Title: Make SwitchBar Like mIRC's SwitchBar
Question: How to make SwitchBar Like mIRC's SwitchBar
Answer:
Here're the ideas for make thing such mIRC's SwitchBar
1. SwitchButton can be created automatically when a MDI Child created
2. Can change Font Color's SwitchButton triggered by some objects in MDI Child Form
(such as messages coming,etc...). We use TSpeedButton because i have no idea to change font
color on TToolButton ;-)
3. SwitchButton can be down or up depend on MDI Child Form status (Active/Deactive)
4. These methods are not perfect but Work!!!
5. These must be simple and easy to use for beginner (i don't write it for expert!, because they
already knew it :-) );
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1st Step :
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a. New Application (of course :-))
b. Make 2 Form, we named first Form with MainForm and save it as MainFormUnit.pas
and the second Form with ChildForm and save as ChildFormUnit.pas
c. Because we're going to make MDI Application, here're the properties for each form
MainForm :
i. FormStyle=fsMDIForm
ChildForm :
i. FormStyle=fsMDIChild
d. If you want childForm raised when u need it (show when needed), you must set ChildForm as "Available Forms".
e. Put TToolBar on MainForm, assume we named it with Toolbar1
f. Set Toolbar1 properties :
i. Flat=True
ii. Autosize=True
iii. BorderWidth=0/1/2 - whatever
g. Put TImageList on MainForm and named it with ImageList1, we will put an image/icon to SwitchButton.
h. Add some images/icon to ImageList, whatever you want :-)
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2nd Step : All procedures and variables in ChildForm
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a. Using SpeedButton (Don't forget to add Uses Buttons;)
Declare this object and prototypes in public section
Public
DynaButton:TspeedButton;
procedure createDyna(Sender:TObject);
procedure clickDyna(Sender:TObject);
b. Procedure for Create a SwitchButton
procedure TChildForm.createDyna(Sender:TObject);
var
ximage:TBitMap;
begin
ximage:=TBitmap.create;
Mainform.ImageList1.GetBitmap(0,ximage); //take image from ImageList1
DynaButton:=TSpeedButton.create(self);
with DynaButton do begin
Name:='ChildFormButt1';
Parent:=MainForm.ToolbAr1;
caption:=ChildForm.caption;
Constraints.MaxHeight:=20; //set height of button
AllowAllUp:=true;
left:=ComponentIndex*100; //set position
Glyph:=ximage;
GroupIndex:=9; //grouping button
Width:=(10*length(DynaButton.caption)+10);
OnClick:=ClickDyna; //call procedure when OnClick event triggered
Flat:=true;
down:=true;
Transparent:=false;
end;
ximage.free;
end;
c. Procedure for onClick Event (ClickDyna)
procedure TChildForm.clickDyna(Sender:TObject);
begin
dynaButton.down:=true;
dynaButton.font.color:=clBlack; //Restore the color when Switch button clicked
if WindowState=wsminimized then
WindowState:=wsNormal
else
show;
end;
d. "OnActive" event in ChildForm
procedure TChildForm.FormActivate(Sender: TObject);
begin
if dynaButtonnil then
clickDyna(sender);
end;
e. Change Font Color's SwitchButton when something triggered
eg. "OnChange" Event on Memo1
begin
if not dynabutton.Down then
DynaButton.Font.color:=clRed; //change this part for other color
end;
ok, that's it for Child Form
now, how to make it happens
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3rd Step :
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a. Call ChildForm
begin
Application.createForm(TChildForm,ChildForm);
ChildForm.caption:='Test'; //Change this part
ChildForm.CreateDyna(Sender);
end;
------Finish--------------------------------------------------------------