zBandObject


Important   All Freeware Disclaimers Applies !
  i.e. I'm not responsible if it screws up your system.


zBandObject is an attempt to create a wrapper to simplify making band objects in Delphi.

This component is developed and tested using Delphi 5, so it may not work in other versions.


Installation

  1. Unzip zBandObject.zip into your favourite 3rd party Delphi components directory, e.g. c:\program files\borland\delphi5\zBandObject.
  2. Start Delphi and open the package zBandObjectPkg.dpk.
  3. Click the Compile button.
  4. Click the Install button.
  5. Make sure that your library path is setup correctly:
    1. File → Close All, save the package if necessary.
    2. Tools → Environment Options.
    3. Click the tab Library.
    4. Look at Library path, the installation path in step 1 above should be somewhere in there. If not, add it, e.g. <existing paths>;$(DELPHI)\zBandObject.
  6. Install the help file:
    1. Help → Customize.
    2. Under both Index and Link tabs, add zBandObject.hlp.

Uninstallation

  1. Component → Install Packages.
  2. Select zBandObjects.
  3. Click the Remove button.

Creating Band Objects

Band objects are basically DLL library projects.

After installing the zBandObject package, you can use the zBandObject Wizard to create a base project for your band object:
  1. File → New, look under the Wizards tab for the Band Object DLL Wizard.
  2. Double click to start the wizard.
  3. When the wizard form shows:
    1. Enter a band name, e.g. MyBand. You do not need to prefix it with T, it is done automagically in the generated code.
    2. Enter a band description, e.g. &My Band This is the menu item text, e.g. if you are making an Info Band, this text will appear under View → Explorer Bar in IE. Spaces are allowed and & will underscore the next character.
    3. Select a band type.
    4. Click the OK button.
  4. After the project is generated, save it.
  5. You can place some controls onto the band form.
  6. Compile the project.
  7. To install the band object, use Run → Register ActiveX Server.
  8. To uninstall the band object, (guess what) use Run → Unregister ActiveX Server. Important! Always unregister before you delete your project files or change the band's CLSID, otherwise your registry will have 'orphaned' entries.

Show Thy Band

If you have created an Info or Comm Band, look under View → Explorer Bar in IE.

For Tool Bands, look under View → Toolbars in IE.

Finally, for Desk Bands, right click the Windows task bar and look under Toolbars.


Component Help

Context sensitive help is available, press F1 at the point of interest.

You may wish to read the MSDN article located at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?URL=/library/psdk/shellcc/shell/bands.htm


"Features"

Okay, things that don't work quite the way they should. If anyone can resolve any of the above, please inform me.



Chiang Seng Chang
<cs@ctzen.com>