their respective functionalities). That would be quite helpful, I thought. The first matching tab for 'found anywhere', 'found at start' and 'found at the last' perhaps can be set as the active tab.
--

Could you please explain how exactly that should work? I guess they would be partial matches of tab captions?

And, by the way, as far as I can observe, Debug.Print mMouseIsOverIcon_Tab is not commented out in the control's code. You may please comment it out in the next release. Otherwise, in the immediate window, it keeps printing -1.

Thanks a TON, once again.

Kind Regards.

Yes, it will be removed in the next release, thanks.

Dear Eduardo,

Greetings!

In the following function, TabCaption is actually the added form's caption, as far as I can observe. So, is it possible to include FormTag parameter also so that is easier to check based on the form's tag (which can be a unique distinctive short string set by me) as to whether to add that form or not. My form's captions can become considerably lengthy sometimes. Hence, the request. If not possible to introduce a new parameter, possible to change the name TabCaption to TabCaptionOrTag so that you can check for both the form's caption and also tag?
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--

Kind Regards.

It is the same explanation as for message #157.

From inside the NewTab control I don't have access to form's properties. I see forms as windows. I can have the Caption because it is the caption of the window, but I cannot read the Tag property or other properties that have no related values to the window itself (at API level).

Dear Eduardo,

I found that:

The following works

i.e. ForeColor is getting set correctly

But, the following does not work

i.e. BackColor is not getting set at all.

Am I doing any mistake? Kindly let me know. ctab is a normal NewTab only (i.e. TDIModeNone). Actually, with TDIModeForms also, I could not set the backcolor.

By the way, if at all possible, kindly make ntCCBackColorTab as default for the 2nd param of TabCustomColor, so that I can just use ctab.TabCustomColor(1) = color. If you think ForeColor will be the one often used by users, then you can make that default too. Your decision, finally.

Thanks a TON, as always, for all that you are doing for us.

Kind Regards.

For the color properties to work, the NewTab control should not be using the Windows theme (visual style). ForeColor related ones work anyway, but only those.

The Style must be plain or other non-windows.

I made the parameter optional being ntCCBackColorTab the default one. That will be in the next release.
But I'll wait until understanding how the find captions "as any" should work, so I make all the updates in the same release.

[softv]

Could you please explain how exactly that should work? I guess they would be partial matches of tab captions?

Yes, it will be removed in the next release, thanks.

It is the same explanation as for message #157.

From inside the NewTab control I don't have access to form's properties. I see forms as windows. I can have the Caption because it is the caption of the window, but I cannot read the Tag property or other properties that have no related values to the window itself (at API level).

For the color properties to work, the NewTab control should not be using the Windows theme (visual style). ForeColor related ones work anyway, but only those.

The Style must be plain or other non-windows.

I made the parameter optional being ntCCBackColorTab the default one. That will be in the next release.

But I'll wait until understanding how the find captions "as any" should work, so I make all the updates in the same release.

// Could you please explain how exactly that should work? I guess they would be partial matches of tab captions? //
yes, partial matches. 'Anywhere' would mean any part of the caption - EITHER from the start to some middle portion (OR) from some middle portion to the end (OR) from some middle portion to some other other middle portion. When you are searching for partial matches (with 'Anywhere' option), if in case you find the whole caption itself to be matching fully, then that would count as a 'successful find' as well, I feel. Basically, an Instr (on the caption string) which returns nonzero will do? By the way, since there can be more than one tab matching a partial string, if at all you deem fit and if at all possible (considering your time constraints and all that) you can provide optional 3rd and 4th parameters which say from which tab (inclusive) to which tab (inclusive) the find operation needs to be effected.
SetActiveTab "string to find", ntFindCaption, [StartingFromWhichTab=1], [UptoWhichTab=N]
(N - last tab)

// I can have the Caption because it is the caption of the window, but I cannot read the Tag property or other properties ... .. . //
The situation is the same whether NewTab control is used as an ocx OR inbuilt into a standard exe project. Right?

// For the color properties to work, the NewTab control should not be using the Windows theme (visual style). ForeColor related ones work anyway, but only those. The Style must be plain or other non-windows. //
Thanks. Will check it out.

// I made the parameter optional being ntCCBackColorTab the default one. That will be in the next release. //
Thanks, Eduardo.

Thanks a LOT, for all that you do for us. Thanks.

[Eduardo-]

// I can have the Caption because it is the caption of the window, but I cannot read the Tag property or other properties ... .. . //

The situation is the same whether NewTab control is used as an ocx OR inbuilt into a standard exe project. Right?

No, if you put the control in a standard exe you can access any property of the forms of the local project.

[softv]

No, if you put the control in a standard exe you can access any property of the forms of the local project.

I am using your control in a standard exe project only. So, you mean to say that in that case its possible for you to give access to the form's Tag property in the TDIBeforeNewTab function via TabCaptionOrTag parameter? Or, you are suggesting me something else?

'TabCaptionOrTag' - referring to what I had suggested in my post no. 164

Kind Regards.

[Eduardo-]

I am using your control in a standard exe project only. So, you mean to say that in that case its possible for you to give access to the form's Tag property in the TDIBeforeNewTab function via TabCaptionOrTag parameter? Or, you are suggesting me something else?

'TabCaptionOrTag' - referring to what I had suggested in my post no. 164

Kind Regards.

I only do the the code for the ocx.
I'm not going to maintain two different versions.

[softv]

I only do the the code for the ocx.
I'm not going to maintain two different versions.

Oh. Okay. I understand now. That's fine then. I will manage with captions itself.

Please describe the scenario where you need that. Let's see how it could be done in another way.

I was just thinking of tags as an extra layer of convenience. That's all. So, no special scenario as such. Whatever facilities you have provided as of now itself are simply splendid.

I take this opportunity to once again thank you for your fabulous control.

Bringing in "Forms Mode" (that too, in such an easy manner) is mighty useful and fantastic. Thanks a TON, as always.

Kind Regards.