TFormShaper

Descrption

TFormShaper is an non visual component. In contrast to TControlShaper it gives you the possibility to assign a shape only to TForm objects. TFormShaper also uses the API function SetWindowRgn so this control dose not work with Win32S !

Properties

AutoActive	Boolean ... if True the shape is active on creating the Form
AutoSize	Boolean ... if True size of the Form will be set to the size of the mask
CaptionForm	Boolean ... if False the Form has no caption bar
Backgrnd	TPicture ... Background Bitmap of the Form
PicFile	TString ... Filename of the mask bitmap that defies the shape. The Bitmap has to be a 1bit/pixel picture (2 colors).
ResName	TString ... (optional to PicFile) Mask bitmap ressource name.
ResType	TString ... ressource type name. ONLY USERDEFINED RESSOURCE TYPES SUPPORTED !
ShapeActive	Boolean ... Shape on/off.
ShapeForm	TForm ... Connection to the Form you want to shape
WindowMove	Boolean ... if True you can move the Form by clicking on it's client array
Version	FREEWARE FOR NON COMMERCIAL USERS; Commercial use $35... Release 1.0 ONLY AVAILABLE FOR DELPHI3 !

What is a Mask ?

A Mask is a black/white bitmap (Windows bmp format with 1bit/pixel color depth). The black pixels defines the area of the Control that will be shown . Unfortunately it is impossible to create user defined resources with the ImageEdit ;-( I use Borland's Resource Workshop that comes with C++ But it's also possible to create the resource with the resource compiler that comes with Delphi.

How to create a user defined Resource with Delphi's resource compiler ?

To create a valid resource file you can also use the brcc32.exe that comes with delphi3. It's located in delphi/bin directory.

1. Create a black/with bitmap ... be sure it is saved as 1bit/pixel image !!!!
2. Save this image as mask.bmp .

3. Create a text file with notepad .

4. Text of this text file : BILD PIC "maske.bmp" .

5. Save this textfile as "shape.rc" .

6. Make sure that brcc32.exe , Rw32core.dll (also located in delphi/bin) , maske.bmp and shape.rc are located in the same directory.

7. Execute this command from dos : brcc32 shape.rc . As Output the shape.res will be located in the current directory.

8. Copy shape.res to your project directory .

9. Include this shape.res in your Form unit ... {$R shape.res}

10. Set FormShaper.Mask.ResType to "PIC" .

11. Set FormShaper.Mask.ResName to "BILD" .

How to install

The rgnform.zip you have downloaded dose not contain any *.pas file . Usage.inf gives you a first impression of the properties of TFormShaper. To use my control with Delphi3 you only have to insert the compiled component unit Shapefm.dcu into a new or existing Package. Of course you can't compile this package because you do not have the shapefm.pas but you do not need to compile it ;-)

Would be nice if u can show me any applications when you are using my stuff so we can release it on my page if you want ;-)

If there are any questions feel free to ask ... Andreas Heckel

1.	Create a black/with bitmap ... be sure it is saved as 1bit/pixel image !!!!
2.	Save this image as mask.bmp .
3.	Create a text file with notepad .
4.	Text of this text file : BILD PIC "maske.bmp" .
5.	Save this textfile as "shape.rc" .
6.	Make sure that brcc32.exe , Rw32core.dll (also located in delphi/bin) , maske.bmp and shape.rc are located in the same directory.
7.	Execute this command from dos : brcc32 shape.rc . As Output the shape.res will be located in the current directory.
8.	Copy shape.res to your project directory .
9.	Include this shape.res in your Form unit ... {$R shape.res}
10.	Set FormShaper.Mask.ResType to "PIC" .
11.	Set FormShaper.Mask.ResName to "BILD" .